web camera....

CliffA

CliffA

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2009
4,712
Lake Norman, NC
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 340DA
Name: 'Happy Place'
4.5kW West. Generator
Purchased Nov. 2014
Fresh Water Use
Engines
Twin Merc. 6.2L (MPI)
640 hp (Total)
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drive Transmissions
OK, i am about to demonstrate my ignorance about web based technology....

i have an idea about remotely monitoring the temp in the engine room on my boat as well as the water temp at my wet slip...but i don't know the feasibility of it or what equipment and cost would be required...

i have installed a indoor/outdoor thermometer on the boat with the outdoor temp sensor located in the ER.....i can sit the thermometer display beside the depth gauge on the dash which also shows the water temp....this way i can see both the ER temp and the water temp at the same time...i was thinking if i could have a web based camera that was pointed at the thermometer display and the depth gauge i could check on the ER temp and the water temp anytime i wanted with my smart phone (android) or computer....i understand i would have to leave the depth gauge on all the time but i don't think that is a big deal....i think there is enough lighting at the slip to show the depth gauge and the thermometer display on the camera at night....

i do have access to wifi from the marina....is there a simple and cost effective way for me to install a camera that could communicate with my phone via wifi over the internet without having to have a computer for the camera to hook up to?

I know there are some systems available designed to remotely monitor weather conditions but they can be pretty pricey....i'm just looking for a realitively simple and inexpensive way to keep check on the boat....

thanks...
cliff
 
Cliff,

Since you have WiFi access, but not necessarily the ability to control the marina's firewall, you need a camera that uses some sort of cloud-based service to allow you to connect to it. What the cloud-based service would allow you to do is simply connect the camera to the wifi and log into the camera from D-Link's site. This is opposed to the traditional method of configuring your firewall to allow connectivity directly through your home/work IP address.

I've never used a cloud-based camera, but d-link has a few cameras that look like they would fit the bill. Here is a link.

https://www.mydlink.com/content/productfamily#48tabM99

Another idea would be to use some sort of wifi-enabled thermometer as well, however I think you'd be hard pressed to find a thermometer with a cloud-based service behind it.

Hopefully this helps, let me know if I can further clarify anything.

Good luck!
 
davidh82 said:
Cliff,

Since you have WiFi access, but not necessarily the ability to control the marina's firewall, you need a camera that uses some sort of cloud-based service to allow you to connect to it. What the cloud-based service would allow you to do is simply connect the camera to the wifi and log into the camera from D-Link's site. This is opposed to the traditional method of configuring your firewall to allow connectivity directly through your home/work IP address.

I've never used a cloud-based camera, but d-link has a few cameras that look like they would fit the bill. Here is a link.

https://www.mydlink.com/content/productfamily#48tabM99

Another idea would be to use some sort of wifi-enabled thermometer as well, however I think you'd be hard pressed to find a thermometer with a cloud-based service behind it.

Hopefully this helps, let me know if I can further clarify anything.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks....i'll take a look at the link....

cliff
 
Do you have an old iphone? There is an app that can turn your phone into a security camera. The phone uses wifi so it doesn't need to have cell service. It also has motion sensor technology and can alert you via text. So you can get what you want for free if you have an old iPhone. I forget the name of the app but a search will find it. I used it for a while until I got a more advanced system but it would work just fine for your needs. Just point the camera at what you want to monitor and you can see it anytime from any other phone.

HTH
 
skunkman said:
Do you have an old iphone? There is an app that can turn your phone into a security camera. The phone uses wifi so it doesn't need to have cell service. It also has motion sensor technology and can alert you via text. So you can get what you want for free if you have an old iPhone. I forget the name of the app but a search will find it. I used it for a while until I got a more advanced system but it would work just fine for your needs. Just point the camera at what you want to monitor and you can see it anytime from any other phone.

