DIY baby monitor

July 3, 2012 7:16 AM

DIY baby monitor? I'd like to make a webcam (or other camera) into a baby monitor, but don't know where to start. Help?

Our video baby monitor has a cracked screen (to the point of not being usable) and cl and local parenting lists haven't yielded a replacement, so I'd like to make my own, but don't know where to start.

I assume I can do this with a webcam? But which one, and what software? I need night vision and audio. Our home is an apple environment, and we'd like to view the baby from any of the macbooks, ipads or iphones.


(Versions of this have been asked before, but not for a while so I'm reasking)

Thanks, and assume I have no experience with webcams or their software, so use small words:)

posted by cestmoi15 to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

The cheapest of these run about $100-150. The problem you're going to run into here is that most webcams aren't free-standing devices. They rely on their connection to a computer for power, data processing, and networking functionalities. That's why video baby monitors are like $100 but vanilla webcams are like $30-50: the former are actually doing more than the latter. Note that you can get free-standing webcams (see?) but these run in the $100-150 range too, so it's not like you're paying a premium for the specific "baby monitor" function or branding. One surveillance cam is basically as good as another.

If you don't want to use a free-standing device, the only way to do this is to set up what amounts to a computer in your nursery with a webcam pointed at the crib, then get software to stream that view to another device over your home network. Frankly, if you've got enough computers that you can dedicate one to running the baby cam full time, you should have enough money to spring for another baby monitor.
posted by valkyryn at 7:25 AM on July 3, 2012

We just got a dropcam after waiting almost two months for stock to be replenished.

Not the answer for a baby monitor.

I have fast internet at home (40 Mbps dsl) but the quality of the video from dropcam just doesn't live up to our expectations, especially when in night vision mode. Also, the 12 infrared emitters on the front of the unit are visible (medium intensity red light) when they are active, which could make a creepy distraction for the little rugger had we ever decided to install it in his room.

Additionally, the audio has a persistent hum when viewing the camera through my computer, my android smartphone, and my wife's iPhone. You can adjust the sensitivity of the camera's microphone, but we couldn't find a balance between sensitive enough to hear the room and quiet enough to make the unending hum less maddening.

The biggest caveat for my wife: the delay between when he would do something, and when dropcam would display it. Probably a 2 second delay, but enough that she didn't like it.

Our expensive, poor quality Samsung video baby monitor that we've already had to replace once in 7 months of use works just enough better than the dropcam that the dropcam is just a novelty webcam for watching the dog sneak a few bites of cat food when we're not home.

Here ends my opinion. *grin*

Neil
posted by tkerugger at 7:58 AM on July 3, 2012

If you already have iDevices, can you use FaceTime over wireless? You'd have to leave a device in the room, of course, but it would be the cheapest option since you already have the equipment.
posted by desjardins at 8:06 AM on July 3, 2012

Best answer: We used the Foscam FI8918W as the monitor in my daughter's room and LOVE it. It was very easy to set up (and that's speaking from my husband's perspective, as a non-geek) and we love the wide view and great night-vision. There's a bit of an audio delay when you use the speaker but it's not particularly painful.

You do need internet in your house to use it. We set ours up on WiFi, then use the iPad and iPhone apps (Foscam Pro) to access it. I haven't tried to expose it to an external IP so can't speak to that aspect,but internally it rocks.

Soon as the monitor in my son's room dies, we'll be replacing it with another Foscam.

Feel free to memail me if you run into issues with it.
posted by tigerjade at 8:55 AM on July 3, 2012

We're using skype right now. My macbook is aimed at the baby, and i "call" my partner on the ipad. But there's no night vision.
posted by foxjacket at 10:54 AM on July 3, 2012

Joyful Abode has pretty detailed instructions on using an IP camera (actually, the same Foscam that tigerjade mentioned) as a baby monitor.
posted by ThatSomething at 8:15 AM on July 4, 2012

Response by poster: Foscam is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
posted by cestmoi15 at 5:40 AM on July 7, 2012