nanny cam questions

Factual Questions
1

OK, time for me to get a nanny cam. For exactly what it’s named for, keep an eye on relative strangers watching my kid while my wife and I work. And before I hear any complaints, my wife is just working enough hours for her union to ensure we have enough health insurance for another year (we try our best to raise our own child), and all the nannies we’ve used have been told ahead of time we are using nanny cams, and they are all completely ok with it and totally understand.

There, 'nuff said.

Here’s the problem… I can’t find anything that does exactly what I want it to do. The devices are out there, and they all do pieces of what I want, but none have the complete package and I was wondering if any dopers have access to better info than I do. So just in case there are experts among us…

I’d like 2 (or 3) cameras that WIRELESSLY connect to a DVR and have decent picture. Doesn’t have to be amazing as long as I can tell what’s going on. Running cables down hallways and on multiple floors seems like a nightmare.

I’d also like the footage to be accessible via the internet so I can watch live images from work.

Plenty of devices have DVRs with WIRED cameras, or wireless cameras to DVRs with no internet access, or wireless cameras with internet access but no DVR (and I’d prefer not to have to leave my computer on the entire time to act as the DVR… would rather buy a separate device).

Anyone know of a device that does all that? Ideally one that doesn’t cost a small fortune?

Thanks in advance!

2

This wireless internet server camera looks interesting. You can stream video with wifi security to an XP computer connect to a wireless access point, and view the video remotely from anywhere on the internet. You can have many cameras. It won’t be particularly easy to hide. I believe there is a model with a pan and tilt capability. The price is about $105 at newegg. I don’t have kids or anything, but at first glance the technology seems very appropriate for what you are trying to accomplish.

3

If you can only find a wired camera you like, you could buy a wireless ethernet bridge and be set. These are also known as wireless game adapters, as that is probably the most common application. ebay is full of them. Just make sure that the 11 (cheaper) or 54 Mbps data rate is more than adequate. (figure you actually only get about 85% of those figures, and will need a good signal for that)

4

Darryl, the camera looks great, but I’m not sure how I’d get the footage recorded… I’ll also look into the ethernet bridge as an option, thanks.

PS - not worried about hiding the cameras. Only 2 rooms I really need covered, and the nannies know there are cameras.

5

Here are several monitoring kits, w/ recording, from Costco:

6

As I was attempting to explain, you can use a WinXP computer as a DVR. There is bundled software that allows you to do video recording:

Obviously, I have no idea how well this works, but it is a mainstream technology that should have no problems other than bandwidth.

7

Oops missed that part. Yeah it’s an option, but again I don’t want to leave my computer on the whole time.

In other words, I have found several solutions that do PART of what I want, but nothing that does it all.
Costco link is great – I never even thought of it – but they, too, don’t have the exact setup I want. I may have to cave and go with wired cameras. At least those units have everything else I want.