Using old cellphone as a security camera

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Oct 19th, 2019 3:42 am

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Oct 15th, 2019 9:11 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2010; 3688 posts; 2480 upvotes

Oct 15th, 2019 9:11 pm

Using old cellphone as a security camera

I don't need/want live streaming or any other fancy features - just want to record and be able to playback. I was thinking of picking up an old Android from Kijiji and downloading Salient Eye https://www.cnet.com/reviews/salient-ey ... id-review/

Anyone try something similar?

Before responding to someone (online or offline) ask yourself: is it true? is it helpful? is it kind? is it necessary? This comes from an old Sufi adage that is so relevant today.

14 replies

Oct 15th, 2019 11:02 pm

redboy69: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2008; 1533 posts; 3906 upvotes; Pawtucket

Oct 15th, 2019 11:02 pm

I've been using Alfred for a few years now.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... u&hl=en_CA

Works great with with old phones. Have one running as old as Android 2.3 Gingerbread and it still works fine. Just make sure you use a smart plug to set when the power turns on/off. If you are constantly charging the battery, it will expand and can start a fire. I had a couple of phones where the battery expanded to the point where the LCD separated from the phone. After that, I made sure to use a smart plug and set a time when it would turn on/off.

+1

Oct 16th, 2019 7:29 am

Phils: Deal Fanatic; Sep 29, 2005; 5693 posts; 1169 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 16th, 2019 7:29 am

So when the smart plug turns off, you let it run on battery for a few hours and then start charging again - right?

I can see how that would work but wouldn't buying an inexpensive proper security camera like the wyse that has that long thread on RFD be a more efficient solution? I used alfred for awhile on an old phone also but stopped because my wife complained that the charging cable was sticking out and unsightly. While it worked her concern was actually true.

I replaced it with a refurb Canary off eBay with no subscription and we're both happy. Cost was $69 Cdn.
Mine came from Markham but I don't see that listing anymore. At the time, Best Buy also had refurb units for a similar price.
This is one of the cheapest current listings but it comes from the US:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Canary-Complete ... SwoMFdpoTc

I also have it integrated into my smarthome system and Alexa.

Phils

+1

Oct 16th, 2019 10:30 am

redboy69: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2008; 1533 posts; 3906 upvotes; Pawtucket

Oct 16th, 2019 10:30 am

Phils wrote: ↑ So when the smart plug turns off, you let it run on battery for a few hours and then start charging again - right?

Thats right. I only use the old phones in some areas where there is little traffic and out of the way. Had a bunch of old phones lying around so I might as well put it to good use. The smart plugs were cheap so it wasn't much of an expenditure.

I have since installed a the Pan/Tilt Wyze cam in the front of my house. I like the ability to be able to move the camera around.

Oct 16th, 2019 10:33 am

frendzpz: Sr. Member; Oct 12, 2016; 876 posts; 260 upvotes

Oct 16th, 2019 10:33 am

Thanks op

+1

Oct 16th, 2019 11:18 am

hierophant [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2010; 3688 posts; 2480 upvotes

Oct 16th, 2019 11:18 am

Phils wrote: ↑ So when the smart plug turns off, you let it run on battery for a few hours and then start charging again - right?

I can see how that would work but wouldn't buying an inexpensive proper security camera like the wyse that has that long thread on RFD be a more efficient solution? I used alfred for awhile on an old phone also but stopped because my wife complained that the charging cable was sticking out and unsightly. While it worked her concern was actually true.

I replaced it with a refurb Canary off eBay with no subscription and we're both happy. Cost was $69 Cdn.
Mine came from Markham but I don't see that listing anymore. At the time, Best Buy also had refurb units for a similar price.
This is one of the cheapest current listings but it comes from the US:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Canary-Complete ... SwoMFdpoTc

I also have it integrated into my smarthome system and Alexa.

That's a good point. I looked into that first but decided to go this route for a couple of reasons. BTW which Wyse model do you recommend?

Before responding to someone (online or offline) ask yourself: is it true? is it helpful? is it kind? is it necessary? This comes from an old Sufi adage that is so relevant today.

Oct 16th, 2019 1:17 pm

Phils: Deal Fanatic; Sep 29, 2005; 5693 posts; 1169 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 16th, 2019 1:17 pm

The pan-tilt one that redboy69 has which I guess is this one.
Last summer it went down as low as $32,80 at Amazon.ca.

