Boat Security

[OverEasy]

Hi All

I’m a bit of a Luddite when it comes to all the WiFi, Blue Tooth, phone app monitoring stuff.
But something that caught my attention was the ‘recording’ and storage capability…..….of some of these systems.

Just wondering if say one were to mount the camera up on the mast by the spreaders would one be able to ‘record’ while underway while out of range of the Marina WiFi as a stand alone system?

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt

[adudinsk]

You could consider a WYZE outdoor camera... they are good/secure and cheap.
If you install a memory card.. .it would record for about 2-3 days... for a 16gb card.
When at the dock., if you have wifi.. it would alert you to motion.. etc.etc.. (depending on how it was set up)
And you could "look around" at any time.

And once you have the wifi.. you can download anything you like. from the memory card.. to your tablet/camera/etc

Good camera.. not expensive at all.

AD

[Russ]

You could consider a WYZE outdoor camera... they are good/secure and cheap.
If you install a memory card.. .it would record for about 2-3 days... for a 16gb card.
When at the dock., if you have wifi.. it would alert you to motion.. etc.etc.. (depending on how it was set up)
And you could "look around" at any time.

And once you have the wifi.. you can download anything you like. from the memory card.. to your tablet/camera/etc

Good camera.. not expensive at all.

AD

The WYZE camera is what I bought. Cheap and the motion detection stuffs look pretty decent. Can set it for HD or Standard Def to save bandwidth/storage.

I put a 32gb chip in the thing which if set to record continuously is supposed to last 2 days of HD or a week of SD.
Right now, I'm just having it record on motion because that should use less power. I can have it send me motion alerts and then stream what it recorded.
Mine is USB powered with a substantial-looking waterproof cable. I'll wire it to a 12v adapter that is connected to my WiFi enable relay so I can turn it on/off when I want.

Having a phone as the hotspot, I'm also able to connect the phone to my solar charge controller via Bluetooth. This lets the phone monitor charging and battery status. Using a remote app (Airdroid) I can remote into my phone anytime and see how my batteries are charging. I'm liking this connected boat idea.

[Highlander]

Russ
I think a lot of old cell Ph,s will b coming out of hibernation
for anyone thinking of going this route remember that most wireless cams r designed to only run when motion or infered sensor activated or when being live streamed so if u want 24/7 active live coverage make sure the cam u buy can do that also & remember 24/7 coverage will require free or paid unlimited wifi say from ur Marina otherwise it,ll eat up ur cell ph data like crazy running 24/7 even if u have unlimited cell ph data most only give u 20-50 GB of high speed data then reduce ur high speed by 50% personaly I don,t see the need to have 24/7 live coverage I don,t have the time to b sittin there watchin that ! , all I want & need is to have secruity notice if someone boards my boat or I want to live view stream any time I feel like seeing whats going on specialy during say a storm
I have a 64gb mini sd card in my cam it can take up to 128GB mini sd card
J

[Russ]

John,
You are right. Continuous streaming is not practical for the most part. I read to do so would be on the range of 250gb per week. No cell plan would allow that much data without throttling it down to dial up speeds.

The way you have it (and mine hopefully) with only sending video when motion is detected makes sense.

Bench testing at home seems to be working well. Little drain to keep the cell phone charged. I've used little bandwidth on the cell plan. I bought a cheap $15/mo./1GB plan.

No WiFi at our marina. I wonder how tolerant a marina would be if too many boats started using up all their bandwidth watching Netflix etc and....streaming video from their cams. I've setup hotspots for clients and always implement QoS (quality of service) to prevent a single user from using too much bandwidth. Marina WiFi's would be wise to do the same.

Next I may wire in a timer like yours so it's only charging a few hours a day.

Airdroid is very interesting app. Wish they had one for iPhone.
It allows all kinds of remote control of the Android phone. I can even turn on the camera and flashlight remotely. So.....I was thinking I could mount the phone someplace where the camera on the phone is useful. Some place in the cabin where I want to check on. Or point it outside the window to see the next slip over.

My boat is 90 minutes away from home and having remote eyes on it will be a nice enhancement.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

I really appreciate the discussion!
Thanks!

The hot spotting via a cell phone is a great idea.
Our thought with all this is when we go cruising further afield on the ICW (and elsewhere) for security.
Given the variety of marinas and mooring options it would be nice to have a consistent method to keep tabs on the boat when we are out and about exploring ashore or in the dinghy.

Our thought was to mount the camera up on the mast in a ‘look down’ perspective to see what is going on around the boat.
That would probably trigger the motion detection aspect so we would probably just leave it run with a time stamp and coordinate it with an alarm trigger inside the cabin if anything were to occur while we were away. If nothing happened we’d most likely just dump/erase the memory.

