Near Intersection of I-35 & I-90 Southern Mn. | I've got two cameras myself. They have decent range even when used in the direct Access Point mode. I got mine from Larsen Lights which has a good reputation here. Larsen recommended using an App called CamHi. There are many apps but I've been happy enough with the IOS version of CamHi for my iPhone and iPad and the Android version for my cheap Wal-Mart tablet. Pictures can be saved etc. although I rarely do that.
I have one camera on the rear of my combine that uses the combine for power but transmits wirelessly to my phone or tablet. Surprisingly, the video gets through all the sheet metal between me in the cab and the camera. Although the iPhone works fine for this, I prefer using the $60 tablet I got from Wal-Mart. That way the camera and phone are completely separate. The tablet has a somewhat larger screen which is sometimes desirable. The phone is available to talk and other purposes as necessary without disturbing the camera setup.
I have another camera that I mounted on a box that has magnets on it to slap on anything metal. I have a 110VAC to 12VDC adapter inside the box so it can run off of 110VAC around my bins. I've thought about running it off of a Milwaukee battery but haven't gotten to that yet.
My cameras could use the internet as the connecting medium but since I don't have internet access in the places I use the cameras, I use the direct approach which is sometimes referred to as an Access Point. When I'm in range and the camera I wish to use is the closest Wi-Fi type device, the phone or tablet will make that choice. If I'm in range of multiple devices, I may have to manually choose the device I wish to use in the phone or tablet settings.
Since I use an Access Point with different Apps to work with my shop door opener, shed door opener, updates to my Headsight 2 corn head feeler system and other things, I may have those choices also at times. This means I may need to go to settings and force or confirm a connection to the device (Combine camera, 110VAC Camera, Teds Shop, Old Shed etc.) that I wish to communicate with. I then launch the appropriate app and proceed.
I use ESP32 Microcontroller Development boards and relays etc. to operate my Shop door opener, lights or about anything one can think of. The ESP32 boards have the ability to communicate with other devices through an Access Point, Internet connection or Bluetooth. I use a website called RemoteXY to create the code for the ESP32 which contains the screen layout for the phone or tablet and the communication protocol to allow them to communicate with each other.
I like being able to use the phone as a door opener remote since I usually have the phone or tablet with me and charged. Being able to create the screen myself allows me to make it look the way I desire. Note the friendly reminder I have included for myself to "Buy More Beer". You won't see that on any commercial units. The door opener and lights can still be operated manually with switches by the door.
Below are some screen shots of the phone screens I created for my door openers. The ESP32 is mounted in the box on the outside of the building. Wires run through a hole into the building where they connect to the 3 button door openers and light relay.
These homemade phone apps really work very well. They are actually useful and a great source of satisfaction although I don't understand all of how they work. I'm thinking through some other applications that might be useful to work on over Winter. Any ideas?
Edited by tedbear 11/29/2024 12:08
 (Shed 30 (full).jpg)
 (Shop 30 (full).jpg)
 (Shed Box 75 (full).jpg)
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 Shed 30 (full).jpg (20KB - 6 downloads)
Shop 30 (full).jpg (18KB - 4 downloads)
Shed Box 75 (full).jpg (99KB - 2 downloads)
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Wireless camera
