Home monitoring is important even if you live in a traditionally safe neighborhood. You never know what can go wrong, and when it does, it's nice to have video evidence. Unfortunately, dedicated home security camera systems decorate your home with these 7 stylish security cameras Decorate your home with these 7 stylish security cameras The first generation home security cameras had many flaws, including problems connection and poor video quality. They were also pretty boring. Here are 7 stylish alternatives! Read More
A way to save a a lot of money is setting up a network of webcams instead. Cheap Webcams A Guide To The Best Cheap Webcams Under $60 A Guide To The Best Cheap Webcams Under $60 If you don't have a webcam, you should get one ASAP. It's one of those things that seems unnecessary until you have one, then suddenly becomes useful for all sorts of things. Read More You can also set up old smartphones as webcams. How to Use an Android Phone as a Webcam for Your Computer How to Use an Android Phone as a Webcam for Your Computer Need to record video on your PC but don't have a webcam? Use your Android phone as a webcam with these nifty apps! Read more around the house.
The hard part is managing all those webcams. The good news? The software can handle all of that for you, along with providing some much-needed security features like permanent recording, motion detection, intruder notifications, etc. Here are the best home surveillance apps for webcams.
Ivideon is a webcam surveillance solution designed for homes and businesses. The business version is obviously more powerful with more features, but that doesn't mean the home version is weak! I found it surprisingly effective and easy to use.
Just install the Ivideon server software on a computer with webcams. Ivideon Server runs in the background and controls all webcams, which you can view using the Ivideon web interface or one of the Ivideon mobile apps. IP cameras are supported, in addition to webcams.
Notable features include:
Download: Ivideon (Windows, Mac, Linux)
ZoneMinder is a complete surveillance solution for Linux systems that is capable of monitoring, recording and analyzing home cameras of all kinds. It's powerful enough for business use, yet easy enough for home users. And true to its Linux roots, ZoneMinder is open source software!
Notable features include:
Download: ZoneMinder (Linux)
I spy is the most feature-rich of the free options on this list and consists of two parts:first, iSpy software that runs on your computer, and second, iSpyConnect to remotely connect, view your webcams from anywhere. place and receive alerts.
Notable features include:
Download: iSpy (Windows)
ContaCam is a simple application that is designed for light resource usage, making it a viable option for older machines. Although you'll miss out on some nifty features like cloud storage integration, don't think of it as barebones. ContaCam is more than enough for most.
Notable features include:
Download: ContaCam (Windows)
Blue iris It is our recommended home monitoring software. The interface has a bit of a learning curve, but it offers a variety of features not available in free alternatives or other paid options in this price range.
Blue Iris is $30 for the light version (which only supports one camera) and $60 for the full version (which supports up to 64 cameras).
Notable features include:
Buy: Blue Iris (Windows)
Video of the night it's prohibitively expensive for casual home users, but if you're dead serious about home surveillance and can afford multiple high-quality webcams, then there's no better solution. However, it does require a powerful machine.!
Sighthound Video is $60 for the basic license (which supports up to 2 cameras) and $250 for the professional license (which supports unlimited cameras).
Notable features include:
Buy: Sighthound Video (Windows, Mac)
Regardless of what software solution you go with, it's important that you avoid these common security camera setup mistakes How to Setup Security Cameras and Avoid Common Mistakes How to Setup Security Cameras and Avoid Common Mistakes In this article, I'll explain Five of the most common mistakes people make when installing their security cameras. Hopefully it will help you avoid making the same mistakes. Read more . In particular, you need to be aware of where you are pointing your cameras. 5 Dangers to Consider When Pointing Your Security Camera. 5 Dangers to Consider When Pointing Your Security Camera. It is important to carefully consider where you place your cameras and what parts of your camera. At home you write them down. Keeping things secure is important, but so is keeping your privacy. Read More Clearly this is not an acceptable state of affairs. To combat this, you need to secure your security cameras. Let's find out how. Read more.
That said, it's also good to be aware of all the practical ways you can use a surveillance camera. Practical uses for your home. Surveillance cameras. Practical uses for your home. Surveillance cameras. Home surveillance cameras are becoming more and more popular as technology advances. prices drop Here are some practical uses for home security cameras, some of which may surprise you. Read More 6 Creative Uses for Wireless Surveillance Cameras in Your Home. 6 Creative Uses for Wireless Surveillance Cameras in Your Home. Security cameras are useful for more than just surveillance. With a bit of creativity and effort, you can improve your quality of life with these unusual ideas for your security cameras. Read more . Of course, you want to keep your home safe, just like watching your babysitter The 6 Best Hidden Cameras To Monitor Your Babysitter The 6 Best Hidden Cameras To Monitor Your Babysitter Looking for a discreet security camera so visitors won't know you're being watched? Try these hidden cameras throughout the house. Read More
What software do you use to manage your webcams? How many webcams do you have in your home surveillance network? Share with us in the comments below!
Article originally written by James Bruce on November 7, 2012
