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MrGibbage
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Posted: September 08 2010 at 10:37 | IP Logged Quote MrGibbage

OK, this is way more NOT a PH question than it is, but we have such a helpful bunch here I am hoping I can get away
with it.

I have an android phone (Samsung Vibrant, if that matters). I want to know how to view the streaming video from
my network security cameras in my house on my cell phone. I have tried going to the URLs for my cameras, and none
of them work. By "not working", I mean nothing shows up. No error message, no nothing. My guess is my cameras
aren't encoding the stream in a format that my phone can render??? I don't know a lot about streaming video, and
I doubt if I even said that last sentence correctly. If it matters, my camera is a Panasonic BL-C1A.

I used URL Snoop to get the actual URL for the video stream, which looks like this:
http://mysupersecreturl:8002/ImageViewer?R...ality=Precision

This link works in all desktop web browsers that I have used. It just renders a view of the stream with nothing
else on the page. But it doesn't work on my phone.

So, where does PH come into this? Well, ultimately I want it to be integrated with my Control Center. But that
isn't going to happen until I crack the first nut described above.

Edited by MrGibbage - September 08 2010 at 10:38
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sjvonstein
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Posted: September 08 2010 at 16:52 | IP Logged Quote sjvonstein

Does your camera system have any options as to how the video is encoded?
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MrGibbage
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Posted: September 08 2010 at 21:16 | IP Logged Quote MrGibbage

I believe it is fixed to "motion jpeg"
http://bit.ly/b5FFUS
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Gadgets
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Posted: September 08 2010 at 22:27 | IP Logged Quote Gadgets

Hi MrG

From what I have found on a quick search, Android does not yet support mjpeg. One would think a error would appear though. I looked at the specs for the phone you mention and there is no mention of motion jpeg being supported.

Brian

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MrGibbage
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 08:46 | IP Logged Quote MrGibbage

Thanks. It looks like it ain't gonna happen.
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dhoward
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 15:51 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

I thought that was you over on XDA. I have the same phone and it is AWESOME!!

I have a similar problem. My 16 camera DVR ONLY outputs over IP using a Java application..it won't run on my phone. The way Ive had to work around it is I bought some cheap composite video to IP converter from geeks.com (I think it was an IP9368 video server) and run a composite output from my DVR into it. The good thing about the video converter is that it supports web playback via an activeX, Java, or most important to me, a JPEG snapshot. If my DVR had the ability for a JPEG snapshot, I wouldnt need this device. I use PowerHome to serve up a webpage with a little javascript to refresh the JPEG snapshot and I get about 2 frames / sec motion video on my Vibrant.

I would look to see if your security cameras provide any option to just render a single JPEG image and if so, then you can just have a little webpage with some javascript to automatically refresh.

Dave.
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MrGibbage
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Posted: September 09 2010 at 16:19 | IP Logged Quote MrGibbage

The Vibrant is an awesome phone. It sucks to me to see that the iPhone can easily render video streams (at least
that's what the commercials lead you to think) and this phone doesn't.

Yes, as a matter of fact my cameras do also render still jpegs and I have in fact created a couple of web pages to see
those images. I even have images stored on my web server at periodic intervals that I can browse whenever I want.

And, yes, that was me on xda. And cocoontech too :)
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MrGibbage
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Posted: September 10 2010 at 07:59 | IP Logged Quote MrGibbage

Dave,
Electron answered over at CT and recommended this app:
http://totalcontrolapp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task =view&id=47&Itemid=84
I downloaded the trial and it works. The UI needs a little polish in a couple of places, but it is a decent solution.
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dhoward
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Posted: September 29 2010 at 11:46 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

I checked into that app and it wouldnt work with my particular camera DVR. However, I did come across one that does work (cant remember which at the moment). The only problem though is that it ONLY allows remote viewing...no control of the DVR. Better than nothing I guess. Spent some more time trying to figure out a way to just get a simple JPEG snapshot from my DVR but it looks like that just isnt going to happen. Its several years old so it may be time to upgrade. I see CompUSA has some cheap prices on NightOwl and Q-See but know nothing about these brands.

Dave.
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syonker
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Posted: March 09 2013 at 06:49 | IP Logged Quote syonker

Ok, so now that this topic is three years aged I would hope there has
been a little more study on the whole power home/camera/android
concept.

I have a situation I was hoping I could use some cameras and some
creative use of ph to solve.

We have a "covert nighttime pooper" in a fairly densly packed
suburb...they are not cleaning up after their dog and our front yard has
become one of the target areas. Since they are multiple offenders, I
would like to catch them in the act and get proof to get them to 1) clean
up the mess in my and others yards, 2) take responsibility, and 3) pay
for their indiscression (a.k.a. Get the police proof to ticket them).

I am not against buying hardware and software if needed. A camera
array is something I have pondered for a while...would be nice for other
reasons....travel, security, avoiding door to door salesmenm(there is a
tutorial on how to make an automated BIG squirt gun and tracking
system with Arduino on instructables.com for those who want to get
*serious* about thwarting salesmen and zealots...*insert evil grin here*)


Anyway, I would assume by now that someone out there (Dave?) has
tested various hardware arrays, software packages, and scripts/add-
ons with PowerHome and come up with some good ideas on what is
working best....?

