How to make a hidden camera from a cell phone. We create an IP surveillance camera from an old smartphone. Cloud service for video surveillance

Modern smartphones and tablets on the Android platform can perform a huge number of different functions. The capabilities of these devices are complemented by many useful applications. Thanks to them, you can give a second life to old or even damaged gadgets, for example, when solving the problem of how to make a video surveillance camera from a phone.

If the phone is equipped with a working camera and can work with the necessary applications, then it is quite possible to create a mini-system that allows you to observe any object from a distance. For this there are special programs, with the help of which a smartphone can easily be turned into an IP camera.

Why turn your smartphone into a camera?

CCTV cameras are installed as part of the security system. Apartments, private houses, offices and other objects are under their protection. All information received is collected at various computer devices. However, not everyone can afford the use of such systems, and video surveillance is sometimes simply vital.

First of all, this applies to monitoring children in other rooms. Cameras are often installed at the entrance, allowing visitors to be seen in advance. Thus, these devices are used in many places, so most stakeholders strive to reduce the cost of the monitoring process as much as possible, without loss of efficiency and quality.

This problem can be solved quite easily by turning an Android smartphone into an IP camera. Solving the problem of how to make your own video surveillance camera from a phone is generally done as follows:

• Special applications are downloaded to the mobile device. After startup, basic settings are performed. The quality of video files, resolution level and other parameters that ensure functionality are set.
• Place your smartphone in the most convenient location for surveillance.
• Next, the future camera connects to the Internet. It is recommended to use a wireless connection because mobile communications does not always ensure the passage of signals at sufficient speed. Due to this, images will be transmitted in real time without loss of quality.
• If you plan to use your smartphone for a long time, it must be connected to a power source. To avoid unauthorized connections, you should set a unique password, and also make changes to the default port.

After correctly performing all of the above steps, the phone will turn into a full-fledged video camera with the ability remote connection. Some applications allow the camera, in addition to broadcasting images, to record received information and turn on only if there is any movement in the frame.

Main components of a mobile system

There are two options for organizing video surveillance systems. In the first case, they are laid cable lines, and the second uses a wireless connection. A special cable not only transmits the image, but also provides power to the video cameras.

If you plan to conduct video surveillance via a telephone or smartphone, you will additionally need a recorder to record incoming information and to access the Internet. It is best to purchase a set of equipment that is completely ready for installation and install it yourself. It usually includes several color video cameras, a recorder and connecting wires. To view images you will need a smartphone, iPhone, iPad or other similar device.

If the smartphone itself is used as a video camera, then in the wireless version you only need a receiving device, that is, another phone, tablet or computer.

Setting up a smartphone using IP WEBCAM

An Android smartphone can easily turn into a webcam using various applications. Among them the most popular free program is an IP Webcam downloadable from the App Store. She's different simple interface and performs its functions perfectly. Broadcasting images begins by simply clicking the “Start” button located at the very bottom of the list of options.

Before receiving images on another mobile device or computer, enter the address displayed on the receiver screen into the browser line. In this case, both devices must be in the same Wi-Fi networks, otherwise this method won't work.

Once the connection is established, the camera begins transmitting to open page The browser will display all incoming information - images and sounds.

In addition, the browser allows you to do the following:

• Switch from front to rear camera so that video surveillance from a smartphone and viewing are carried out over a wider range.
• Images can be zoomed in or out, and video quality can be adjusted down or up.
• Focus, turn on flash and night vision functions.
• Taking photos and recording videos with setting all the necessary options - color effects, modes and others.

Broadcasting outside the local network can be done using a VPN connection. In addition to the main functions, the IP Webcam application due to additional options collects data from various sensors. Sounds, movement, temperature and battery voltmeter, gyroscope, accelerometer, lighting and others are under control.

In addition to the program, scripts are installed that perform actions such as email notifications about movement, saving photos at the moment, taking photos at certain time intervals, etc. This program does not require high performance, all options are displayed in the menu in Russian.

MANYTHING app for smartphone

There is another program with which any smartphone turns into an IP camera. This is the Manything application, which, although not Russified, nevertheless has its own positive qualities and characteristics. Its main difference is the ability to constantly synchronize the smartphone with so-called cloud storage. In them, the IP camera continuously transmits recorded images. If your smartphone breaks down, all data will be completely saved.

Working with Manything is as easy as working with IP Webcam. Before you start, you need to register for free, after which all functions of the program will become available. If you wish, you can sign up for a paid subscription, which provides simultaneous access to several cameras.

After registration will appear home screen with two wide buttons “Viewer” and “Camera”. After clicking on “Viewer”, a selection of broadcast cameras connected to your account will appear. By pressing the "Camera" button, the device with running program can be switched to IP camera mode.

