monkey's I am looking for suggestion for a inexpensive software based video surveillance system that can run multipe USB and or IP wired or wireless cameras including IR cameras. I would lke to use a spare laptop, free software(if possible like iSpyconnect or ContaCam) starting with a USB webcam I have and add on IP wired or wireless cameras as needed. Anyone been up this tree before?
I settled on Webcam 7 or Webcam XP about 5 years ago because it could control just about every webcam known to mankind, for more than 16 cams it will get flakey. Rancher
Yes except I paid $120.00 for it, the free upgrade is only good for 2 years, I need $49.99 to upgrade it again. Has good motion detection, logs to hard drive, deletes after 3 days I think... Rancher
I agree with the free software,... if it works. The free software that comes with Cisco cams and with D-link cams and Foscam only work with their cams, I would be interested in a free software to try, but I can say Webcam 7 works until it crashes, but then again I never did any upgrades, weird thing is that when it crashes on the computer, it is still saving motion detected video to the hard drive. Webcam 7 web site says they have a free version, it is probably crippled, but it may be what you need. Rancher
You can run a Foscam (or other) and access via Web UI. I have some cameras around my house but don't use any specific software to access them. I never allow access from external to my netwok though since I don't trust the camera's firmware. I have a mobile app that connects to the cameras internal webserver and can also call it up at 192.168.1.xx from any networked PC
Thx Melbo Been looking at the IP based Foscams cuz my house is all wired with cat 6 to every room which makes it easier.
Monkeys beware! As M suggested IP cams should not be trusted. Chinese IP cams are notoriously bad. Matter of fact some bad vendors were caught selling IP cams with malware onboard Surveillance cameras sold on Amazon infected with malware | ZDNet edit:: devices with malware, insecure and buggy firmware are being sold through marketplaces other than amazon