At other times we might want to record the scenery while traveling by changing the angle of the camera maybe via a pulley or tilt motor…
Hence how much recording time it can store.

Again, Thanks!

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt

[Highlander]

I,ve ordered this cam with solar panel

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/re ... lsrc=aw.ds

I thought about mounting this up the mast say 1/2 way up but I think I might have to turn down the motion & infered sensing so low as not to cause false signals "think about how much the mast sways with other boat wake & windy conditions" these sensors r going to b sending out false alarms like crazy not good but as I already have a security cam in the cockpit sensing I could just turn the sensing of on the mast cam & if the alarm sounds off I still have the option of live viewing either cam or both but I may try mounting it on my radar arch as long as it doe,s not cause any interference to my AIS, VHF, TV , cell ph booster marine antennas & GPS/radar signals I,ll also b installing a 128gb mini sd card into that new cam as when the sd gets full it will auto

Now for u who r not frugal like me & have the big $$$ u can buy this cam on sale & install a sim card with data plan & eliminate the need for a cell ph as it,s it,s own hotspot

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/re ... r=PDP_Reco

these r Can$ prices so likely cheaper on the USA side
I would not buy a cam that is 5GHz wifi unless it has dual band width & here,s some interesting reading as to why !

https://www.centurylink.com/home/help/i ... u-use.html

some of the newer cell ph,s have dual band width but for the purpose of this set up U,ll likely just b using an old cell ph u were no longer using as I & Russ did

more info on setting PIR motion sensors

https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/ar ... -PIR-Angle

Also I keep my old cell ph hidden outa site on the boat because if someone is still brazen enough to keep trying to break into my boat after the spot light comes on "night time " infered turns on night time vision if needed & is heat sensitive so picks up body heat, but some guys may have a mask on to cover up their identity likely not gonna happen on our boats lol maybe a mega yacht
but I figure if he gets into my boat no point in giving him acess to turn off my cell ph hot spot
so u have to make sure where ever u hide the ph it,s not blocking the cam connection to the ph I figured out about 10 great spots but only 3 or these would allow connectivity due to s/s tubing, riigging hardware, other electronics too close or LED lights in cabin when turned !
so u have to make sure by live viewing that u can make that connection from the dock on ur main cell ph u may think I,m rambling on but believe me this will save u a lot of headaches not having to go thru these trying moments "what did I do wrong" for an IT guy he,s likely but an average guy like me it can b time consuming Oh yeah if their,s any app,s running on that old cell ph u don,t need turn them off or uninstall them as they r eating up ur data & running down ur cell ph battery time span life & continous opperating time

hope this helps
J

[OverEasy]

Hi Highlander, Russ, Adudinsk and All

As a techno Luddite I think I have a cerebral density approaching that of refined basalt stone … … sometimes…

With these camera systems that Highlander referenced I can sort of understand the frequency aspect and appreciate the range and penetration of solids.
I appreciate the extra information provided! Thanks!

The difference between the two camera systems Highlander referenced isn’t so clear to me though….
On the WiFi connected cameras, Using an old phone as a hot spot would require us getting and maintaining a separate cell phone line and the associated monthly charges if I understand the basics ….right?
Now the confusion comes with the use of the more expensive camera Highlander referenced….is a cell phone hot spot still required or is it built into the device?
If it is, Would a separate cell line still be needed to support it? Or is that just something built into it?

Thanks for any light you can shine on this.
It’s appreciated!

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt
“I’d rather acknowledge my limitations for the present time than be limited for a lifetime”

[Russ]

Overeasy,

What Highlander currently is using is a cell phone with a tethering data plan so he can create a WiFi hotspot from the phone. This allows him to connect a WiFi camera to the phone as if it were in a home connected to a WiFi router etc.

Highlander (and myself) is repurposing an old cell phone with a data plan for this. The cell phone's cellular data plan facilitates the WiFi hotspot that other devices share the internet connection.

The more expensive camera he posted provides its own cellular data. Much like some iPads etc. can have their own cellular data plan to connect to the internet. These cameras are probably used in places where there are no other means of obtaining a WiFi internet connection.
If used on a boat, it would eliminate the need for a cell phone hotspot (tether). It would also need its own cellular data plan.


What annoys me is that many cellular providers do not allow tethering other devices to a single cell phone (creating a WiFi hotspot) without paying a huge premium for the privilege to share the data that you bought.
In my case, the cell phone I'm using is not being used for anything other than providing a WiFi hotspot for other devices (camera and remote relay for my cooler, and 12v battery monitor).

For several hundred dollars, I could buy a proper WiFi hotspot like the Verizon MiFi. But I have a perfectly good old cell phone that will do the same thing.

My cell phone provider won't allow me to share my phone's internet data with a WiFi hotspot.
To create a WiFi hotspot from my phone to share the data I bought requires me to hack my Android phone (root). That gets more complicated.

