Security camera from old smart phone/phones

[ROUSTABOUT]

Why not a cellular game camera?

 

[California]

California,
Is that a pet raccoon? It looks like it's deciding whether that's the knob and tube wiring it saw on This Old House. The house I grew up in still has that type of wiring. I think it was put in for the old Delco Light Plant before the REA came in. Yours looks to be in showcase condition.

Not a pet! In fact I haven't seen them in person rcently, just the camera images. Family of Mom Racoon + 3 juveniles.

Yes classic knob and tube wiring. Insulation is woven cotton over dried out tar, that falls off if you bend the wire.

 

[stuckmotor]

California,
I asked about the old phone primarily because I also need to be able to view my corral from out of site to make sure the cattle I want to catch are inside before closing the gates with long ropes. These are the spookiest cattle I've ever owned. I thought the signal would go through cell towers without the need for Wi-Fi.

To simplify things, I'll put the phone idea on hold for now. You guys have pretty well convinced me to go with WiFi at the house for the time I have to be away. I've got to research the cameras available and may get back with questions.
Thanks to all who have replied.
Stuck

 

[stuckmotor]

Why not a cellular game camera?

I'd thought about that and it's still an option for the corral. To be honest, I thought the used phone idea might be less expensive.

 

[SwingOak]

I used to use the Presence Video Security app. It's a free app, so you can try it out easily enough. I had upgraded to Presence Pro (costs $5 per month) and used that for a few months before finally installing some Nest outdoor cameras.

I haven't used the app for years. It has pretty good reviews on Apple's app store, but reviews are not so great on the Google Play store - so perhaps it's not so great with Android devices.

The downside is the phone(s) need to be plugged in all the time. This is pretty hard on the phone battery and they can get pretty warm. The app needed to be running all the time, so when notifications would pop up while unattended, the phone could not be reached remotely. I found the best thing to do is to do a full reset on the old phone, install the Presence app, and turn notifications off completely. You'll also need some type of tripod of phone holder that will allow you to position it and aim it where you want.

Also, phone cameras don't work very well at night, which is why I got the Nest cameras. It's a fun way to dip your toe into home security and play around a bit, but it's not optimal for 24/7 surveillance. There are many better options out there.

 

[SwingOak]

I'd thought about that and it's still an option for the corral. To be honest, I thought the used phone idea might be less expensive.

You cannot access any trail cameras for live viewing remotely, or on demand. They are motion triggered, and only send a picture when they are triggered.

I suppose if you have a mobile hotspot with unlimited data, you could probably pair a Nest or Ring type camera that is also battery powered and connect it to the hotspot. You'd have to charge the hotspot daily though, which might be a hassle.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I'd thought about that and it's still an option for the corral. To be honest, I thought the used phone idea might be less expensive.

We use them on wild hog traps. We have a drop door on each end. Text the door drop to activate it. We been using outside in all weather for years, same cameras.

 

[sandman2234]

Stuck motor, its a shame we don't have more time to prep, as I have a few cameras and plenty of coax to run them to a monitor and you aren't far from me!
David from jax

 

[California]

You cannot access any trail cameras for live viewing remotely, or on demand. They are motion triggered, and only send a picture when they are triggered.

I suppose if you have a mobile hotspot with unlimited data, you could probably pair a Nest or Ring type camera that is also battery powered and connect it to the hotspot. You'd have to charge the hotspot daily though, which might be a hassle.

I like that idea.
A $100 li-ion junp-start battery/power pack might power that combination for weeks.

My Wyze and Arlo cams record only when motion (or sound) triggered plus are available for live view whenever you want, and you can choose to record that, live. Arlo has an internal battery, 3 weeks life at highest of 3 resolutions. The $35 Wyze, no, but Wyze has more expensive battery cams.

Reviews I've read say there isn't a camera that doesn't have some irritating limitations. Maybe Ring or Nest are best?


Hey InfoSec specialists! What do we need to know to be secure?

 

[California]

We use them on wild hog traps. We have a drop door on each end. Text the door drop to activate it. We been using outside in all weather for years, same cameras.

Could you describe your system? That sounds great.

