In the age of modern technology, there are a huge number of different devices. It sounds very mysterious that the purpose of one can be reproduced by another device. Today you can make a surveillance camera from an old phone. Of course, not from anyone, but only from a smartphone, even if it’s cheap. The main thing is the presence of a camera in it, which will broadcast the image to a computer.
Options for using the phone as a camera
- Tracking a small child and his condition. We can say that the camera in this case acts as a nanny.
- Track cooking. For example, do not miss when the water begins to boil or some dish is cooked.
- Observation of activities inside the house.
- Watching your yard.
- Vehicle Safety Tracking.
First way
How to make a video surveillance camera from a phone using software? Be sure to have Wi-Fi at home, since both devices must be connected to it. Also, you need to install the DroidCam Wireless Webcam program from the Play Market on your smartphone, and DroidCam Client on the computer. These applications will provide synchronization between the phone and the PC. Programs are freely available on the network, so downloading them will not be a problem.
First you need to run the application on the phone and copy its data: IP address and port number. These values should be entered into the program on the computer. Thus, the two devices will find each other and will interact.
To start the broadcast, you just need to click the "Start" button and the recording will begin. The smartphone will work even when the screen is locked. It is best to keep the phone constantly on charge so as not to lose touch. The program on the PC also has the ability to control the camera: adjust the flash, take screenshots, as well as zoom in or out on the image.
This option can be a way to make a video surveillance camera from your phone. However, consider another option.
Second way
The possibilities of this option are similar to the previous one: you can adjust the scale, take photos, set the flash. You can also record video, but the recording is done for a maximum of 120 minutes, after which it is interrupted in order to save memory. As in the previous paragraph, broadcasting is possible with the phone display locked. An addition will be the recording of sound during video broadcasting. IP Webcam is available on the Play Market. It will become another solution to the question of how to make a video surveillance camera from a phone.
The connection scheme is the same as in previous programs: you should enter data from one device to another, and also connect them to one network. After synchronization, the remote broadcast will work in full.
Useful Tips
Of course, many people care about the question of how to make a video surveillance camera out of an old telephone. However, not everyone thinks through their actions to the smallest detail. Consider the main ones:
- When equipping a smartphone as a camera, it should provide uninterrupted power to it, as well as continuous communication with the network to which the computer is connected. The smartphone will have to work for a long time, so its battery will require a lot of energy.
- Install the device so that it does not attract the attention of passers-by. This is especially true when the phone is located on the outside of the house, where many people go. A noticeable smartphone can easily provoke a person to steal (of course, you can notice this from the notes, but you should not specifically seek such a situation). In this case, it is better to cover the device or install it in a hard-to-reach place.
- As a camcorder, it is best to use inexpensive or old smartphones. There is always a risk that the device will fall or some unforeseen situation will happen to it, and losing an expensive device is not very pleasant.
In this article, the basic and effective ways to make a video surveillance camera from a phone were considered. Such improvisation of devices will save on special devices, which are many times more expensive.