Weatherproof wireless camera for remote watching where we are going.

[Simi 60]

Please note. Only thinking of this while in clear areas and on passage .

On our vessel given height of helm it does get an exaggerated roll, think sailing a yacht from the first set of spreaders.

But what has you grabbing a handhold and bracing up high when down on deck level is hardly noticeable, so , while on passage, I have been thinking a 180 degree camera looking out and displaying on 1/2 of the 42 inch downstairs TV with OpenCPN running on other 1/2.

Not full time use, just as a break from helm, grab a feed, 15 minutes then back up.

Have found several $100ish dollar security cameras that tick the box as far as image quality goes but all "seem" to be a subscriber service or want to upload to cloud or be connected to google or some other silly shite that I don't want.

I just want one that connects to onboard wifi > screen.

Any $100ish dollar suggestions?

[fryedaze]

I have two of these for home security. They work great. They are stand alone, no cloud no subscription. Just tie into wifi.
https://www.amazon.com/Security-DEKC...s%2C144&sr=8-2

[KnotYet]

This is what I use as a rearview camera on the back of the RV.
Quality seems above average and weatherproof with a handy bracket.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the one we use outside the home for wildlife and 'security'.
Very compact, waterproof, top quality and includes a mount and base module.
These have the advantage of an app that can accommodate multiple cameras.
https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Outdoor...dDbGljaz10cnVl

[SteveK]

Here is the one I will be installing for rearview
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06Y3TSWLK?...roduct_details
It is meant for a retro fit on license plate and is wifi

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by fryedaze

I have two of these for home security. They work great. They are stand alone, no cloud no subscription. Just tie into wifi.
https://www.amazon.com/Security-DEKC...s%2C144&sr=8-2

Certainly a contender, thanks
Now trying to find a vid showing quality of image

[Blue Yonder]

This is what I've ordered for our front facing camera: https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-Du...09H2ZRYX8?th=1

Probably overkill for just situational use but in my case it will also be used as part of the security system. Haven't used it yet so unfortunately I can't give real world feedback.

I just want one that connects to onboard wifi > screen

Check out Blue Iris. It is "air gapped" as they say and allows offline activation.

Since you need to power the camera in any case, I opted to go for POE and get the benefits of having a wired connection.

[fryedaze]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Certainly a contender, thanks

Now trying to find a vid showing quality of image

Here is a still shot on a overcast day. My camera is 2MP. They have newer ones at 5MP

[mcarthur]

I was thinking even mounting a GoPro. Decent quality and the modern ones stream to a tablet/phone wirelessly.

You probably won't get PTZ at that price, but questionable need anyway.

[bkcorwin]

Does it have to be wifi? That really really limits your options. If you can get an ethernet cable there you can run almost any POE security camera and theres a ton of choices.

[NWSeadog]

What you are looking for is an IP camera with a built in web server so that an internet connection is not required. I'm using a backup camera that only requires a 12VDC power source. I'm connecting to it with a tablet that works great other then the view is somewhat distorted.

[nwboater]

Originally Posted by SteveK

Here is the one I will be installing for rearview

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06Y3TSWLK?...roduct_details

It is meant for a retro fit on license plate and is wifi

Stevek, I have been using a similar camera with solar to power the camera. It has worked flawlessly over the past 2 summers — however, because it’s intended as a “back up” camera it only stays “live” for 90 seconds…quite annoying when you need it to stay on.

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by nwboater

Stevek, I have been using a similar camera with solar to power the camera. It has worked flawlessly over the past 2 summers — however, because it’s intended as a “back up” camera it only stays “live” for 90 seconds…quite annoying when you need it to stay on.

I have yet to install, what turns it off and then how do you get it on again?

[Max1]

If you set up a stand-alone WIFI router in your boat (dont need internet, and many of them are supplied as 12volt systems that come with a wall-transformer), then you can hook up a couple of ring-cam's. One front and one back. or however many you want. These are wifi cameras so you dont need to hard wire them.

To power them, you can buy either hard wired (I think its either 12V or 5V adapter for the hard-wired) or battery powered. I think they also make a solar adapter for the battery powered version? [Edit- yes they do!]https://ring.com/ca/en/products/stick-up-security-camera-battery

Then you can wifi connect your phone, tablet or laptop(or all at the same time) to the stand alone router and watch remotely wherever you are on the boat.

