Anyone using wifi camera as a baby monitor?

[Kneedragger]

Right now I have two kids in separate rooms that I need to watch. I have a old Samsung baby monitor that uses 2.4ghz from camera to monitor but it loses signal a lot. So I'm wondering if getting a legit wifi camera as a baby monitor would be a better idea?

 

[drinkmorejava]

My sister uses a dropcam, but that also has wifi problems in their apartment. Arguably, they could fix this by not buying a $30 router, but only you know your situation. The benefit of a real baby monitor is they can do things like send alerts, whereas the dropcam is unlikely to register any movement.

When they're in the house they use their regular baby monitor, and then they use the dropcam to check in on the nanny.

 

[zerocool84]

Right now I have two kids in separate rooms that I need to watch. I have a old Samsung baby monitor that uses 2.4ghz from camera to monitor but it loses signal a lot. So I'm wondering if getting a legit wifi camera as a baby monitor would be a better idea?

Could just be the signal. Take other WiFi devices in those rooms and see how they perform, would be cheaper and easier to buy a WiFi extender if that's the issue.

 

[ultimatebob]

I had a Wi-Fi camera that I used as a baby monitor. It used the iSecurity+ monitoring service, which worked from a browser or from their iOS or Android app.

 

[Imp]

Is there a signal check on the camera? How is it?

Someone I know is always saying his computer's Wifi connection is dropping. But if you draw a straight line between the router and his computer, there is a brick wall, floor, particleboard furniture, and steel computer case.

 

[pete6032]

No. I just use my wifi cameras to observe my neighbors.

 

[luv2liv]

baby monitors, in general, are pretty lousy. i use an old android phone along with this app as a baby monitor: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam&hl=en
app is free and works great!
let's me view from another phone, tablet or computer anywhere in the world. i even install it on my personal phone. leave it somewhere with the screen off. use another pc to see whats going on remotely too.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

baby monitors, in general, are pretty lousy. i use an old android phone along with this app as a baby monitor: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam&hl=en
app is free and works great!
let's me view from another phone, tablet or computer anywhere in the world. i even install it on my personal phone. leave it somewhere with the screen off. use another pc to see whats going on remotely too.

I'm sure the app has a lot of features, but it's basically useless if you can't see your kid at night. Smart phone cameras are awful in low light situations. Our Motorola baby monitor, as mediocre as it is has a night mode.

 

[Kneedragger]

The monitor has full bars everywhere in my house. The minute I use my laptop or cellphone over wifi the signal goes to 0. Then the baby monitor starts beeping which is pretty annoying.

So while digging around I found this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexvas.dvr.pro&hl=en and I'm thinking about giving it a try with one of the supported cameras.

 

[Eug]

Some of the WiFi IP cameras are a bit flaky on WiFi. Rock solid on Ethernet though.

 

[Deeko]

I use a Dropcam. It works absolutely great. Before we had our first we bought the Dropcam and a similarly priced Motorola and it was no contest - the Dropcam had clearer video, MUCH better night vision, better field of view. Also they recently added a history view which is great for questions like "oh, she's awake, when did that happen?" Worth the money.

 

[Kaido]

Right now I have two kids in separate rooms that I need to watch. I have a old Samsung baby monitor that uses 2.4ghz from camera to monitor but it loses signal a lot. So I'm wondering if getting a legit wifi camera as a baby monitor would be a better idea?

Dropcams are awesome. If you need something more budget-friendly, Foscam & Amcrest cameras aren't bad.

 

[Kneedragger]

Dropcams are awesome. If you need something more budget-friendly, Foscam & Amcrest cameras aren't bad.

Yeah I bought this cam http://www.foscam.com/C1.html. Its on the supported list of that app I posted above.

 

[Kaido]

Yeah I bought this cam http://www.foscam.com/C1.html. Its on the supported list of that app I posted above.

Foscams can be a bit finicky, especially on wireless, but they are good for the price. I like them because you don't need a cloud service to run them (or pay additional fees to record).

 

[ultimatebob]

Is there a signal check on the camera? How is it?

Someone I know is always saying his computer's Wifi connection is dropping. But if you draw a straight line between the router and his computer, there is a brick wall, floor, particleboard furniture, and steel computer case.

I never had any Wi-Fi issues, but then the router was in the bedroom next to my daughter's room in my case.

 

[Kneedragger]

Foscams can be a bit finicky, especially on wireless, but they are good for the price. I like them because you don't need a cloud service to run them (or pay additional fees to record).

Yeah I ran cat6 to half the house and need to finish so I will have wired internet eventually there.

 

[dullard]

The monitor has full bars everywhere in my house. The minute I use my laptop or cellphone over wifi the signal goes to 0. Then the baby monitor starts beeping which is pretty annoying.

A lot of old or cheap routers can only support a couple of devices at once. A new one comes along (like your laptop) and something gets dropped (like a baby monitor). I would bet that most people's wifi problems are because they still use a cheapo router from 5 years ago. Get one with 4 antennas and dual bands, that can support 8+ devices and it'll have more utility than just a baby monitor.

 

[Zorba]

I have a Foscam pan/tilt/swivel camera I use for a baby monitor. I like it a lot, never had any issues with wifi, even though the router is fairly far away. Night vision is great, day time clarity could be slightly better, but good enough for what I use it for.

I use tinycam monitor on my phone to watch it, which works nice.

My only issue with the Foscam, is that it uses an old Netscape protocol, and all the browsers have dropped support for it and Foscam refuses to update their plugins.

One thing I like about the Foscam is all you need to view is the IP address, a lot of companies make you use their cloud service. I have mine setup so it had no access to the internet through the router.

You can also setup motion alerts, etc.

 

[luv2liv]

if you need something fancier to see in the dark, this is what i have throughout the house...Hikvision DS-2CD2432F-IW. relatively compact, works on POE or wifi + 12v power supply. has been rock solid for me. I also use tinycam monitor on my phone to watch it