Before the broadcast starts, the application is configured for specific video surveillance conditions:

• The shooting mode can be constant or only when the subject appears in the frame. Alerts about motion in the frame can also be configured for other devices logged into the account.
• If you plan to take photos instead of video, you need to set the frame rate interval.
• Settings maximum quantity allocated traffic and other options that are used if necessary.

Cloud service for video surveillance

This type service Its parameters are not suitable for many mobile devices. It is mainly used with laptops and desktop computers. First of all, this is due to the low screen resolutions of older mobile phones. Some cloud service applications themselves have low functionality. In the case of using multiple cameras, this becomes a serious problem. In addition, not all applications are compatible with smartphone and phone operating systems.

All these difficulties can be easily overcome with the help of Internet resources designed specifically for working with mobile device cameras. Among them, the iDOM24.RU application is very popular, which can be configured in a few steps:

• The digital camera is assigned its own IP address, after which port forwarding is performed on the router.
• Next, registration is performed on the service account. After that, in the “add IP camera” section, find the desired device.
• In the “View” section, make sure there are images.
• A special version of the program downloaded from the official website opens on the mobile phone.

The camera built into a smartphone or tablet can be used not only for shooting masterpieces and sending them to Instagram. And not even just for video calls. Here are some non-trivial ways to use the miniature camera that is always with us.

1. Surveillance system

If you have an extra phone or tablet under Android control(version 1.2 and higher), then you can turn them into home system video surveillance using the IP Webcam application. By setting up the program at home, you can watch the “live” broadcast via the Internet on your computer or another phone. To save battery, you can choose to broadcast a low-resolution stream. If the device is connected to the mains, you can configure the transmission of higher quality video.

6. Digitize your papers

A tablet or smartphone is a pocket scanner that is always with you. Install the CamScanner HD application, which exists in versions for Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 – and turn your portable gadget into a full-fledged scanner with the ability to combine and annotate documents, save to a file and text recognition (unfortunately, the Russian language is not supported). For an additional fee, it is possible to save all documents into editable PDFs and store them in a 10-gigabyte cloud.

Handy Scanner application for devices running operating system Android systems allows you to scan documents or photos and save them to PDF files, which can be sent by email or automatically sent to cloud storage Dropbox.

7. Scan film negatives

An ordinary smartphone can act as an improvised slide scanner, allowing you to scan film negatives - of course, with imperfect quality, but quite sufficient, for example, for posting on the Internet.

To do this, you need to install the HELMUT program for devices running Android and find a light source sufficient for a photo “in the light”: it can be either a window on a clear sunny day, or white screen computer with brightness turned up to maximum. The resulting photo can be edited directly on your smartphone using the application or sent to your computer.

8. Google Photo Search

In "desktop" Google search engine There has been such a function as photo search for a long time. The free Google Goggles app brings it to mobile devices.

The Google Goggles program is designed primarily to search for various products, pictures, attractions; it is also capable of recognizing barcodes and QR codes, recognizing texts and translating them into different languages.

What's most impressive about Google Goggles is its ability to recognize famous views and panoramas, book and CD covers, and even solve Sudoku puzzles! If you come across an incomprehensible phrase in a foreign language, point the lens of your smartphone at it and Google Goggles will translate it for you. The application has all the information power of Google at its disposal.

From this article you will learn about new features of the phone, namely using it instead of a webcam.

You will be offered several options with which you can connect a webcam through your phone.

How to use a smartphone instead of a webcam

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A smartphone is multifunctional device, with the help of which various problems are solved.

However, not many people know about the possibility of using a mobile gadget as a webcam, or how useful this function is.

In fact, there are such situations in life: you urgently need to answer a video call, but the webcam, as luck would have it, is faulty.

In this case, your gadget’s camera will come to the rescue. By following the step-by-step instructions, you can use your gadget to transfer video in Skype and other video chats.

If you require:

• Make a video call on Skype, but the standard camera is missing or faulty;
• To broadcast on the Internet, use several cameras;
• Create remote video surveillance.

Even if the screen on your gadget is broken, but it is still working, you can easily replace the webcam, as long as the front or main camera module remains working.

To connect you need:

• Special utilities for pairing the gadget with a PC or laptop;
• Wi-fi access point.

Programs for turning your phone into a webcam via USB

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Almost any gadget can replace a webcam, provided correct installation there is a special program for it.

As a result, a phone with the utility installed will turn out to be an excellent device that can be used to communicate with family or business partners via video communication, and you can also use it to broadcast video.