HTH
Click to expand...

i do have an old phone but it is android, not iphone....i will check into this...i like 'free'.....

thanks....
cliff
 
davidh82 said:
Cliff,

Since you have WiFi access, but not necessarily the ability to control the marina's firewall, you need a camera that uses some sort of cloud-based service to allow you to connect to it. What the cloud-based service would allow you to do is simply connect the camera to the wifi and log into the camera from D-Link's site. This is opposed to the traditional method of configuring your firewall to allow connectivity directly through your home/work IP address.

I've never used a cloud-based camera, but d-link has a few cameras that look like they would fit the bill. Here is a link.

https://www.mydlink.com/content/productfamily#48tabM99

Another idea would be to use some sort of wifi-enabled thermometer as well, however I think you'd be hard pressed to find a thermometer with a cloud-based service behind it.

Hopefully this helps, let me know if I can further clarify anything.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

i looked at the link and did a little research on cloud based cameras....i think this just might work...i can get a basic camera for around $100 that has day/night vision and zoom capabilities....i was thinking i could add a second indoor/outdoor thermometer with the outdoor sensor in the cabin....that way i can place that thermometer's display beside the depth gauge also to keep track of the ER temp, the cabin temp, and the water temp, all at the same time...the thermometers are around $15 each so for less than $150 i would be able to keep check on the boat remotely...i live about 1.25 hrs away from the boat so it is difficult to just 'swing by' and check things out...

i also watched a detailed video on youtube about setting up a Dlink cloud camera....i do have one question on the set-up....the video shows an ethernet cable being used during the set-up process to connect the camera directly to a router....since i do not have access to the router at the marina can the set-up be done wirelessly with no cable?

cliff
 
Last edited:
Check out Acu-Rite I have three wireless sensors presently with one in the forward bilge, aft bilge & engine room which monitor temperatures of which I can set the alarm points hi or low to text alert me whenever it breaks a set point. It will also let you know if it loses connectivity which would typically mean power. If the power goes off I already can look to set what the last temperature reading was and if need be can have someone at the marina start the generator if I'm concerned with freezing conditions which I have not had to do in 5 years yet. The system has a wireless bridge and I didn't have to connect any wire to the marina Wi-Fi to set up. I'm not a techie but this has worked great.

I have a Wi-Fi camera as well that is there through my home Trane heating and cooling system which I can look at any time since all it needs is Wi-Fi connectivity. Trane is owned by the same parent company that owns Sledges locks which I'm sure I spelled wrong but that's how I can check on boat.

I have a First Alert wireless camera system with (4) wireless cameras that are motion activated set up around the boat and inside facing the door that record to a dedicated disk system. You'd have a hard time finding the master recorder system as it is not on the boat. April 2nd 2009 at 2:03 AM the dock had a night visitor. The guy came into the dock building of which there are 10 boats, looked around then reached up and turned the two lights on his baseball cap for better light as the docks were dark. The cameras already had him as they are infrared before he turned his lights on. He took three steps down the dock and saw the red and green light on the camera tilted his head down and then backed off the dock. When I got down that Friday afternoon and saw I had some video which I reviewed what I had and then asked all the local people whom work there if anyone knew him and they didn't. Next stop was the county sheriff's office of which they were glad to have as several boats had been broken into with electronics stolen over the previous two weeks.

I can't tell you that the info got him locked up as I was never told but they did arrest him shortly thereafter, Some might say the camera didn't do a great job but because he saw the camera and left the building I'm sure I saved my boat and others in that marina from getting broken into. The boat that is slipped next to me had his chart plotter and other electronics stolen off his boat. The funny thing is had he been in his slip rather than a hard at the yard down the road he probably would have not lost a thing. The systems are cheap IMO and worth every penny to me.

Hope this helps and if it does, let others know.
 
be nice if you could do all that, but it's not going to happen cheap.
 
