Total Newbie

[pwr1286]

My wife just told me about iCam.  I read the info but still don't fully get it    Hope you guys can help me understand.  Here's the deal, I have a vacation property in another state.  Our utilities have gone sky high since we changed cleaning crews.  My wife believes they may be using the property, since it is usually empty.  A motion activated internet camera, with messaging upon motion would be ideal to check up on the place.  How do I get going on this?

Besides having internet at the property, what else do I need to make this work besides a camera?  Thanks so much.

Jeff

[pwr1286]

I'm learning quickly.  Just found "dropcam", which seems to be a plug-n-play device.  So, with with motion, I think what happens is I get an email notification to view the camera....yes?

[OUAnthony]

You don't need dropcam. If you have an iPhone (or Android) and purchase the iCam app, all you need is a normal USB webcam or an IP camera AND an always-on Internet connection. Depending on which kind of camera you get will determine if you also need a computer at the remote location. If you get a USB camera, you will also need an always-on computer at the remote location. I say always-on...it's possible to remotely turn the computer on/off...but I'm guessing from your "total newbie" status that you don't know how to do that. If you get an IP camera, you can run icamsource (the computer-based program that monitors the camera for motion, etc) on a computer at your house...it could monitor the camera over the Internet. Some IP cameras actually contain motion detection logic and could e-mail you pictures of motion events without using icamsource/iCam. I've used this feature before, but I strongly prefer iCam. Monitoring the IP camera over the Internet would require advanced setup...so you might want to find a friend that could help you out with networking.

If you rent this property out to others, you will need to notify them that they are under video surveilence and/or disable it during their stay. Failure to do that could get you in big legal trouble and could result in financial penalties. If you are able to get proof that they are using your property, I'd imagine you could recoup, at the very least, the losses due to higher utilities. Video proof of their presence combined with the history of bills before/after changing companies = good evidence! I would try to hide the camera in a discrete location. For example, you could poke a neat hole in the side of a shoe box and place the webcam inside so the lens lines up with the hole. Run the USB cable out of the backside of the box and into the computer. Just make sure it is aimed in a location where people are likely to be if they were using the property and not just cleaning it.

If I were you, this is what I would do at the vacation property (assuming you already have an always-on Internet connection and computer there):

1) Purchase/install a cheap USB webcam with built-in microphone (if your computer doesn't already have one built in). I say cheap because you don't need high-resolution...iCam only uses 640x480 max. Anything above that and icamsource (and therefore your computer) has to work harder to resize it to 640x480.

2) Download/install Dropbox (free program that will store your motion events off-site). Audio is NOT saved...you can only listen to it live.

3) Download/install icamsource...change motion event directory to the Dropbox directory. Set up the camera in icamsource and enable auto port configuration.

4) Edit the settings in your router to enable uPNP.

5) Change your computer settings so the screensaver locks the screen (requiring password to unlock)...so cleaning crew can't simply turn off icamsource. Of course, this is irrelevant if they unplug your camera or computer. Also make sure that the computer does not go to sleep or hibernate. You should also consider enabling remote management on your computer and setting up dynamic DNS on your system so you can connect to it at any time to change settings remotely if required. You might also consider enabling Wake-On-LAN so you can turn the computer on remotely in case of power outages. If you have a firewall program installed on this computer (which you should since you'll be leaving it on 24-7), make sure you grant permission to all necessary programs (icamsource, dropbox, dyndns updater, remote desktop connection if Windows-based computer, etc). Also make sure this computer has an anti-virus program installed (free for Windows-based computer: Microsoft Security Essentials).

6) Purchase/install the iCam app (make sure to use exactly the same username/password that you used in icamsource)

7) Test to ensure that you are able to view the camera while on the 3g network with your phone (not connected to the wireless network)

If you can't view the camera, then you will need to set up manual port forwarding (find instructions in this forum...not easy for computer/networking newbies).

[pwr1286]

Very detailed information, that's great!  Can I have your recommendations on the system you would set up if no computer will remain on-site?  Since we are mostly off-site and there are renters or nobody present, I do not wish to leave a computer at the property.  I had hoped to use an internet camera with a remote on/off feature.  Thank you.