Applications designed to turn your phone into a webcam work by synchronizing the gadget with personal computer via connection via USB cable or Bluetooth.

These utilities will allow you to replace the built-in camera in your phone instead of the regular webcam installed on your laptop or computer.

Image quality will depend on installed program and mobile camera resolutions.

Using the programs DroidCam, AlterCam and USB Webcam, you can connect your phone as a webcam via USB.

Using one of these applications allows you to transport images from the gadget's camera to a PC or laptop via Bluetooth or a USB cable and can be used using web services for instant messaging.

In addition to the camera, you can also use a microphone to communicate on Skype. mobile phone.

DroidCam

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One of best programs for smartphones that run on Android based. With its help, the gadget will undergo metamorphosis in a matter of minutes and become an excellent portable webcam.

Step by step instructions settings:

1 In order for the phone to turn into a camera, you need to install Android utilities.

While it is installing, proceed to install the program on desktop computer. Unpack the archive. To do this, click on the archive file "Extract..." and select the location where you plan to extract the contents of the archive, then click the button "Ok".

After the unpacking process is completed, go to the folder you selected for unpacking and run the installation file and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

2 Now you need to connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable or Bluetooth.

3 After successfully connecting one of your gadgets to another, run the program on both devices.

IN active window you need to enter the IP address of the mobile gadget, which allows you to distinguish the device from all others.

You can find this path in the DroidCam application running on your phone. In addition to the IP address, DroidCam also shows the port number.

4 A notification will be sent to your computer desktop that your phone has been detected. You need to select the video quality to get started.

5 To continue and start streaming you just need to press a button "Start" . The application will send the image from the gadget's camera to the PC. If your mobile device has two cameras, go to the application settings on your phone and check if the corresponding checkbox is selected, which is responsible for the active camera.

AlterCam

Read also: TOP 12 Best IP cameras for video surveillance of a home or office | Review of current models in 2019

You can also connect your phone to your computer as a webcam via a USB cable using the AlterCam program.

This program allows you to install a virtual webcam on your system.

You can broadcast any video into it: as with real camera, and just video clips stored on the computer.

We will consider the option when the video source is the camera of a mobile device.

Using the IP protocol, the AlterCam program connects to mobile camera and broadcasts real-time video from it to a virtual webcam.

The process of turning your phone into a webcam may seem complicated, but setting it up is a snap.

Step by step instructions:

1 First, download the AlterCam application and install it on your PC. After installation is complete, the program will launch automatically.

2 After this, you need to install the IP Webcam application on your smartphone. You can find it in the Play Store.

3 The installed application must be launched on the phone. When you start, a list of settings will appear; as a rule, you don’t have to change them, you just need to go to the very bottom and select “Run”.

4 You need to run the program on your computer. In the window "Camera" select "Add IP camera".

5 Now you need to connect to the camera of your mobile device using the AlterCam program. To line "IP Camera Name" , which will appear when the window opens "Add IP camera" enter any value, for example, my phone number.

The image quality of the IP camera will depend on the resolution settings in the smartphone application. If you don't know the exact value, leave this setting unchanged.

6 At the bottom of the application open on the phone, the camera’s IP address is indicated; move it to the “IP camera address” line in the window open on the computer.

After this, you need to add “/live” or “/video” at the end of the address. The first option is for devices running on operating system

Adding an IP camera

7 Having transferred the IP address to the computer, you can press the button "OK" . If all actions were performed correctly, an image from the phone camera will appear in the AlterCam program. If this does not happen, check that all steps are performed correctly step by step.

8 After the image appears in the AlterCam program, you need to select a virtual camera in the settings of the voice program that you will use. Let's look at Skype as an example.

Log in to Skype using your username and password. Click on the tab at the top "Tools" and select a section "Settings" . IN general settings you will see the “Video Settings” submenu, and select the program in it.

USB Webcam

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The program allows you to use your phone as a webcam via a USB cable. First you need to install the application on your phone and PC.

You can download the program for PC on the developer’s website. In a folder "Installation path" you need to find the usbwebcam.bat file and run it.

If the program is installed correctly, the image in all programs that use the camera will be broadcast from the phone's camera. True, the frame rate will be low.

You can reduce the resolution of the video stream in the application settings using a hardware key.

After launching the program on your smartphone, you need to enable USB debugging to activate the webcam through a personal computer.

You can find this option in the menu "Options" , where you need to go to the submenu "System" , and then to “Developer Options”.

After enabling USB debugging, connect your phone via a data cable to your PC. Launch the program on your computer; to start working, you need to press any key.

The USB Webcam application must also be running on the phone. Now log into your Skype account, go to "Tools" , then subsection "Settings" .