 

[SwingOak]

The problem with mobile hotspots is the battery breaks down and quits working very quickly if left connected to power all the time. I have a friend of mine who warned me about this when he went through his 3rd Verizon hotspot in less than a year. I have an AT&T Netgear 5g hotspot that warns me to unplug it when fully charged.

 

[tom3]

I have a couple cameras, each does a different thing but the cellular trail cam (Spypoint) sends motion or demand pictures at certain times with no instant viewing. You can see who was there but they're long gone. Free plan for 100 pics a month, no video. The Wyze camera is good for demand viewing and has a good picture on the smart phone, no computer viewing, need a plan for motion detection. Also use a Blink setup, pretty good motion detection and near instant viewing. Real simple outdoor install, works on battery with wifi, no wires, and indoor camera with wired power. Gives on demand video and shapshot with temperature readout too. I like the blink but it is also phone only at this point. Need the plan for this at $100 a year though, get more warranty and handles several different camera styles. Stores videos in cloud for 3 to 60 days.

 

[stuckmotor]

Don't know. Worst I've read was 'Santa Claus' terrifying a little girl speaking from the baby monitor in her room while she changed for bed.

Researching Arlo I saw criticism of security holes kept secret, not fixed.

Maybe Google 'webcam security incidents'.

I vaguely remember the little girl and Santa Claus' story. If there was an arrest made or even a person of interest identified, I don't remember.

 

[stuckmotor]

Has anyone tried a camera that screws into a light socket?

Light Socket Security Camera - Top-Rated Lightbulb Security Camera

Light Socket Security Camera - The Most Advanced Light Bulb Security Camera. The camera is easy to install and comes with loads of hi-tech features for uses inside and outside of your home or office. Full Color Night vision, 1080p video resolution, panning up down, left, right and 360 rotation...

techgeartrends.com

 

[mikester]

How do webcams get hacked? Are you saying someone can hack the router and access it locally?

Did you scan the little QR code to connect to your camera? That's the link to the VPN service in China your camera connects to bypassing your firewall security. Your camera has a Chinese IP address and a wide open back door to your intranet if you allow it internet access.

 

[workinonit]

No. I don't scan those QR codes.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'd thought about that and it's still an option for the corral. To be honest, I thought the used phone idea might be less expensive.

This is how I learned about these, a farmer buddy has a "farm store" with regular traffic in and out and 50 some head of Highland that love to get their head stuck in the hay feeders. I've been with him while he recieved an alert and it's pretty amazing.
I still don't have one but I'm very curious.

 

[jwmorris]

Could you describe your system? That sounds great.

I don’t know what he used but we use a cheap cellular game camera and once I receive a photo of them all happily eating, I call it and drop the gate. They go nuts for a little while.

Then settle down and wait for me to get there.

My control uses a dual tone multi frequency receiver, so I have several outputs and can reboot the camera remotely too.

Jager pro or bore buster traps have controls you can buy vs build and at least one will stream live video. I am cheap though.

 

[California]

Here's a discussion group for owners of Wyze camera systems:

https://www.reddit.com/r/wyzecam/

Arlo systems similar. Just put arlo after the /r/.

I saw a post there where someone is hacking his Arlo to make the vid available using Spypoint software in place of Arlo's, to continue use of the cameras that Arlo no longer supports. At least I think that's what he was talking about. Apparently the original Arlo hub is an ordinary router and the cameras know its secret local IP. Change the camera's destination IP and the cameras will respond to a new host. Or something like that. I just glanced through that post. YMMV.

 

[stuckmotor]

I don’t know what he used but we use a cheap cellular game camera and once I receive a photo of them all happily eating, I call it and drop the gate. They go nuts for a little while.

View attachment 782972

Then settle down and wait for me to get there.

View attachment 782971
My control uses a dual tone multi frequency receiver, so I have several outputs and can reboot the camera remotely too.

Jager pro or bore buster traps have controls you can buy vs build and at least one will stream live video. I am cheap though.

My cattle hauler guy came today. I set the gates on the corral so they'd work when I pulled on the ropes before the beasts realized what I was doing. They'll soon be at McDonalds.
That leaves the four extraordinary spooky ones to go. I may be able to catch them by closing the gates blind of what's in there.