Home Surveillance

[tigerbeer]

Can anyone recommend an easy to set up solution to see whats going on at home through a webcam?? have a computer thats working on some stuff 24/7 at home and of course through internet. I would like to see whats going on at home from office. Is there an easy set up? software wise of course and preferably freeware! ??

[StrongView]

Try Fwink, (it's freeware) and have it FTP to a password protected directory on a webserver. I've used it before and it works as described.

Edited February 15, 2008 by StrongView

[tigerbeer]

Try Fwink, (it's freeware) and have it FTP to a password protected directory on a webserver. I've used it before and it works as described.

Thanks StrongView, is there anything else like stream video from the webcam? without the need to ftp to a server?

[Veazer]

There's a few opensource projects at SourceForge for this, but I haven't tried any. I just did a search for surveillance camera and several relevant apps were listed.

ZoneMinder

Senriska

CameraTown / Hawkeye

[RKASA]

I was looking into this myself and dropped it for to many things on my plate and low device budget.  Somewhere out there open source is a motion detector software.  It sees shift in web cam picture records until motion stops for a few minutes and can send an e mail alarm when it starts.  You don't need a web site just contact your PC ssh and remotely check in and veiw the cams and what ever.  Its a part of the smart home package I think.  Can even water the lawn if its wired.  Runs on various linux and all but the devices you may require are free.

[kevinbkk]

I'll do it the simple way.

Setup a second Skype account, set the configuration of Skype Video to start the Video automatically when you are in a call and the incoming calls to automatically answer incoming calls. Afterwards call yourself, Skype answer the call and the Video starts....

Edited February 15, 2008 by kevinbkk

[tigerbeer]

I'll do it the simple way.

Setup a second Skype account, set the configuration of Skype Video to start the Video automatically when you are in a call and the incoming calls to automatically answer incoming calls. Afterwards call yourself, Skype answer the call and the Video starts....

Brilliant ! thank u. thats it !

I did set up Fwink as well. and it works fine. but no streaming. Skype would do that for me thanks all

[stumonster]

a tutorial I created to show how to set up Ureal media streaming server is here

http://www.soisanook.com/Urealmedia1.htm

[tigerbeer]

a tutorial I created to show how to set up Ureal media streaming server is here

http://www.soisanook.com/Urealmedia1.htm

STumonster, thank you. But the skype way seems to most simple and easiest. and the best part is that its working right now!. superb.

[John 1]

Tigerbeer,

Thanks for the info I bought a Logitech web cam for 1,400bt set it up on Skype excellent took 10 minutes working fine can watch the staff working while I put my feet up.

[Smithson]

Tigerbeer,

Thanks for the info I bought a Logitech web cam for 1,400bt set it up on Skype excellent took 10 minutes working fine can watch the staff working while I put my feet up.

Can you provide a few more details on the set up. I don't use Skype, but I'd like to watch my staff while I'm away. Can I watch them in more than one location? Can I connect several cameras and switch from one to the other?

Thanks!

[tigerbeer]

Tigerbeer,

Thanks for the info I bought a Logitech web cam for 1,400bt set it up on Skype excellent took 10 minutes working fine can watch the staff working while I put my feet up.

Can you provide a few more details on the set up. I don't use Skype, but I'd like to watch my staff while I'm away. Can I watch them in more than one location? Can I connect several cameras and switch from one to the other?

Thanks!

actually this is what i am looking for now. Can i hook up 2 or 3 USB cameras at a time??? Skype would only let me do one account at any one time. Hence only one camera viewable. Actually I only have one cam hooked up but would be willing to buy 2 more cams to hook up to that one computer. And then perhaps some software to stream live for me while hooked up to the net.

Skype was a perfect way to do it though. Anyone???

TB>.

[Veazer]

actually this is what i am looking for now. Can i hook up 2 or 3 USB cameras at a time??? Skype would only let me do one account at any one time. Hence only one camera viewable. Actually I only have one cam hooked up but would be willing to buy 2 more cams to hook up to that one computer. And then perhaps some software to stream live for me while hooked up to the net.

Skype was a perfect way to do it though. Anyone???

TB>.

I think you could just run multiple instances of skype and create a different skype ID for each.

• First, create another user account on your machine. Start > Settings > Control Panel > User Accounts. Click 'Create new account'. Pick a username, Next > Account Type: choose Computer Administrator and click 'Create Account'
  
• Select the account and change the password
  
• Right-click Skype, send to Desktop (or copy and paste the shortcut, etc.) Rename the new shortcut to 'Skype 2' or whatever you want.
  
• Right-click the new shortcut and select properties. On the shortcut tab where you see 'target', add 'runas /savecred /user:username' before the current target. ie,
  "C:\Program Files\Skype...." etc. will become
  runas /savecred /user:username "C:\Program Files\Skype...."
  
• (Optional) - Click 'Change Icon' and browse to the skype installation folder and skype.exe. If you don't, your new shortcut will not have a skype icon.
  
• Double-click new shortcut and enter the password. Skype should launch a new instance. Then you can enter the details for your other Skype ID
  

If you don't like the black command prompt-ish window that pops up for a split second each time the shortcut is launched, go into the properties and change "Run:" from Normal Window to minimized. Don't do this on XP Home or before the first time you use the shortcut, XP home does not recognize the 'savecred' switch and will ask for the password each time. If the window's minimized you'll need to manually restore it just to enter the user password.

I would also run TweakUI from MS Powertoys, go to the login section and remove your new user from the login screen since you're never going to use the account in that fashion.

[tigerbeer]

Thanks everyone. I finally settled with the recommendation by Stumonster. I have two webcams running and its pointed to dyndns.org. superb ! .. only thing is that the computer needs to be on all the time. Can't complain for less than THB1,000 solution