Camera

Mark Scott · Tue Mar 29, 2016 3:43 pm

Has anybody used a outdoor camera showing their Martin gourd rack and able to view it on their cell phone. I work 12 hour days and nights and heard it was possible to view your setup using a camera and your cell phone. If so, is there a service for this or just the cost of a outdoor camera? Are the pictures clear and able to view at night? Thanks. Mark

Matt F. · Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:32 pm

Hi Mark,
Forum member and Canadian landlord "Madattiver" has a setup like you're describing, where he could check on things from anywhere using his phone.
Hopefully he enters in.

Mark Scott · Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:07 pm

Hope so, I hate it when working 12 hours day shift and thinking what is going on at my setup. I can check my phone at work and know.

madattiver · Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:54 pm

I'm here... I'm here... Lol..

I do have a set up similar to what you are talking about. I run an old iPhone with a 8x zoom lens pointing at the Martin house. It is set up in a window sill in my house. I actually use a baby monitoring app that was around $5 and I can watch on my cell phone from work. The only thing was that the app needed to be on both devices... Not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

I will see if I can attach a screen shot from my phone now, but if it doesn't work I will get one once I get back to my computer.

madattiver · Tue Mar 29, 2016 8:08 pm

Here's a screenshot from this week before I set up the house. I have a 12x zoom lens on order to have a second cam or maybe just upgrade the other lens.

Let me know if that picture loaded ok.

Mark Scott · Wed Mar 30, 2016 8:30 am

yes, thanks

madattiver · Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:43 am

It is not the best video, but I can clearly tell between a sparrow and a martin.

Here is a screen shot with the house up...

Mitch Booth · Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:43 pm

What app are you using and can you explain the setup and how it works? I'm not sure I understand the baby monitor portion of it either?

Mitch

madattiver · Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:02 pm

Sure thing. The app is called "Cloud Baby Monitor". The app turns the extra iPhone into the camera and your phone into the receiver. Both phones need to be on the came iCloud account so they can connect to each other. Load the app on both devises and fire it up on the "camera" phone. Select "Child Unit" which activates the camera... and select "Parent Unit" on your phone to allow you to view the "camera" phone. We initially got this app for a baby monitor for our kids, but I ended up taking it over for my martins.

if this isn't clear enough please ask as many questions as you want. This set up may not be for everyone, but I had an extra old phone laying around so it does the trick for me.