Webcam from an old smartphone. How to make a webcam from a phone camera: what is it for?

Modern people have long been accustomed to the fact that a smartphone is a multifunctional device that can be used to solve a wide range of problems. But the user may not even be aware of some of the capabilities of his mobile gadget. For example, in a situation where a webcam is required for video communication, it can be replaced with an Android phone camera.

Turning your phone into a webcam is useful if you need to:

• Make an urgent video call on Skype, but you don’t have a standard camera at hand, or it’s broken;
• Install an additional webcam for Internet broadcasting;
• Create remote surveillance using your phone.

Even a phone with a broken screen can be used as a webcam. The main thing is that the front or main camera module is in working condition. For different ways To connect your phone you will need:

• USB cable;
• Wi-Fi hotspot;
• Programs for pairing your phone and computer or laptop.

Method 1. How to use your phone as a webcam via USB

You can connect your smartphone as a webcam to a PC or laptop using a regular USB cable. You will need some software to set up a video call. The most popular and convenient is the Android application DroidCam Wireless Webcam, which can be downloaded for free in the digital store Google Play. You also need to install the DroidCam program on your PC.

Given software will work in conjunction: the Android application will configure the phone as a webcam, and the PC program will receive and process the signal from the mobile device.

Let's consider step-by-step setup phone:

1. Install the DroidCam Wireless Webcam application on your smartphone;
2. Open the page http://www.dev47apps.com/ in your browser, download the distribution and install it on your computer or laptop;
3. Enable developer mode on your phone. You can read about how to do this in our article “The 10 Most Useful Hidden Android Features”;
4. Launch the USB Debugging feature. To do this, in the phone settings, select the “For Developers” menu item and press the button in the corresponding item.

1. Launch the DroidCam Wireless Webcam application;
2. Connect your smartphone to your computer via a USB cable;
3. Launch the DroidCam client on your computer;
4. Click on the USB connection button;
5. Click on the Start button.

An image from the phone's camera will appear on the client's screen. In the settings of the DroidCam Wireless Webcam application, you can select front camera as the main one for connection, and also assign the phone's microphone to capture sound.

Method 2. How to use your phone as a webcam over Wi-Fi

The DroidCam Wireless Webcam program allows you to configure your phone as a webcam via WiFi connection. To do this, follow steps 1 and 2 from the above instructions. Then go through the following steps:

1. Start Wi-Fi on your phone;
2. Open the DroidCam Wireless Webcam application;
3. Open the DroidCam program on your PC;
4. Click on the Wi-Fi connection button;
5. In the Device IP line, enter the number that will be displayed on the main screen of the Android application in the WiFi IP item;
6. Check the Audio and Video checkboxes;
7. Click Srart.

After this, the application will capture the video signal from the phone's camera and transmit it through the client to the computer. The free version of the application only connects the phone and PC, and also contains advertising. The paid DroidCam application does not show advertising banners and allows you to customize the video: set the contrast and brightness, change the resolution, and so on.

Please note! On the Internet you can find many recommendations for applications that allow you to use your phone as a webcam. The second most popular program is Android USB app Webcam. It should work similarly to the DroidCam utility, that is, you need to download the application to your smartphone and the PC program from the official website. The problem is that, although the application is still available on Google Play, the client developer’s website has ceased to exist, and downloading the distribution from a third-party source risks introducing a dangerous virus to your computer.

Method 3. Turn your smartphone into an IP camera for remote video surveillance

This method is suitable for those who do not want to limit themselves by length USB cable or home Wi-Fi signal reception area. You can turn your smartphone into a webcam, even if you are on the other side of town, using the IP Webcam Android application, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store. To output a video signal from your phone to a PC or Skype, you will need a special adapter, which can be downloaded from the official website.

To set up your phone as a webcam you need:

1. Install the application on your smartphone;
2. Install the adapter on your computer;
3. Set up a camera for video capture in the application;
4. Set video resolution and quality;
5. Change additional settings: video orientation, focus and flash mode, white balance, color effect and so on;
6. Select “Start broadcast” in the application.

