Installing a Spy Cam (Surveillance Camera)

Recently I bought the Foscam iP Camera (FI8910W) from Amazon.Com. The price new is about $100 but I bought it used for $62.00 from an Amazon reseller WholesaleDeals with free super saver shipping. It arrived quickly in a few days and was like new, in its original box. You can see some photos at my Picasa Web Site at the link below …..  https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/5841167078617108113

The Foscam FI8910W is made for indoor use only, but I thought I would try using it outside with a few protective adaptations. So far it is working fine and has been outside in sub-zero weather for a few weeks with periodic snow and rain and no ill effects.

To protect the camera from the weather, I made a plastic rain cap from a Glad Food Container and mounted the camera upside down inside the container. I also cut the container sides down to about 2 inches so they would not interfere with the camera view. In addition, I put some duct tape over the open port holes in the camera back to keep them dry. I then installed the camera about 12 feet off the ground on the outside back corner of the house. It sticks out on a bracket so the camera can see two sides of the house (side and back) when rotated with the computer control panel.

A surveillance camera (Spy Cam or Nanny Cam) can be used to watch your property indoor or outside while you are away. The Foscam camera can be programmed to record video or take snapshots for later viewing or you can see real time images over the internet. In addition, the camera needs electric power to operate and comes with a DC power adapter. You then need to plug in a short 3-foot power cord from the DC adapter into a nearby AC outlet or use a long extension cord.  The Foscam camera gives sharp color images in daylight and automatically switches to black and white for clarity as the outside light dims.  It will then switch on 11 IR LEDs and can see in almost total darkness at night.

Before installing the camera, I read the Quick Installation Guide several time and watched a few YouTube videos to familiarize myself with all the parts and procedures. Even then I missed a few directions and found that the camera wouldn’t work at first.  Somehow I kept skipping over one step until I realized my mistake. Eventually the camera worked as advertised.  So be persistent if it first fails and try again.

Since the camera works on your home Wi-Fi Network, you need to check your Wi-Fi reception all around the house and especially in the places where you plan to mount the camera. I did this by using my iPod Touch and watched the Wi-Fi reception bars as I moved around the house.  I have internet service from Comcast which is cabled to a leased Comcast modem in one corner of my basement, right near the electric circuit breaker box. I originally connected my own wireless Linksys Router (WRT54GS2) to the Comcast modem with a short Ethernet cable to give me an (in-home) wireless network.

Although the wireless reception was good near the Router, it was poor at the other end of the house where I wanted to install the Foscam camera.  Consequently, I bought a 50 ft. Ethernet extension cable from Wal-Mart ($29.95) and moved my Wi-Fi Linksys Router to the middle of the basement so I would have good reception all around the house.

To install the Foscam camera you first screw the small antenna to the camera back. Next, plug in the DC Power adapter into an AC outlet and then plug the power cord into the camera back. Within a minute the camera head will start to move and pan a 300 degrees arc and then tilt up and down 120 degrees. It looks like a little robot. The red power light will also come on indicating power on .

Next plug the short Ethernet cable (not included with my camera but should have) into the camera and into the Router.  Luckily I had a spare cable or you need to buy one. The green light on the back of the camera will start blinking indicating connection to your network.

Next, install the CD that comes with the camera into your computer. This has the Installation Software and a Comprehensive Users Guide that you can print out. (Unfortunately, the CD was also missing from my used camera so I went to the Foscam website at Foscam.Com and downloaded both items.) Once you install the CD, a Foscam Folder will be installed on your desktop. Open the folder and double click file IPCamSetup.exe to install and follow the onscreen directions. Click next to finish the installation. A shortcut icon in the shape of a camera will appear on the desktop. Double click this Camera Tool icon and it will find the camera’s IP address automatically after you plug in the Ethernet network cable. The address might look like this: (Anonymous Http://192.168.1.169:35 ). The number ( 192.168.1.168 )  is the IP address of your computer and the ( :35 ) is the port number.

Double click this LAN IP address of the camera and a window will pop up asking for the username and password. The default is admin for username and no password. Enter it and Click OK. A screen will pop up with three selections to login.  One is IE ActiveX Mode (IE is Internet Explorer), the other is Server Push Mode for Safari and the third is Mobile Phone Mode for mobile phone. Choose IE ActiveX Mode if you are using the IE browser normally found on most PCs.  For first time login allow ActiveX to run when prompted. You will now see a Login screen with a video picture of what the camera sees (the room, inside your house). Congratulations! You have successfully accessed the ip camera by wired connection.  LAN is your (local area network) or in-house wireless network. WAN is your (wide area network) or connection to the internet.

The wireless connection procedure is a little more complicated and you need to read the Quick Guide directions carefully. I’m not going to describe it here.  In addition you need to change the port settings on your router which is also explained. Once you setup the wireless connection you can move the Foscam camera anywhere within your wireless network. Just unplug the power cord and plug it back in an outlet, in another room.

To access the camera over the internet you need to know the IP address of your PC or Router and the Port that the Foscam camera has been assigned. If you don’t know go to the internet site http://whatsmyip.com on your computer and that site will send back your IP address.

You can also get an APP for your smartphone that will access your camera. I have an iPod Touch and went to the Apple APP store and did a search for ip cameras. There are over 300 APPs available and many are free. I selected the CamViewer which is free and works fine for my needs.

Once I installed my Foscam Web Cam I can now see who is out in my driveway.  I can also see why the dogs are barking or if my package is delivered to the front steps. I can do this all from the comfort of my home or even when I am away by checking over the internet. I am quite happy with installation and look forward to getting more cameras.

I just got a second camera that I am hoping to install at my summer camp. I bought it again at Amazon.com for about the same price and it arrived today. Everything was in the box and nothing missing.  I guess sometimes you just luck out and other times not.

Comments always welcome: ….  markryan82@comcast.net