I too have a Foscam fi8918w in my coop. I put some convenience items in my coop because I am a lazy butt and like to sleep in the AM. So I have a programmable pop door that opens/closes automatically. It is just wonderful to watch them come in at night from the camera and I don't have to go out there in the weather unless one gets left outside. Then I go round her up and get her to bed. Otherwise, the camera does the work for me. Also, I only have 5 chickens and a duck. And I don't want to make multiple trips out there to get to gather eggs. I can check on them through the AM and early afternoon and see no one is nesting before I go out. That way I gather once a day. And of course, I check on them all the time - esp. during the night. I can control the camera to look all around the coop and up to the ceiling --- checking for any invaders. It's pretty well constructed coop but ya never know.
The cost of a Foscam wireless is $99. They have more expensive models but that one will do - color, night vision and controllable from your computer. There is an app for your IPhone too. The range is around 300 ft. - buildings and trees can interfere with that range. We bought a whopper home router in hopes that router would pick up the slack because our coop was JUST out of range. And I mean just.... but just is just enough not to work. So our solution was a little more expensive than the $99. We opted for an "AyrMesh Hub" (ayrmesh.com). It takes the Internet signal and sends it out .5 mile. We have 6 acres. And we justified this (frivolously, I know) because we so enjoy watching the wildlife - especially in the winter - out in what I call our "lower 48" - the land out of our vision. We have a pond that can't be seen from the house and it attracts wildlife. So we also bought another outdoor Foscam camera to install further out in the acreage. Also, we plan to add a couple more cameras - simply for our viewing enjoyment. The AyrMesh Hub cost $300. You have to want coverage for a half mile to pay that much. If you had additional buildings on your property, this would be beneficial. I suppose. My true farmer friends think I'm nuts. The people at AyrMesh are really helpful and will answer your questions.
Installing the camera is simple. Instructions are clear. So with the AyrMesh Hub too. The only hitch with the Hub is that it is only viewable within my own personal intranet broadcast range. Other words, I can't get it over the Internet down the road. Only on the property. AyrMesh is working on this issue and they will be offering a router that will fix that. Can the router replace your existing router or do you use 2 routers? I don't know the answer. But when the router is available, I will be ordering 1. I want my birds on the Internet. If you order an AyrMesh - tell them Sally Blessing sent you..... no there is no kick back coming my way. Just really nice people and I've come to know them.
So.... $99 camera + $300 hub.... for 5 chickens and a duck --- who's the nut here?? But at least the tech set up didn't cost more than the coop! The coop has a chandelier in it.... (did I mention I'm nuts?)
Here are my birds, from my ever watchful 'eye' - all snuggled and sleeping nicely.....
The cost of a Foscam wireless is $99. They have more expensive models but that one will do - color, night vision and controllable from your computer. There is an app for your IPhone too. The range is around 300 ft. - buildings and trees can interfere with that range. We bought a whopper home router in hopes that router would pick up the slack because our coop was JUST out of range. And I mean just.... but just is just enough not to work. So our solution was a little more expensive than the $99. We opted for an "AyrMesh Hub" (ayrmesh.com). It takes the Internet signal and sends it out .5 mile. We have 6 acres. And we justified this (frivolously, I know) because we so enjoy watching the wildlife - especially in the winter - out in what I call our "lower 48" - the land out of our vision. We have a pond that can't be seen from the house and it attracts wildlife. So we also bought another outdoor Foscam camera to install further out in the acreage. Also, we plan to add a couple more cameras - simply for our viewing enjoyment. The AyrMesh Hub cost $300. You have to want coverage for a half mile to pay that much. If you had additional buildings on your property, this would be beneficial. I suppose. My true farmer friends think I'm nuts. The people at AyrMesh are really helpful and will answer your questions.
Installing the camera is simple. Instructions are clear. So with the AyrMesh Hub too. The only hitch with the Hub is that it is only viewable within my own personal intranet broadcast range. Other words, I can't get it over the Internet down the road. Only on the property. AyrMesh is working on this issue and they will be offering a router that will fix that. Can the router replace your existing router or do you use 2 routers? I don't know the answer. But when the router is available, I will be ordering 1. I want my birds on the Internet. If you order an AyrMesh - tell them Sally Blessing sent you..... no there is no kick back coming my way. Just really nice people and I've come to know them.
So.... $99 camera + $300 hub.... for 5 chickens and a duck --- who's the nut here?? But at least the tech set up didn't cost more than the coop! The coop has a chandelier in it.... (did I mention I'm nuts?)
Here are my birds, from my ever watchful 'eye' - all snuggled and sleeping nicely.....