• Via browser;
• Via VLC player;
• Via Skype.

To watch the video in a browser, enter the IP address and port of the device into the search bar. This information can be found by clicking the “How do I connect” button in the application. Indicate that you are connecting directly and select the connection method: via mobile network or Wi-Fi. In a pop-up window, the application will indicate the required number, for example, 192.168.0.39:8080. Next, on the video broadcast page, select the viewing and listening mode.

• Install the distribution;
• Open the player;
• In the top menu, select “Media”;
• Click "Open URL";
• Enter the line with the address specified in the application and add the word videofeed, for example, like this: http://192.168.0.39:8080/videofeed ;
• Click Play.

To connect to a broadcast on Skype:

• Open the adapter program;
• Enter an address similar to the one used for the VLC player;
• Specify the resolution 320x240 (if the signal does not connect, increase the resolution to the next level, for example 640x480);
• Click "Apply";
• In Skype, open Video Settings;
• In the “Select webcam” selector, select MJPEG Camera.

The IP Webcam application differs from DroidCam Wireless Webcam in expanded functionality and more simple connection, which does not require installing additional drivers for your phone.

While studying ways in which a phone can be turned into a webcam, we used a gadget model from the Fly company.

Why Fly

Since 2003 the British Fly company is a stable manufacturer of high-quality smartphones, in which engineers try to take into account all the requirements of modern users. The company's main emphasis is on creating budget smartphones, which are not inferior in quality to average models price category. Even in a gadget for 7-8 thousand rubles, the user will find a powerful 4-core processor, a capacious battery, an excellent camera, a high-quality IPS screen, and all this is framed by a stylish design.

We turned our smartphone into a webcam for a while. Since testing took quite a lot of time, we needed a gadget with a capacious battery, a large screen, a high-speed Internet module and a fast processor. And the Cirrus 9 smartphone ticked all the boxes. The large 5.5-inch IPS screen made it very convenient to manage application settings and study instructions for managing programs. A powerful 1.25 GHz quad-core processor ensured stable system operation while downloading and launching several applets simultaneously. The 4G LTE module made it possible to instantly download the largest application, and a capacious 2800 mAh battery kept the smartphone in a state of full combat readiness all this time.

The rapid development of Internet technologies has provided ample opportunities for monitoring what is happening at remote sites.

The owner can be hundreds of kilometers from his home, but at the same time, control everything that happens there.

This is facilitated by modern video surveillance systems, which can be ordered from specialized companies or made by yourself.

Surveillance system high quality can be easily created using a digital and Android device in the form regular phone or tablet.

Features of video surveillance via telephone

Where can it be used?

Video surveillance using a smartphone has wide practical applications.

This is due to the ability to transmit real-time video and audio over long distances in order to monitor what is happening at the facility.

In addition, IP cameras can be connected to a motion sensor. In this case, it will be possible to view what is happening on the object at the moment when a moving object appears there.

Among the main areas of practical application are:

• use as a video baby monitor;
• remote monitoring of site safety;
• remote image viewing from ;
• control over the order of the perimeter of an object when an outdoor video camera is used;
• covert surveillance of an object.

It is important to note that a smartphone can be used not only as a device that reproduces the video signal received from the camera on its screen, but also as a video camera. The phone's built-in camera can be used as a shooting device, and video can be played back on another phone or on a computer using a special Web service.

The phone will be useful in the case when you need to quickly make a video surveillance system with your own hands, but there is no IP camera available.

This will require a minimum of time and financial costs, and the functions will be almost the same as when using special digital cameras.

Setting up an IP camera

The main device that provides high-quality video images is an IP camera.

Can be used different type connecting these devices to the Internet - this can be a wired connection or a Wi-Fi connection.

To further configure the camera and connect the camera to a smartphone, you will need a static IP address. You can get it from a company that specializes in providing Internet services in the region.

