Remote Monitoring?

[TechDoc]

I am curious if anyone is using any sort of remote monitoring device on their boat. For example, a Canary or Nest Cam, that can send you a notification if it detects motion. The Canary also monitors temperature and humidity.

Of course that means having internet access on the boat, so you'd have to be in a marina with WiFi or have a cellular or satellite hot spot.

 

[gerryb]

I use Boat Command on my boat and have been very pleased with it. It does NOT require internet access however one down side is that it does not include any video services.

 

[DaleM]

I use a dlink cam. It's wifi based. You can set it to capture video and send you a 10 second or so snippet of video via email of what triggered it. The web interface of the cam allows you to focus in on the area interest that would trigger capture (ie, a cockpit door area instead of piece of canvas blowing in the wind. There's an iphone app that's available so you can see real-time video at any time. You can also trigger it to send video based off of sound if you like. It also has night time (IR) capabilities that are extremely good. I get notifications of my friends putting back smaller kid's life vests on our boat that they've borrowed often. Maybe I should focus one on the cockpit fridge door! :smt001 (you can have multiple cams as long as they are dlink associated to an account - which is free).

The wifi repeater function on the cam is nice if you have kids with multiple devices because you can essentially 'convert' the marina wifi ssid to your own HOME ssid which keeps you from having to add a new network and potentially cumbersome password. Wifi devices simply 'see' your signal as if they are already at home.

http://us.dlink.com/products/home-solutions/day-night-wifi-camera-dcs-933l/


The app is cloud based so those that don't like data going to the cloud may not like it. Since I use it on the boat only when I'm not there (nor should anyone else be for that matter when I'm not) I'm ok with data streaming there. One of many solutions.

 

[TechDoc]

Thanks for the replies.

@DaleM, that is exactly what I am looking to do. I have a similar setup at home for video monitoring when we're away, and just wasn't sure if there were others out there doing the same on their boats.

I like the WiFi repeater functionality you mentioned. We are going to be taking over the seller's slip on Monday, so I don't yet know all of the details regarding amenities, including WiFi availability.

Thanks again!

 

[Steve195]

FYI, I tried Nest, Logitech Circle and Kodak Webcam in my covered slip. I couldn't get any of them to work (stay online) reliably because the only internet access I have was via a Verizon mifi hotspot which I set up. I got a fair cell signal, but the cameras would still come off line from time to time, defeating the purpose of being able to take a look at the boat anytime.

 

[TechDoc]

Thanks Steve, that's good to know. If there is no WiFi at the new marina, my thoughts were to use a cellular HotSpot. I may have to re-think that strategy.

 

[bankyf]

I use the netgear arlo and boatcommand. Because the arlo is wireless and battery operated(and IR), I have mounted one on a piling so I can see the exterior of the boat, weather at the marine, whats going on at the dock, etc. Arlo uses motion to trigger alerts along with a 10 second video clip, but can be setup to "disarm" itself when your phone is within a predefined radius of the boat. I have motion turned off for the piling cam, but on inside the boat. Batteries seem to last 6 months or so depending on how much I log in to watch it. It is also a web based setup, which isn't always ideal at a marina.

 

[DaleM]

I have mounted one on a piling so I can see the exterior of the boat, weather at the marine, whats going on at the dock, etc.

Do you use the magnetic base or a more fixed mount to attach to the piling? I'm curious how strong the magnets are as I've been back and forth about going this route. I love the battery option but these little suckers are pricey and we get some serious storms that roll through the marina - I'd hate for the mount to not hold up. Also, is there an Arlo 'base' required at the boat or can the base be at home and you still communicate to the cam via the web?

 

[Ctsearay]

I tried the Izon system and cant seem to get it to work on the boat at the Marina on their wifi. Countless hours on tech support with them and nothing. BUT I use them at home and they work fine, and on the outdoor side I use Arlo at home and its flawless. Maybe I'll try another Arlo for the boat next season, I'll have to see if you can use two systems on one app.

 

[bankyf]

Do you use the magnetic base or a more fixed mount to attach to the piling? I'm curious how strong the magnets are as I've been back and forth about going this route. I love the battery option but these little suckers are pricey and we get some serious storms that roll through the marina - I'd hate for the mount to not hold up. Also, is there an Arlo 'base' required at the boat or can the base be at home and you still communicate to the cam via the web?

I did not use the magnetic base outside, only inside the boat. I used a fixed mount screwed to the wooden piling. The magnet is pretty strong, but I would imagine storms might knock it out of alignment. Assuming you have a metal piling or cannot screw into the piling, could you use something like a large hose clamp around the piling to attach the fixed mount? If not, you could always use the magnet, screw a small eye bolt into the threaded hole in the bottom and tie that off to your rope as a safety line so you didn't lose it if a storm did knock it off.