Thanks for the replies....I sent a message to Dlink and they sent me detailed instructions how to set up the camera without a direct connection to the router....in this case the Ethernet cable connection is made between the camera and a computer....

i do not intend to keep the live video connection on all the time, maybe not at all....I think this camera has the option to take a snap shot or video when motion is detected and send an email to with the picture or video attached....that way I won't be using a lot of bandwidth....this camera also has a built-in wifi repeater...this is nice because our wifi signal is not very strong from the marina so with this repeater we should have a stronger wifi signal down in the cabin....I may have to install a stand alone repeater somewhere between our boat and the marina just to get a reliable signal to the camera but they are not very expensive....

this camera will automatically update the firmware when they become available and it requires the power to be switched off and on (power reboot) to complete the update.....I have read where people have used simple lamp timers to cut the power for a minute or so each day to allow the firmware to download and reset the camera....without this someone would have to go to the boat and cycle the power off and on manually...

the indoor/ outdoor thermometers I have are made by Accurite....they work well but the base units will establish a wireless connection to whichever outdoor sensor has the strongest signal...the outdoor sensors must share the same broadcast frequency so using two or more thermometers on the same boat can be tricky....so my plan now is to use only one of the thermometers in the cabin....the 'indoor' temp reading will be the cabin temp and the 'outdoor' temp reading will be the ER temp....I can set the camera up in the cabin to see the thermometer display to keep track of the cabin and ER temps remotely.....I got the camera for $70 on Amazon and the thermometer was $15 from Home Depot....if this works out I feel that is a reasonable price to pay for remote monitoring capability....there are no monthly fees associated with Dlink....so the initial equipment cost is all the expense involved.....camera should be delivered next week....I will be able to use the camera as a security camera when I am not concerned about freezing temps.....i'll keep the thread updated as progress is made....

cliff
 
Last edited:
Shortcut said:
I have WIFI to my dock and just ordered one of these for my engine compartment, you can monitor temps from any where. It should be here next Tuesday.

https://www.connectsense.com/wireless-temperature-sensor

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ISKS8HG/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Click to expand...

i like your idea better so i also ordered one of these monitors...i like the fact the monitor will send you notification if a set temp is reached as well as a variety of types of notifications....and the temp trend line is also a nice feature....i will use the camera i ordered as a security camera...

thanks...
cliff
 
This looks pretty good, if I had a boat that I kept in the water and did not winterize, I would definitely go this route. I do think you are going to be surprised how warm the 45deg water is going to keep your boat.

Cliff, just an FYI, I was at my boat yesterday, even though it is winterized, just for kicks I have a thermometer in the bilge that records the hi/low temp. Low temp reached so far this winter is 18deg - that's sitting in a second level rack, 3 sides enclosed about 100ft from the water. Definitely cold enough to freeze things, but about 5deg warmer than the recorded lows we had last week.
 
CliffA said:
i also watched a detailed video on youtube about setting up a Dlink cloud camera....i do have one question on the set-up....the video shows an ethernet cable being used during the set-up process to connect the camera directly to a router....since i do not have access to the router at the marina can the set-up be done wirelessly with no cable?

cliff
Click to expand...

Hey Cliff, Sorry but I just saw this question. It looks like D-link already cleared this up for you. I'm sure that they explained everything well, but let me know if you need any further clarifications. Glad I was able to help!
 
BillK2632 said:
This looks pretty good, if I had a boat that I kept in the water and did not winterize, I would definitely go this route. I do think you are going to be surprised how warm the 45deg water is going to keep your boat.

Cliff, just an FYI, I was at my boat yesterday, even though it is winterized, just for kicks I have a thermometer in the bilge that records the hi/low temp. Low temp reached so far this winter is 18deg - that's sitting in a second level rack, 3 sides enclosed about 100ft from the water. Definitely cold enough to freeze things, but about 5deg warmer than the recorded lows we had last week.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill.....i am sure once i see the affect of the lake water temp on the engine room temp i will not be as paranoid about freeze damage....but i don't mind spending $150 for the piece of mind this sensor should be able to give me....i will likely also use it during the heat of the summer months to see what temps the ER reach when both engines are running and the boat is on plane and cruising...excessive heat in the ER can lead to problems with electronics....been there and got the T shirt.....

i am a little surprised that a 3 sided dry stack building did not offer any better protection for your boat from the cold....

cliff
 
BillK2632 said:
This looks pretty good, if I had a boat that I kept in the water and did not winterize, I would definitely go this route. I do think you are going to be surprised how warm the 45deg water is going to keep your boat.

