A good webcam solution for monitoring your RV, pets, etc.

[tfirma]

Hello everyone!

One of the issues I really wanted to solve, before I got my first RV a few weeks ago, was how to monitor the outside of my RV - as well as my pets inside the RV - when I was away from my location for a while. I plan to do as much dispersed camping as possible, so I knew I'd have challenges with WIFI, power, etc. if I used a webcam. I figured on using a Dropcam - but as many people know, the bandwidth requirements are substantial if you are using their DVR packages. I think you can get around this, somewhat, by not using the DVR option. However, then I believe you can only view live action after you get an alert for motion/sound. This is still pretty useful, I suppose. But you will potentially missed the actual activity that triggered the motion, since you can only watch the video "live".

So! A new webcam solution came out recently - Homeboy. I had read about it before it launched and had very high hopes. It's completely wireless. It gets charged and then it is supposed to have a 3 month battery life. (I'm skeptical on that claim, but even if it's a few weeks, that's more than enough before having to charge again). The unit does detect and record motion, and can even sound an alarm or perform a few other features. Upon detecting motion, it can do a number of things. It can leverage the IFTTT platform, which allows you to connect other actions/devices. For example, I set it up with a recipe to actually call my cell phone upon detecting motion. It also sends you the clips of whatever triggered the motion detection. it does NOT allow for live viewing, just yet, but it will keep recording any motion that you can then view from your mobile app.

I was mostly interested in the bandwidth requirements. I tested the Homeboy all week using my Verizon JetPack and was really pleasantly surprised how little bandwidth was used. It has a magnetic base, so I put one right above my entry door - and I ordered another one which I'll put inside. It's VERY easy to put up - the wireless aspect of it makes it so simple, and flexible. The app is okay - needs a little work, but definitely does all you'd expect it to do.

I'm going away (my first trip with the RV..ever) this week for 3 days and I'll get to test a real world use of it. So far, I've really been impressed and thrilled that this solution is MUCH more practical than a Dropcam that would require wiring/power and tons of bandwidth.

Sorry for the longwinded post - but over the years I've seen SO many people write and ask about solutions for monitoring their RV or their pets, so I was excited to be able to share what I've found with the Homeboy product. (Honestly, I'm not a rep for the company - but I AM a tech guy and love playing around with gadgets like this).

Of course, I know this solution won't be for everyone - it's missing some features that I would like to see, but I think the app will evolve and they will probably continue to add features in future releases and updates of the app.

I hope this helps anyone that may be trying to find a decent solution for video monitoring. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

[Belgique]

dshinnick wrote:
Well, thanks tfirma! I never knew such a thing existed. I paid the $2, downloaded it, tried it, and it seems to work just fine. Now I only have to convince my wife to leave her phone at home when we go to a museum.....:0)

Assume if your old phone is deactivated you have to do this using wifi? Seems like a good, affordable, option.

I use this device from LaCrosse. LINK. Works well as long as wifi is up. Pricey.

[2012Coleman]

sherlock62 wrote:

Gulfcoast wrote:
Here's a WIRELESS WEBCAM that I like... if you know of one better, please let me know.

Wireless webcam 1

Here, setup wired or wireless

Good one - thanks for posting

[dshinnick]

Well, thanks tfirma! I never knew such a thing existed. I paid the $2, downloaded it, tried it, and it seems to work just fine. Now I only have to convince my wife to leave her phone at home when we go to a museum.....

:0)

[OutdoorPhotogra]

fred mopar wrote:
I would like to find a good web cam so I can check on my house when I am miles away for a month or two. I don't have a phone line to the house now but I might put one back in. I might use it outside or in side to check the temp of the inside the house since the furnace went out last year and some pipes froze up . I did have the water shut off

If you have wifi at the house you don't need a phone line. Lots of indoor and outdoor solutions. Start a new thread and ask the question so this thread doesn't get muddy with RV solutions and home solutions.

