Posted 7 hours ago

Cordless WiFi external camera

Hi
I'm looking at getting an external camera but not for security. I'm hoping to be able to use it as an assist when reversing out of our driveway. Unfortunately, you can't see clearly as you exit the drive until you are some way out but we have an area in our garden that gets a clear view - this is where I would site the camera.
I don't want it to be motion activated but I do want to be able to activate it from the app so that I can operate it when leaving the drive.

Any ideas/recommendations?

Thanks
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  1. 001Cisco's avatar
    Could you not get a convex road safety mirror for that?
    I personally probably fed up if I need to turn on mobile app to check traffic before getting out every time. (edited)
    Burgmeister's avatar
    Author
    I could but I don't have anywhere suitable to mount it. I'm reluctant to mount it on the lamppost opposite as it's not my property and I live in a residential area and it is unlikely to last long anyway. There is nowhere suitable on my property where I could see the mirror and it could see the road

    I'd rather have to use an app than have the side of my car caved in (edited)
  2. Renoir64's avatar
    Your main problem is the obvious privacy issue of you monitoring a public road.
    Also how will you access the images? Via your phone?
    Again whilst this is legal on your drive, as soon as you pass your boundary and enter the highway as defined by the road traffic act it wouldn't be and looking at that instead of someone on the pavement etc seems potentially problematic.
    I'm in a similar position and habitually reverse onto the drive to enable me to get out easier.
    DoireCormac's avatar
    From Information Commissioners Office website:

    People have the right to install CCTV cameras and smart doorbells on their property. They should try to point cameras away from neighbours' homes and gardens, shared spaces or public streets. But this is not always possible, and it is not illegal to do so.
  3. sussexroyal's avatar
    Maybe you can use something like this with the screen on the dash and camera mounted outside the car LINK (edited)
    Burgmeister's avatar
    Author
    Correct me if I am wrong but isn't that just for seeing what is behind you? I don't have a problem with that, it's what is coming at me from the side that I have an issue with
  4. Uridium's avatar
    Being pedantic here i know but Technically you would be breaking the law using an app on your phone whilst driving if you open/close/use the app at any point not on your driveway.

    Personally I think fitting a mirror as suggested previously is a better solution if you can find somewhere to mount it.

    The Camera/app solution just sounds like a lot of unnecessary complication.
    Burgmeister's avatar
    Author
    I agree that would be the best option but there is nowhere that I could legally mount it where it would provide the image required and be viewable from the vehicle.

    Also, having read around on the subject of mirrors, there are some legality issues even if placing on your own land, as it could cause accidents due to nighttime dazzling of reflected headlights or a simple distraction to drivers . All things that I hadn't considered before trying to find a solution to my issue (edited)
  5. Roger_Irrelevant's avatar
    Get a Reolink doorbell cam (PoE is easier imho), install VLC on your phone and connect to it's stream using:

    rtsp://user:pass@192.168.1.123:554//h264Preview_01_main

    Swap user/pass/IP for yours

    You can put an icon in desktop to launch, or even automate it.

    I'm giving myself ideas now if I can use them as dash cams they're that good.
  6. AndyRoyd's avatar
    You may be able to bypass (satisfy?) CCTV privacy expectations and/or show reasonable moves to mitigate by using a device that does not record and does not connect to your network and/nor the internet.
    This would involve using a camera that can stream its capture via creating its own wireless hotspot.
    Some cams fulfilled by Amazon claim to have such a feature, although some only use a hotspot for initial configuration rather than to provide vid stream.
    You could even have default cam operation as off and either manually turn on a short-duration cam-power timer manually as required when leaving house,
    or automate power-on time(s) triggered by car movement.
    All manual/auto power-on solutions would need to consider the time required a device takes to boot.

    And arguably best to pacify neighbours / regular passersby via not using an obvious / "in your face" security cam such as
    amazon.co.uk/in-…4K/
    so likely best to consider something more discreet, maybe such as one of the small cube-like devices assuming its minimal size does not degrade transmission distance / weatherproofing.

    Also assumes power will be available externally, but any old gash cable should be suitable to extend/convey low voltage used by most cams,
    unless you expand requirements to include solar functionality...
    Burgmeister's avatar
    Author
    I intended it to be quite discreet so as to avoid some tealeaf taking it.
    I was hoping to be able to get a battery powered one so as to avoid laying cable around the garden - not impossible but I like to avoid extra work wherever I can
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