Remote Home Monitoring

[pasusan]

What do you use to monitor your home while away?

Interested in the devices and apps that can be used with a smartphone (and without monthly fees).

Cameras, sensors, etc. :@

[2012Coleman]

Someone I know has the canary remote camera and is quite happy with it.

[sherlock62]

arush19 wrote:
For $99 we use this FujikamWiFi camera. We've been using it for over a year now to keep an eye on the dogs when we're at work. It has panning, microphone and speaker, and motion-sensor recording options. There is no subscription fee.

Cons:
1. Not a theft-deterrent. Anyone can spot the camera and disconnect it (or steal it).
2. Uses WiFi. If your power or internet goes out; it goes out.

I have the Fujikam.Buy here.(Recently bought out by Vimtag) Selling at amazon.com for about $85 today and reviews give it 5 stars. Your number 2 is incorrect as the Fujikam can be set up with either hard wire or WiFi or both. Terrific Device (I have 2) and no monthly subscription fee. Can view what's being monitored from a smartphone app or computer.

[MiataRacer]

I use the Schlage Nexia system. I can control the thermostat, door locks, water heater, lights, and monitor cameras. It also automates lights or other devices. Access is from laptop, iPad, or iPhone.

[MrWizard]

ROY
these posts come up quite often
its not about alarms and break-ins , as much as piece of mind
water pipe breaks, storm damage .. etc..
if they spot something, there is usually a family member or friend that can go over there, and call the plumber or shut things off
or report damage or break-ins to authorities
its a case of Not coming home to unexpected bad news

RoyB wrote:
I question how Home monitoring and RV Monitoring works when no one is around locally for the authorities to contact. When I monitor the local Police Scanner frequencies here when the business areas alarms go off there is always a KEY HOLDER involved.

I suspect local authorities will respond when requested but when no one is around to talk to they will just do an outside security type check and then leave...

The same goes with the RV lots...

Then there you are going down the road somewhere 1000 miles away watching the alarms go off on your cell phone screen???

Who responds and Who lets the local authority folks have access to the property...

To me it has to a more involved Plan than just having alarms...

Roy Ken

[Lantley]

I have Alfred it's an Android app. that's free and uses old cell phone for cameras.
Works well but I decided I really don't want to know whats going on.
I go camping to relax and get away from it all. Do I really need to check out the house every so often?
Every hour or twice a day, either way it's too much. I'd rather not worry too much and let ADT do the work

[Delphi]

Check out Blink.

Battery operated, high quality images and sound, NO MONTHLY FEES!

It's a great system that just got launched.

blinkforhome.com

[pasusan]

OP here... Thanks for the replies - I'm going to start researching the stuff you brought up and will let you know what we do...

[John_Wayne]

Check out Piper

[Orcadrvr]

pconroy328 wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
I built my own, using a raspberry pi (on am azon for cheap). all it has to do was send me an email if it got too cold in the house (heat failure)

Me too! I rolled my own with a few Raspberry Pi's, a Nest and TCP Connected lights.

At the Heart of the Matter

Outside cameras are an inexpensive Zmodo system.
Inside are Tenvis (Foscam clones) -- about $40 each.

All cameras can be accessed via phone apps.

When the doors open or the motion sensor sees motion, I'm notified.

A ups will back up your systems power, if that is a concern. Smartthings.com is basically free,after you purchase the equipment,unless you want to have it send a call to a monitoring center.

[pconroy328]

GordonThree wrote:
I built my own, using a raspberry pi (on am azon for cheap). all it has to do was send me an email if it got too cold in the house (heat failure)

Me too! I rolled my own with a few Raspberry Pi's, a Nest and TCP Connected lights.

At the Heart of the Matter

Outside cameras are an inexpensive Zmodo system.
Inside are Tenvis (Foscam clones) -- about $40 each.

All cameras can be accessed via phone apps.

When the doors open or the motion sensor sees motion, I'm notified.

[Gulfcoast]

Is Smart Things an internet based system?

I would want at least a cellular backup system. Loose power for whatever reason and the internet is the first to go down for a while.

[cmcdar]

Bucky Badger wrote:

cmcdar wrote:
Samsung SmartCam from Amazon. I monitor them (2) with a "SmartCam" app FREE. You can set up or change settings on the cameras remotely. They have a setting for motion detection.

If motion is detected, video is recorded and saved to the internet and you are notified to your cell phone. (FREE !)

I went to my local police department and notified thme of my absence, prior to leaving for the winter. They gave me a number I could call, from out of town, to notify them of any unusual activity in my house.

The most important thing about this set up is that it allows neurotic me to check in on my house anytime.

Great peace of mind!

Can you access the sd card from your phone? As in, check what happened 6 hours or 4 days ago

I have one set up to monitor only. This way I can see what is going on in my driveway/back yard real time. (see if driveway is getting plowed)

The second camera I have set up in my house and set to be motion sensitive. I can look at what is going on 'real time'. If something sets off the motion sensor THEN it will record and upload the video to the internet (google)
for review. At the same time, I get a notice that motion was detected.

[Orcadrvr]

I tried the SimpliSafe system, and was not impressed. We wired each door and window downstairs, as well as a motion detector and a glass break detector.
The problem is that when a sensor shows that a window is open, it is almost impossible to figure out which window if you have more than a few. If someone is coming in to my house in the middle of the night, I would sure like to know exactly where, so I could "greet" him. Me and Mr. Glock, that is.
Plus, the control panel is not back lit, and the characters are so small that they are difficult to read if you need even mild reading glasses.
So I threw it out and got a "Z Wave" system, also very easy to install. Mine is made by Samsung,and goes by the name "Smartthings".
It is accessible with your smartphone, and can be turned on or off remotely. You can add all sorts of sensors, cameras, thermostats, etc.
Very easy to install, and numerous companies make the sensors and the overall Z Wave systems.

[arush19]

For $99 we use this FujikamWiFi camera. We've been using it for over a year now to keep an eye on the dogs when we're at work. It has panning, microphone and speaker, and motion-sensor recording options. There is no subscription fee.

Cons:
1. Not a theft-deterrent. Anyone can spot the camera and disconnect it (or steal it).
2. Uses WiFi. If your power or internet goes out; it goes out.