Bird box camera uses cloud p2p - possible to configure and use locally?

I tried the Vonets and it crapped out after less than a year. The Ubuiquity bridge is much more reliable, robust and is encrypted, but more expensive -

Ubiquity Nano Station Loco M5


Another dodge might be to use a powerline adapter but I don't know of any made for 220 mains so I can't give you a link.
 
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wallport said:
I realise I didn't say above but I do also need wifi support as I can't really string Ethernet cables down my garden.
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BTW, how do you intend to power the cam that you are planning on getting?
 
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TonyR said:
BTW, how do you intend to power the cam that you are planning on getting?
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I have the same boat of not wanting a cable into the house.

However I have found a non invasive way to get an ethernet cable to the recorder. My plan is to use a tall tree next to the house, cable goes up the tree, overhead and under a roof tile. Cheesy I know, but it's a flippin bird house.

However, there's always solar options. Small 12v 7A lead acid battery with a solar panel is an option. A large panel on a garden shed is a perfect spot, then many batteries to power cameras, shed lights and a wireless AP.


In the future I plan to setup solar and the ethernet line will just be data. That way I can add more cameras/lights in the backyard which is above POE limits.



Be creative to get a cable from A to B. That's my example so you can now think of something.
 
Speaking strictly for myself, I despise batteries.....really, I do. :mad:
 
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I'm wondering how reliable the cable will be long term.


While i know they make stranded cable for flexibility most network cable including the outdoor stuff is a solid core. With the tree and branches blowing about movement over a period of time could lead to failure.

Why not substitute the tree for a pole and a guy wire to the bird box or house. Cable tie the network cable to it to take the weight. Should be less movement and less strain on the cable overall.
 
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TonyR said:
Speaking strictly for myself, I despise batteries.....really, I do. :mad:
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In the form for cctv or in gernal?
I'm already using a cheap no brand AliExpress camera for this, so not much loss. I call this whole project more fun than the actual result.

Griswalduk said:
I'm wondering how reliable the cable will be long term.
While i know they make stranded cable for flexibility most network cable including the outdoor stuff is a solid core. With the tree and branches blowing about movement over a period of time could lead to failure.
Why not substitute the tree for a pole and a guy wire to the bird box or house. Cable tie the network cable to it to take the weight. Should be less movement and less strain on the cable overall.
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I suppose it depends on how you have interpreted my message :). There are some big trees with really thicc main trunks that don't move at all in strong winds and then there's little bush things.
But you are correct in this case, the tree right next to the house is a small bush thing. Which is great to hide the cable going up it.

First instance I'll attach to the tree and see how I even like the birdhouse cam, latter on I can think about a pole.
I totally agree with a pole, it would get hidden in this ever-green tree fine.

Please do get back to topic for OP, I don't intend to take over about my birdhouse!
 
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Mark_M said:
In the form for cctv or in gernal?
Click to expand...
Just in general.

Back in the 70's and 80's before non-volatile RAM I replaced so many #$%@ batteries in traffic signal controllers that were used to keep the configuration and timing parameters in its volatile RAM alive I lost my affinity for batteries. I'll bet in 31 years I replaced more batteries and electrolytic capacitors than all other discrete components combined and ran more trouble calls that were caused by bad batteries and electrolytic capacitors than for any other reasons for failure.

If it weren't for batteries and electrolytic filter capacitors, no telling how long electronic devices would last. Battery technology (and to some degree capacitor tech) has improved tremendously in the last 10 years or so but still they're a pain, IMO. True, they have their place and their use cases where nothing else will provide the desired operation and function so I'll give them that and deal with it....but I don't have to like it. :cool:
 
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Batteries tend to go dead at the worst possible time no matter how they're charged. Solar charging is problematic here in the northern latitudes.

Every tree sways and every tree grows, both in height and diameter. I learned that the hard way.
 
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TonyR said:
BTW, how do you intend to power the cam that you are planning on getting?
Click to expand...
The existing camera gets its power from the shed and I was planning on taking a longer low voltage cable which I already have down the garden from the shed.