[sherlock62]

Gulfcoast wrote:
Here's a WIRELESS WEBCAM that I like... if you know of one better, please let me know.

Wireless webcam 1

Here, setup wired or wireless

[Gulfcoast]

Here's a WIRELESS WEBCAM that I like... if you know of one better, please let me know.

Wireless webcam 1

[Ductape]

These guys have an Android app that monitors a smart phone's internal sensors, and can transmit alarms and pictures.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.valarm.android.pro

I don't have any affiliation with them. I did purchase the app to test on a cheap phone I got from Tracfone. Works as expected, with one glitch- will only alarm once on audio trigger- it should reset and then trigger again at the next sound, but it does not. Have to exit the app then enter it again. When I have time I'll test it on a more mainstream phone to see if that issue resolves.

[tfirma]

dshinnick wrote:
Everybody wants something different... :0)

I'm always concerned about the A/C going out on a hot day with the pooch inside while we're out bumming around. I don't have the Auto-Gen start or I'd use that. I'd like a device that would monitor the current temp and if it goes above a certain level, send me an alert so I can rush back.

The A/C has never gone out on me, but the park electricity has; same effect.

There is another device (very similar to Dropcam and Homeboy) called Canary (yes, I kid you not). That one actually DOES monitor temperature, as well as provide video monitoring. As far as I've been able to tell, the Canary has the same high bandwidth requirements as the Dropcam, otherwise I would have probably used that before selecting the Homeboy.

You might already know this, but there ARE independent temperature monitoring devices that will also work over WIFI or cellular. I may opt to try one of these next season if I know I'll be camping in hot weather. http://goo.gl/G0HVKF

[dshinnick]

Everybody wants something different... :0)

I'm always concerned about the A/C going out on a hot day with the pooch inside while we're out bumming around. I don't have the Auto-Gen start or I'd use that. I'd like a device that would monitor the current temp and if it goes above a certain level, send me an alert so I can rush back.

The A/C has never gone out on me, but the park electricity has; same effect.

[fred_mopar]

I would like to find a good web cam so I can check on my house when I am miles away for a month or two. I don't have a phone line to the house now but I might put one back in. I might use it outside or in side to check the temp of the inside the house since the furnace went out last year and some pipes froze up . I did have the water shut off

[rjsurfer]

I guess I don't understand how the cam communicates to the outside world. If I relies on a wifi signal I find them to be very unreliable especially campground systems. That would eliminate it right there.

So the only other choice is having another cell phone set up in hot spot mode in the camper or purchasing a hot spot just for this device.

Am I correct or as usual I just don't have a clue on how these things work:-)

Ron W.

[wcjeep]

I thought about a pay/go smartphone phone connected by Bluetooth to a temp monitor/alarm system. Could be setup to auto answer by Skype.

Apparently it's excessive for the dog to have her own smartphone. Wife said no.

[amandasgramma]

Thanks, Tom...we'll look into that.

[tfirma]

amandasgramma wrote:
Sounds good however I can imagine the phone calls when the cats start playing in front of the motion detector!!!! Can it be set where only someone over 4 ft tall makes it work?

I probably wouldn't use the "phone call" recipie for the INSIDE of the RV....maybe just the RV. For myself, I want to know if someone comes right up to the entry door. There is a "pet mode" for the Homeboy (and most other webcams have a similar feature). Supposedly it is supposed to intelligently "know" when pet is walking by the cam. I don't know how effective that truly is...

The Homeboy has an "On Demand" feature. So for myself, I'll have a camera set inside the RV, that will not be set for motion detection. But every 30 minutes or so, I'll request a video....so it will send me a 20 second video of what's going on in the RV. For my own purposes, that's a great feature. Like you said, I'd rather not get alerts every time my dogs move around. But if I check in on them every 30 minutes or so, and see everything is okay, I'll have some peace of mind....

🙂

Tom