Cliff, just an FYI, I was at my boat yesterday, even though it is winterized, just for kicks I have a thermometer in the bilge that records the hi/low temp. Low temp reached so far this winter is 18deg - that's sitting in a second level rack, 3 sides enclosed about 100ft from the water. Definitely cold enough to freeze things, but about 5deg warmer than the recorded lows we had last week.
Click to expand...

We spent Friday night on the boat. Air temp went down to 30 overnight. Water temp down to 45. Bilge temp did not go below 50.

Sunday afternoon the air temp was 60 and the water temp 47. Bilge got up to 56.
 
JimT said:
We spent Friday night on the boat. Air temp went down to 30 overnight. Water temp down to 45. Bilge temp did not go below 50.

Sunday afternoon the air temp was 60 and the water temp 47. Bilge got up to 56.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim....we had to go out of town this past WE so we had to miss the great boating weather on LKN....we are planning to be at the boat this coming WE but right now the weather does not look great....figures.....:smt009.......

cliff
 
JimT said:
We spent Friday night on the boat. Air temp went down to 30 overnight. Water temp down to 45. Bilge temp did not go below 50.

Sunday afternoon the air temp was 60 and the water temp 47. Bilge got up to 56.
Click to expand...

had a chance to check on the boat yesterday...it has been about a 1.5 weeks since we were there....my indoor/outdoor thermometer gave similar readings you show...the high temp in the ER was 50* and the coldest temp was 46*.....maybe the fact i am in a covered slip affects my numbers some since my boat cannot build heat from direct exposure to the sun's rays........

cliff
 
Re: web camera...

Gimme Time said:
Check out Acu-Rite I have three wireless sensors presently with one in the forward bilge, aft bilge & engine room which monitor temperatures of which I can set the alarm points hi or low to text alert me whenever it breaks a set point. It will also let you know if it loses connectivity which would typically mean power. If the power goes off I already can look to set what the last temperature reading was and if need be can have someone at the marina start the generator if I'm concerned with freezing conditions which I have not had to do in 5 years yet. The system has a wireless bridge and I didn't have to connect any wire to the marina Wi-Fi to set up. I'm not a techie but this has worked great.


I have a Wi-Fi camera as well that is there through my home Trane heating and cooling system which I can look at any time since all it needs is Wi-Fi connectivity. Trane is owned by the same parent company that owns Sledges locks which I'm sure I spelled wrong but that's how I can check on boat.

I have a First Alert wireless camera system with (4) wireless cameras that are motion activated set up around the boat and inside facing the door that record to a dedicated disk system. You'd have a hard time finding the master recorder system as it is not on the boat. April 2nd 2009 at 2:03 AM the dock had a night visitor. The guy came into the dock building of which there are 10 boats, looked around then reached up and turned the two lights on his baseball cap for better light as the docks were dark. The cameras already had him as they are infrared before he turned his lights on. He took three steps down the dock and saw the red and green light on the camera tilted his head down and then backed off the dock. When I got down that Friday afternoon and saw I had some video which I reviewed what I had and then asked all the local people whom work there if anyone knew him and they didn't. Next stop was the county sheriff's office of which they were glad to have as several boats had been broken into with electronics stolen over the previous two weeks.

I can't tell you that the info got him locked up as I was never told but they did arrest him shortly thereafter, Some might say the camera didn't do a great job but because he saw the camera and left the building I'm sure I saved my boat and others in that marina from getting broken into. The boat that is slipped next to me had his chart plotter and other electronics stolen off his boat. The funny thing is had he been in his slip rather than a hard at the yard down the road he probably would have not lost a thing. The systems are cheap IMO and worth every penny to me.

Hope this helps and if it does, let others know.
Click to expand...
Do you have to keep the wireless bridge plugged into a router? I have wifi at the dock and am looking for a way to monitor temps using the wifi.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,348
Messages
1,430,848
Members
61,195
Latest member
Polski
Back
Top