In settings, open the section "Video settings" , in the window that opens, select "GWebcamVideo" . If everything works correctly, a picture from the smartphone camera will appear on the monitor screen.

In case you see a green screen, your device is not supported USB program Webcam.

An IP camera is a useful thing, but you can only pay several hundred dollars for a video surveillance system if you definitely know that you need it. In all other cases, especially when it comes to the simplest tasks of organizing a video broadcast, any Android smartphone can handle this. As a temporary solution, this is the best option, which requires the smartphone itself and a special application. Let's look at the best of them.


The most popular app, which turns a smartphone or tablet into a video surveillance camera. Its main advantage is the huge number of settings that can confuse the average owner of an Android gadget, but advanced users will certainly appreciate them. IP Webcam essentially does not have the usual interface for this kind of program. Instead of an intuitive screen at startup, a settings menu is immediately offered, scrolling to the very bottom, you can find the main option for starting a video broadcast.

After this, the application goes into shooting mode, and the screen displays the address for viewing the broadcast and remotely controlling the device’s camera. Anyone can do this in a convenient way: via browser, third party programs for video surveillance and even through the VLC media player. This method is only valid within the local network.

Remote control The camera can be used on any device with Internet access: a smartphone, tablet or computer. You can view broadcasts, record video and sound, and take pictures. By the way, all recordings are saved to the device’s memory, there is support for cyclic recording - when the specified threshold is reached, the program will begin to automatically overwrite old videos.

Alfred is quite suitable for novice users. The application has a basic set of functions and a simple interface. At the same time, it is universal, that is, it can serve as both a camera and a monitor; switching between these two modes is carried out at any time.

The functionality of the program depends on the mode of use of the smartphone. If the device is selected as a camera, then here you can select several options regarding its camera and activate the motion sensor with three levels of sensitivity.

A simple program that turns a mobile gadget into a hidden surveillance camera. TrackView is a universal utility that combines the ability to monitor on one device and manage this process on another. At the same time, the functionality of the application is absolutely the same, regardless of the mode of its use.

A prerequisite for organizing video surveillance is registration in the service; authorization via Google is supported. The picture quality in the application is excellent, the delays are minimal. The functions available include video recording, two-way audio transmission Push to Talk, camera switching, and flash activation. One of the most strengths TrackView - motion and sound detection function. It works properly, when the sensor is triggered, a 15-second video starts recording, and a corresponding notification is sent to the remote device.

In addition, TrackView tracks GPS location. The advantages of the program also include automatic copying of all records to cloud storage Google Drive.

AtHome Video Streamer works in conjunction with AtHome Camera. The first application acts as a client (streamer), the second - as a server that controls the camera on a remote device. Moreover, not only a mobile device on iOS and Android can be used as both, but also a computer running Windows control.

Another easy-to-use utility for organizing video surveillance using two mobile devices. Distinctive feature WardenCam is the fact that it only uses cloud storage data (Google or Dropbox). That is, all recordings are not saved on the device itself. The rest of the application is on its own functionality and the operating principle is similar to Alfred. Here you also select the type of use of the smartphone - camera or monitor, and the role of the gadget can be changed at any time. Synchronization between devices is carried out using an account Google posts.

In monitor mode, the user has access to functions such as continuous recording, switching cameras, rotating the screen, turning on the flash, Push to Talk and activating the motion sensor. Here you can also configure the camera of the remote device (video resolution and quality, exposure, energy saving, etc.). Among the most important options, it is worth noting the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the activation of scheduled recording when motion is detected.

By the way, even without any special settings, the motion sensor works perfectly, events are automatically recorded and sent to the cloud, and corresponding notifications are sent to a remote device. The quality of the broadcast also did not disappoint - the picture is decent, the maximum resolution in my case was 864x480 pixels, although in the settings you can set it up to Full HD.

The only significant disadvantage of WardenCam is the limitation on recording for a total of up to 48 hours in the free version of the application. The pro version without ads and video recording time limits will cost approximately $7.5 in a one-time payment.

Telephoto is a slightly different program with an interesting idea for organizing video surveillance via Telegram. Essentially, this is just a service that connects to a pre-created bot that acts as a security system. The application is installed on a smartphone or tablet running Android, and on another device you only need Telegram. Management is carried out in the messenger itself, where first of all you need to create a bot and activate it in Telephoto. All this is done very simply - in the application there is detailed instructions for setting up the program.

Having launched the service, we move on to the bot. It can send photos from both cameras on request or on a schedule at any time interval, warn about motion detection, send event notifications to a remote smartphone, receive GPS data and record sound. Another interesting feature of Telephoto is integration with Tasker, thanks to which the user can send any management commands through the bot mobile device.