After you have received the static address for the video camera, you need to type it in the browser line and you will have access to the video broadcast from the object.

If more than one camera is used, you need to additionally install a router through which the connection to the Internet will be realized.

When obtaining static addresses from your provider, you also need to make sure that the Internet channel provides the required bandwidth.

What you need to organize remote video surveillance

If, in order to view the situation at the site, a smartphone will be used as a video surveillance camera, you need to download mobile devices special application, install and configure it for yourself.

Android Applications

If the smartphone is running operating system Android, optimal solution it will be simple and very functional program IP Webcam.

It will turn the built-in camera Android devices into an effective tool for covert surveillance. It can be used as an indoor or outdoor surveillance camera.

During the program setup process, you can set:

1. video resolution;
2. quality;
3. image orientation;
4. possibility of transmitting sound stream;
5. prohibiting the smartphone from going into sleep mode;
6. turn off notifications.

It is important to remember that the higher the resolution and shooting quality parameters are selected, the greater the load will be on Android processor device, more Internet channel traffic will also be used. It should be taken into account that significant delays may occur with audio transmission, which can amount to several seconds.

Optionally, the program allows you to set a login and password to use additional features.

It is also possible to change the port through which cameras installed on site were connected.

After all the settings are completed, video recording starts and it is broadcast to the Internet using WiFi wireless connection.

To access the video, you need to enter the address and port of the server through which the broadcast is implemented in the Internet browser line.

iOS apps

For devices running iOS, there is a special Presence application.

With this simple program, an ordinary cell phone can be turned into a high-quality video surveillance system that can transmit video images and sound.

Having several iOS devices at hand, you can shoot and receive video - the first device acts as a camera and will transmit video, and the second one is connected as a display.

Data transmission and reception can occur using 3G or WiFi. It is important to remember that the mobile communication channel cannot provide sufficient access high speed, therefore for best quality It is better to view pictures via video transmitted via WiFi technology.

The Presence program will allow you to view video from two cameras on your device. One touch is enough to switch between them.

The program interface is easy to use and does not require special instructions for operation.

The Presence application can also support the Motion detection function, with which the recording process is activated when a moving object appears in the frame.

In this case, the program generates a video of 5 seconds duration and sends it to the user’s e-mail. You can also set up continuous recording using your smartphone’s digital Camera.

Conclusion

Video surveillance from a phone via the Internet significantly expands the capabilities of modern video surveillance.

With its help, you can always be aware of the events that are happening at home, using a regular mobile phone.

The important thing is that you can create such surveillance systems yourself, using available tools in the form of modern smartphones and special plug-ins that can be downloaded via the Internet.

Video: Setting up video surveillance for viewing on a smartphone

Another type of security system is a hidden surveillance camera. Today we will try to make such a camera from mobile phone. Once I saw a friend's cell phone Fly phone, for whom almost everything did not work. The battery failed, the bluetooth, infrared and charging socket also did not work. Well, I immediately persuaded a friend to sell it to me for parts. But that's what a friend is for - he gave me the phone for free. He lay at home for several days until the idea came to mind to make a homemade video surveillance system out of him.

To begin with, I assembled a stabilized power supply that powers the phone. As such a unit, you can use any network transformer with an output voltage of 3.5-4 volts and a current of no more than 800 milliamps. Now you need to go to a store or radio market and buy an MGTF wire. You need to buy a lot of wire, a lot - it took me 120 meters. As a last resort, it is possible, but not advisable, to use varnished wire (single-core) with a diameter of 0.3 millimeters. Now we need to disassemble our phone.

Next, you need a soldering iron for soldering micro-parts with a sharp tip. My device has 12 contacts (they vary in number). For each contact of the video module I used 10 meters of wire. We solder the wires to the contacts, and connect the other end of the wires to the device connector on the phone, that is, in essence, we extend the device. This alteration is very similar to the alteration of the screen in the article helping students. Next, after soldering the wires, you need to fix the solder joints with silicone (for strength). The device must be placed in a completely sealed plastic case of a convenient size, for example, use a webcam case. It is necessary to pay special attention to the insulation and tightness of the housing, since it will work in even extreme weather conditions.

The camera needs to be installed where you need to control and view the room. We need a telephone and a power supply at home. We turn on the camera and enjoy the scenery through our homemade video surveillance system. You can connect your phone to your computer and record video to your computer or phone storage. The phone is turned off and on by the red activation button. In general, you shouldn’t put the phone in another case, leave it in the Zovodsk case, it’s more compact. We attach the camera wherever we see fit, most often on a gate or fence. There are several ways to attach the camera. It is better and more reliable to use epoxy resin and tape. Finally, you can wrap everything with electrical tape or tape. If you also want to use a power supply and not install a battery, then keep in mind that voltage plays a big role here and you should not allow the voltage to fall below 3.5 or above 4 volts. In general, I advise you to use a battery and connect charger. Sent the article - AKA.

There are sometimes situations when you need to quickly organize video surveillance, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s open or secret. Preferably, of course, with sound. As a “noble” example, let’s assume that you need to monitor a child for a while while the parents urgently go somewhere ( the editors strongly recommend not to leave small children unattended). The simplest option— leave the computer on with a webcam and Skype running, configured to automatically receive calls while simultaneously turning on video. However, this method has a number of disadvantages. You will have to leave the computer turned on, and all your spying intentions (if any) will be revealed by the webcam, which is often equipped with an LED that glows during operation.

Somewhat more original solution— using an Android smartphone as a tracking device. It’s much easier to hide it in a suitable place, and it doesn’t give away its work in this mode. You can, in the end, just “accidentally” forget it on the table. Okay, let's leave the spy games and move on to implementation. We will need some kind of Android smartphone with a camera and Internet access. If you have another smartphone with Android, so much the better - it’s convenient to view video from the camera on it, but its presence is not necessary. To test the method, we used Huawei U8230 and Acer beTouch E130 devices, both with Android 2.1. On the smartphone that will monitor the situation, we install an absolutely amazing and, at the same time, free program IP Webcam. We launch the program and immediately customize it for ourselves. The higher the resolution and quality of shooting, the higher the load on the smartphone processor and the greater the volume of transmitted traffic, and therefore the delay in transmitting the video stream. The transmission of sound loads the device even more, and the delays in the audio stream are very large - up to several seconds. It is better to enable the options for hiding IP Webcam in the background and prohibiting it from going into standby mode.

Optionally, a login and password are set to access certain functions, and the port on which the built-in web server runs is changed.

After changing the settings, we start the broadcast. Video from the camera is displayed on the screen, and additional functions are available by pressing the “Actions” button. In particular, we are interested in the disguise mode, in which the IP Webcam mimics a web browser. In this mode, pressing the Home button switches the program to background mode, and the "Back" buttons stop the broadcast and open a real web browser.

Please note that after starting the program, the screen also displays the address and port of the server, which you need to access using a browser. Unfortunately, the address shown is not always correct, so it is better to find out the IP of the smartphone using, for example, the web interface of your router, if the device is connected to it via Wi-Fi. Or click on Wi-Fi settings in the device itself via the access point to which it is connected. Directly in the IP Webcam web interface there are links to many ways to view live images. Here, in general, everything is clear and there is nothing special to describe - for some items there are even built-in instructions.

If you have a second Android smartphone and are in the same local network, as our improvised spy camera, then for convenience you can put free version tinyCam Monitor utilities. In the application settings, you need to add a camera, specifying IP Webcam for Android as the type and specifying the IP address (or host name) and port that were specified earlier.

After setting up, the image from the camera of the second smartphone will become available in the “View” menu.

