12v Security Camera setup with remote access?

[Nasicus]

We're having issues at the moment with people letting themselves onto the yard, which includes climbing over locked gates with barbed wire on top. We recently got a wildlife camera, which has really been quite eye opening as it seems to be happening every day. Nothing is going walkabouts, but we're obviously very unhappy about this.
I would like to get some sort of security camera in place, but needs to do the following:
- Run off of a 12V UPS or Leisure battery (no electric) which would have a solar panel attached
- Have some way to alert me remotely (ideally to my phone) of activity and allow remote viewing (or at least send photos to my phone)

And if I'm being totally bougie, I would love some way to communicate through the camera, so if my phone alerts me, I can look into it, see who it is, and shout at whoever is sneaking around on the yard if needed.

I'd imagine I'd need one that is able to communicate with the outside world via a sim card.

I know some people on here have similar setups, so I'd really appreciate it if I could be pointed in the right direction

 

[Nasicus]

Typically, I might have found something immediately after posting!
https://www.watchyourhorse.co.uk/buy-123cam
Anyone used one of these?

 

[milliepops]

I have a couple of reolink Go cameras and I think they meet your spec, you can get motion alerts, see recorded stuff, view in real time and speak through the mic battery+ solar panel and sim card take care of it all.

 

[Nasicus]

I have a couple of reolink Go cameras and I think they meet your spec, you can get motion alerts, see recorded stuff, view in real time and speak through the mic battery+ solar panel and sim card take care of it all.

Thanks MP, I know there was at least one out there! I don't suppose you have any images to show the quality at all do you?

 

[milliepops]

yep will get some in a mo

 

[Nasicus]

yep will get some in a mo

Thank you

 

[milliepops]

screenshot of mobile app

 

[milliepops]

live footage from a moment ago (not a lot of action, just a foal scratching itself )

 

[milliepops]

this is a recording earlier today, the outside one is on low definition.

 

[Spottyappy]

I have the reolink go too. x 2, though could do with 2 more.
it costs £4 Monthly for each camera, On a data sim.
it sends you alerts when there is movement, too.

 

[Nasicus]

Thanks for those MP, quality does look pretty good

 

[Nasicus]

I have the reolink go too. x 2, though could do with 2 more.
it costs £4 Monthly for each camera, On a data sim.
it sends you alerts when there is movement, too.

Is that £4pm for each data sim card? How much data allowance do you have on them? Do you find it chomps through data when you check them?

 

[milliepops]

the V sim (£4pm on a rolling one month contract) appears to be unlimited. I have been using EE PAYG sims where I have mine at the moment as there's no vodafone signal (unusual!) and I don't get through much data at all even during foalwatch.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

I third the Reolink.

Works very well with alerts, etc., and you can talk through it.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I've got a cheapo Sim card solar powered camera in the field now. It can alert you and record to cloud and/or on a SD card. Cost £119 from Banggood. You can also talk through it (apparently). I've also got reolinks which are good too - just expensive.

 

[Nasicus]

I've got a cheapo Sim card solar powered camera in the field now. It can alert you and record to cloud and/or on a SD card. Cost £119 from Banggood. You can also talk through it (apparently). I've also got reolinks which are good too - just expensive.

Don't suppose you've got a link to the Banggood one? Always worth comparing specs!

But definitely seems that Reolink are popular!

 

[dorsetladette]

I've got a cheapo Sim card solar powered camera in the field now. It can alert you and record to cloud and/or on a SD card. Cost £119 from Banggood. You can also talk through it (apparently). I've also got reolinks which are good too - just expensive.

View attachment 50963

https://www.banggood.com/1080P-Wire...5.html?rmmds=search&ID=47757&cur_warehouse=CN

Is this the one you have? I've been looking for one for ages, but the recommended ones are expensive and I was worried the cheaper ones wouldn't do the job

 

[Nasicus]

I've also found this one on Banggood:
https://www.banggood.com/ESCAM-QF46...B&rmmds=cart_middle_products&cur_warehouse=CN

Which iiiinterestingly enough, appears to be the one sold here:

https://www.watchyourhorse.co.uk/buy-123cam

 

[Nasicus]

https://www.banggood.com/1080P-Wire...5.html?rmmds=search&ID=47757&cur_warehouse=CN

Is this the one you have? I've been looking for one for ages, but the recommended ones are expensive and I was worried the cheaper ones wouldn't do the job

I quite like the look of that one, it mentioned 2 way audio and the specs and description is more detailed, and it does have a few reviews. I'll sit on that one for a bit I think.

