Forum Discussion

msmith1199's avatar
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2017

Wireless Hotspot for Security Camera

I just moved my motorhome to a new indoor storage location where I have power in my unit. I also have good Verizon LTE coverage on my cell phone. I'm thinking of getting the Verizon Jetpack mobile hotspot to put inside the storage unit and then put a couple of Wi-Fi cameras in there hooked to it. The unit is about 75 miles from home so I need the Jetpack to remain turned on and connected to the cameras.

So the questions, will this work? I've looked through the manual for the jetpack and they don't discuss this type of use. Obviously it can't run on just the battery so I need to leave it plugged in, but there is nothing in the manual that talks about leaving it plugged in long term. Also looks like there is a Sleep Mode in the diagram it only shows a go to sleep setting of 5 minutes or 15 minutes. Then it says to push the on button to get it out of sleep mode. Obviously I can't drive 75 miles to push the on button so if I log into the cameras from the outside does that take it out of sleep mode? Or can sleep mode be turned off? Anybody got one of these?
  • ncscz's avatar
    ncscz
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2017
    Bill.Satellite wrote:
    The cameras will be broadcasting at all times unless you can remotely turn the camera on and off which seems unlikely when you are trying to use it in this manner. Whether you are viewing the pictures or not, the cameras will be eating up all your data.


    Depends on the camera. IP cameras are available that record to internal microSD card, but do not send across the network (Sharx, TriVision, HikVision are some of more popular). It will send stills or video. The sending can be to an email address, ftp server, http/https server, Dropbox account. It will send the data by a fixed schedule, or when triggered by motion.

    If you enable the port forwarding, you can access the live view with a username/password. If you use this feature, you have to create an account with one of the DDNS services (free for most uses). It records all the time but uses no data unless you have it sent some where or login to the camera.
  • RCMAN46's avatar
    RCMAN46
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2017
    You can use the Stick-up Cam that Ring Doorbell offers. It only records motion plus has a live video that can be activated with your Smartphone.

    I use them with good success but have had to use a regular internet connection as discussed next.

    There is a problem with the Verizon Jetpack.

    I tried one to monitor my winter home in Arizona. After a month the Jetpack shut down. I have tried the jetpack when I am home and had the jetpack shut down after a month several times.

    Verizon said the only way to reactivate the Jetpack was to turn the Jetpack off and back on. Not possible when you are 900 miles away.
  • Gulfcoast's avatar
    Gulfcoast
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2017
    I've had around six verizon hotspots over the years and I never had one that would stay on 24/7. They all lost connection at some point every week, no matter how they were set.
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2017
    I have a DLink web cam connected to an AT&T Unity hotspot in our cottage. It does go through data approx 4 to 6 GB per month. With the ATT Unlimited plus plan we don't have to worry about the data. It works well, can login to the DLink site and see what's going on at any time.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2017
    The cameras will be broadcasting at all times unless you can remotely turn the camera on and off which seems unlikely when you are trying to use it in this manner. Whether you are viewing the pictures or not, the cameras will be eating up all your data.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2017
    gemert wrote:
    You will burn through 10 gbs in no time. With ATT hotspots you really get unlimited data only managed on busy towers after 22 gbs. No throttling like Verizon. Look at ATTs Mobly connected car system. 20 a month for unlimited. Get it soon though.


    I'm not going to leave it on watching the video feed live all day. It's just for checking in on occasion. Based on my research it does not burn data when used like that.
  • lynndiwagon's avatar
    lynndiwagon
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2017
    I don't know anything about Verizon so take the rest of this with a grain of salt. On my AT&T hotspot I can leave it on indefinitely as long as it is plugged in. If I lose ac power the battery takes over and will last a long time. There are several cameras that will do what you want....they are hosted. This means that you don't have to mess around with port forwarding, etc. Look up "Cloudcam." They don't use data unless you are accessing them. Good luck.

    Look here.
  • gemert's avatar
    gemert
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2017
    You will burn through 10 gbs in no time. With ATT hotspots you really get unlimited data only managed on busy towers after 22 gbs. No throttling like Verizon. Look at ATTs Mobly connected car system. 20 a month for unlimited. Get it soon though.

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