Webcam into Growl CCTV camera!

Got any old webcam's hanging around like I did? Need a project to entertain you for a few hours? Check out my guide to convert a standard webcam into a motion sensitive, growl/prowl notifying CCTV Camera.

Parts list:

Webcam

Always On server or PC

Some hardware for mounting camera etc

USB Extension

Various Free Software(detailed in the guide)

Prowl App (If you want push notifications)

DIY Cheap Plinth/Kickboard Lighting

At the hardware store again yesterday to buy some rubble bags, stumbled across the first of a few offers.



Set of IP44 LED deckboard lights for £15, thanks I will take 2!

It happens that I was looking for some plinth/kickboard lighting to put in the new kitchen I have just fitted, and these will do nicely at a fraction of the cost.

The Arduino Doorbell - Part 2 Software!

Firstly, here is the final Arduino code that I am using, its as best to perfect as I can get at present with only one real hiccup.

int ledPin = 13; // LED connected to digital pin 13

int potPin = 0; // white doorbell wire to analog pin 0

int val = 0;

long time = 0;

long debounce = 1000;

void setup() {

pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // sets the digital pin as output

Serial.begin(9600); // open serial port at 9600 baud

digitalWrite(14 + potPin, HIGH); // set pullup on the analog pin

// (analog 0 = digital 14, a1 = d15, etc)

}

void loop() {

val = analogRead(potPin);

if (val < 200) { // if the circuit is completed

// (for me, it generally drops from 1023 to ~ 15 when 'ringing')

if (millis()-time > debounce) {

Serial.println("ON");

digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // sets the LED on

delay(1000); // ...wait for 2 seconds

digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // and turns the LED off

time = millis();

}

}

}

I cannot take credit for this code please see this post http://rooreynolds.com/2008/05/14/hacking-the-doorbell/ for the original code, I have just modified aspects to suit my needs.

What this will do is when the button is pushed, it will light the test LED and send the "ON" text via the arduino to your pc's com port.

The Arduino, Doorbell project - Part 1 Hardware

The inspiration for this came whilst browsing the internet for general tech stuff, at which point I stubbled across a post on a postbox (the american type) that was hooked up to a microswitch and an arduino. The result of this was that the arduino could trigger notification events.

Whilst this was a nice idea and I appriciated the tech, its of no use to me as my post comes through the front door and dont really need to get to it, unless its to stop the dog eating it. However this did prompt some more research into this type of project which lead me to a number of posts around the internet which I will reference later, that involved hooking an Arduino up to a wireless doorbell.

Now this I have a use for!

Have decided it about time to properly blog my run-ins with hacking and technology etc.

I will endevour to update this blog with all off my ongoing projects and some thoughts and opinions on tech and gadgets.

Please feel free to comment and join in.....