Do you have an old Android smartphone? You can use it as a surveillance camera for the room and for your home.
Do you have an old smartphone that you do not use anymore? You can recycle it, turning it into a video surveillance camera that will have nothing to envy traditional systems for sale. Almost. In any case, undoubtedly, this solution will allow you to save on control cameras. Today we will see the ways to turn the old Android phone into a video surveillance camera.
You can monitor your room, your home, or why not the exterior of the house, so as to keep away any thieves. Although the final result will not be pleasing to the eye like a real IP camera. But without spending a dime, you can turn any smartphone or tablet into a real IP video surveillance camera. In this way, you can control what happens at home or monitor your baby without having to buy expensive and complex devices.
The advantages of video surveillance
Having a video surveillance system in your home has many advantages, especially for those who are often away from home. Not only can you connect from anywhere to see that there are no thieves, but you can also do it to control your children, the elderly and, why not, your animals too. We remind you, however, that to date no authorization is required for the installation of surveillance cameras for private use.
Risks and how to take precautions
Obviously, as in all things, there is also a downside. We must never underestimate the risks associated with such a solution, and take the right precautions so as not to incur serious problems.
In fact, always remember that if you lose the phone and someone finds it, he could literally look inside your house. In the unfortunate event that this happens let’s remember to change immediately the password of the account to avoid, in fact, that a stranger can spy on us.
Changing the password with a certain regularity, in reality, is a highly recommended practice regardless of the theft/loss of the smartphone. In this way, in fact, you also reduce the risk of theft of access credentials to your accounts.
What do we need?
Obviously, the first thing we need is a cell phone that we do not use anymore. If you do not have it, remember that now a smartphone is a few tens of dollars. It may not even be of the latest generation.
Let us remember to place the phone near an electrical outlet. We will, in fact, keep it always connected to the current, to prevent the battery from discharging.
Once you have placed the phone in the place where we want the filming to take place, we need to install an App. On the Google Play Store, you can download as many as you want, you’ll be spoiled for choice!
The best apps to turn your old Android into a security camera and monitor your home in real-time.
In the past, getting a camera team surveillance for home or business was quite an investment. Now, however, we can get mount a spy device with almost no investment. We only need a mobile phone with a camera and an app.
The technology that allows live streaming is adapted to surveillance and security, in this case. We will show you up to seven apps that you can download for free and that will help you to establish a control perimeter.
Home Security Camera WardenCam
This app is quite simple. We have to install it on two devices, as it will happen in other apps that we will see later. Once WardenCam is installed, we choose which of the two devices we want to be a camera and which viewer.
We have the possibility to record up to 48 hours of video, in 480p quality. And where is all that information stored? We are given the option to use Google Drive or Dropbox. Thus, we will have access to recordings from any other device. We can also choose to record up to 1080p, but that can affect the space it occupies, so you have to consider if it’s worth it.
Alfred Home Security Camera
Surely one of the most popular home security apps in the category. It allows you to connect via WiFi, 3G, or 4G, and, thanks to motion detection, when it detects a movement it sends you free messages with photos. With the two-way communication option, you can easily communicate with your loved ones left at home, monitor your baby, or interact with the cat. It also allows you to activate the remote smartphone flash and record video in real-time.
AtHome Camera
This is another great home security video surveillance app for Android users. The most important thing is that the app can transform not only a smartphone or tablet but also an old PC or Smart TV, into a video surveillance system. Actually, there are two Apps: atHome Camera, to be installed on the device that you will use for filming, and atHome Video Streamer, to be installed on the device from which you want to monitor the environment. All connections between the phone and the streaming server are encrypted, which makes them secure and private. It connects via 3G / 4G or WiFi, and, if it detects movement, sends instant push notifications. Also here is bi-directional audio as well as Pan / Tilt / Zoom- to remotely control camera movements. You can also schedule the times to shoot.
Download AtHome Camera App Here
Ip Webcam
This is another popular app to turn your old Android into a home security camera. The App allows you to see with a VLC player or web browser everything that resumes your smartphone. It supports video streaming via WiFi. It connects to the WiFi network and is equipped with a motion detector. During setup, you can configure various settings including video resolution, power saving options, sound mode, and so on. It supports video chat (video flow only for Windows and Linux via a universal streaming MJPEG driver)
The App does not end here! There are so many and we cannot list them all, but if they are not enough, you can find many of them by yourself through your app store. Good video surveillance!
IP WebCam – Android phone into a video surveillance
IP Webcam-Acid uses a fairly simple interface with symbols reminiscent of those of Google. As in other apps, we started having to configure the camera or the viewer. When setting up the camera, we are given an identification number so that we can locate it later from the viewer. Unlike other apps, IP Webcam-Acid allows you to use both the rear and the front camera.
Here there is no record of any kind, just an ID number with which we connect both cameras. The recording limit is in the memory of the phone itself. It is a simple app, without complications.
With this selection you have all kinds of apps available, to make your home or your business an impregnable fortress. You can also turn your old Android into a webcam for PC. One last piece of advice: keep your phone always connected to the network, or else your surveillance will be short-lived.