Web Cam - is this possible

[ragdogs]

I am thinking it is but what is the best/smartest way to ddo it.

I am asking for a friend that travels up and down to South Carolina and Florida from Ontario. They travel with dogs and one has health issues and they can't leave alone. They were thinking of getting a web cam in their RV and using their phone to view what's going on if they were in a restaurant etc. there is one major issue that I can see would be roaming charges would cost them a small fortune. They are looking at their data plans to see what their options are.

Some questions:

What would be the best set up?
Would it be more cost effective to get a US data plan? Is that possible to buy one for 30 days at a time?

Thanks for any help

[ragdogs]

Thanks for all responses I have passed on the info.

[wcjeep]

I should clarify, no cloud based storage. That increases the cost and data.

[wcjeep]

I use Alfred to check on the dog at home using spare devices. I have also used it while at dinner with the dog in the camper. I turn one of our active phones into a monitor. Use the wife's phone to remote view. I do not use a cloud based solution. Actual data usage is very low. You could use a pay as you go phone in the camper. Then remote view from your phone. Be sure to connect to external battery source. I would use a cell battery pack to power the phone while away. Save the RV battery. Alfred does allow the user to talk through the phone. I do not talk thru the phone. I don't want to induce anxiety.

[DwnSth]

rk911 wrote:

DwnSth wrote:
If you can swing a spare phone, no need for a hotspot and plenty of apps to use. I currently use 'Dog Monitor' Which allows video and sound...

I just downloaded and tried the 'Dog Monitor' app...and it seems to work. have to play with it more but it seems to do that job. how do you mount your phone/tablet in such a way to monitor the dog without the dog knocking it over?

I have a generic phone stand that I can position the phone in any way I want. Usually leave it on counter.

[bgum]

Rk911 asked the amount of data used in 4-8 hours.
I really don't know. We purchase a 2 gig card for a two week trip and check on the pet every 30 minutes or so depending on the temperature. We use it when we are out for meals or shopping and other places the pet isn't welcome. It only takes a minute or two to check then logout. We have never Reached our limit. Only buy data when traveling. We also use the Nest cam at home so name and password is same for hotspot and home router. We unplug move and replug without having to enter in system.

[rk911]

DwnSth wrote:
If you can swing a spare phone, no need for a hotspot and plenty of apps to use. I currently use 'Dog Monitor' Which allows video and sound...

I just downloaded and tried the 'Dog Monitor' app...and it seems to work. have to play with it more but it seems to do that job. how do you mount your phone/tablet in such a way to monitor the dog without the dog knocking it over?

[hedge]

Thanks for the explanation, I didn't know they treated mobile devices differently

[GordonThree]

hedge wrote:

GordonThree wrote:

hedge wrote:
I would be careful with anything that is 'cloud based' it will likely use the bandwith constantly.

If you used more of a traditional method and use the built in web server of the camera with port forwarding it would only be using data while you are connected to it. just not sure if port forwarding is possible with those hotspots like on a traditional soho router.

None of the big 4 give you a public IP, at least, not on a consumer grade plan.

Not sure I know what a public IP is, do you mean static IP? dynamic dns services exists to keep it up to date so you can find your server.

With most land-line isp your router at home gets a public IP, that is, one that is routable on the public Internet, reachable from anywhere.

Cellular carriers stopped giving out public IP quite some time ago, since there's so many devices and public IP addresses are rather expensive. You instead get a private IP address that only works on the carrier's network. Requests get matched up using network address translation at a network concentrator for the carrier.

See here for more information:
What is a public ip address

[hedge]

GordonThree wrote:

hedge wrote:
I would be careful with anything that is 'cloud based' it will likely use the bandwith constantly.

If you used more of a traditional method and use the built in web server of the camera with port forwarding it would only be using data while you are connected to it. just not sure if port forwarding is possible with those hotspots like on a traditional soho router.

None of the big 4 give you a public IP, at least, not on a consumer grade plan.

Not sure I know what a public IP is, do you mean static IP? dynamic dns services exists to keep it up to date so you can find your server.

[bcsdguy]

I wonder if the old Home network could be made to do this. Your computer in the trailer is the server going to your wireless router to a pad or your phone. You would create a HAN network. Maybe it wouldn't work with cameras but it would be nice if someone could come up with something like it. Anybody out there have suggestions?

[GordonThree]

DwnSth wrote:
If you can swing a spare phone, no need for a hotspot and plenty of apps to use. I currently use 'Dog Monitor' Which allows video and sound. Also use Valarm to track temp with a remote sensor but it's a bit more involved to set-up. What I do like about Valarm is the ability to text/email when temp is out of range or sound (barking) is recorded. Between the two apps, I'm pretty comfortable with the dogs in camper and know I can peek at them anytime.

Would work with any data plan and I've never experienced much data use. Video is only using data when active.

This option is a good one. With the new contract-free multi-line plans from the big 4, it shouldn't cost too much either.

[GordonThree]

hedge wrote:
I would be careful with anything that is 'cloud based' it will likely use the bandwith constantly.

If you used more of a traditional method and use the built in web server of the camera with port forwarding it would only be using data while you are connected to it. just not sure if port forwarding is possible with those hotspots like on a traditional soho router.

None of the big 4 give you a public IP, at least, not on a consumer grade plan.

[DwnSth]

If you can swing a spare phone, no need for a hotspot and plenty of apps to use. I currently use 'Dog Monitor' Which allows video and sound. Also use Valarm to track temp with a remote sensor but it's a bit more involved to set-up. What I do like about Valarm is the ability to text/email when temp is out of range or sound (barking) is recorded. Between the two apps, I'm pretty comfortable with the dogs in camper and know I can peek at them anytime.

Would work with any data plan and I've never experienced much data use. Video is only using data when active.

[hedge]

I would be careful with anything that is 'cloud based' it will likely use the bandwith constantly.

If you used more of a traditional method and use the built in web server of the camera with port forwarding it would only be using data while you are connected to it. just not sure if port forwarding is possible with those hotspots like on a traditional soho router.