[Russ]

it doe,s not cause any interference to my AIS, VHF, TV , cell ph booster marine antennas & GPS/radar signals

Hey John,

What kind of cell phone booster are you using?

I had one. It was old tech. I think it was 3g or something. Honestly, I didn't find it did any good. I even mounted the antenna on top of the mast for altitude. Could have been old analog tech for all I remember. It didn't work.

I would buy a cell phone booster if it really works.

[Highlander]

Russ
Wilsons Electronics they r made in Canada very pricey, at the time of purchase they were the most powerful boosters on the market next to Military Grade !
mine is 4G LTE I see the newer ones r 4/5 G LTE
U need to get approval from ur cell ph service supplier/provider supposedly before using !
I was able to attain one in the USA brand new for almost half price with bonus 1 extra external long range trk antenna, dual mounting wiring kits which allows u to just remove the booster from trk to boat as required no need for two boosters & the marine antenna 50% off the reg price
I,d have to dig up the original receipts to find the exact info
but it did really work
after I install mine & made sure it work as said I called my cell ph provider for approval & gave them the info they told me I had bought the best unit on the mrkt & gave me the ok to use it
Apparently if u r in a bad service location they don,t want u using them as u steal the signal strength from their other customers ? I say well maybe u should b putting up more towers to cover ur deficiencies ! instead of just raping these other souls ! not sure if this has change with newer tech . !

J
PS I can look up the info & E/M it to u if u like ! , but it might b hear on this site as I did post it !

[Be Free]

+1 on the Wilson units. I've installed them for customers and they do work. They are very expensive and have become harder to get approval for. I'm not sure how the approval would work on a boat since you will be effectively having a small cell tower moving around in unpredictable areas. Also the ones I've installed require an external directional antenna that is pointed at the closest cell tower. Again, hard to do on a boat.

[Russ]

Thanks for the info.
The Wilson products seem to get great reviews.

I've seen these things on RVs and trucks for a while and wondered what they were.

Wilson makes products intended for mobile use AND fixed directional antennas.
Pricing is around $500 and people seem to love them.

According to their website:
"The weBoost Verizon signal booster is an FCC and carrier pre-approved device that does not require an internet connection, and it can boost 3G, 4G, LTE and 5G signals."

For me, it's not the distance that is the problem. It's hills and mountains that block the signal. I'm not sure this would help in my situation.

[Highlander]

Hi Russ,
I dug up this info on my booster HERE,S WHAT i PD IN 2018 WHEN i BOUGHT THE UNIT



this is the invoice $20 was a great Bonus deal I got for a second wiring kit for my trk so as I just have to remove only the booster from the boat to the trk it,s original price was like $140 to $160 it came with the needed wiring & a trk antenna & inside antenna so I was a very happy boater



THIS MARINE ANTENNA IS NO LONGER AVAIL they have a newer one now but twice the price








here,s the one I have on sale right now up here in Canada almost 1/2 price & its a multi devise & multi user so remember their r single user units also !
https://wilsonamplifiers.ca/wilson-webo ... t-470121f/
I see they now have 4G/5G units avail more money tho

the new marine antenna not sure if this one comes with right connectors on each end u, have to remember to check that out when buying an Marine antenna


an a note for the not so informed make sure what ever booster u buy is a mobile unit & comes with a 12v cigar lighter plug adaptor not a house adapter ! & if the add says the unit is also marine or boat it,s more likely an air sealed unit

Hope this helps
Russ let us know what one u go with I also see that their is other manf. marine Antenna,s out there cheaper as long as they r compatible with ur unit & have the same signal strength b ok as the booster is only as good as the marine Antenna u install ! I think less gain means less strength & distance can,t remember now I,d need to look it up

J

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

I’m still a bit behind the curve on the security WiFi camera audio interface logistics.
When in the marina I think we can use a simple WiFi camera and phone ap if we want to see the boat without having to go down (like maybe before/during/after storms and such.
When not on the boat I’m a firm believer in attracting attention so a simple magnetic switch battery electronic noise maker looks to be functional and adequate for most of the time (although I’ve gotta make sure that when set it can’t generate a false alarm!).

The cell booster thingy is of greater interest as when traveling the ICW, especially through sections of NC/SC/GA and FL, getting a cell signal can be iffy to non-existent. VHF is pretty much practical limited to local obstruction and earth curvature to about 16 miles (please correct me if I am mistaken) and that is if anyone is listening…. So that is something we’ve got on the list to look into further.

In researching this topic within the forum there was one mod listed back several years ago that we found that met with mutual approval:



Turns out we already accomplished this type of mod last year when we adopted MacGregor!



Least aways it works while onboard that is!

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt