WebCam Home Security

MarkW7 · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:35

I have just got a USB web cam

Is there a program for windows xp i can use so i can set it to record and use it as a security camera.
Then i can play the videos back through windows media player / VLC or something like that.

Would also be good if i could take pictures aswell as videos, and maybe a beep when it detects motion or something if this is possible.

[For Windows XP]

Thanks!

malef!c · 30 Mar 2009 at 19:30

I think YAWCAM will do what you are after - http://www.yawcam.com/

Have fun

ShakenNstirred · 30 Mar 2009 at 19:39

are you recording outside though a window?
because i don't see the point of recording in the house because the thief will just take the PC

MarkW7 · 30 Mar 2009 at 19:48

Yes, I am recording through my window atm.

malef!c · 30 Mar 2009 at 19:49

ShakenNstirred said:
are you recording outside though a window?
because i don't see the point of recording in the house because the thief will just take the PC

Aye but if you are uploading images to a FTP server you have a chance of grabbing a mug shot of the ***** scum pinching your stuff

MarkW7 · 30 Mar 2009 at 20:09

Can it take more than one webcam? As i am thinking of getting more in the future and then would they both be viewable.

malef!c · 30 Mar 2009 at 20:12

You can run multiple instances of the program and in each one you can select the webcam so guess you can use more than one (can't test it as I only have the one webcam here!)

MarkW7 · 30 Mar 2009 at 20:59

Can YawCam just record constantly to file.

dbmzk1 · 31 Mar 2009 at 05:50

MarkW7 said:
Can YawCam just record constantly to file.

Yes but what would be the point in that?

The motion detection feature starts recording when it detects movement, therefore you only get a recording of stuff actually happening as opposed to hours and hours of nothing.

Matthew.M · 31 Mar 2009 at 15:07

ShakenNstirred said:
are you recording outside though a window?
because i don't see the point of recording in the house because the thief will just take the PC

malef!c said:
Aye but if you are uploading images to a FTP server you have a chance of grabbing a mug shot of the ***** scum pinching your stuff

Or to save the ftp hassle just get it to save the data to a folder in Dropbox or other similar syncing program. That's what I used to do for a while.

MarkW7 · 31 Mar 2009 at 17:53

So it cant record 24/7

malef!c · 31 Mar 2009 at 18:46

It can record constantly - but like someone has said, why do you want it 24/7?
You will need a fair chunk of hard drive - the motion detection is very good so you won't miss anything

MarkW7 · 31 Mar 2009 at 19:06

I don't know really

Just that it'll be looking through a window so it may not detect motion aswell.

Edit; Downloading YawCam now

malef!c · 31 Mar 2009 at 19:20

Admit it - the camera is pointed at the tasty neighbours bathroom window isn't it, you don't want to miss anything do you

MarkW7 · 31 Mar 2009 at 19:36

Nope. lol

Were are the motion detected images saved?

malef!c · 31 Mar 2009 at 19:40

I think you can specify where you save the images...

MarkW7 · 31 Mar 2009 at 19:46

Its saving it to yaw cam file in the 'YawCam' folder on program but i cant find were to change it to put it into my own folder.

Edit: I want it to be at the most alert so;
Sensetivity; 100
Tolerance; 0?

malef!c · 31 Mar 2009 at 20:00

Settings > Edit Settings > Output > File

Tell it where you want to save stuff.

MarkW7 · 31 Mar 2009 at 20:06

That only does for pictures, i cant see record video?

MarkW7 · 31 Mar 2009 at 21:06

You said you can record video to file ...