security camera without service or a router?

[Root Cause]

My outbuilding is complete on a new home site (to be built next spring).
I have a wifi, motion camera, and solar panels but no router or service yet at the site.

Wondering if anyone has overcome such an issue.

I have a hot spot through Verizon and wondered if I could use it but I have to manually activate it after it sits idle for a while.

Any ideas or solutions?

 

[Jchonline]

1. Cellular trail camera (costs per month)
2. Get a hotspot that wont turn off
3. Figure out a way to keep yours from going idle. Is there a config setting in the hotspot software?
4. Get Satellite based internet (Starlink if offered in your area, will also need 100w/hour of power day/night to keep it running.

Question: Are you powering everything with the solar panels? If so do you have battery backup?

 

[Root Cause]

1. Cellular trail camera (costs per month)
2. Get a hotspot that wont turn off
3. Figure out a way to keep yours from going idle. Is there a config setting in the hotspot software?
4. Get Satellite based internet (Starlink if offered in your area, will also need 100w/hour of power day/night to keep it running.

Question: Are you powering everything with the solar panels? If so do you have battery backup?

Thanks for the reply.
It is a 6-9 month problem. When we move in next year, problem is solved. But right now I am 2 hours away and would make fewer trips to check in on things if I rig this up.

Camera has batteries and came with a solar panel so I am good there.
It is motion activated and should only take pictures if there is a tresspasser.

I have a separate solar panel kit (100 watts to keep tractor and RV batteries charged.
I can plug in the hot spot to the RV or other device though I typically shut all that down to protect the batteries/pumps etc.

I will have to look at current hot spot to see if I can keep it on all the time to keep from buying more stuff I can't use. .

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I am about to install a Tactacam cellular game camera, 12v battery system at my property gate. That road is the only way for vehicles to get onto my property and the easiest way by far for foot traffic to get onto my property. I was going to go the solar panel 12v battery route but most of the stand alone solar panel battery systems have really bad reviews and I didn't want to deal with a lemon. My house is less than a mile from the property so I will just have 2 12v batteries and switch them out when the one gets low. With the amount of footage I expect this thing to send the 8 aH battery will last a long time. The camera will be mounted 9 or 10 feet up in a tree housed in a metal housing made for the camera. The battery box will be a metal ammo can on the back side of the tree from the camera housing. Both the camera housing and battery box will be secured to the tree with screws. As added security I will use a masterlock python lock through the camera and housing and around the ammo can. Should be able to wrap twice. The cost of the cell cam is only about $150 ,I paid $99 last year but they have since upped the price due to amazing reviews and not being able to keep them on the shelves. I think I pay $8 a month for the verizon coverage. All in all not a very expensive system. I will add pictures when I install this week.

 

[nybirdman]

Another vote for Tactacam;$130 for camera and $120 for unlimited service for a year.Still on original batteries after 3 month.They do sell a solar panel that works well.
Pictures within two minutes.Video saved on SD card.

 

[Root Cause]

I just ordered one from BassPro. Thanks, everyone. The monthly cost is way less than what I would spend on gas going up and checking on it over the winter months.

 

[oosik]

I am NOT being a smart ass here. But, what exactly does anybody expect to gain from a security camera under conditions such as this case. Root Cause is two hours away from the property. Will he have immediate notification of "action" ?? Will he have immediate access to any pictures?? So .... what is he going to do. Will the local police follow up if there is loss of property?? I wonder if homeowners insurance or the like, might not provide better loss protection. A well hidden security camera is certainly not going to be any kind of deterrent.

 

[Root Cause]

I am NOT being a smart ass here. But, what exactly does anybody expect to gain from a security camera under conditions such as this case. Root Cause is two hours away from the property. Will he have immediate notification of "action" ?? Will he have immediate access to any pictures?? So .... what is he going to do. Will the local police follow up if there is loss of property?? I wonder if homeowners insurance or the like, might not provide better loss protection. A well hidde*n security camera is certainly not going to be any kind of deterrent.

Fair enough, I do get a picture within a minute or two. I do see the grader's truck go by so I know they are making progress.

