how to watch your home from your phone

[rubinscube]

I thought someone might like this post. It's a way to check in on your home with live video while away and make sure that it's still there, or even catch the dog eating your shoes.
I have tried this on the browser that came with the Eris phone and the dolphine browser, both work fine. there is no sound but that wasn't on the top of my list.

what you need:

USB webcam (cheap cause you aint getting high quality)
internet
Yawcam (freeware)


1. install USB webcam
2. make sure you are online
3. download and install Yawcam Yawcam - Download
4. start Yawcam
5. select a device (your webcam)
6. select a method of transmitting signal, ftp,http,stream, etc... (I used the Yawcam streaming setting to transmit my webcam signal becuase it was the easiest to understand.)
7. in the Yawcam program click the "help" and then go to "what's my url?" and it will bring up a browser page and the address for streaming.
8. copy this address of numbers and email to your phone. ( I just sent it to myself via gmail and then opened gmail on my phone)
9. click on the address link while Yawcam is running and there ya go.

try playing with the quality settings in Yawcam's output to get the best video and size.
I hope this helps someone

 

[aleis]

i use x10 home automation and i just found out i need to get another $50 cord for my cam since i have windows 7 now!!
so...i`ll give this one a try when i get home.
this is the only thing missing from my x10 setup

 

[johflo88]

@rubin5755: thanks for the yawcam tips, it works like a dream.Now i can watch my house from my wedcam pointing to the driveway from my window on my pc.
I recommend anybody to try it for fun on any phones.

 

[rubinscube]

I am glad it works for you if your image pauses, just hit refresh on the browser. I made sure I had a continues moving fan or blinking (toy) in the background to give me a reference that I was still streaming live. I am thinking about picking up one of those bicycle flashers to put in the background.

i use x10 home automation and i just found out i need to get another $50 cord for my cam since i have windows 7 now!!
so...i`ll give this one a try when i get home.
this is the only thing missing from my x10 setup

do you have to upgrade a lot of previous win 32 vista pc equipment if you go to win7?

 

[HanSolo]

Oh, I see that so many are so worried about being able to keep track of possible abuse of their children by nannies or perhaps catching the poor dog eating a loafer or two.

But methinks that many of you are wanting to see if your significant other is cheating on your vow of marriage! Hee hee hee.

Just be sure to NOT post it on the internet, whatever you find. That would not be pleasant. Keep it in the home, always.

Mod Edit: This not helpful or on topic, please refrain from posting if your are simply flaming or trying to cause an argument

 

[rubinscube]

Oh, I see that so many are so worried about being able to keep track of possible abuse of their children by nannies or perhaps catching the poor dog eating a loafer or two.

But methinks that many of you are wanting to see if your significant other is cheating on your vow of marriage! Hee hee hee.

Just be sure to NOT post it on the internet, whatever you find. That would not be pleasant. Keep it in the home, always.

how does this help other members with video streaming?
please use the "lounge forum" for unrelated social comments.

 

[vido.ardes]

I have moved this to the lounge, as it has nothign specific to the Eris and is more of a general topic across android platforms

 

[HanSolo]

I have moved this to the lounge, as it has nothign specific to the Eris and is more of a general topic across android platforms

Ah thank you! I like this lounge!

 

[johflo88]

@rubin5755: I just now installed on my laptop.my wife's pc and the iphone 3g simultaneously and it works flawless. I am sure it will work on the Droid,oh, Milestone when it arrive in Canada early 2010 officially.I can't wait to get my hand on it.
Thanks again and for those who haven't tried, i recommend it.

 

[aleis]

I am glad it works for you if your image pauses, just hit refresh on the browser. I made sure I had a continues moving fan or blinking (toy) in the background to give me a reference that I was still streaming live. I am thinking about picking up one of those bicycle flashers to put in the background.



do you have to upgrade a lot of previous win 32 vista pc equipment if you go to win7?

no just the va11a cord for the camera. you have to get the va12a for $45!!
no biggie but it would have been nice if...ya know!
anyways, they also updated the active home pro software for windows 7

 

[jsp_1983]

Great idea - I'm looking at something like this as a use for my old desktop.

