Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


muppet

2568 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#81371 12-Apr-2011 09:58
Send private message

Anyone have any experience using a Linux system for home security monitoring?

I currently have a little EEEPC that I use with motion and the EEEPC's built in webcam. It's just running Debian and the only reason the lid's ever open on it is for the webcam.  I ssh into it, I don't actually use it.

It works OK, it detections motion and I've configured the box to ping me a direct message when it sees things.  The built in webcam is worse than crap though.

I'm thinking of getting a couple more USB webcams and plugging them into a hub to monitor motion around the house.  It can then message me if it seens anything and snap a few frames into a Dropbox directory.  So if someone does break in and steal the laptop at least the frames have, hopefully, been uploaded to Dropbox.

Anyone have any good quality webcam suggestions that they know work under Linux?  Is this even a viable idea, I'll have to run USB extension cables around the place, ugh.

Any other suggestions for monitoring a house (from a security point of view) using Linux?  Are there any door opening sensors or similar that people know of?

I'm going to get the Twitter integration going so that I can DM a box and it'll turn the system on and off, all doable using the ttytter program.

Keen to hear about anyone using Linux for home automation things, using simple console/shell stuff.  The box is too small to run XWindows (well, it could) but I just want to be able to ssh in and control things.

Cheers,

Tim




Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

 

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!


Create new topic
ewen
26 posts

Geek


  #457756 12-Apr-2011 11:14
Send private message

Zoneminder might be a possibility, it has a web interface which might be useful if you want to remotely check video whilst not requiring X. I haven't used it personally but have it on my list to setup one day. However if you've already got motion working with some simple scripts and are happy to SSH in there probably isn't much advantage.

As for USB web cams I use a Logitech which works well under linux. Here are some resources I used for selected cameras:

http://www.ideasonboard.org/uvc/
http://www.quickcamteam.net/devices

Interested to see how you go with this project. I want to get some IP cameras at some point but have been put off by the price, maybe cheaper USBs is an option for a basic setup.

Cheers,
Ewen



muppet

2568 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #457776 12-Apr-2011 11:48
Send private message

Thanks heaps Ewen, some good sites to look at there.

I'll keep you updated how I go. IP Cameras would be lovely, but I don't have that sort of budget right at the moment, it wasn't my numbers that came up on the weekend!




Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

 

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!


Regs
4066 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Snowflake

  #457851 12-Apr-2011 14:45
Send private message

if only a device such as this http://www.camsecure.co.uk/CamsecureUSBtoIP.html was cheap.

not sure how successful you will be running long UDB cables






muppet

2568 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #457855 12-Apr-2011 14:49
Send private message

Regs: if only a device such as this http://www.camsecure.co.uk/CamsecureUSBtoIP.html was cheap.

not sure how successful you will be running long UDB cables


Yea, long cables are my concern too.  The hub'll have to be powered I'm sure.

You'd be surprised at just how good motion is.  It does live streaming of the cameras (it supports 4 I think, though it might be as many as you have) as well as doing motion detection.  It'll trigger when it sees movement etc.

But that little box doesn't do anything that motion can't already.

I think I'm going to get a single "Linux USB Webcam" off trademe for $20 and see how it goes.  I'm not after super high quality images here, but mostly to be able to react (set off a loud noise, send me a Twitter message etc) when motion's detected.  I can then login, see if it's "bad" and call the cops or my neighbour who lives at home. 




Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

 

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!


muppet

2568 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #457894 12-Apr-2011 15:47
Send private message

Regs: if only a device such as this http://www.camsecure.co.uk/CamsecureUSBtoIP.html was cheap.

not sure how successful you will be running long UDB cables


I've just had another look at this and yea, it's actually more awesome than I realised.  It looks like motion built into a little box! 




Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

 

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!


digitaldivide
94 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user


  #457911 12-Apr-2011 16:23
Send private message

Sounds like from the description of your setup you don't need to run a box, Linux or otherwise, at all.

What about the Foscam FI8918W - it's an IP webcam, all you need is power (and a wifi signal).

At home, you can access the FI8918W over your local network, or externally from the Internet when your away from home - from your mobile phone, or Mac/PC Internet browser.

At home, the FI8918W connects to your Wifi modem/router. No PC needs to be running, just the camera and your WiFi modem/router.

When you log in remotely, you can control the camera to pan/tilt/rotate via your browser, there's two way audio (talk and they hear you and visa versa, or just listen), time of day schedules, email alerts when movement is detected, track movement and photos taken, etc.

I recommend the FI8918W over all previous Foscam models. This product is listed on Pricespy and Trademe.co.nz  No, I don't work for them or sell the product (I do use them though :)

It's good, videos on http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=FI8918W&aq=f

Yes, I mentioned the same thing in another thread:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=66&topicid=81216

muppet

2568 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #457923 12-Apr-2011 16:43
Send private message

@digitaldivide: I think I love you. That's exactly what I'm after.




Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

 

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!


 
 
 

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.
digitaldivide
94 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user


  #457967 12-Apr-2011 19:07
Send private message

muppet: @digitaldivide: I think I love you. That's exactly what I'm after.



And I'm man enough to like compliments :)

A few points to mention:

1/ The camera isn't Megapixel, but if Megapixel something you Absolutely must have, then other people here can recommend cameras about $500 - $700 ($2k even!) and a different feature-set to the Foscam model, and nothing I've used myself.

2/ The Foscam FI8918W camera isn't that bad, the camera has a maximum resolution of VGA 640 x 480 at 68 degrees.
There's a bunch of footage on Youtube (just search FI8918W).

3/ There's a gazillion reviews online, like:
http://wireless-camera-review.toptenreviews.com/foscam-f18918w-review.html

4/ Foscam make an OEM Generic product with a number of physical ports/features missing, which are added/improved in the Foscam FI8918W version. The OEM Generic version is a dog, and can't be upgraded with the Foscam firmware updates from the Foscam website. AVOID.

There's a pretty good comparison here:
http://www.gadgetvictims.com/2010/10/quick-look-at-foscam-fi8918w.html


10.4.Over.

ewen
26 posts

Geek


  #458174 13-Apr-2011 11:33
Send private message

Damn now I want one of these...

Create new topic





News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22


Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46


Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42


D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34


Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.