Overview of a home surveillance solution
Requirements
No monthly fees
Be able to see from iOS from phone/internet
Inexpensive
Record to disk based on rules
Wireless
Mac compatible
Solution
Foscam FI8910W Pan & Tilt IP/Network Camera with Two-Way Audio and Night Vision – about $75 each – quantity 2
dynamic DNS service included with Foscam cameras
LiveCams Pro for iOS – $4
Vitamin d software on Mac – free for 1 camera monitoring – run when away
Assessment
- Reliability of cameras is better when they are wired. Unclear why this is.
- Need to run Computer only for complex detection and recording. Uses about 1MBps of wireless but this didn’t seem to present any reliability problems.
- Not the best outdoor solution. Have used on an exterior porch with a 2 liter bottle with the bottom cut off over the unit. While not weather tight, this provides good protection but is of limited use at night.
- Using through glass window or plastic protector does not work at night due to infrared light reflection.
- Foscam seems to be compatible with most software.
- Configuring router and dynamic DNS requires some knowledge of IP networking.
- Foscam has a built-in web server allowing use without a computer. Computer only needed for complex monitoring. Foscam can email, send to FTP, etc. without the need for a 24×7 computer.
- Video quality is not HD. The positive to this is it uses less bandwidth and seems to be more compatible with 3rd party software. Given these are best wired to ethernet, the more expensive HD version may be considered if the software is known to be compatible. Most reviews of Foscam cameras are more critical of the HD version the the standard definition versions.
- The mounting hardware with the Foscam is quite good. Can be clamped or screwed into the ceiling.