For all its advantages, Telephoto still has several disadvantages. For example, when motion is detected, the program sends a series of several pictures in the form of a GIF animation, where it is often difficult to see the person in the frame. In addition, taking photos in high resolution and changing the camera for the motion sensor (active by default front camera) are available only in the paid Pro version. But in general, the application is quite interesting and promising.

Good day, brain friends! Today I suggest you familiarize yourself with my guide on how to like with your own hands turn your dusty phone into a great webcam.

I had been nurturing this idea of ​​turning a phone into a camera for about 3 years, but when I bought a 3D printer and read horror stories about the problems with its operation (rotation failure, overheating and fires, etc.), I finally decided to implement it. At the same time, I considered the option of a smoke detector with Wi-fi, Dropcam, but a homemade camera from a phone turned out to be cheaper, so let’s get started!

Step 1: Materials

The list of required materials is quite simple: Android phone, cable, charger and Wi-fi router. My main item was the Droid Razr Maxx, which is fully functional as soon as the charging port is removed.

Also for installation and configuration homemade products I needed a soldering iron, power supply, glue gun and small screwdrivers.

Step 2: Prepare your phone

My phone works great, but the charging socket is ripped out. Therefore, to correct this defect, I drilled a hole for the cable in the phone case and soldered it to the power contacts USB cable, having first checked the polarity. In this case, the battery becomes unnecessary; it can be removed, since the phone is powered directly. I checked this with my power supply before installation.

So, I powered the phone directly via a USB cord, secured the cord itself with a glue gun and assembled the case.

Step 3: Software

There are many for webcams free applications, but I chose a paid one so as not to bother with watermarks on the image, and it’s not a pity to support a good programmer.

When you first load the app, you will see a settings screen. There are many settings, but the main ones are as follows:

— Login/Password: since the homemade product is connected to the Internet, it would not be superfluous to assign a login and password.

—Stream on device boot : If your phone decides to reboot, this setting will then turn on the webcam again.

- Start server: Click on the last entry in the list and the video stream will be activated!

Important note - my settings are not canonical, you can use the parameters to configure your phone as a security camera. This application allows you to record video loops, respond to motion, light and sound, can take photos at regular intervals, etc.

Also at the bottom of the settings screen you will see the IP address, in my case it is 10.0.0.21:8080. In principle, the mission is accomplished if you plan to receive a video stream within the same home, but if you want to receive the signal remotely, you will have to work with a router.

Step 4: Setting up a permanent IP address

Setting up a Wi-Fi router for a beginner seems complicated, but in fact it is not, and many manuals on the Internet will help you.

The first step is to find the IP address, for my webcam it is “10.0.0.21:8080”, that is port 8080 on this IP address. In most cases, Wi-Fi router is located in XXX.1, or in my case "10.0.0.1". Just type this into your browser's address bar, you'll likely end up on your router's login page! The IP address can also be found in the router manual or on its case.

If you have never logged into the system via a router, then the password and login are most likely assigned to the standard ones by default (they are indicated in the instructions or the case). I’m sharing my trick: I write down the current password and login on a piece of paper and stick them with tape to the bottom of the router.

Once you are logged in, you need to find your phone and give it a permanent IP address. Standard router procedure issues temporary IP addresses that change every week or so, but you want your webcam to have a permanent IP address. You might have to tinker with this, but it's pretty simple. In the “connected devices” submenu, I changed DHCP to Reserved IP, entered my IP address, and clicked “save”.

Step 5: Enable Online Mode

At this stage we “connect” to the Internet. Your router acts as a gateway between local network and the outside world, and the IP addresses on each side of these gates are different. That is, you need to configure the router so that it connects the external IP with the IP camera. It sounds complicated, but it's not all bad.

Like most routers, to forward ports on my router you need to go to “Advanced” and “Port Forwarding”. We enable “port forwarding”, since this function is disabled by default, go to the browser, and in the search bar enter something like “find out my IP address”. You will receive a set of numbers back. To access the webcam, simply enter this string of numbers into your browser with: 8080 at the end (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:8080 - where 8080 is the port of my camera 10.0.0.21:8080). In principle, the working webcam is ready! But check the connection from another device, as sometimes there is a bug in the router firmware that prevents you from connecting back to the Internet.

Here is an example of my webcam working, the quality is not very good, apparently I missed something in the settings:

Step 6: Finalizing the brain-model

For my webcam, I printed a bracket on a 3D printer to constantly monitor this same printer. I installed the bracket on the printer, connected the camera, and also installed a smoke detector just in case.

Craft ready, happy observations!