Motion sensing cameras and other devices
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:53 pm
I recently purchased a motion sensing camera built into a talking alarm clock with a remote control:
The unit would not work with a 32G micro memory card, but it works OK with a 16G one. It may need re-seated over time.
I'm having problems setting the time on the pictures and movies. It even dates the files to 2011!
I tried several different ways to reset the record time, as the software on the included CD couldn't even find the device.
Many suggested creating a "time.txt" text file on the root of the micro memory card, but none seemed to work at all.
Got any ideas? This alarm clock camera could be used to record your hotel room while you are away.
For a spy camera, it is pretty well lit. The blue and red LED's even shine through the case. They even shine around black tape.
I decided to see what was inside so I took out two tiny screws in the top of the back panel and pried it apart:
When the top is pried apart, the end caps will fall off as will the side slide switch cover (top left). Don't put too much strain on the battery wires.
The LED board has a tiny black screw above the memory card and a slightly larger silver screw near the slide switch.
The blue battery is on the left with a foam standoff cushion to hold it in place. It can record for about 12 hours before it needs charged.
I happened to have some chrome silver model paint, so I am painting the inside near the LED's to try to reduce the light emissions so that it
doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. I have to be careful as the remote sensor lens is also located there. Funny how the camera ads
never show the lights on. The accents around the camera opening doesn't help much either.
The main board has the camera in the center with the 3 legged remote - motion sensor near the top of the picture:
The bright red and blue LED's are those small yellow squares to the right of the sensor. The red one only comes on when
plugged into the USB cable from a computer or a 5 volt USB power source. It is supposed to go out when the battery is
charged, but it seldom does. The red and black wires go to the microphone that picks up sound through the bottom
camera accent on the alarm clock face.
To use it as a security monitor, I need to plug it into a computer to email me when a motion is detected by software.
I found free Web Cam software that can detect motion and Email me. It is called YawCam which stands for
"Yet another Web Cam". Once it is set up, the clock camera can record events to file, a streaming link and send an email too.
The camera must appear as a USB device, not another drive, in My Computer. This can be accomplished with the
clock remote control . Just turn the camera off or on with the remote until it appears as a USB video device.
Then run the web cam software. The clocks's hidden power slide switch can also be off, but the LED's stay on with the USB.
The unit would not work with a 32G micro memory card, but it works OK with a 16G one. It may need re-seated over time.
I'm having problems setting the time on the pictures and movies. It even dates the files to 2011!
I tried several different ways to reset the record time, as the software on the included CD couldn't even find the device.
Many suggested creating a "time.txt" text file on the root of the micro memory card, but none seemed to work at all.
Got any ideas? This alarm clock camera could be used to record your hotel room while you are away.
For a spy camera, it is pretty well lit. The blue and red LED's even shine through the case. They even shine around black tape.
I decided to see what was inside so I took out two tiny screws in the top of the back panel and pried it apart:
When the top is pried apart, the end caps will fall off as will the side slide switch cover (top left). Don't put too much strain on the battery wires.
The LED board has a tiny black screw above the memory card and a slightly larger silver screw near the slide switch.
The blue battery is on the left with a foam standoff cushion to hold it in place. It can record for about 12 hours before it needs charged.
I happened to have some chrome silver model paint, so I am painting the inside near the LED's to try to reduce the light emissions so that it
doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. I have to be careful as the remote sensor lens is also located there. Funny how the camera ads
never show the lights on. The accents around the camera opening doesn't help much either.
The main board has the camera in the center with the 3 legged remote - motion sensor near the top of the picture:
The bright red and blue LED's are those small yellow squares to the right of the sensor. The red one only comes on when
plugged into the USB cable from a computer or a 5 volt USB power source. It is supposed to go out when the battery is
charged, but it seldom does. The red and black wires go to the microphone that picks up sound through the bottom
camera accent on the alarm clock face.
To use it as a security monitor, I need to plug it into a computer to email me when a motion is detected by software.
I found free Web Cam software that can detect motion and Email me. It is called YawCam which stands for
"Yet another Web Cam". Once it is set up, the clock camera can record events to file, a streaming link and send an email too.
The camera must appear as a USB device, not another drive, in My Computer. This can be accomplished with the
clock remote control . Just turn the camera off or on with the remote until it appears as a USB video device.
Then run the web cam software. The clocks's hidden power slide switch can also be off, but the LED's stay on with the USB.