Best Apps/Software for IP Cameras?
Discussion
I've just bought a Foscam IP camera to play with, I wanted it to replace a baby monitor, but if it doesn't work it'll go in my workshop and get used there.
Anyone got any recommendations for Android Apps? I've got Owlr to start with, but it's a bit faffy compared to just turning on the baby monitor, so the wife is going to complain. With Owlr you have to turn on phone, open App, select camera, then press the mic button to get the sound. When you turn the screen off the sound goes off and you have to start again. I need something that will run with the screen off and ideally with widget controls.
I'd also like to add a motion detection and recording on my PC to monitor this camera, though primarily some others if I get it all working nicely. Any recommendations for that?
Finally, are there any Firestick apps so I can add it to the TV too?
Cheers!
Anyone got any recommendations for Android Apps? I've got Owlr to start with, but it's a bit faffy compared to just turning on the baby monitor, so the wife is going to complain. With Owlr you have to turn on phone, open App, select camera, then press the mic button to get the sound. When you turn the screen off the sound goes off and you have to start again. I need something that will run with the screen off and ideally with widget controls.
I'd also like to add a motion detection and recording on my PC to monitor this camera, though primarily some others if I get it all working nicely. Any recommendations for that?
Finally, are there any Firestick apps so I can add it to the TV too?
Cheers!
I use BlueIris software on my PC to run 3 IP cameras. In over 4 years it has proved to be 100% reliable. Very good motion detection.
It can do all kinds of alerts to other remote devices.
For live monitoring I use the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on a couple of Android devices. It basically mirrors anything that's on the PC screen to the tablet or phone.
It can do all kinds of alerts to other remote devices.
For live monitoring I use the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on a couple of Android devices. It basically mirrors anything that's on the PC screen to the tablet or phone.
Thanks, I got Blue Iris setup last night and it looks pretty good. I've not really explored it yet but it seems packed with stuff, so I'm sure it'll work great. I have the PC out in the workshop and I've a spare monitor and monitor output so I'll get that on the wall for CCTV duties. I'll be loads more productive now I can get outside while son no.1 is still getting himself to sleep!
I can use Remote Desktop too, but I doubt that'll be great for use as a Baby Monitor. I did discover yesterday that if I go into split-screen on my phone I can then turn the phone off without it losing the sound from OWLr, so that might work fine for me.
I'll have a look at that phone App later though as the Wife doesn't have split-screen Android yet.
I can use ChromeCast from my PC to get the video to my other TVs if I need that, so less urgency to find something for my Firestick.
Eventually I'll add some more cameras to the network, any ideas at what point the video will start to cause network issues? Could I run 4 1080p cameras over a 1 gig hard wired network without everything starting to slow down for example?
I can use Remote Desktop too, but I doubt that'll be great for use as a Baby Monitor. I did discover yesterday that if I go into split-screen on my phone I can then turn the phone off without it losing the sound from OWLr, so that might work fine for me.
I'll have a look at that phone App later though as the Wife doesn't have split-screen Android yet.
I can use ChromeCast from my PC to get the video to my other TVs if I need that, so less urgency to find something for my Firestick.
Eventually I'll add some more cameras to the network, any ideas at what point the video will start to cause network issues? Could I run 4 1080p cameras over a 1 gig hard wired network without everything starting to slow down for example?
I use tinyCam Pro - I'm a bit of a stingy b
d when it comes to buying paid apps over using free ones but in this case it's definitely worth it for my Foscam.
ETA Not sure about it working with screen off though - I'm able to move the camera from the tinyCam app and audio works but not sure about other features like motion detection or working in the background... I think there's a free version so you can try using that first.
d when it comes to buying paid apps over using free ones but in this case it's definitely worth it for my Foscam. ETA Not sure about it working with screen off though - I'm able to move the camera from the tinyCam app and audio works but not sure about other features like motion detection or working in the background... I think there's a free version so you can try using that first.
Edited by MarkRSi on Friday 28th July 09:04
I was worried about network and CPU overheads with cameras too.
I'm using an HP gen8 microserver, which has a pretty slow CPU, and gigabit ethernet.
Using the Performance Monitor that comes with WHS2011, my HD cameras are sending about 5mb/s each, so no problems with the network load.
CPU usage is at around 30% with BlueIris running in the background, but that rises to almost 80% when BI is full screen and playing back a recording via Remote Desktop to my iMac. 2 1080p cameras and 1 720p. I might have to upgrade the CPU if I want to add more cameras.
The biggest "problem" is the size of the recorded files, around 500meg per hour per camera if the cameras are constantly recording. Not normally an issue if the motion detection is set up properly - until spiders or the weather get involved at night. The IR built into my cameras lights up spiders webs and rain, which triggers motion detection if there is any wind.
I need to clean the cameras at least once a week.
I'm using an HP gen8 microserver, which has a pretty slow CPU, and gigabit ethernet.
Using the Performance Monitor that comes with WHS2011, my HD cameras are sending about 5mb/s each, so no problems with the network load.
CPU usage is at around 30% with BlueIris running in the background, but that rises to almost 80% when BI is full screen and playing back a recording via Remote Desktop to my iMac. 2 1080p cameras and 1 720p. I might have to upgrade the CPU if I want to add more cameras.
The biggest "problem" is the size of the recorded files, around 500meg per hour per camera if the cameras are constantly recording. Not normally an issue if the motion detection is set up properly - until spiders or the weather get involved at night. The IR built into my cameras lights up spiders webs and rain, which triggers motion detection if there is any wind.
I need to clean the cameras at least once a week.
clockworks said:
The biggest "problem" is the size of the recorded files, around 500meg per hour per camera if the cameras are constantly recording.
What frame rate are you recording at?My CCTV installer dropped mine down from 30 fps to 10 fps and the difference is negligible in quality, but it results in much smaller files being created.
Comparison here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7LYhTPc-Nw
Thanks, that's great stuff. I have a HP Microserver, but it's a few years old now and wasn't very powerful to begin with, so I'll make a note to get a separate box when I have more cameras rather than risking Game of Thrones stuttering! Actually, I have a spare HTPC that would work fine I think.
I don't need always-on on the PC at the moment, so I can just have that on when I'm outside, or file recording either. I think my camera set itself up on Blue Iris at 10fps, but that might be the limit of the camera, it was just a cheap older model to test so isn't HD etc.
By the sounds of it to record 5 or so cameras using motion-only would work OK with a 1Tb hard drive, so something to consider, but not a huge problem. Is it possible to setup a file size limit and culling rules to automatically delete video with the aim to retain as much as possible?
Is there not some sort of spider repellant you can get too?
I don't need always-on on the PC at the moment, so I can just have that on when I'm outside, or file recording either. I think my camera set itself up on Blue Iris at 10fps, but that might be the limit of the camera, it was just a cheap older model to test so isn't HD etc.
By the sounds of it to record 5 or so cameras using motion-only would work OK with a 1Tb hard drive, so something to consider, but not a huge problem. Is it possible to setup a file size limit and culling rules to automatically delete video with the aim to retain as much as possible?
Is there not some sort of spider repellant you can get too?
sgrimshaw said:
What frame rate are you recording at?
My CCTV installer dropped mine down from 30 fps to 10 fps and the difference is negligible in quality, but it results in much smaller files being created.
Comparison here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7LYhTPc-Nw
I think they are set to 12fps.My CCTV installer dropped mine down from 30 fps to 10 fps and the difference is negligible in quality, but it results in much smaller files being created.
Comparison here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7LYhTPc-Nw
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