Cheap webcam remote boat monitoring

[paulrogers]

I'm a couple of hours from my boat, so have set up a remote camera. Details for anyone looking for similar:

Total upfront cost £87

Camera: Baseus S1 lite £49.95 on amazon
4g Mifi: yosoo mifi £9.79 amazon
Micro sim for camera: 128gb £10 amazon
Clamp: £15.79 for 2 amazon
Data Sim: £2.50 amazon

Ongoing cost £2.50 a month

The camera is solar powered. There's another model that turns the solar panel to track the sun, but so far this one drops around 3% a day and recharges fully in about 2 hrs direct sun. So even in the winter I'd expect it to last at least a couple of weeks with constant cloud cover.

For the mifi, I tried using a powerbank plugged into a 10w portable solar panel. But all powerbanks I tried needed to have the button pressed to start charging. So when the mifi was fully charged, the powerbank switched off, and wouldn't resume without a button press.

Mifi lasts around 12 hours on its own battery.

So I ended up plugging it into the 12v house battery which has a 10w solar panel trickle charging it. Its been running for 3 weeks with no drop in voltage.

The mifi has a Lebara sim, £2.50 for 5gb data a month - supposed to be for 3 months then up to £5, but can just buy another sim and start the 3 months again if needed.

In 3 weeks I've used 1gb, but depends on how often you want to check the boat, and how the motion detection is setup.

Obviously easy for anyone to nick the camera unless you mount it high up, and you'd loose any stored video unless you download onto your phone beforehand.

One issue so far - mifi lost mobile signal and didn't resume until I was on the boat and reset it. That was in Newhaven, its on Vodafone, so may have just been poor reception.


Camera - Amazon.co.uk
4g mifi - Amazon.co.uk
Micro sim - Amazon.co.uk
Clamp - Amazon.co.uk
Data only Sim - Amazon.co.uk

 

[NormanS]

My boat is three hours away, but after many years, I just accept the situation. If you see something happening to your boat, and it's a couple of hours away, by the time you get there, it will have happened. But, if it helps you, then fair enough.

 

[wonkywinch]

I find Lebara sims cheaper through Martin Lewis' Moneysavingexpert site.

Currently have two running, one for the boat 4G router, the other in my Android tablet. £1 a month for 50gb for 9 months, monthly contract so just replace when the deal is up. I just checked, they currently don't have an offer this cheap but do keep an eye out.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

 

[Blueboatman]

Interesting. Thanks for the detailed set up.

And you can put in a ‘ Please could you have a look’ phonecall if something doesn’t look right if it’s a marina berth or moored near a pal.


On the mk 2 version I might think to change the cross sawn wood mount to a piece of plywood and maybe add a safety lanyard direct between camera and pushpit rail, as I think I can see the wood grain already splitting open in line with the screws.

 

[paulrogers]

I find Lebara sims cheaper through Martin Lewis' Moneysavingexpert site.

Currently have two running, one for the boat 4G router, the other in my Android tablet. £1 a month for 50gb for 9 months, monthly contract so just replace when the deal is up. I just checked, they currently don't have an offer this cheap but do keep an eye out.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

View attachment 200150

Wow, great deal, will look out and probably get one for my tablet as well.

 

[paulrogers]

Interesting. Thanks for the detailed set up.

And you can put in a ‘ Please could you have a look’ phonecall if something doesn’t look right if it’s a marina berth or moored near a pal.


On the mk 2 version I might think to change the cross sawn wood mount to a piece of plywood and maybe add a safety lanyard direct between camera and pushpit rail, as I think I can see the wood grain already splitting open in line with the screws.

Good idea, will do, thanks.

 

[Moodysailor]

On our boat we went for a 4G router, this is good as it's the boat WiFi network when onboard and has better range. Cost was £100, but that was in 2021 so is well paid for itself now. We use SMARTY unlimited data sim at £20/month but they do come cheaper as you say.
For cameras we went with Tapo as we use those at home and it's all on the same app. We also have the temp & humidity sensor and door sensor on the hatch. All power off the boat house battery, which has solar for charge.
A very similar setup to the OP, it's not expensive to do and works great as peace of mind.