Got an old Android phone in the drawer doing nothing?Turn it into a surveillance cam

Shawn · 20th August 2015, 12:06

Daughters about to go on her Hols so digging out an old phone again to set it up as a surveillance camera for her home.
Just go on Google Play and get a "Surveillance camera" app on two android devices and your done. I always create a new google email just for the job.
Then both she and us can just drop in on the camera from anywhere in the world and have a look. You can even talk through them,or back up motion detection to a dropbox.
Just thought I'd share!

Jules · 20th August 2015, 12:20

Yep can't understand folk throwing old phones away.

The list is endless what they can be used for:

Dashcams, web cams, extra music devices/players, torches, games. spirit level, voice recorder, heart monitor, calculator, signal generator.

Thanks for your App tip

Shawn · 27th August 2015, 09:29

I went with this app in the end as its completely FREE,it says its add supported but since I have root and Adaway I'm not seeing any.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...rackview&hl=en
Has a nice feature were by you can remotely switch the flash on of the phone being used as a camera so it goes from total darkness to full visibility

It "says" it records when motion is detected or a loud noise heard but it does this on the camera end and it seems likely to me that that would get stolen along with the evidence.

I say "says" because I've not been back to the empty house to check the footage,that will be a week or so.You can talk back through it like Skype as well.

coab · 23rd September 2015, 20:40

All my old phones have kippered batteries tho!

Kennyeth · 24th September 2015, 05:20

I tried this with an old phone, left it on charger and it got so hot I unpluged and not tried it since.
It did work fairly good though.
Ken.

Shawn · 24th September 2015, 07:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kennyeth

I tried this with an old phone, left it on charger and it got so hot I unpluged and not tried it since.
It did work fairly good though.
Ken.

I put the one at my daughters inside a glass candle holder on the floor. It was on for a week but I wasn't there to see how hot it got. Was OK when I switched it off though.

20th August 2015, 12:06	#1
Shawn Banned Connoisseur SE MK2 diesel auto Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 369 Thanks: 50 Thanked 30 Times in 25 Posts	Got an old Android phone in the drawer doing nothing?Turn it into a surveillance cam Daughters about to go on her Hols so digging out an old phone again to set it up as a surveillance camera for her home. Just go on Google Play and get a "Surveillance camera" app on two android devices and your done. I always create a new google email just for the job. Then both she and us can just drop in on the camera from anywhere in the world and have a look. You can even talk through them,or back up motion detection to a dropbox. Just thought I'd share!

20th August 2015, 12:20	#2
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	Yep can't understand folk throwing old phones away. The list is endless what they can be used for: Dashcams, web cams, extra music devices/players, torches, games. spirit level, voice recorder, heart monitor, calculator, signal generator. Thanks for your App tip __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

27th August 2015, 09:29	#3
Shawn Banned Connoisseur SE MK2 diesel auto Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 369 Thanks: 50 Thanked 30 Times in 25 Posts	I went with this app in the end as its completely FREE,it says its add supported but since I have root and Adaway I'm not seeing any. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...rackview&hl=en Has a nice feature were by you can remotely switch the flash on of the phone being used as a camera so it goes from total darkness to full visibility It "says" it records when motion is detected or a loud noise heard but it does this on the camera end and it seems likely to me that that would get stolen along with the evidence. I say "says" because I've not been back to the empty house to check the footage,that will be a week or so.You can talk back through it like Skype as well.

23rd September 2015, 20:40	#4
coab This is my second home 2007 57 GOLF GTi EDITION 30 DSG Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Newport Shropshire and Coventry. Posts: 5,146 Thanks: 2,424 Thanked 1,452 Times in 852 Posts	All my old phones have kippered batteries tho!

24th September 2015, 05:20	#5
Kennyeth This is my second home No more Rover Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 1,625 Thanked 1,308 Times in 998 Posts	I tried this with an old phone, left it on charger and it got so hot I unpluged and not tried it since. It did work fairly good though. Ken.