Alexa compatible cameras with local HTTP access?

David Mark

David Mark

n3wb
Nov 12, 2017
20
1
West Chester, Ohio
Alexa compatible cameras with local HTTP access?

Is there such a product? Would like to find cameras that work with Alexa, but that also allow for "old-fashioned" HTTP access for use with everything else.
 
David Mark said:
Alexa compatible cameras with local HTTP access?

Is there such a product? Would like to find cameras that work with Alexa, but that also allow for "old-fashioned" HTTP access for use with everything else.
Click to expand...

Welcome David,

I have not seen many Alexa related posts here, so that's a good question. Most of us seemed to be more focused on getting the basics of a security camera system working well.
( reliable, good quality image capture, useful images to potentially ID suspects - you'd be surprised at how many systems and setups fail at just the basics... )

It's easy to get swamped with information here, so I wanted to share some notes with you

Please check out @giomania 's notes:
Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

I have also made notes which are a summary of a lot of the reading I've been doing here,:
Looking for some advice and direction!

Have fun joining us here.
 
mat200 said:
Welcome David,

I have not seen many Alexa related posts here, so that's a good question. Most of us seemed to be more focused on getting the basics of a security camera system working well.
( reliable, good quality image capture, useful images to potentially ID suspects - you'd be surprised at how many systems and setups fail at just the basics... )

It's easy to get swamped with information here, so I wanted to share some notes with you

Please check out @giomania 's notes:
Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

I have also made notes which are a summary of a lot of the reading I've been doing here,:
Looking for some advice and direction!

Have fun joining us here.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Will check out the linked info.
 
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David Mark said:
Been there, but unclear which have local network access. Don't want to buy any Cloud-only cameras as they will be useless with the various non-Amazon hardware (e.g. Roku) and software (e.g. Web browsers, mobile apps, Blue Iris, etc.) that I use.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Get the camera with the best image quality and reliability...working with alexa should be the last thing on the list....what exactly do you want to control with alexa?
 
fenderman said:
Get the camera with the best image quality and reliability...working with alexa should be the last thing on the list....what exactly do you want to control with alexa?
Click to expand...

I agree and would add that it must have an HTTP interface that works on the local network (as all my current cameras do).

As for Alexa, it would be nice to tell "her" to bring up the feed on the Show. Also like idea of no-fuss remote monitoring. Refuse to do port forwarding and setting up a VPN seems like a lot of trouble.

Thanks!
 
...After looking into it, setting up my router to provide VPN service doesn't look too tasking. Think it has that option and know my phones can act as clients.

Bring up a camera app on the phone from a hotel room wouldn't be quite as slick as telling the Show to view a specific room, but then I've read that that feature is unreliable anyway.
 
David Mark said:
I agree and would add that it must have an HTTP interface that works on the local network (as all my current cameras do).

As for Alexa, it would be nice to tell "her" to bring up the feed on the Show. Also like idea of no-fuss remote monitoring. Refuse to do port forwarding and setting up a VPN seems like a lot of trouble.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
you will not find a camera that offers the ability to stream to third party software or nvr (or as you call it, http access) and that allows remote viewing through their company servers securely so you dont have to setup remote access. forget alexa, but cameras with great image quality....i dont use alexa but if it allows you to launch an app on the show you can simply launch any viewing app...
 
drunkpenguin said:
We use alexa but mainly for turning lights on and off. BI supports bringing up a cam if u are using a dedicated display. This gives u what ur looking for plus the option of using any cam u want.
Click to expand...

I have BI, but rarely use it. I looked for a Skill for BI, but did not find one. Perhaps I misunderstood your suggestion?

Alexa can bring up a requested feed on a Show or FireTV device. Latter can turn any TV into a camera monitor. Best I can do with Roku is to tell it to bring up the camera monitoring app.
 
drunkpenguin said:
Im using the original echo, not a show. My bi has a dedicated display thats mounted in the bedroom and is on 24/7. With bi i can say to alexa "turn on porch camera" and it brings that cam to the foreground. Different than what ur trying to do, but same end result.
Click to expand...

I have an Echo, but not understanding how you are connecting commands to BI to show feeds. Javascript hack? Custom Skill?
 
David Mark said:
Still can be monitored locally and get emails when away, which I turn into notifications with Tasker. Also, I work from home most of the time.
Click to expand...
yes but if something critical happens you wont have the footage on a few snapshots...
 
drunkpenguin said:
Exactly. It uses the same routine as the hue bulbs so its not ideal but works. Its nice if im laying in bed and i wanna zoom in so to speak on 1 cam. I dont use it much since bi does that on motion anyway... But its a nice gimmick to have.
Click to expand...
I think it is an excellent solution. Have Hue as well and it is just UPnP discovery. Works like a charm, also with no Skill or Cloud account required.
 
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