I have an untrustworthy roommate, and I’m looking to set up a security camera in my bedroom so I can have some peace of mind when I’m not home.
My budget is flexible, but I don’t want to spend too much. I just need something reliable with a few key features:
Motion detection alerts - I’d like phone notifications whenever the camera detects movement.
Ability to store videos - Preferably without subscription fees. If I use a microSD card, I’m worried about data loss if it gets damaged. Is there a way to save videos to my phone without a subscription?
Not WiFi-dependent - My roommate has disconnected our WiFi before, so I’d like something that can work without it.
Motion Activation - This way, I don’t have to go through hours of footage.
Open to any creative solutions that don’t cost much. Thanks for any suggestions!
If you go with WiFi cameras, which are simple and affordable, they’ll have the dependency you mentioned. One option is to get a camera with local storage (microSD) and use a cloud subscription as a backup, so you’re covered if the SD card is damaged or stolen.
@Ethan
Alright, I’m open to both cloud storage and microSD for peace of mind. Would the cloud storage need WiFi to work, though? Or is there a way it could operate without it?
Esme said: @Ethan
Alright, I’m open to both cloud storage and microSD for peace of mind. Would the cloud storage need WiFi to work, though? Or is there a way it could operate without it?
It would need internet for app access (cloud, notifications, etc.), but it can record events locally even without WiFi.
@Ethan
Got it. So if the WiFi goes down, videos won’t sync to the cloud, and I won’t get notifications, but the microSD would still record as backup. I’d just have to manually check it later. Sound right?
Thank you! I’m new to this and appreciate the help. Are there any cameras you’d recommend that make reviewing footage easier? I’ve heard some have playback modes that mark movement events.