How to use Android as a surveillance IP camera

If you, like me, have old unused Android phones or partially NOT working smartphones (for example, with a broken screen), it is quite possible to come up with useful applications for them. One of them. using an Android phone as an IP camera will be discussed in this article.

What should come out in total: a free IP-camera for surveillance, you can see the picture from which you can via the Internet, activated, among other things, by motion in the frame, in one of the options. saving excerpts with motion in the cloud storage. See also: Non-standard ways to use Android phone or tablet.

What you need: An Android phone (in general, a tablet is also suitable) connected via Wi-Fi (via 3G or LTE may not always work), if constant use is expected, this is connecting the phone to a power source, as well as one of the applications for functioning IP Cameras.

IP Webcam

The first of the free applications that can be singled out for turning a phone into a network surveillance camera is IP Webcam.

Among its advantages: broadcast over the local network and via the Internet, many understandable settings in Russian, a decent help system, built-in motion sensor and collection of information from sensors, password protection.

After starting the application, a menu of all its settings will open, at the very bottom of which there will be an item “Run”.

After launch, the screen below will display addresses in the local network.

By entering this address into the address bar of the browser on a computer, laptop or other mobile device connected to the same Wi-Fi router, you will be taken to a page from which you can:

• View camera image (select one of the items in the “view mode”).
• Listen to audio from the camera (similarly, in listening mode).
• Take photo or record from camera.
• Change camera from main to front.
• Download (by default they are stored on the phone itself) to a computer or other device (in the “archive” section).

However, all this is available only if the other device is connected to the same local network as the camera itself. In the event that you need access to monitoring the Internet, you can:

• Use the Ivideon broadcast, implemented in the application itself (you need to register a free account in the ivideon surveillance service and enable the corresponding parameter in the IP Webcam settings), after which you can watch it on the Ivideon website or using their proprietary application, as well as receive notifications when a movement is registered in frame.
• By organizing a VPN connection to your local network from the Internet.

You can get an additional idea about the capabilities and functions of the application by simply studying its settings: they are in Russian, understandable, in some cases they are provided with prompts: there are motion and sound sensors (and recording of excerpts when these sensors are triggered), options to turn off the screen and automatically launching the application, setting the quality of the transmitted and more.

In general. an excellent application for turning an Android phone into an IP camera, in the options of which you can find everything you need, and what is important. with built-in functions for accessing broadcasts via the Internet.

Observing from Android in Manything

I stumbled upon the Manything application by accident, it is still in BETA version, in English and moreover, only one camera is available for free (and paid tariffs mean access to several cameras from Android and iOS devices at the same time). But, at the same time, the functionality in the application is excellent, and some of the available functions, in my opinion, are very useful.

After installing the Manything application and free registration (by the way, for the first month, a paid plan is included with the ability to work 5 cameras, and then it switches to a free one), on the main screen of the application you will see two available items:

• Viewer. to view data from cameras, if you use the application on this device to access the image with it (a list of cameras will be displayed, for each camera there is a broadcast and access to the saved ones). Also in Viewer mode, you can change the settings of the remote camera.
• Camera. for using Android device as a surveillance camera.

After opening the Camera item, I recommend going into the settings, where you can:

• Enable continuous or motion recording (Recording Mode)
• Enable photo recording instead of (Stills Mode)
• Configure the sensitivity of the motion sensor (Sensitivity Threshold) and its detection zones (Detection Zones), if any areas should be excluded.
• Enable sending push notifications to Android and IPhone devices when a motion sensor is triggered.
• Configure data quality and limits when using a mobile network.
• Set the screen to turn off and on (Screen Dimmer, for some reason the default is “Bright on Movement”. turn on the backlight when moving).

After completing the settings, simply press the red record button to activate the camera. Done, monitoring is on and working in accordance with the specified settings. In this case (completely or excerpts when the sensors are triggered) are recorded in the Manything cloud, and access to it can be obtained either through the official website manything.com, or from another device, with the application installed when you open it in Viewer mode (viewing).

In my opinion (apart from the possibility of using multIPle cameras), saving to the cloud is the main advantage of the service: i.e. Someone cannot just pick up your homemade IP camera, leave you the opportunity to see what happened before (you cannot delete Saved Fragments from the application itself).

As mentioned, this is not yet the final version of the application: for example, the descrIPtion states that the camera mode for Android 6 is not yet supported. In my test, I used the device with this OS, in total. saving excerpts when the sensors are triggered works properly, but real-time viewing works partially (from the mobile application in Viewer mode. it works, and through the browser. comments, and checked in different browsers, I didn’t understand the reasons).

Manything can be downloaded from the App Store (for iOS) and from the Play Store for Android here: https://play.Google.com/store/apps/details?Id=com.Manything.Manythingviewer

Of course, these are not all applications of this kind, but from what I managed to find free and functional, with the ability to use Not only in the local network. only these two applications. Lee, not excluding that some of the interesting options I could and will miss.

Step-by-step instructions on how to connect a surveillance camera by phone

Modern software tools allow you to connect digital cameras to most gadgets. The monitor for remote control can be a mobile phone, smartphone or tablet. Many people are interested in how to connect a surveillance camera to a phone.

Devices in monitoring systems are divided into two groups:

• Analog
• Digital

Analog devices transmit a signal over a coaxial cable over a distance of up to 1000 meters without a noticeable decrease in image quality. To monitor an object over the Internet, you will need complex and expensive equIPment that converts a conventional signal to digital format. Such complexes are used at production facilities. Not used in everyday life.