I'm just wondering, though - are you able to apply any security to it? I'm not very familiar with the software!

 

[rubinscube]

maybe, I think Yawcam has a motion setting and a capture setting that would email you or upload a picture to a ftp site, but I didn't look that deep into it. if you are just looking for a program that captures images when it sense motion and then emails you the images, search for free software under "security surveillance" at Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com. then check your gmail on your droid. hope this helps

 

[detroid]

Doing something like this is weird.

 

[rubinscube]

Doing something like this is weird.

I like it because I live in an apartment, and last month their was a fire in an apartment complex next door. also, our rental policy allows the manager to inspect while you are not at home for "heating maintenance problems", we live in a very cold area during the winter. it doesn't always have to be a perverted or weird reason to monitor your home, it just seems that evolution is slowly removing honesty and morals from the human genome. just my opinion.


happy holidays

 

[IOWA]

Awesome post!

 

[atistang]

pretty sweet

 

[kg6epf]

I love being able to check up on my home while I'm away. It's nice to be able to see that pets are doing well and all is OK even if I'm across the country.

I use the "PhoneMyPC" app. It lets me see and control my desktop from anywhere. I like so much that I bought a goofy "USB Missile Launcher Webcam" so I can pan/tilt and look around the room, all from my phone.

Goofy and geeky, but did the job for me.

 

[nateo200]

Just gave this a try but curious about the security of this all. I remember the days when I ran an HTTP file server but I always had a password on it unless it was just files I was linking a friend too. any one know??

 

[rubinscube]

Just gave this a try but curious about the security of this all. I remember the days when I ran an HTTP file server but I always had a password on it unless it was just files I was linking a friend too. any one know??

I doubt it's secure at all, but that is not an issue if you are using for certain things, and use common sense. I wouldn't show an image of my house address with the street sign in the background "hey I am not home, come get my stuff". however, they will not know what home they are looking if it's pointed inside your house at the front door or a front room. please read this about unsecured webcams:

this is a link to an article, I do not condone these actions:

Hack to Search and View Free Live Webcam with Google Search My Digital Life

 

[rubinscube]

I thought someone might like this post. It's a way to check in on your home with live video while away and make sure that it's still there, or even catch the dog eating your shoes.
I have tried this on the browser that came with the Eris phone and the dolphine browser, both work fine. there is no sound but that wasn't on the top of my list.

what you need:

USB webcam (cheap cause you aint getting high quality)
internet
Yawcam (freeware)


1. install USB webcam
2. make sure you are online
3. download and install Yawcam Yawcam - Download
4. start Yawcam
5. select a device (your webcam)
6. select a method of transmitting signal, ftp,http,stream, etc... (I used the Yawcam streaming setting to transmit my webcam signal becuase it was the easiest to understand.)
7. in the Yawcam program click the "help" and then go to "what's my url?" and it will bring up a browser page and the address for streaming.
8. copy this address of numbers and email to your phone. ( I just sent it to myself via gmail and then opened gmail on my phone)
9. click on the address link while Yawcam is running and there ya go.

try playing with the quality settings in Yawcam's output to get the best video and size.
I hope this helps someone

just to update that this will work on any browser capable cellphone

 

[midtx350z]

I've used Yawcam before, it's great and easy to use. I'll be trying this on my phone. We're building a new house, so I'll probably be installing a couple of webcams around the house and setting them up with a server.
:-/ We'll see once the house is in its final stages.

 

[sdc177]

Is this still a good way to watch home from away?

Any other suggestions?

 

[PSkeptic]

ZoneMinder + Forwarding port 80 outbound.

You can have many cams, and have a simple web interface to view them all, with motion detect, recording, etc.

 

[laceybeautiful]

i like this type of lounge.

 

[antmon]

hmm, interesting app.... would be better if you could password access the website/streaming cam somehow.

EDIT: nevermind, you can password protect access to the streaming cam via the website...cool cool....