Phils

Oct 16th, 2019 6:35 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2010; 3688 posts; 2480 upvotes

Oct 16th, 2019 6:35 pm

redboy69 wrote: ↑ I've been using Alfred for a few years now.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... u&hl=en_CA

Works great with with old phones. Have one running as old as Android 2.3 Gingerbread and it still works fine. Just make sure you use a smart plug to set when the power turns on/off. If you are constantly charging the battery, it will expand and can start a fire. I had a couple of phones where the battery expanded to the point where the LCD separated from the phone. After that, I made sure to use a smart plug and set a time when it would turn on/off.

It seems like most smart plugs require an app to be installed. I prefer not install any apps if I can help it for security and privacy reasons. Do you know of any plugs are on a timer or know when a device has been charged and shuts off?

Before responding to someone (online or offline) ask yourself: is it true? is it helpful? is it kind? is it necessary? This comes from an old Sufi adage that is so relevant today.

Oct 16th, 2019 7:53 pm

redboy69: Deal Addict; Sep 15, 2008; 1533 posts; 3906 upvotes; Pawtucket

Oct 16th, 2019 7:53 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ It seems like most smart plugs require an app to be installed. I prefer not install any apps if I can help it for security and privacy reasons. Do you know of any plugs are on a timer or know when a device has been charged and shuts off?

Dont know of any smart plugs and don't require an app or hub. You could use the old fashioned timers that our parents used to have. You would be able to set multiple times to turn on/off the power just like a smart plug. I know as a kid, my dad would use those when we went on vacation.

+2

Oct 17th, 2019 7:52 am

Phils: Deal Fanatic; Sep 29, 2005; 5693 posts; 1169 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 17th, 2019 7:52 am

You should be able to find one at Dollarama.

Phils

+1

Oct 17th, 2019 2:04 pm

batcave: Deal Addict; Nov 14, 2003; 4110 posts; 2374 upvotes; Gotham

Oct 17th, 2019 2:04 pm

redboy69 wrote: ↑ I've been using Alfred for a few years now.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... u&hl=en_CA

Works great with with old phones. Have one running as old as Android 2.3 Gingerbread and it still works fine. Just make sure you use a smart plug to set when the power turns on/off. If you are constantly charging the battery, it will expand and can start a fire. I had a couple of phones where the battery expanded to the point where the LCD separated from the phone. After that, I made sure to use a smart plug and set a time when it would turn on/off.

I though of doing this a while ago, but didn't think about this point about constantly charging old tech.

I recently bought two Xiaomi security cameras when I was in China. They were the equivalent of C$30 each. It was so cheap I thought I would take a chance. They are actually really good.

redboy69 wrote: ↑ Dont know of any smart plugs and don't require an app or hub. You could use the old fashioned timers that our parents used to have. You would be able to set multiple times to turn on/off the power just like a smart plug. I know as a kid, my dad would use those when we went on vacation.

Most smart plugs don't require a hub, but wifi and probably an app which is easy enough. I saw some on Amazon for around $10. I was going to pull the trigger on a smart plug recently, but remembered I had some mechanical timers lying around. These are fool-proof but not controllable via the internet. There's a motor that turns the dial and inserts to trip the on/off mechanism. Simple.

+2

Oct 17th, 2019 3:24 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2010; 3688 posts; 2480 upvotes

Oct 17th, 2019 3:24 pm

batcave wrote: ↑

Where do you buy these? What are they called?

Before responding to someone (online or offline) ask yourself: is it true? is it helpful? is it kind? is it necessary? This comes from an old Sufi adage that is so relevant today.

Oct 17th, 2019 3:38 pm

batcave: Deal Addict; Nov 14, 2003; 4110 posts; 2374 upvotes; Gotham

Oct 17th, 2019 3:38 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ Where do you buy these? What are they called?

I think Mechanical Timer. At Walmart, Canadian Tire, etc.

$7 at Walmart! Win!

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/stanley-la ... 0197240876

+2

Oct 18th, 2019 3:12 pm

Jimbobs: Deal Fanatic; Nov 1, 2006; 7957 posts; 1639 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 18th, 2019 3:12 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ I don't need/want live streaming or any other fancy features - just want to record and be able to playback. I was thinking of picking up an old Android from Kijiji and downloading Salient Eye https://www.cnet.com/reviews/salient-ey ... id-review/

Anyone try something similar?

I use manything.com and an old Moto G as remote monitor. Manything = Monitor Anything

+1

Oct 19th, 2019 3:42 am

rabbit: Deal Guru; Jun 27, 2004; 12542 posts; 1994 upvotes; Vancouver.bc.ca

Oct 19th, 2019 3:42 am

Dollarama had those mechanical timers awhile back. Don't know if they still carry them. I can't remember the price, but someone said $2. At most, it would have been $4.

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