Cheap "SECURITY" Camera Work-around

[moosicman]

At our church, everyone and their dog's cousin has a key to get in the building. As we are in the process of incorporating a lot more media and a lot more musical instrumentation there is a lot more "hand candy" in the sanctuary. Nothing is walking off or anything. But our drums, for instance, are getting played when there is nobody around by people who don't know what they are doing and causing some minimal but annoying damage.

So, last summer we got a webcam to broadcast back and fourth a couple of times to some of our missionaries via Yahoo Messenger for VBS and such over the big screens (we haven't bought any good video equipment for our services yet, but its coming as the wheels turn slowly). But anyway, now I got this idea to get the webcam back out and set it up for a sanctuary view and leave it running so that I can view it while at home as a sort of cheap do-it-yourself video surveillance. But I think Yahoo keeps shutting it down for being idle because every time I log in and attempt to view the camera (yes, it is set up under a different user) it shows as not connected and their shouldn't be a reason that the computer is doing this (meaning all power control options are set to run and not turn off while we are away, not even a screen-saver as we just power down the monitor).

I know this seems a bit unorthodox and an unusual work-around that I'm attempting, but I'm just trying to use what we have for now. Plus, I really just need to confirm the suspicions of who we think it may be so that we can go and ask kindly that they not do so, or get recouped for any minor damage that may take place. So my question is this: does anyone have any idea how to keep the webcam up and running, via Messenger or any other program? Or any other ideas? I thought about putting up some notes around while we are away that say, "Smile, you are on camera!" as a preventative measure. But if they are not really on camera and the measure is tested and proved false, then my bluff is called...anyway, just thought I would ask and see. Thanks!!

[justinw]

Hey there,


I found this article recently which allows you to use Skype.



If you have a webcam, and the computers at "Home" and "Away" locations have broadband access, you can set up a Skype security (or observation) application easily.


1. Install Skype: Install Skype 2.5 or later version on the Home and Away computers.

2. Enable Skype Video: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Video (BETA), enable Skype Video.

3. Enable Skype Video auto-run: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Video (BETA), turn on When I'm calling, and activate the "start my video automatically" function.

4. Enable Skype to auto-pickup Incoming Calls: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Advanced > Call, and activate the "Automatically answer incoming calls" function.

5. Setup Privacy: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Privacy, and limit the people who can call in.

Now, you can call the Home computer from Away location through Skype. The Skype program in the Home computer will pick up the call automatically, to start the video session. Just remeber that the Home computer needs to remain on, while you are not at home. And, the webcam needs to be pointed to the location that you want to monitor.

[Paris MkVI]

I'm just unplugging the camera before I play the drums. That's why it isn't working!

;~)

Just kidding.

[moosicman]

LOL...our media/sound room has a lock on the door leading to the staircase to get to it. No access!

[bpalermini]

I spent quite a bit of time researching this sort of product and found a lot that claimed to turn a web-cam into a security cam but most of them are very bad.

I have been using a software package called Active WebCam at work. With it you can set schedules for times an area is monitored and then, when it senses movement in the area, it gets recorded. It saves a movie file that you can review later or you can "broadcast" a stream.

It runs on Windows and costs $29. You can connect multiple webcams to monitor different areas.

[greg4god]

Thank you so much! I was wanting to look into software such as this, but have been putting it off as I didn't have a spare system to test installing programs. I'm going to give this one a try on my windows server though (actually just XP pro doing file sharing to my own computers).

-Greg

[tedanderson]

Do you really need to send it over the web? You could just as easily run an 8-hour VHS or get a hard drive based DVR for less than $100 and just record everything that goes on and review it later and confront them with the evidence if they deny their transgressions. If you go with the webcam option you will have to sit there and monitor everything as it happens.

[bpalermini]

Originally Posted by greg4god

Thank you so much! I was wanting to look into software such as this, but have been putting it off as I didn't have a spare system to test installing programs. I'm going to give this one a try on my windows server though (actually just XP pro doing file sharing to my own computers).

-Greg

Don't be discouraged when it takes you a while to get the settings right. The UI is a bit confusing and you will want to download the manual and actually use it. Once you get it going it's pretty good. You just end up with files in a folder and there will be actual movement in all of them. No need to sort through hours of nothing happening.