My girlfriend is be very interested in putting Blink (Amazon) cameras up around our property. I am not interested in paying Amazon to keep our security footage.

What I’d like to do is have motion activated internet connected cameras around the property that somehow send footage to a server (I don’t know if that’s the correct term, I’m kind of an idiot) that I keep on the property.

So I have three questions:

  1. is this the right forum to be asking about self hosting security footage?
  2. does anyone here have experience doing this and would they be willing to send some pointers my way?
  3. is this a feasible DIY project or am I better served paying for a service?

I’ve done a little digging into self hosting and it’s not cheap, but I think it will be cheaper than paying a subscription. And safer too, which is rad.

Thank you all!

  • KonekoSalem@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    10 months ago

    Phones and their batteries aren’t made for this. Trying to run a phone 24/7 will likely result in the phone dying very quickly and raise the chances of it exploding.

    • DeuxChevaux@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      My oldest “security camera” of this type has been online 24/7 since June 2019 and permanently connected to a charger of the smallest type I could find at that time. The battery still holds a charge when I take the phone down for cleaning. Not sure how old the phone itself is (a small Kyocera), probably a 2014 or 2015 model. So, for my requirements, I’d say, it’s reasonably reliable.

      OTOH, you may be right, and they don’t make them like they used to in the olden days, haha.

      • KonekoSalem@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        10 months ago

        Some or maybe even most phones will survive, but there’s a reasonable chance of the device going up in flames. Older batteries are even more likely to catch fire, depending on the type.