Newbie.. How to control my foscam(s) in ISY

[Kemo]

Would like some direction on what I would need to control the foscam pan/tilt from within ISY.  Is a nodeserver needed?   If so which one?  

[apostolakisl]

55 minutes ago, Kemo said:

Would like some direction on what I would need to control the foscam pan/tilt from within ISY.  Is a nodeserver needed?   If so which one?  

A node server would work, but hasn't been written.  Anyone brave enough to write that node server would be getting a barrage of requests for supporting more and more camera models so I'm not sure it will happen. 

There are two things that would work.  

1) Use network resources to do the various things with your camera.  Foscam publishes their API so you can look up all the commands and create a network resource for each command you want.

2) Purchase Blue Iris software, install on a 24/7 pc, and configure it to your cameras.  Blue Iris supports pretty much every camera ever made.  Then install the node server for Blue Iris.  That node server only knows one set of commands, the ones that tell Blue Iris what to do.  Blue Iris then translates and repeats the command to the cameras.  Blue Iris can be configured to monitor the cameras and report various camera states such as motion.  The node server publishes these things to ISY so ISY can act upon motion.  This works very well.

[Kemo]

Thank you apostolakisl..  Still learning to navigate isy.   How do I use network resources?  Where. would you find a blue Irus node server?

[Jimbo.Automates]

There is a camera nodeserver that supports most foscam and amcreat cameras, and I've used network resources as well before I wrote the camera nodeserver which I still use at my lake house, but now have blue Iris at home and have started using that as well.

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[apostolakisl]

2 hours ago, Kemo said:

Thank you apostolakisl..  Still learning to navigate isy.   How do I use network resources?  Where. would you find a blue Irus node server?

I'm gathering you don't have polyglot setup?  You need to get a RPi, install polyglot on it, then you can download any number of node servers from the menu in polyglot.  There is a whole section of the forum dedicated to polyglot.

Network resources comes with subscribing to UDI's portal.  You will want to get the portal if you intend on accessing your ISY from outside of your LAN.  It allows access without opening ports.  It also allows you to configure your ISY with Alexa, Google Home/Nest, and IFTTT

[oberkc]

Also, be aware that there is a new device coming at some point.  It is called the "Polisy".  I understand it would be a turnkey device that would be in place of the RPi computer, already loaded with the necessary software.

I believe the camera node server and blue iris are two different things.  Blue iris is separate software one runs on their computer to monitor (among other things) security camera video.

[Bumbershoot]

FWIW, here's a screenshot from the Camera nodeserver.  I believe the only control you'll have is to send your camera to preset positions (I don't use that feature, so I can't report on how well it works).

 

[Kemo]

I have subscribed to UDI's portal just not familiar on how to begin to configure.

[Kemo]

I would like to be able to control the camera from the ISY similar using Insteon interface.  Don't know if that is possible.

[Bumbershoot]

11 minutes ago, Kemo said:

I have subscribed to UDI's portal just not familiar on how to begin to configure.

The portal has nothing really to do with this.  You'll need to run Polyglot on a secondary device, such as a Raspberry Pi, and you'll need to be running the current 5.x.x ISY firmware.

[Bumbershoot]

8 minutes ago, Kemo said:

I would like to be able to control the camera from the ISY similar using Insteon interface.  Don't know if that is possible.

I don't think it is.  You can control Foscam cameras using MobiLinc, however.  For that you'll need a portal or use port forwarding through your firewall.  See the MobiLinc website or visit the MobiLinc forum on this website for more information.

[oberkc]

It may also help to be very specific on your use case here.  While it may be possible to “control” (in some way) the camera with ISY, you wont be viewing the video while doing so.  If your desire is to be watching video while sending PTZ commands, I am not convinced that this is the best solution.

[DennisC]

23 hours ago, Bumbershoot said:

FWIW, here's a screenshot from the Camera nodeserver.  I believe the only control you'll have is to send your camera to preset positions (I don't use that feature, so I can't report on how well it works).

 

This nodeserver works fine moving a Foscam camera to a preset position. Movement can be controlled by an ISY program. I currently run a camera based on a random time setting. The only requirement is in naming the preset when it is created in the camera. The naming convention must be a number.

[apostolakisl]

On 12/10/2019 at 7:35 AM, Bumbershoot said:

The portal has nothing really to do with this.  You'll need to run Polyglot on a secondary device, such as a Raspberry Pi, and you'll need to be running the current 5.x.x ISY firmware.

The portal is needed if he is going to use network resources instead of doing polyglot.  I'm not sure they even sell the network resource module separately anymore.  Plus, the portal has so many other valuable uses.