 

[dorsetladette]

I've also found this one on Banggood:
https://www.banggood.com/ESCAM-QF46...B&rmmds=cart_middle_products&cur_warehouse=CN

Which iiiinterestingly enough, appears to be the one sold here:

https://www.watchyourhorse.co.uk/buy-123cam

I prefer the look of that one- the solar panel looks more robust.

 

[milliepops]

not sure if that banggood one is detatchable but I find it really handy to be able to mount the solar panel separate to the camera - has allowed me to put a camera indoors and also to be able to put a camera under the underhang of the stables

 

[Nasicus]

not sure if that banggood one is detatchable but I find it really handy to be able to mount the solar panel separate to the camera - has allowed me to put a camera indoors and also to be able to put a camera under the underhang of the stables

The spot I've got planned would thankfully give anything with a directly attached solar panel a good amount of direct sun, but it's definitely a consideration. Ideally I'd like it to also have the option of 12V, but admittedly I am trying to keep the cost on the lower end of the scale. If it were land I owned, you can bet your arse I'd be spending out haha!

 

[milliepops]

ah that's great. I have moved mine around a fair bit, which is easy with the battery and camera being one small unit - had them in the oldies field for a bit, now in maternity wing, will probably go up to yard after that

 

[Spottyappy]

Yes, it is £4 per sim. My app is on 2 different phones, and have had no issue with data running out or anything.

 

[Nasicus]

I put my big girl pants on and ordered a Reolink Go and a V-Sim!

 

[milliepops]

I don't think you'll be disappointed I bought a second one when they were doing a flash sale a while back, thought I would keep it until the foal was born and then sell on, but tbh I can't see myself letting go of it now. it's so handy to be able to see what's going on

 

[Nasicus]

Okay, so the Reolink Go turned up today, didn't realise it actually came WITH a V-Sim, so might need to cancel the order I made for one!
Cost was approx £218 for Camera and Solar Panel off Amazon as it has a small discount at the moment. (Here's the link for anyone interested) and £15 for 2 year accidental damage and 1 year breakdown insurance, plus £12 for a decent microSD card. Add the £4 monthly charge for the sim and that's a hair under £250.

Had a play with it in the house, very easy to set up (assuming you're familiar with apps on phones and the like). It came with a camouflaged protective silicone cover which is nice. Physically it all feels like good quality, cameras got a reassuring heft to it.

Was very excited to put it up this afternoon, but whilst quickly cutting down the nettles under my chosen spot (least I step in them again), I bonked the little tool storage cupboard on the outside of the stable and turns out there was a wasp nest in there, so that put paid to my plans. Nest was swiftly dealt with, and the swarm has been dispersing over the last few hours, so fingers crossed I can crack on installing it tomorrow!

 

[Nasicus]

Camera is now installed! (but not before I ended up having to tear the tool-shed down completely, bloody wasps!)

I'm pretty pleased so far, been taking great delight in watching well... absolutely nothing exciting happen! But the novelty is definitely still fresh for me! The video quality is good, plenty of settings to fiddle with if you so choose. I like the alarm button, where you can make the camera play a little alarm! The voice thing works, but I'm getting some sort of awful screeching feedback going on, so I'm going to have a closer look and make sure there's no gunk in the microphone port. Not the end of the world, if just watching the video with sound, it's fine, so think it's definitely something to do with the microphone.

Overall very pleased so far, have been tweaking the sensitivity and think I've got it about right now, haven't had more than 1 or 2 false positives since this afternoon.

 

[angrybird1]

I'm sorry to show my ignorance here but really not very technical. Very interested in these cameras but can't get round how they work without wifi! How do they work with your phone? Is it a separate card that goes in your phone? Do you have to take out the si m card in your phone or does it work.alongside it. Sorry if this is a stupid question! My phone is on a monthly contract with tesco.

 

[holeymoley]

They have a SIM card so they connect with your phone via 4G. Basically your phone is contacting another SIM card just as you would to send a message etc