Top 5 Mac-compatible home IP security cameras (redux)
A few years back we published our Top 5 IP cameras when using a Mac resource centre article. Since then the market has moved on and most of the cameras mentioned in that list are now discontinued.
So we’re back with a new, updated list, highlighting what we think are the current top 5 home security cameras for Mac users.
Read more >>
HOWTO: Automatically create video clips using motion detection in a Y-cam IP camera
Taking what we have learned from HOWTO: Create video clips on demand for local hard disk storage using the Y-cam IP camera we can take it a step further.
How about instead of manually creating video clips each time we have the camera create them automatically when it detects motion? Sounds like that kind of thing would be useful eh? Well it’s very simple to set up so let’s take a look at how it is done.
This guide is suitable for the following Y-cam models:
HOWTO: Create video clips on demand for local hard disk storage using the Y-cam IP camera
One of the interesting features of the Y-cam home security camera is its ability to record short video clips with audio. These video files are stored natively in .asf format, suitable for playing back using Microsoft Windows Media Player.
This guide will show you how to create video files on demand by manually selecting the video start and stop points from the camera’s live view interface. We will also show you how to choose the location for storage of your video clips and also how you can limit the maximum file size per video.
This guide is suitable for the following Y-cam models:
HOWTO: Set up a Y-cam to send emails using a Google Mail (Gmail) account
Here’s a quick HOWTO guide for something we get asked about a lot. How to use your Google Mail (Gmail) account with your Y-cam to send emails.
Almost all IP cameras have some form of email functionality but not all support a secure SSL connection which Google Mail requires. This isn’t normally a problem as the email account details you get from your ISP can be used in most circumstances but for people who want to use Gmail, read on.
This guide will show you the settings to use on the ‘e-Mail Server setup’ page in the Y-cam. How you then use these settings (alarm management, periodic sending) is up to you.
E-Mail Server Setup
The settings above should be self explanatory. The SMTP server name and port comes from Google Mail and you must enable both the Secure SSL connection and Authentication for it to work.
Then you must enter your own Gmail account details noting that when it asks for the user name you only use the first part of your Gmail email address.
Then the only important setting is the Receiver mail addresses of which you can enter up to 3. These are the email addresses which will receive the email from the camera.
All other settings are optional but you can see what they are by the entries we have used above.
If you find you can’t get the camera to send an email using the settings above then it could be the ISP is not allowing it. Some ISPs won’t let you use any other SMTP server other than their own (British Telecom BT are a good example of this). For these cases simply use the SMTP server details from your ISP in the camera (normally minus SSL and Authentication being enabled).
If you have any questions or feedback please leave comments below.
HOWTO – View your Y-Cam on your iPhone, BlackBerry or Mobile Phone
Note: Applies to 2nd Generation Y-cams only.
Viewing the video feed from your 2nd Generation Y-Cam Black, Y-Cam Knight or Y-Cam White is easier than ever, now that Y-Cam have built controls into their cameras for just this purpose. Here are the details you need:
iPhone and iPod Touch
On the iPhone or iPod Touch you can visit the camera as you would in any desktop browser and once logged in the Y-cam will auto-detect the browser type (in this case Safari) and display a motion jpeg stream. This is a live video stream directly from the camera, but not optimised for the mobile viewing platform.
Mobile phone with browser and 3gpp capability – VLC player
On your phone’s browser visit http://ipaddress:port/en/mblogin.asp and you will see 3 options: Live picture, 3gpp stream and mobile settings. From here you can choose whether to view a static image, a video stream optimised for cellphones, or change the settings (which you may have to do to get the 3gpp stream working on your phone.
BlackBerry
As above. There are VLC players compatible with the BlackBerry which can be used to view 3gpp streams from the Y-Cam.
Direct 3gpp stream
The direct url for 3gpp streams is: rtsp://ipaddress:port/live_mpeg4.spd
This will work in 3gpp enabled phones, but will also work on your desktop in players like Quicktime and Real Player which support the 3gpp video stream type.
