Question Ceiling camera

kiriwawa

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Hi All,

Not sure this is the right section of the forum, so please apologies if not.

I'm trying to source a nanny camera to be installed on the ceiling of my kid's room.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? So I thought, but I don't seem to be able to find a single product anywhere as follows:

  • hidden HD camera (like a smoke detector)
  • WiFi
  • supports night vision
  • streams a live feed to the internet (or at least the intranet) in a simple URL format
  • can save files directly to to a Cloud of my choice (GDrive, Dropbox, S3, etc)
  • does only record when movement is sensed in "daily summaries" (i.e. one video file of whatever format where all action for the day is saved) OR one folder per day with all the clips
  • [OPTIONAL] supports 802.11ac 5GHZ WiFi
  • [OPTIONAL] supports Apple HomeKit
If budget was no concern, am I asking too much from it or is my ignorance preventing to complete a straight-forward purchase?

Thanks!
 
I think you will struggle to meet all this criteria in one device that would be within a reasonable budget. Firstly, you have a conflict. Namely “hidden” and “night vision”. Night vision capable cameras often use visible ir leds. Couple the above with the required image quality and field of view in the room, I cannot think of a device in the consumer market. No doubt there is some very expensive, specialist device but that will be far out of budget. Talking of budget?

What is the use case? Are you trying to catch a particular covert event or are you just looking for something discreet? Have you considered hiding a more readily available device in plain sight?
 
First off, many thanks Markr123!
Firstly, you have a conflict. Namely “hidden” and “night vision”. Night vision capable cameras often use visible ir leds.
True, but there are some relatively cheap options on the market: http://amzn.com/B07FGXZNTQ
This particular model for example, doesn't seem to match my two of my must-haves ("streams a live feed to the internet (or at least the intranet) in a simple URL format" and "can save files directly to to a Cloud of my choice". Unless you know a way to use the equipment without proprietary software?

What is the use case? Are you trying to catch a particular covert event or are you just looking for something discreet?
Quite simply, I'd like a fixed nanny cam which cannot be easily identified.

Have you considered hiding a more readily available device in plain sight?
Not really, but open to options. What did you have in mind?
 
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A few questions - why dont you want it identified ?
If it is used for monitoring third parties - eg employees or similar such as nannies, au-pairs, carers, nurses etc then, by law, you have to let anyone in their work environment know that they are being recorded and it must be posted clearly on the outside of your premises. Secondly in a work environment you cannot record audio, except in very specific circumstances.
Also you cannot target individuals with CCTV equipment under the above circumstances, so motion activated cameras would not be allowed as they would be looking to record specific people within a defined environment and would not always show the full context of any recording that you made
You will also need to keep recordings, in a secure manner, with controlled access, for a minimum of 6 months and register with the Information Comissioners Office.

There is equipment out there that will meet many of your criteria but it is specialist and very expensive and its not designed to support things like Homekit. I hope that this helps
 
Thank you so much for taking the time, mushii, it is very helpful indeed!
A few questions - why dont you want it identified ? If it is used for monitoring third parties - eg employees or similar such as nannies, au-pairs, carers, nurses etc then, by law, you have to let anyone in their work environment know that they are being recorded and it must be posted clearly on the outside of your premises.
I would positively let them know, but I wouldn't let anybody else know, hence the "hidden" requirement.
Secondly in a work environment you cannot record audio, except in very specific circumstances.
I'm not in the US, so I can record audio within my private property and it's perfectly legal.
Also you cannot target individuals with CCTV equipment under the above circumstances, so motion activated cameras would not be allowed as they would be looking to record specific people within a defined environment and would not always show the full context of any recording that you made
That's somewhat debatable, as "motion activated" doesn't mean it's "tracking" anybody in particular. But I do get you point and will give some further thoughts.
There is equipment out there that will meet many of your criteria but it is specialist and very expensive and its not designed to support things like Homekit.
So if money was no object (which it is, but just sayin' to have a starting point), do you know of any equipment like this http://amzn.com/B07FGXZNTQ which allows cloud recording?
 
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My advice is for the UK not the US. You have to be careful here. As soon as you bring in a third party to look after another person in your home, this then becomes their place of work and you have certain obligations and duties as an employer. You cannot record audio in your property if it is classed as somebody's place of work unless you have their consent in writing.

If you are registering with the ICO then you MUST place clearly visible signs on the outside of your premises that CCTV recording is taking place. This is not optional.

Covert recording of employees or people working in your premises on your behalf is potentially a breach of (some or all) Data Protection, Employment and Human Rights Laws. i would suggest that if this is the case you take some very carefully advised Legal Advice as you are opening yourself up to all sorts of Legal Challenges.
 
Sorry curiosity has got the better of me. Who are you trying to catch?

You've said you intend to tell the nanny - it's your kids room so who do you think has access to your kids room who isn't a family member, hired help or your own children?

This whole covert requirement seems a little "odd" to me if I'm honest and begs the question who you're letting access your childrens room that you're worried enough about to try and covertly eavesdrop on them. My knee jerk reaction would be if you have enough doubt about someone who has access to your children to the point you feel the need to do covert surveillance on them they wouldn't be within 100 feet of my son let alone with unhindered or unaccompanied access to their room.

G
 

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