* Teens might decide to run their ATVs on my land. It has happened in the past up here and "under construction" would be tempting, heck, I have been tempted with the mounds of dirt.
* If a storm blows through, I can see the damage and know what tools to take if needed.
* I have a nosy neighbor. I would kind of like to know just 'how nosy' he is when no one is around.
*Accuweather is nearly useless in these mountains. I can see rain or snow. That will help me decide when I make my next trip.

You are correct, it does nothing to stop the weather or intruders but it does cut out the BS if I need to stop trespassers from doing it again. I wouldn't call 911 on a neighbor but I would show them a photo and ask them to stop trespassing.

It costs me $100 round trip and I would probably go a lot more often without the camera. For $5/month, it works great so far.

And seeing the turkey and deer pass through is worth every penny.

 

[oosik]

Root - I really DO appreciate your response. I've asked this many times - you are the first with an intelligent - legitimate response.

Yes - I now understand how your security camera system is useful. More power to you.

 

[Doughknob]

but no router or service yet at the site.

Wondering if anyone has overcome such an issue.
Any ideas or solutions?

Reason for needing connectivity for the camera? Why an issue?

Do you go to the site every few days?

 

[Root Cause]

Reason for needing connectivity for the camera? Why an issue?

Do you go to the site every few days?

I have been there working every week but there is nothing pressing now and winter is setting in. If we have a bad winter, I may not go for 2 months with this camera working so well.

Should a tree fall and knock a hole in my metal building, I would want to know that sooner rather than later.

If someone should steal something the odds of getting it back are much greater if I can show a license plate number, a date stamp, and call 911 the day of instead of, "it happened sometime in January."

If someone breaks into the building or takes the camera, I have pictures on my phone. If I have to retrieve the memory card in the camera, it defeats almost every reason for having one-mainly saving time and money on trips just to check out the place.

 

[Doughknob]

OK, yep, if you don't go there regularly to check, even a locally recorded setup won't work. Neighbors close?

 

[Root Cause]

Really just 1 full-time neighbor past me on a dead-end road. Three more come on weekends or holidays. I have another who is also building a home so there is more traffic with random workers coming and going with some frequency.

I am not really concerned if a neighbor comes to look out of curiosity either. I am more concerned about mother nature than anything else and I am curious about what wildlife is close by.

 

[LouNY]

It looks like you have it covered, but here is another way to go;
Arlo Go 2 Wireless Security Camera with LTE & Wi-Fi Connectivity | Arlo

 

[Root Cause]

That lo

It looks like you have it covered, but here is another way to go;
Arlo Go 2 Wireless Security Camera with LTE & Wi-Fi Connectivity | Arlo

That is an interesting option and I did look at it.
For someone who wants those added features, it looks like a great find. For my purposes, the additional features didn't warrant the additional cost. But for anyone who reads this in the future, it may be just what they need. Thanks for posting.

 

[PILOON]

My daughter's chalet is close by and she installed a system that sends to her cellphone.
A few times now I will get a call asking me to check out intruders.
(she was extensively hit 2 years ago. Their insurance claim was over $5K.)
Also they now have a well anchored HD chain across the drive.

The next few weeks are 'open season' on cottages around here.

 

[Root Cause]

Sorry to hear that. I had a car ransacked years ago.

I once read that what we say in an argument is never remembered but how someone else made us feel is never forgotten. I think being robbed is kind of the same way. I couldn't tell you what they took but I remember feeling violated and angry.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Every self respecting red neck down here has a motion activated game camera that sends them a text when there is something in the hog trap. Live feed.

 

[Oaktree]

The next few weeks are 'open season' on cottages around here.

My sister had a camp in the boonies in northern Vt. We were in the area one time & I thought I'd show my wife where it was. We found the door unlocked and evidence that someone had been squatting there (though no one was there when we came by). I locked the place up and let her know.
Not sure why she bought the place, they almost never went there. Ended up selling it at a loss.

This was maybe 15 years ago before cell cams existed. Don't think there's service there anyway, definitely not back then.

 

[Oaktree]

Every self respecting red neck down here has a motion activated game camera that sends them a text when there is something in the hog trap. Live feed.

Can those be set up to send an email instead for us luddites who don't have smartphones?