Turn Old Samsung Duos Into a Simple Monitoring System

There are many reasons why we want CCTV or monitoring system put up in our home, office or in the streets. The number one reason probably is to remotely observe and deter pending danger that may threaten our security. However, putting one is a bit sore in the pocket, because price and installation cost is high. If you can't afford one but have a spare android phone in the closet being eaten by mold because you have already bought a new one, why not use the old one as camera to make simple monitoring system.

Today I will show you how you can set up simple monitoring system using your spare android phone. For the demo I will be using my old Samsung Duos. The advantage of this setup is you can monitor your home even your away. It makes you more flexible because you are no longer limited to CCTV cables which can only extend to a few meters away. The only con is that you need internet or mobile data for this to work.

Resources:

1. Spare Android Phone (I will be using my old Samsung Duos)
2. Favorite Android Phone/Laptop/Desktop
3. PERCH app installed on both phone

Step 1: App Installation

Go to google play store and install PERCH app to both phone.  PERCH is in the beta stage but already earning popularity.

Step 2: Registering

Opening PERCH for the first time will ask you to register or make a user account. Just enter a valid email and create your password. No need for email confirmation.

Step 3: Setting up PERCH Using the Spare Android Phone

On the spare android phone open perch and tap menu button (upper left corner) then click Set Up Camera, camera basic settings will pop-up. Type a name of the area you want to cover. Turn audio recording by tapping ON button then click Finish. In the next window that will pop-up you will see that your camera is already turn on indicating it is ready for recording, just tap the Play button and camera will now start recording.

Step 4: Accessing Camera Using Other Phone

There two ways you can access the camera feed. One is using the web browser just go to www.getperch.com and login using your user account information you have created previously. Two is by using perch app.

Once the installed camera start recording it is now time for us to access and monitor what is happening remotely. So open perch and login using our user credentials and voila! you are now seeing the live feed of the installed camera.

Step 5: Accessing Camera Using Web Browsers

Go to www.getperch.com and login. Since perch is still in beta stage you cannot use your phone web browser to login. Use chrome or firefox in your laptop or desktop to sign in.

In here, you will see your advance settings. Here you can customize zone, such as, adding a custom zone and getting notification about the activity for this camera. To add a custom zone just click Add  a Costum Zone (green banner). Then type the name of the zone in the Zone Name entry to give it identity. For alerts you can choose via phone or email or both just click Action to show dropdown options. Then click Save to save your setting.

Adding zone is activating the camera motion sensor. So when movement is detected in the camera covered area it will give you alerts. This is advisable especially when you are not in active monitoring.

Tips: Remember you are not limited to only one camera. If you have few spare phones you can use it to cover more areas. Just don't forget to give each camera a name to identify the location.


So that it guys. Hope I give you idea. Till my next post.