If you get the PTZ attachement, you can pan-tilt the camera's from your phone.

I have several of these camera's on my home system and responding to this post is making me realise I should do this to my boat as well.

Some extra notes for my recommendation:

• Ring-cams are made as indoor only and indoor/outdoor. Make sure you get the indoor/outdoor version if you want to install it outdoors
• The camera needs an external mounting bracket not shown in the photo below. You can make your own or buy them separately. The bracket simplifies the outdoor installation. The ones I have, I have also purchased the Ring pan-tilt add-on, and it comes with a mounting bracket.

[KnotYet]

Originally Posted by SteveK

I have yet to install, what turns it off and then how do you get it on again?

I don't see any mention of the 90 sec behavior for the cam you linked so maybe yours is ok.

[bkcorwin]

Why on earth wouldn't people just run an ethernet cable so they can have a nicer POE camera?

I use the ring cameras at a remote house, but the live view is marginal at best. The refresh rates are poor and theres generally a lot of lag. I even have one of the solar panels for the ring and it works, but its not something I'd want to rely on in my experience.

With one ethernet cord you could have a camera that is actually capable of providing a legitimate realtime feed. Instead of potentially annoying 90 second time outs, i have camera feeds running 24/7 recording 2 weeks of video. I've got 7 on board and i've got another 8 running at my house. The technology to do this is rock solid and mature.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by bkcorwin

Why on earth wouldn't people just run an ethernet cable so they can have a nicer POE camera?

Maybe I don't want to drill another hole in my boat.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by bkcorwin

Why on earth wouldn't people just run an ethernet cable so they can have a nicer POE camera?

I use the ring cameras at a remote house, but the live view is marginal at best. The refresh rates are poor and theres generally a lot of lag. I even have one of the solar panels for the ring and it works, but its not something I'd want to rely on in my experience.

With one ethernet cord you could have a camera that is actually capable of providing a legitimate realtime feed. Instead of potentially annoying 90 second time outs, i have camera feeds running 24/7 recording 2 weeks of video. I've got 7 on board and i've got another 8 running at my house. The technology to do this is rock solid and mature.

The only reason I didn't do that on the boat is power consumption. The base station for my Blink cameras draws all of a couple watts at most and the camera batteries last a long time. A wired setup with an NVR was looking like I'd have a hard time getting anything under the 40 - 50 watt range with 4 cameras and that's significantly more power draw than I was willing to accept.

[bkcorwin]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Maybe I don't want to drill another hole in my boat.

I guess it depends on how you view the importance of the camera. For me they were kind of mission critical so i didn't mind the holes much. I've also had to cut a lot of holes so i don't really flinch much at doing it.

And hey like your signature says everything on a boat is broken so you'll have to drill some more holes sometime! Just send one more for a camera.

[bkcorwin]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

The only reason I didn't do that on the boat is power consumption. The base station for my Blink cameras draws all of a couple watts at most and the camera batteries last a long time. A wired setup with an NVR was looking like I'd have a hard time getting anything under the 40 - 50 watt range with 4 cameras and that's significantly more power draw than I was willing to accept.

Thats a good reason, but in the case of the OP when we're talking about putting the feed up on the 42" flat screen i figure power consumption probably isn't the biggest concern.

[Max1]

Originally Posted by bkcorwin

Why on earth wouldn't people just run an ethernet cable so they can have a nicer POE camera?

I use the ring cameras at a remote house, but the live view is marginal at best. The refresh rates are poor and theres generally a lot of lag. I even have one of the solar panels for the ring and it works, but its not something I'd want to rely on in my experience.

I am sorry my friend, but I disagree. You are correct that there is lag in your live view of your remote home, but that is not the case here. In the example you cited, your remote home has to connect to your remote home WIFI, then run through the internet to your present location, then your location's WIFI router, and then from there to your remote viewing device (tablet, laptop, phone). OK, I agree there may be some lag.

In this case we are talking about a WIFI router that your camera and viewing device are connected on the same router. I don't know about you but I have 3 cameras and a ring doorbell and I can have a live conversation with anyone on either the camera's or doorbell. Anyone that rings the doorbell, I only talk to them via the doorbell camera. It's live and there is no latency or lag in the picture or conversation.

PS- the speed of your router also has an effect on your latency/lag