Anyone using wireless cams?

NoBarriers

Well-Known Member
I am going to be away from one of my grows for a most of the week. I set up an automated watering system but I need to be able to monitor the room. I am just over an hour away so I can go to the house if there is a problem. I looked at several reviews and am still am undecided. I'm looking for something low cost. Anyone using one or have suggestions.

Thanks.....
 

hunter21312

Well-Known Member
It's funny you mentioned this because i was going on vacation awhile back and had the same problem. I got me a water pump and some about 20ft of 1/2 inch tubing and just pumped it to my pots...Or you can get a gravity built one without any motor just put it about your pots..And for the monitor thing you can easily get a small camera to put inside your grow room/tent and watch it wireless while your away. They will cost you prolly $200..Pretty cool though you can watch your grow on your phone lol its tight!
 
I'd recommend the Foscam FI8910W. It's inexpensive, easy to setup, can be access from any computer with an internet connection, or your Apple/Android mobile devices; just be sure to setup port forwarding on your router and choose a non-default port when you setup the camera! It has a great picture as it's 480 resolution, includes audio in case you're trying to listen for pumps running, etc. You can also pan and tilt and has an outstanding night mode. Most importantly, it mechanically adjust incoming light so you don't end up with over-saturation when your lights are on.

Furthermore, it can be used in wireless or wired mode and has a password-protected interface. The wireless is also compatible with WPA2...if you put it on the wireless network, you'll need to be sure your wireless network is secured. If you're monitoring your special tomato plants, you might want to consider just using the wired option to eliminate some minimal security concern, if you can pull that off.

Foscam also has a newer model that uses H.264 compression and even higher resolution, but they cost much more and current firmware is reported to provide for an unreliable and low resolution picture, not to mention reports of poor performance in low light. I don't recommend you waste your money on this model.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention, it has two-way audio so you can talk to your ladies, if you're in to that.

Just my $0.02.
 

ryan1918

Well-Known Member
Just use your laptop with a webcam, have it plugged in, and connect to it from your cell phone.
 

NoBarriers

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the responses. I ordered the foscam on amazon for $85 with free shipping. I'll update when I get it up and running..
 

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
check out smarthome.com, i use a web cam in my room with tilt, pan, and zoom and can see everything. i also have my green lights hooked up so i can turn them on wirelessly and a wifi to infrared adapter for controlling my my minisplit, all from my tablet.
 

CC Dobbs

Well-Known Member
I have many hidden, wireless cameras but I can't tell you what I use them for. Hint....... I'm a Catholic priest.
 

DrGribble

Well-Known Member
I am leaving the state to play in some tournaments for a few days to a week coming up in the near future and was kind of concerned as well since my better half wants no responsibility in upkeep if needed for a few days so I am trying to setup a more automatic watering system as well but I am starting to really worry I will come back and all my plants will be dead or runoff will take over my floor... oh boy...

I thought about having a Webcam in there so I can just login to a server and see what's up but I don't have the time nor money to get that going before my tournaments so that's unfortunately not an option early enough... sure would offer piece of mind though to monitor everything from afar.
 

misterT

Member
I got the Dlink wireless cam at staples. Not bad. Can view it from the phone. (Although I don't endorse Mitt's Staples)
 

NoBarriers

Well-Known Member
Just an update the foscam is up and running and it's awesome. It was a pain in the ass to set up because I don't have any IT experience but they will remotely set it up for $40. If I had to do it again I'd just pay. I can pan and look at my grow and keep an eye on temps and humidity.
 

yesum

Well-Known Member
I have many hidden, wireless cameras but I can't tell you what I use them for. Hint....... I'm a Catholic priest.
You are a Boy Scout leader.

The priests were almost out in the open about all that. Rite of passage.
 
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