DIY Wireless Spy Camera With Two Android Phones or Tablets

Intro: DIY Wireless Spy Camera With Two Android Phones or Tablets

This Instructable will show you how to make your own spy/security system from two Android phones or tablets and a few apps.

STEP 1: Step 1: Supplies and Necessary Apps

For this you will need:

- Two Android phones or two Android tablets. (Or one of each)

- The IP Webcam app

- The VLC App

On one of the devices, download the IP Webcam app.

On the other device, download the VLC app.

STEP 2: Step 2: IP Wecam App

When you have the apps downloaded, tap on the IP Webcam app. You will find lots of settings for the app. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on 'Start server'. Your IP camera is now live! You should now see through your phone's camera. At the bottom of the screen, you will see an IP address http://.............. Write that down, since you will need it for the next step.

STEP 3: Step 3: VLC App

Now get your other device with the VLC app. Tap on the app, and look at the top left corner. You will see three lines; tap on that. Now tap on 'stream'. Now you have to type in the IP address you saved. Then type the word 'video' at the end of your IP address. Tap on the orange arrow and you're done! You should now be able to see through the camera of your first device on your second.

STEP 4: Done!

That's all! Hope you liked my first Instructable. Enjoy your new spy/security system!

Comments

[DrColg8]

Any way to overcome using without a static IP address? I'd like to set up while away to check on the puppy, but fear my IP addressed would be recycled/changed by the time I need to log in

[Will Ret]

For this specific way, I don't think there is. However, there are other apps out there that create a direct connection, but most of those are paid apps. I don't think that the IP address changes, But havent tessted it.

[Goodiescoza]

Hi, you can install VLC on to any computer on your local wifi ip and view it that way too. if you use local network, you'll have no costs for data.

[tytower]

I'm wondering how this is being transfered . Is it by data on both
phones ? How will the cost be and what about the speed .Will it keep up
with a bad reception area?

Do I need to have 50 gig a month on each device I mean or is it much less than that?

Can the resolution of the camera phone be reduced as needeed?

[Will Ret]

I'm pretty sure only the phone with the IP Webcam app would be using data. It would probably cost a lot, and the speed wouldn't be great.

That's why I like using wifi.

The resolution can be reduced.

[warhawk8080]

I use IP Webcam on an old phone (with an ok camera) destined for the garbage with bad battery (soldered a USB wire directly to the battery teminals) mounted on an arm to monitor my 3D printer remotely in my home network

[icewolf]

Isn't the USB voltage too high to connect directly to the battery terminals? When I had a dead battery I broke it and wired the electronics to an 18650 instead of the original lithium cell

[warhawk8080]

Nah...it works just fine...but you need to have at a minimum a good 1A or higher feeding into it...the .8vdc shouldn't affect it at all...may make the battery icon read odd...but for my phone..worked goodv.

I have done the solder an 18650 as well when I wanted to ghetto a "backup" battery for a phone I used to run the APRSdroid app tied into a Baofeng UV-5R radio I had in my truck so it could report my location to the APRS servers...the reason I soldered directly to it was the charging port was destroyed by my kids and was an old phone destined for the trash, but I guess if you wanted a battery backup for power outages (because you have to manually restart phones once the power drops) it's a good way to go

[ClareA5]

Hi, great instructable....could I add more devices with the IP Webcam app?

Thanks!!!

[warhawk8080]

You can get zoneminder and add as many cameras as you want to it...it will pull in the video and then monitor for movement from the feed to start recording. I believe they even have a Raspberry Pi port for it as well

http://petasek.ddns.net/random/ZM_ARM.png

[Will Ret]

I'm very sorry, but I don't know if you can use more than one device, you'd have to try it for yourself.

Maybe another video player would support more than one. Or another app.

[jejk]

Install Teamviewer on the phone and you will be able to access the camera + entirely control the device from any computer.

[foureyes44]

Cool! But nothing beats those actual cool-looking security cameras

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

Cell phones really do make the perfect spy cams. They have high resolution, a long battery life and a long range.

[Will Ret]

You're right! Old cell phones are also a lot cheaper than buying a security system.