Webcam to monitor property whilst away - view via Internet

JB · Sep 16, 2008, 11:46:51

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone has a reasonable cost solution to what I want to do.

As some of you know I spend about half of my time at home in the UK and half at our property in Spain. It occurred to me that it might be a good idea to have a webcam pointing at the outside of the property and be able to view it via the Internet. Both properties have ADSL, 8MB in UK with IDNet and 3MB (maybe soon to be 6MB) with Telefonica in Spain.

I don't want to leave a computer running when not there so a webcam feeding images to a computer is not viable. I don't need continuous vision, perhaps a picture every minute and only when I am remotely connected to the camera.

I guess I am looking for a camera which will connect via ethernet to the modem/router and can either ftp images at regular intervals to my webspace, or one which only activates when I log on and can be adjusted to send only a frequency of images and resolutions that the ADSL bandwidth can cope with.

I would be really interested if anyone has an insight into doing this sort of thing or has any advice to offer.

Many thanks.

kinmel · Sep 16, 2008, 12:19:26

You need a webcam with a built-in web server, they are often known as network cameras.

Axis is one example, but there are many others

vitriol · Sep 16, 2008, 12:24:38

Sounds like you need an IP camera. We have one at work that is accessible and configurable through Internet Explorer. We use it on the local network so there is no bandwidth limitations.

How effective it would be on ADSL? I'm not sure to be honest. Your upload speed will limit the throughput of images / second though.

There's a good chance that you will have to do some port forwarding to be able to view it from Spain.

kinmel · Sep 16, 2008, 12:27:13

This is a UK website that specialises in these cameras.

JB · Sep 17, 2008, 08:43:31

Thank you both for the information.

It looks like it might be too expensive a project. Maybe I'll look at connecting a cheaper webcom to my old laptop and either use software to ftp the images to my web site at regular intervals or access the images on it's hard drive remotely.

Cheers.

somanyholes · Sep 17, 2008, 09:58:23

http://www.yawcam.com/, works a treat

somanyholes · Sep 17, 2008, 10:09:41

a few things to consider if your going down the webcam route.

Not in any particualar order.

1. Do you have somebody who can reboot things at the house when you are away.
2. Test the software works as a service when you reboot without logging back in(if you do login)
3. Test it from a remote location before going away
4. make sure you use strong authentication (decent password)
5. Will you be visiting the service from one ip remotely or many (you may not want to have the webcam visable from all the internet best to lock it down a bit if you can)
6. Disable webcam software from updating automatically( if you have hips or a firewall that notices application changes this will cause issues.)
7. Make sure you have remote access that works to your laptop as well as the camera
8. Try not to use the laptop to view the webcam image use a service created by the software, i.e http

test test test

bobcrossley · Sep 17, 2008, 11:36:24

I use the Axis 207wifi It's a very small indoor camera pointed out through the window and the beauty of it is that it sends me emails of anything that it sees in it's predefined field of vision.
No computer needs to be left on just the modem/router. Also I can see it live and reconfigure it from anywhere else in the world via the internet.

vitriol · Sep 17, 2008, 11:50:56

There you go 6jb, Bob's your uncle

JB · Sep 17, 2008, 12:05:32

Quote from: bobcrossley on Sep 17, 2008, 11:36:24
I use the Axis 207wifi It's a very small indoor camera pointed out through the window and the beauty of it is that it sends me emails of anything that it sees in it's predefined field of vision.
No computer needs to be left on just the modem/router. Also I can see it live and reconfigure it from anywhere else in the world via the internet.

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for the information. Sounds exactly what I need.

By the way, welcome to the forum.

Also many thanks to the other guys who replied. Gives me lots to think about now.

Cheers.

somanyholes · Sep 17, 2008, 12:11:04

ouch http://www.networkwebcams.co.uk/index.php?cPath=35

Rik · Sep 17, 2008, 12:11:28

Welcome to the forum, Bob.

bobcrossley · Sep 17, 2008, 12:17:09

Thanks for the welcome
Yes it is expensive but your properties worth it!!!
Also their support is second to none IMHO