Need help setting up BI5 text alerts.

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
I use a VPN to get to my cameras and for a long time i was getting txt alerts on time but now they can be hours behind so i'm looking for a new way to get alert images text to me?

I have tried using the iOS BI app for push notification but to see anything i have to turn on my VPN.

Right now i'm using my websites email service to get image notifications. It works but still not as nice as a image in a text.
 

jrbeddow

Getting comfortable
Joined
Oct 26, 2021
Messages
370
Reaction score
485
Location
USA
Text notification timing can be subject to the whims of your mobile provider.

Checkout Pushover notifications, here in this thread (although for viewing the alerts in UI3 you may still need to be on an "always-on" VPN connection back to your home).

 

kklee

Pulling my weight
Joined
May 9, 2020
Messages
187
Reaction score
201
Location
Vancouver, BC
I've been using Pushover with great success. Pushover retains alerts image history, which you don't get with the BI mobile app, which is why I use it.

It's easy to configure, just follow the instructions in the linked thread.
 

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
Text notification timing can be subject to the whims of your mobile provider.

Checkout Pushover notifications, here in this thread (although for viewing the alerts in UI3 you may still need to be on an "always-on" VPN connection back to your home).

I tried pushover and could not get it to work, I don't use the UI3.

Is that the only option?
 

wittaj

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Apr 28, 2019
Messages
24,428
Reaction score
47,549
Location
USA
There just are not many options.
  • Have it text it to you, but most have found that mobile providers are blocking them or delaying them as they implement new Spam algorithms
  • Use the Pushover app
  • Use the BI app and leave VPN on when away to get push notifications
  • Go unsecure and port forward to get images on the BI app when away.
 
Last edited:

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
I don't know why i can't get the Pushover app to work, i can send a txt to myself with there website and it works.

On the pushover website under your applications I created a App which gives you the API/Token to use.

How can i test the curl.exe to see if it is working?

I don't use the UI3 does that matter as i see it listed in the url.

For the "attachment=@D:\Blue Iris\Alerts\&ALERT_PATH"

Is that a direct path?

Thank you for the help.
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 1, 2019
Messages
2,215
Reaction score
3,504
Location
Reno, NV
there is also the email alert to try though still at mercy of email server lag (sometimes good...sometimes not good). I use Gmail and I had both texts & gmail. Maybe I was lucky but they arrive to my phone 2 seconds apart.
what of the Blue Iris app for alerts? I just acquired Wireguard VPN (well....via Teleport but it works) with VPN always on. 3 days so far for testing....100% aok.
 

jaydeel

BIT Beta Team
Joined
Nov 9, 2016
Messages
1,126
Reaction score
1,237
Location
SF Bay Area
How can i test the curl.exe to see if it is working?
First, confirm that it is installed, as follows
1652246295184.png

To avoid specifying the path, curl.exe needs to be located in a folder listed in the Environment system variable ‘Path’... Mine is located in 'C:\Windows\System32\curl.exe'.
 

jaydeel

BIT Beta Team
Joined
Nov 9, 2016
Messages
1,126
Reaction score
1,237
Location
SF Bay Area
For the "attachment=@D:\Blue Iris\Alerts\&ALERT_PATH"

Is that a direct path?
Yes.
&ALERT_PATH is a Blue Iris macro. When used in an action, it is expanded to an alert *.jpg filename, like
DW2.20220510_190000.584987.4113-0.22425.25394.jpg

For testing from cmd.exe, replace the macro with the name of an actual alert filename. For example...
Code:
curl.exe https://api.pushover.net/1/messages.json -s --form-string "token=YOUR_TOKEN_HERE" --form-string "user=YOUR_USER_KEY_HERE" --form-string "message=DW2" -F "attachment=@D:\Blue Iris\Alerts\DW2.20220510_190000.584987.4113-0.22425.25394.jpg"
Once you get this basic command working, you can start experimenting with adding links and macros to the message argument.
And specifying devices, and sounds, if desired.
 
Last edited:

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
First, confirm that it is installed, as follows
View attachment 127765

To avoid specifying the path, curl.exe needs to be located in a folder listed in the Environment system variable ‘Path’... Mine is located in 'C:\Windows\System32\curl.exe'.
I get exactly what you have there but in BI i put the path as C:\Windows\System32\curl.exe
 

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
My alert jpgs are in a folder called New
C:\BlueIris\New

So do i use C:\BlueIris\New\&ALERT_PATH"
 

Cameraguy

Known around here
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
1,485
Reaction score
1,122
I originally used email server to send MMS to phone. Recently setup pushover . Have both running right now until I fully convert to pushover. I get picture alert about 1-2 secs sooner on the pushover app.. easily worth $5
 

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
I paid the $5 but still cant get it to work.

It has to be something simple.
 

wittaj

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Apr 28, 2019
Messages
24,428
Reaction score
47,549
Location
USA
It is probably an extra space somewhere.

Try to copy/paste as much of what was in that thread as possible.
 

EDYY

n3wb
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
My alert jpgs use file names like camera_name_222_ would that matter?
 
Top