If you need to access the camera from the outside, then on the router you need to forward the appropriate port (for us it is 8080) and configure DDNS. And in the tinyCam Monitor settings or when working through a web browser, specify the DDNS name or external static IP address, if available. Another thing is that not all providers generally issue external IPs to their clients. The same applies to connecting to the Network via a 3G connection - mobile operators either they ask for significant (for our task) money, or they give out IP from their internal network. You can bypass this limitation by using a VPN connection to some external server. For example, in the Amazon cloud. Those who have installed such a server according to the instructions given are advised to refresh their memory by going through it again. We'll have to tweak the settings a little. First, in the /etc/ppp/chap-secrets file, add at least one more user indicating a permanent IP from the internal VPN network.

sudo nano /etc/ppp/chap-secrets

For clients, we then used the range 192.168.244.2-9.

and_username1 pptpd and_password1 192.168.244.4

Secondly, let’s edit the /etc/ppp/pptpd-options file:

sudo nano /etc/ppp/pptpd-options

Since the VPN client in Android 2.1, apparently, was built without MPPE support, you need to comment out (put a # at the beginning) the require-mppe-128 line.

Restart our pptpd:

sudo service pptpd restart

Now we set up the connection on the smartphone. To do this, go to settings wireless networks, to the VPN section, where we add a new PPTP connection. We indicate its name, register the DDNS name of the server in Amazon as the server (in our example it was amazec2.dyndns-ip.com) and disable encryption.

Save the settings and click on the newly created connection. We will be asked to enter a login and password (we set them a little higher when adding a new user). Then there are two options. Or we connect to the VPN server from another smartphone, tablet, computer, and so on. In this case, our camera is available at an address inside the VPN network (in our example it is 192.168.244.4) and on the same port, so in all places (in the same tinyCam, for example) do not forget to change the appropriate settings. The second option is to forward ports from the internal IP to the external interface. To do this, let's run a couple of commands:

sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -p tcp -i eth0 --dport 8080 -j DNAT --to-destination 192.168.244.4:8080
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -d 192.168.244.4 -p tcp --dport 8080 -j ACCEPT

Change 192.168.244.4 and 8080 to your IP address and port. For the future, we will add commands to the end of the /etc/rc.local file

sudo nano /etc/rc.local

Finally, in the AWS console, in the Security Groups section, we will open the TCP port we need for access.

Obviously, in this case, you can reach your smartphone from anywhere using the DDNS server name in Amazon and the specified port (in the example amazec2.dyndns-ip.com:8080). As a matter of fact, this is not the only way out of the situation with the lack of an external IP address. You can, for example, set up an SSH tunnel or somehow “get through” to the video broadcast. And IP Webcam is far from the only utility for organizing video surveillance. In general, if you are interested in this topic, then you have a wide field for your own research on this basis. So, good luck with your experiments and remember that spying for harm is not good!

Not everyone knows that a mobile phone camera can be used as a webcam on a computer. The reasons for this may be different, for example, the temporary unavailability of a regular webcam, or in general, simply a reluctance to buy it. Setting up a video broadcast from a mobile phone camera is easier than you think, and in this article we will tell you how to do it. What can this be used for? For anything, for example, for monitoring a child (by the way, read ours) or for communicating on Skype.

There are quite large number applications with which you can do this. We tested most of them and chose the simplest and most convenient - DroidCam. First, you need to install this application on your phone and computer. The phone application can be downloaded from official store Google Play. It is free, although it contains advertising, which does not interfere in any way. If you wish, you can purchase a version without advertising for 120 rubles. The program for your computer is available (checked for viruses) or on the official website.
When installing an application for your computer, Windows will ask you to confirm the installation of a new device - agree. This is our new virtual webcam:

Launch DroidCam on your phone, and your phone must be connected to home Wi-Fi network, you will see information about your new webcam:

You can immediately type this address in the browser on your computer and see the picture from your phone camera:

To use the webcam in Skype, open the DroidCam program on your computer and click the “Start” button:

After this, your mobile phone camera will be available for use in Skype and other programs:

If you have any questions, we will be happy to help you!