Birdhouse Camera

[HA Dave]

Back in 2007... I'd put a tiny little X10 camera in a little birdhouse. I set it up in the backyard (on the Solar Clothes Dryer) with a good view of the driveway. I made a video, posted on YouTube and linked to it. But as the years pasted, the video has disappeared (along with the tiny little X10 cameras). 

But in many ways things don't change.

The other day I ordered a not so small long-life (2-6 months) battery operated WiFi camera. And I also got the optional solar panel so the camera will never need (manually) charged. I got the idea to mount the camera on a faux birdhouse with half of it's roof being the solar panel that charges the camera.

[Tuicemen]

Nice. What kind of wifi range were you getting before finding the best spot to mount?
Can you share a link to where you got the cam.
I've been thinking of the Spypoint cell game camera for a hard to view spot.

[dave w]

Pretty cool, but it must frustrate the birds. 

[Tuicemen]

I'm also interested in the app this uses or can you view with other 3 party apps?
If this has a SD card can you view the images on the card with out removing it?

[HA Dave]

Nice. What kind of wifi range were you getting before finding the best spot to mount?

The camera is only about 60 feet or less from my router.... but I had also tested the range with another WiFi camera 1st.

Can you share a link to where you got the cam.

https://www.amazon.com/REOLINK-Argus-Eco-Security-Waterproof/dp/B07R5YH7YN?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I've been thinking of the Spypoint cell game camera for a hard to view spot.

My nephew uses a cell phone card based game-like camera as part of his protection of his remote cabin. I've seen a video clip. Not bad!

[HA Dave]

I'm also interested in the app this uses or can you view with other 3 party apps?
If this has a SD card can you view the images on the card with out removing it?

It has it's own app. (I don't know about 3rd party use). One of the reasons I selected this camera is it's Alexa compatible. Which means I can say to my Alexa Show "show me the driveway" and it displays on the little screen. I have done the same with other cameras too. And yes it can record to a camera mounted SD card for viewing on the connected smart phone. It has cloud available as well.

I still use HD DVR wired cameras too... as well as 4 wifi cameras (3 different brands). I am using a combo of cloud, HD, SD card, and remote and easychair viewing.

[HA Dave]

Pretty cool, but it must frustrate the birds. 

I hope not. It's really just a Trompe l'oeil, (French: “deceive the eye”) birdhouse. I don't think the birds will see it as anything they might be interested in. People however are limited to the view from the driveway.... and tend to imagine......

From the back:     

[HA Dave]

Just thought I'd share this idea too

[dave w]

Great job of camouflaging.