Powerline adapters over the mains to the shed may be an option but there would still need to be a long Ethernet cable down to the birdbox. WiFi is a lot easier but will bear this option in mind if I just cant find a suitable WiFi camera. Surely there must be other WiFi bird box camera options?

Wallport
 
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So not to hijack this thread but I just took delivery of one of these Green Backyard wifi birdbox cams. It was used and/or open box and I snagged it on fleabay. I actually thought it was the wired version but turns out its not. After a few hours of messing around with it, I am able to connect with it to BI, connect through it's web interface and see all device settings using Onvif manager. I also turned off internet access to the VLAN I have it set on and have no issues so far.
 
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OICU2 said:
So not to hijack this thread but I just took delivery of one of these Green Backyard wifi birdbox cams. It was used and/or open box and I snagged it on fleabay. I actually thought it was the wired version but turns out its not. After a few hours of messing around with it, I am able to connect with it to BI, connect through it's web interface and see all device settings using Onvif manager. I also turned off internet access to the VLAN I have it set on and have no issues so far.
Click to expand...
Perhaps your wifi works without cloud because you have a 1st or 2nd Gen and are not using a 3rd Gen Green Feathers camera.

WiFi Bird Box Camera 3rd Gen setup via Green Feathers app (EZ mode) | Green Feathers Help

help.green-feathers.co.uk help.green-feathers.co.uk
 
I had a 3rd gen camera at first but it had a loud speaker which couldn't be silenced when reset eg when power is lost. Can you imagine the impact of a spoken message about wifi connection from a speaker inside the box when birds are nesting?

They were trying to find a solution to this - hope they do.

My messages above refer to the 2nd gen which I had as a replacement.

Wallport
 
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wallport said:
...
Surely there must be other WiFi bird box camera options?

Wallport
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You have not said what size and type of bird box you are going to use. So this may not be applicable. I remember the thread below from last year which may be of interest. The camera used is not wifi and has been discontinued.

The ideal camera for my bird box

I use my ip cam set-up mainly to record wildlife on my ranch in Arizona. I finally found the perfect camera to go into my nest boxes . It is this camera but I got a much better price from @empireandy’s Amazon store...
ipcamtalk.com ipcamtalk.com
The wifi version of his camera is Dahua SD1A203T-GN-W which has probably been discontinued.

The following Amcrest camera is similar to the one above and is wifi.

amcrest.com

Amcrest ProHD PTZ (3X Optical Zoom) 1080P Outdoor WiFi IP Camera Vandal Dome, IP66 Weatherproof, IK08 Vandal Proof, Dual Band 5ghz/2.4ghz, Pan/Tilt/3x Optical Zoom, 2-Megapixel, IP2M-866W (White)

AMCREST MODEL: IP2M-866WCAMERA FEATURES: 2MP@30fps High Resolution, 1920x1080P. 355º Pan, 90º Tilt, 3x Optical Zoom. Camera FOV 35º~105º, 3 IR LED Night Vision Up to 50 feet. Dual Band: Supports both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz WiFi Networks. Built in Microphone (Speaker Not Included and is Sold...
amcrest.com amcrest.com

Amcrest ships to UK from US. Contact them for total price and other details if interested.
 
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wallport said:
Maybe some confusion over green feathers versus green backyard?

Wallport
Click to expand...

The websites look very similar and offer almost the same exact systems, I wouldn't be surprised if they're using the same hardware and software.
 
Yes I too am wondering this but I sent some questions to golbong (who appear to be behind green backyard as the contact us link goes to them) and the answers say they dont rely on cloud p2p. The product does look incredibly similar except brown instead of green.

I am awaiting my refund but am seriously considering trying this.

Wallport
 
The one I have is still running ok, I have noticed it loses signal every once in a while in BlueIris, not sure if that's the camera rebooting (it comes back pretty quick) or a wifi issue, but I'm using it in a hermit crab cage so really not that important to me. I also have noticed in my firewall logs that it's constantly trying to ping 3 ip addresses about 25 times a minute. One is google's DNS (8.8.8.8) and the other two are in Ch1na, possibly also DNS servers (180.76.76.76 & 114.114.114.114).
 
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