[OUAnthony]

You will need an IP camera that has mjpeg video feed. If you get one of the Airlinks that the SKJM guys recommend (one with a microphone), you can get audio...although, from previous posts, it sounds like the audio quality is marginal at best. Anyway, this is what you need to do:

1) Purchase an IP camera (mjpeg, 640x480 resolution). Wired is best/most consistent...but wireless might be best in your situation. Just make sure you read reviews concerning the wireless performance. Most likely, you'll want to install the camera somewhere fairly close to the wireless router. Most/all wireless IP cameras also have a RJ45 port so you can wire it if the wireless performance is bad. I use a Dlink DCS-920 myself, but I have it wired. I got it for $40 on sale. The image quality is decent. Many of the cheaper cameras have a not-so-obvious focus adjustment...you twist the piece of plastic around the lens. No audio possible on any IP cameras except a couple of the Airlinks.

2) Register for a free DynDNS account @ http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/

3) Set up your camera (before mounting it). You will need to take a laptop with you in order to set up the camera. You will want to assign the camera a static IP address. Also, during the setup process, you will want to enter the dynamic DNS information into the camera's settings page. I know my DCS-920 supports dynamic DNS, although I have never tested it to confirm that it works correctly, as I have a DNS updater running on my computer. I would also create a free hotmail or gmail e-mail account that you can have the camera send images to (good as a backup in case your computer at home running icamsource loses connectivity with the remote camera). This e-mail account will likely receive quite a few e-mails with images attached, so it will fill up quickly...which is why you probably don't want to use your existing e-mail addy. Some cameras (such as mine) will allow you to turn off the LED light, which makes it less annoying, but also a little less obvious that a camera is present. Just make sure to add to your rental agreement (in big bold type) that an Internet camera is present for security purposes AND recording unless the renter unplugs the power adapter from the wallt during the stay. If you provide a checklist for when they are checking out, you might put "Plug IP camera back in" or something like that. I'd also verbally go over this, as you'd want to avoid awkward situations which are bound to arise if the camera isn't unplugged.

4) Mount your camera...make sure it's within reach of a power outlet! Make sure it's pointed where you want it pointed (and away from beds, bathrooms, etc, since it's a rental). Also make sure that the mount adjustments are tight so the camera position doesn't change while unplugging, etc.

5) In your router, you will need to set up port forwarding for the IP camera. I haven't done this, but I'm assuming if you forward external TCP port 180 to local port 80 of the static IP address of your IP camera, that should work. You should also enable uPNP in the router...at least temporarily for step 6.

6) Download/install icamsource/dropbox on your laptop for testing purposes (refer to previous post for info on this). Later, if desired, you can install it on a different computer at your home. When adding the camera to icamsource, you will want to use your dyndns URL with the mjpeg link incorporated into it. Let's say your camera's assigned local IP address is 192.168.2.100. In your router, you forwarded external port 180 to port 80 of your camera. Port 80 is the port used for http and isn't required by default. In other words, while on the local network, you can type 192.168.2.100 and access your camera. However, when connecting over the Internet, you can't use that IP address (you will use your dyndns URL instead) and you must specify the port as 180. Let's say you're dyndns URL is pwr1286.gotdns.com. When adding the camera to icamsource, you would type pwr1286.gotdns.com:180 (note the ":180" at the end...that's the port # that you are forwarding to the camera). After that, you will still need to specify the exact link to the camera's video feed. So now the camera URL might look like this: pwr1286.gotdns.com:180/video.cgi

The exact URL for the video feed will vary by camera. There's a link on these forums somewhere that will help you determine the link for the video feed. Just remember to change the IP address to your dyndns URL followed immediately by ":180" (without quotes).

7) Once you get the camera set up in icamsource, click start and see if you can see the camera in the icamsource window. If you can, then it is set up correctly. Once it's set up correctly, then open iCam on your phone and make sure you can see it over the 3g network. Now your system should function properly...but you'll need to make sure you enable uPNP on any router of any network that this laptop is on (or whatever computer you use to run icamsource)....OR you can try disabling auto-config router in icamsource and see if it still works properly. I would only do this if you are on a network that you can't control (like while on vacation, etc).

[pwr1286]

Again, thank you for your time and detailed explanation.  Lots of techy lingo, but I'll follow your steps and see what happens!  I'm excited over this technology.  If it functions as I hope, this will give my wife and I some peace of mind that is currently lacking