My requirements:
Night vision.
Multiple cameras
Wireless cameras
Motion sensor capability
Recording of "events"
Propagation to PowerHome (suggestions on uses would be valuable)
Possibly propagation to droid phone, web, and iPad (all three ideal).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-S

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dhoward
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Posted: March 10 2013 at 21:50 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Spencer,

Not sure if I can be of much help but I never upgraded my 16ch DVR and am still running pretty much the same hardware. Im a pretty firm believer in a dedicated DVR unit and plenty of them are available at pretty cheap prices. If money were no object, I would definitely like to upgrade to megapixel IP camera's but they are cost prohibitive right now. There also doesnt seem to be as many options for infrared enabled IP cameras but I am seeing more and more of them.

If IP cameras are an option for you, you may want to look at WebCamXP for the software (http://www.webcamxp.com/home.aspx). It already has been in integration for working with PowerHome.

In my own setup, Ive solved my original problem with my crappy analog DVR by writing a plugin for PowerHome that can intercept the motion JPEG video stream and allow me to grab individual JPEG images that I then combine with a simple PSP page on the PowerHome webserver. I havent actually "integrated" it into the PH system though. I probably could by using the alarm output of the DVR to one of my Elk inputs or an Insteon IOLinc so PowerHome can know when motion is detected and the like. The only reason why I havent fooled with it is because I usually rely upon my Elk motion sensors to detect movement but I probably should look into it for enhancing my current security environment. My DVR has a simple contact closure whenever it detects motion on a camera (it doesnt tell you which camera though) based upon how you've defined motion on the DVR. With this contact closure input into PH, I could then capture JPEG stills using the PH plugin I wrote and then FTP or email them based upon a Global variable or the like if Im in "secure" mode.

For your needs, I would definitely recommend something with long range infrared. So far, Ive bought all my cameras from SuperCircuits.com and they've got a nice little selection. The only thing you may have a problem with is "wireless" cameras. Wireless is going to almost definitely force you into an IP camera. Wireless analog cameras (if you can find them) just don't have very good quality (in my experience). Getting an IP DVR is expensive so you may need to look at something like WebCamXP with the PowerHome integration.

Sorry to not be of much help but hope there is something useful there.

Dave.
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TonyNo
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Posted: March 12 2013 at 07:20 | IP Logged Quote TonyNo

If you want to ID people, you'll likely need HD.
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syonker
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Posted: March 12 2013 at 09:14 | IP Logged Quote syonker

Thanks guys...I really appreciate the input. I have
tried the "trial" of WebCamXP before but it had problems
with stability (as in wouldn't stay alive on its own
without reboots/restarts). This was a couple of years
ago. Has anyone else had problems with them being
stable? If not, maybe I should give it another go.

I have a number of IP Wireless cameras I could use "in
general", but I agree, they are a little iffy on camera
resolution, and really just more of a "is there someone
there" scenario. Also, they do not support night-vision.
So I would have to consider something that's better at
this task. I was looking at the Insteon outdoor IR cam,
but hear the field-of-vision is something like 22-degrees
- with a non-panable/non-tiltable mount...who makes an
*outdoor* camera with a 22-degree FOV? Seriously?
Anyway...you see my point there. Curious if anyone here
has tried the Insteon cameras with PowerHome and if they
have had any luck? I like the idea of tying it directly
in via Insteon for triggers, etc...but would be willing
to just put a motion sensor on a good HD camera as well.

We live on a Cul-De-Sac in one of those "new" communities
(that seems to mean in order to be cheap with utility
runs they build houses 25' from the curb, and 19 feet
from one another - I hate it) So in reality I don't need
a *huge* FOV, or the ability to see 200' (more like 40')
in the dark (our house lights up at night out front with
PowerHome - thanks Dave!).

I agree that a DVR/multi-camera setup is ideal, but am
not really seeing anything I want to try to install. ;)
Wire runs in this place are a nightmare, hence wireless
want, but I think for quality I need to run a wire...I
just don't want to run 16 of them. I would think that a
*single* version of the *right* camera for this
application could cover the front of the house nicely if
mounted under the peak of the roof eave...I think there's
even a pre-fab coax run to the attic (for a TV antenna)
that the builder put in which connects in the basement.
Basement unfinished at this point, so that might work.

I'd also like a motion-sensing camera at the door (not a
hard wiring run - wall to basement...done). And I could
use the WLAN/IP cameras for interior easily enough.
Again though, I would rather get something that once it's
setup remains reliable...hence continually being driven
back to a DVR solution where the cams get phantom power
from the DVR itself. Grrr.....decisions decisions. I
wonder if there's someone out there I could pay to
install it (I *could* do it...but really HATE cabling
after-the-fact). Probably.

Man - I'm more confused now than ever. Oof.

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demko
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Posted: March 24 2013 at 17:30 | IP Logged Quote demko

I've been using the free version of
iSpy software for a
while to aggregate all of my IP cameras for over a year
and really like it. I also use the motion detection
ability of the iSpy software which you can setup to run a
program (I use a bat file I created that emails me a jpeg
snapshot and 30 second clip of the motion). I still get
some false positives, but the motion detection settings
have enabled me to get around the majority of them.
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