RKW wrote:
I'm just now trying to wrap my head around this topic, and yeah, I'm drowning in an ocean of variables/choices.
Going beyond the scope of the OP, I'm primarily trying to figure out what I need at my home to monitor what happens in my front yard and who comes and goes to my front door. I was hoping that whatever I settled on for my home would be able to go on the road with me.
Yes, when they start talking about "static IP address", "port forwarding", etc, MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over).
So I looked for easier alternative(s) . . .
- CloudCam IP Camera ($200) -- I use two of these in my RV. They connect using my Verizon UML290 4G LTE USB modem in a CradlePoint 95 router (+ a 40GB data plan). Setup was easy -- no static IP required and no port forwarding setup. The camera is accessed via an iPhone or Android phone app. So you only use broadband data when you access a camera via the phone app. This camera has an SD slot to store recorded video which can be accessed using the phone app. The camera also has motion, sound, and temp sensors. Finally, this is a day & night camera and 2-way audio. LEDs on the camera illuminate the camera area during the night.
- Simplicam ($150 camera + $$$ for video recording plans) -- I bought two of these to monitor our park model. Simplicams are even easier to set up than my CloudCams. My two Simplicams connect to my park model's cable modem, so that's essentially an unlimited broadband data connection. I would NOT recommend using Simplicams (or DropCams) on a limited broadband data plan. Why? Well, you may be able to use this camera if you don't sign up for a Recording Plan. However, if you sign up for a Recording Plan, then your Simplicam (or DropCam) is ALWAYS streaming data (200 - 500 kbps). Simplicams are indoor day/night cameras with 170 degree viewing area (very nice). The cameras have motion and sound detection (+ face recognition if you're on a Recording Plan). You can receive an alert/email when a camera detects motion or sound + you can also set the "sensitivity" of this detection. There is also 2-way audio. Note the the Simplicam does NOT have an SD slot for video recording. You're only going to see past video if you sign up for a Recording Plan.
- DropCam ($200 camera + $$$ for recording plan) -- similar to Simplicam, but DropCams have a 130 degree viewing area.
