Check out ONVIF Device Manager (ONVIF Device Manager). It hasn't been updated in about nine years, but it still works and finds IP addresses of ONVIF devices on your network (even if they are in a different subnet) which will prevent you from having to install all sorts of third party camera management tools. I picked up a Revotech as well as another brand mini-camera and was able to find and reconfigure both of them through their web interfaces without any issues.
POE Trigger/Switch for Mailbox Cameras on BI?
- Thread starter TheWaterbug
- Start date
Justin Blackburn
Getting the hang of it
- Jan 13, 2018
- 63
- 89
I know you went a different route, but for anyone else that encounters this issue, what I would do is wire a contact sensor at the mailbox to one pair of a cat 6. Then you can put the Shelly at the other end (in your house) of the cat 6 cable where you get good WiFi. No reason it has to be at the mailbox.
Here's the image from the 3.6mm version, downloaded from BI UI3:
True, but then I need to run a dedicated string of CatX for the sensor. But it's certainly a good idea to consider.
Mike A.
Known around here
- May 6, 2017
- 4,142
- 6,946
That looks a lot better than the tunnel vision version.
Although my initial thought was to replace the ball on top of the post with an eyeball camera, I'm now realizing that it'll see that horizontal wood piece that the brown sign hangs down from. I haven't placed a camera there to try it yet, but just based on my expected FOV, that's going to block a lot of the image. So now I'm thinking of putting the 3rd camera on the diagonal wood piece holding up the mailbox:
The two other cameras on the post are Amcrest IP5M-T1179EW. They work pretty well, but the mounting ring is just a tad wider than my wood, as you can sort of see in the photo. It would look worse on that skinny diagonal piece. Any suggestions for a camera (or mounting ring) that would be lower-profile on that diagonal?
Revotech camera is in. It doesn’t have an IR illuminator, but I had one lying around, so it went in, too:
Here's the view from Blue Iris:
BlueIris reliably detects mailbox openings.
Is there a way to set up a Group in BI so that I trigger a group of 3 cameras when this Mailbox camera detects motion, but where I can review only the alerts generated by the Mailbox camera, and not the alerts generated independently of the other 3 cameras?
Here's the view from Blue Iris:
BlueIris reliably detects mailbox openings.
Is there a way to set up a Group in BI so that I trigger a group of 3 cameras when this Mailbox camera detects motion, but where I can review only the alerts generated by the Mailbox camera, and not the alerts generated independently of the other 3 cameras?
Attachments
I have developed some respect for these Chinese board cameras. My church needed a super cheap streaming system, and I got seven of this type of camera for less than $50 each. I bought a bunch of the m12 lenses in different focal lengths and switched them around until we had all the views needed. You can also use c / cs mount lenses with an adapter.
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
Clone the 3 cams in BI, then put them in a group, then have the Mail cam trigger that group.
I also installed a new Amcrest IP5M-T1277EW-AI pointing uphill. I have a bit of a (paid) mini-review, here:
ipcamtalk.com
IP5M-T1277EW-AI vs. IP5M-T1179EW
I just installed an Amcrest IP5M-T1277EW-AI under my mailbox: It's the one pointing uphill, while the one pointing downhill is an older IP5M-T1179EW that I'd been buying for ~$50 - $57/ea. over the last few years (total of 20 units in 3 locations): I paid $79.99 for the new IP5M-T1277EW-AI...
Each of the exterior cameras already has its own motion-trigger settings. I did set the Mailbox to trigger the "street" group, but is there anyway to review only triggers that are from the Mailbox, e.g. ignoring the outside triggers, but view all the cameras simultaneously?
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
Clone the cameras in question.
Put them into a group of your choice.
When reviewing clips, choose that group then the alerts will be from that group.
Put them into a group of your choice.
When reviewing clips, choose that group then the alerts will be from that group.
Ah, now I understand, after reading it for a 3rd time. Clone/duplicate the cameras, so I have a set of cameras with their own motion triggers and a duplicate set that do not have motion triggers. Now that makes sense.
If I have them set to record continuously, will it record two sets of video?
DanDenver
Getting comfortable
Although my initial thought was to replace the ball on top of the post with an eyeball camera, I'm now realizing that it'll see that horizontal wood piece that the brown sign hangs down from. I haven't placed a camera there to try it yet, but just based on my expected FOV, that's going to block a lot of the image. So now I'm thinking of putting the 3rd camera on the diagonal wood piece holding up the mailbox:
The two other cameras on the post are Amcrest IP5M-T1179EW. They work pretty well, but the mounting ring is just a tad wider than my wood, as you can sort of see in the photo. It would look worse on that skinny diagonal piece. Any suggestions for a camera (or mounting ring) that would be lower-profile on that diagonal?
So if my third camera is going here:
I can significantly reduce its profile by making a hole in that diagonal 2 x 4. I don't know any easy way to make a hemispherical cavity, but I have hole saw and a quarter round router bit. A round-nose bit would be better, but I don't own of those. Yet.
If I do this for real, I'll do a better job of centering and setting the height. But it does a decent job of recessing the camera:
But now I need some sort of a retainer ring. Any ideas?
Mike A.
Known around here
- May 6, 2017
- 4,142
- 6,946
Can you enlarge the recess on the back side so the cam sits down into it more? i.e., Come in from the rear vs finding something to hold it at the front.
Angle grinder with a 40 or 60 grit flap disk has a surprisingly fine control for free form woodworking.
DanDenver
Getting comfortable
What about adding a second 2x4 on top of the existing 2x4 that is holding the hanging sign. This would double the thickness. Once that is completed you could carve out a space that could hold your round camera at the end. Most of the body would be embedded into the two 2x4's and the camera would be at the tip and at a good height.
Further, you could run the cable in between the two 2x4's (use a router to make a channel in the new 2x4)
Further, you could run the cable in between the two 2x4's (use a router to make a channel in the new 2x4)
I would certainly consider that if I could get to the back side of that piece. I'm pretty sure I nailed it in, as opposed to screwing it in, when I built the mailbox post, so I don't know how feasible it would be to disassemble. Disassembly would make any approach easier, so I'll look at it tomorrow when it's light again.