For home remote monitoring via the Internet, IP cameras are used. They work over the Internet Protocol (IP). These are digital instruments with a powerful processor and built-in network interface. They transmit information in TCP / IP format, which can be broadcast over computer networks.

The equIPment has IP addresses, which can be used to receive information from the installation site. Internet protocol allows broadcasting sound from the built-in microphone and control of additional functions of the complex.

• Features of surveillance by phone
• Operating princIPle and system components
• Special cameras
• What you need for remote monitoring
• How to Connect Cameras to Phone for Android and IOS
• Android Apps
• Programs for IOS
• How quickly the device discharges when running applications
• Startup control applications:
• Where can I apply
• IP camera setup
• : Setting up surveillance for smartphone viewing
• Organization of surveillance for viewing on a smartphone
• Online monitoring from the phone via the IP WebCam program
• : Setting up the IP WebCam program
• Phone-camera for secret surveillance of the Internet via Skype
• What are the optimal parameters when broadcasting over the Internet

Setting up the IP WebCam program. Startup control applications:

• Bootmanager
• Systemcleanup
• All-in-One Toolbox

Superuser rights allow you to remove all unnecessary programs from startup. The main consumer of energy is the smartphone screen, so it is advisable to lower the brightness.

Phone-camera for secret surveillance of the Internet via Skype

First, on a mobile phone, which will be used as a camera, Skype is installed with a username and password. Next, “Settings” opens, three items are marked:

• Accept all calls
• Receive calls automatically
• Display call

Further, from another smartphone, where Skype is also installed, you should enter the service and find the user, which is the “hidden” camera. After calling the account, the device will show a picture of the place where the lens is looking.

Android Apps

The Android mobile phone platform is constantly being updated and modified. Many programs do not always meet the declared parameters and often open access to personal data of users to unauthorized persons.

Remote monitoring is part of the security complex of the dwelling, therefore, it is better to use only proven and reliable utilities to connect to surveillance. You can use the following applications to connect the camera to your phone:

• Track View
• Alfred
• Athome Camera

Using Track View, you can remotely control everything that happens at the point of installation of the equIPment, record files and control movement in the area of ​​the sensor.

Alfred software is designed for remote monitoring with simple solutions. An old smartphone can be used as a sensor, which has retained the basic functions.

In this case, one telephone acts as a transmitter. The other is a monitor. To organize surveillance, you just need to install one gadget in the right place, download the application, connect both smartphones to one Google account and turn on the broadcast.

The information can be viewed in the browser of a personal computer. In addition to working in real time, the application allows you to perform the following operations:

• Take pictures
• Store files in the cloud
• Audio communication between devices
• Monitor battery charging

The AtHome Camera app includes two programs. Home Security is installed on the signal transmitter, and Streamer on the monitor device.

An IP camera, a smartphone or a web camera of a personal device can be used as a transmitting device. Channel viewing can be realized in 3G / 4G or Wi-Fi networks.

• Receiving SMS Notified
• Schedule recording
• The possibility of two-way communication
• PTZ camera control
• Saving files to cloud storage

After installing the application on your smartphone, you need to register in the service. After that, access to the main menu opens. The disadvantage of the program is the English-language interface.

When turned on remotely, recording to the SD memory card starts. There is no automatic erasing of files, so the expiration function is enabled to free up space.

Programs for IOS

Apple, the manufacturer of the IPad and IPhone, offers remote control utilities. They are designed to work with IOS. All applications can be downloaded from the AppStore. The following programs are used for this platform:

• Axxonnext
• IP Cam Viewer Basic
• Macroscop

The first program enters IP addresses, server login and password, port and prefix. The program can work with several sensors at the same time. Rotary mechanism and zoom control is provided. You can view the archive, see the map with the established observation points.

IP Cam Viewer Basic is a universal tool that works with any equIPment. Basic functions are included in the free version, but you can only view the archive, control the alarm input / output and listen to the sound through the microphone in the paid version.

The free Macroscop application has a set of useful functions. You can control the view areas, listen to the sound from the microphone, take screenshots and View archive. To work with the archive, just enter the date and time. Before starting work, enter IP addresses, login and password.

Setting up surveillance for viewing on a smartphone. Features of surveillance by phone

Monitoring from a mobile device allows you to ensure the safety of a house or apartment with minimal financial costs. Remote control over the home is included in the mandatory package of the “Smart Home” system.

In addition to security functions, remote monitoring allows:

• Supervise the nanny when caring for a child
• Monitor children when they are alone at home
• Watch pets
• Inspect the area adjacent to the house

Many small business owners use remote monitoring to monitor the work of staff.

For employees, this clause is spelled out in the employment contract. Otherwise, the owner of the cameras will have to answer under Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The digital device is powered by a built-in battery or via a power adapter. When operating from a Li-ion battery, in order to save energy, a camera with a built-in motion sensor is installed in the room.

What you need for remote monitoring

To install an IP camera for remote monitoring, you need the Internet. It can be a Wi-Fi router or a fiber-optic LAN cable. In cities, Internet connection is usually organized by fiber optic cable.

Here cable lines are distributed among the apartments. In rural areas, Internet connection is difficult, but mobile communication in 3G networks is almost everywhere.

modern 4G networks provide high speed data transmission, allow real-time remote monitoring without delay. The following gadgets can be used as monitors for mobile surveillance:

• IPhone
• IPad
• Android, WinPhon and IOS smartphones
• Tablets on Android and Windows platforms