And I'm glad to see that there is a foscam node server.  My mistake in not knowing it existed.  Just so long as it keeps getting updated with the new camera API's.  Trouble with controlling cameras, is there are so so so many of them.  If you look at the drop down lists in Blue Iris, there are like thousands of them.  Unless you are making money doing this, it would be impossible to keep track of all the API's.  

But I would still suggest spending the $50 on Blue Iris (or less I think for a camera limited version).  It is a very complete program.  Only issue is it requires 24/7 pc.

EDIT:  Just to be clear, using network resources would be a bit more complex and you won't get any feedback from the camera.  Network resources lets you send network commands, but it doesn't allow for responses.  Also, you can only trigger a network resource from a program.  The camera won't show up as a device like it does in the screen shot above (when using polyglot/nodeserver).

[simplextech]

2 minutes ago, apostolakisl said:

The portal is needed if he is going to use network resources instead of doing polyglot.  I'm not sure they even sell the network resource module separately anymore.

I think you can still buy the network module by itself.  It really would be odd not to considering not everyone uses the ISY Portal but still use network resources.

[lilyoyo1]

I do both. While I always plan on using the portal, should something happen or change, I'll still have the network module available

[Kemo]

I'm getting into adding devices and simple programming via the ISY.  The cameras are a sticking point. In ISY you need a facet to control the position (Network Resources, Node Server) or Mobilinc $$$ to enjoy the features of automation via the phone... I'm not sure if Mobilinc X gives you full camera control.

I appreciate the responses as I learn these systems...  My ISY is working flawlessly so far.

[Kemo]

Who here uses Mobilinc or Agave?

 

[oberkc]

I use mobilinc, as do many, along with the many who seem to use agave.  

I do NOT use mobilinc to view or control cameras.  I use IPCamviewer.  There is no subscription.  Unfortunately, it seems many of the cameras are moving to cloud-based, which can introduce difficulties with using a generic camera app.  This can limit your choices of cameras, but I have learned to work around it.

I have never felt the need to have cameras and home automation on a single app.

[apostolakisl]

I use Agave.  It doesn't support cameras.  At this point, it also isn't supporting nodes from Polyglot.  The maker of Agave keeps talking like he is going to do a big over-haul, but nothing has happened in about a year.  Starting to get disappointed about my $100 purchase.  

Trouble with viewing IP cameras outside of your LAN is that you either have to 

1) Open ports - security risk

2) Use VPN - works great, but you have to know what you are doing and have a VPN router.

3) Use a portal.  But portals are tough because IP cameras are very data intensive and the portal would have a large load to deal with.  I guess some camera manufacturers are doing that now.  But also, you are letting the portal people have access to all of your cameras.

The nice thing with Blue Iris is you can view all your cameras remotely through their browser based viewer.  You can control them, watch them live, and view recorded footage.  But even then, you need to open a port or do vpn  I would trust a port to Blue Iris a lot more than some Chinese camera however.  But I don't open ports anyway, I use a vpn connection.

I, perhaps obviously, recommend doing it my way.  VPN router, VPN client on my phone/remote pc, Blue Iris.  It is the most secure and does not rely on any 3rd party.  Everyone could go out of business and I could keep on functioning just the same.

[Kemo]

To the thought of having separation, cameras/HA.  I have just retired my Insteon hub after installing the ISY.  I could bring it back just for the cameras.  The app worked decent for camera control.

[TrojanHorse]

To the thought of having separation, cameras/HA.  I have just retired my Insteon hub after installing the ISY.  I could bring it back just for the cameras.  The app worked decent for camera control.

 

That’s not recommended to have both the hub and ISY running.

 

Can you use the Foscam app?

 

I use MobiLinc with the cameras (and also other apps for my cameras - mainly the app for my NVR). One nice thing about MobiLinc cameras is you can associate a button on the app (e.g. a program scene or device) and you see it on the screen with the camera. A use case for me is if I want to control my garage door I can see it before and during an open or close operation.

 

 

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[oberkc]

4 hours ago, Kemo said:

I could bring it back just for the cameras.

Does the hub even need to be there for one to access the cameras?  I would bet that you could use the insteon app without the hub being present if all you cared about was cameras.

 

[TrojanHorse]

What cameras are you using? I saw reference to Foscam but closer read now I don’t see the OP saying he used Foscam.

Anyway, I don’t believe there were any cameras sold that require the hub.


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[Kemo]

16 minutes ago, TrojanHorse said:

What cameras are you using? I saw reference to Foscam but closer read now I don’t see the OP saying he used Foscam.

Anyway, I don’t believe there were any cameras sold that require the hub.


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55 minutes ago, oberkc said:

Does the hub even need to be there for one to access the cameras?  I would bet that you could use the insteon app without the hub being present if all you cared about was cameras.

 

The hub needs to be online and connect when using the app.