jmann

I found a cheap $7 usb camera online and set it up in my front window at the house...


Using some free software it records video any time something moves, and I can view it remotely any time. Yeah the quality sucks, but for $7 what would you expect? Plus I get to see any time someone comes to my door, when they were there, what they were driving etc. Not a bad investment.

****EDIT**** this is the camera I am using now: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...tudio_PL2.html I still use the ContaCam software for motion detection, it senses the resolution of the camera installed and is capable of using all of it. Here are some sample pics:

Lt8Che

iTrader: (6)

That isn't too bad for $7. Where did you get it?

jmann

I got it from buy.com... Looks like I paid 7.95 plus $3 shipping for this and a $4 USB extension cable

indowanksta88

iTrader: (1)

OP would you please attach the link of the exact product you purchased? Looks like I will be buying this as well! Thanks in advance.

jmann

Buy.com - 12 Pixel 6 LED Night Vision USB Webcam web camera for PC Laptop,support 1280x1024,Yahoo,MSN,Skype
That is the one I got. I am using software called ContaCam, but it looks like the software only supports resolution up to 640x480. It was a free download so I'm not complaining. The camera does not come with any software of its own, and although it says night vision don't expect that to work. The LEDs on the front do light up with white light, not IR. Daylight is a little too much for this camera so I have a piece of window tint on the window the camera is mounted on. The white of my car is usually too bright to see much of it, it seems like it washes out the picture especially when light is reflected towards the camera from it. This was a good start to getting me what I wanted but if I had to do it over I might shop around for a better camera. I just figured at that price even if it was terrible at least I wouldn't be out too much cash.

dkmesa350z

iTrader: (3)

thanks for the info. that is a good idea.

King_Stee

Good idea! lol

jmann

Also, one of the comments says the camera does not support windows 7, however that is what my machine is running. You might have to find a driver for it.

cereal2k

iTrader: (10)

Thanks for sharing!

ellovesu

Nice bro, why would I never thought of that....?? I am about to set up one since some douche knife my truck's rear tire couple of weeks ago

SwissCheeseHead

iTrader: (6)

Awesome find. There are always dbags walking through our parking lot. I'll have to look into it.

JohnsVert

iTrader: (3)

Not bad at all , very smart idea

G37-Pearl

Great Find .. will look into it soon

thanks bro

Invalid

Does it comes with software to monitor it online or you have to use third party?

jmann

ContaCam does have a webserver built in (Apache/2.0.64 Win32), but I'm not using that. I use Logmein to remotely view and control my computer.