If that url does not work tyr this one: rtsp://ipaddress:port/live_mjpeg.sdp
Live picture
To view a live picture from the Y-Cam on your phone go to http://ipaddress:port/snapshot.jpg. This will display a static image captured at the time of request. To see a new snapshot you will need to refresh the page.
HOWTO: Embed the live image from your IP camera in a web page. Part 1 – Y-cam
“How can I show the live image from my IP camera on my web page?”
We get asked this question a lot. Whether it’s from a customer of ours who has a business they would like to promote, say from the leisure or tourism industry or from a customer who is an end user and is working on their family website, we can help with the answer.
We will be running a number of these guides to cover as many camera manufacturers as possible. This guide will focus on the Y-cam. The Y-cam is ideal for use as a streaming IP webcam as it is affordable and can be placed outdoors using it’s specially designed Shell housing.
This guide will be suitable for:
Y-cam White
Y-cam Black
Y-cam Knight
It will work for both 1st and 2nd generation models.
HOWTO: Set up your Y-cam IP Camera using a Mac
The 2nd Generation Y-cam boasts a new MJPEG video compression format which has been added to make the camera compatible with a wider number of Internet browsers and computer platforms.
Since the update we get a lot of interest from Mac users as the Y-cam now represents an affordable home security solution on the Mac platform. However, we must point out that the Y-cam is NOT fully supported. You won’t be able to use the video clip creation tools, you won’t recieve any audio and you won’t be able to use the installation software which comes on the CD-ROM to help set up the camera.
This is where a Mac user will struggle. The software which comes with the camera is Windows only so the initial setup can prove difficult for the average Mac user. We are here to lend a hand.
This HOWTO guide shows one method of setting up your Y-cam using a Mac. This guide is suitable for the following cameras:
Y-cam White
Y-cam Black
Y-cam Knight
You will also need an Ethernet crossover cable so that you can connect your Y-cam directly to your Mac without using a router or switch. You can obtain a crossover cable from any good computer store.
HOWTO: Prevent Wireless Interference
Making the transition from wired to wireless is an exciting step and with a wide choice of wireless IP cameras now available on the market you can keep an eye on your home or business without cluttering it up with cables.
Normally wireless connections are every bit as reliable as their wired counterpart but sometimes there can be something which prevents their smooth operation. Interference.
Interference
We’ve all experienced interference in some way, from the television picture breaking up during a heavy storm or crackling on the radio when you enter a built-up area or valley. Your wireless signal works very much in the same way as your radio or television and may dip in and out depending on circumstances and the environment.
We realise that when you are connecting your IP cameras wirelessly is it even more crucial that they remain connected at all times, especially when they are used as IP security cameras. So let’s take a look at some of the causes of interference and how we can help reduce their effect. Read more >>
HOWTO: Get your Y-cam to transfer an image using FTP when motion is detected
Home security is important to us all but luckily IP cameras can help protect your home in a number of ways. One popular feature you will find in almost every IP camera is the ability to detect motion or activity in the image. We are going to look at using this to generate images and store them, creating a simple, basic home security system.
Image transfer using FTP
This guide will answer the popular question of how to get your Y-cam White or Y-cam Black to transfer images to an FTP server whenever it detects motion.
This guide is suitable for the following cameras:
We will assume for this guide that your Y-cam is set up and connected to your network and you can view the live images on a computer.
HOWTO: View your Y-cam wirelessly from a computer or laptop without using a router (Adhoc connection)
This very simple guide will allow you to configure your Y-cam so that it can be accessed wirelessly from a wireless laptop or computer, without the need for a wireless router.
Adhoc Mode
This connection is known as an “Adhoc” connection which is essentially a way for wireless devices to communicate directly with each other without going through a wireless router.
This guide is suitable for the following IP cameras:
For this guide we will assume that you are fairly familiar with setting IP addresses in your computer and Y-cam and that the camera has been reset back to default settings. It may also be a good idea to back up your camera configuration and take a note of your current settings before you start so you can change them back when required.