Spy web cam to main computer

NowRetired

I have a sonic cat scarer but I don't know if it is scaring the cats or not, so I want to have a web cam looking into my garden to tell me when a cat is there and if it is getting scared away.


I have an old laptop that I never use so I was thinking of leaving it turned on (connected to the mains) with a web cam connected to it, pointing out my shed window, with a view of my garden.


The laptop has wireless networking and the OS is Windows XP.


My main computer runs Windows 8.


No people will be viewed, unless they climb over my 6 foot fence.


That is how the cat enters my garden.


The idea is to contact my main computer from the laptop and show me what is happening, or if I am not at home, to record what happens if a cat enters my garden.


What sort of software, preferably free, would I need?


I would imagine some motion tracking software and how would I set it all up?

forgotmyname

If you have wireless internet then simple. Set them to the same network group and share the folder/whereever your saving the video files to.

Or use one of the many video chat programs to view live direct feed.

Without motion detection etc your going to be watching hundreds of hours of video to spt a cat. Surely you know if it works no cat poo.

sharpy2010

NowRetired wrote: »

I have a sonic cat scarer but I don't know if it is scaring the cats or not, so I want to have a web cam looking into my garden to tell me when a cat is there and if it is getting scared away.


I have an old laptop that I never use so I was thinking of leaving it turned on (connected to the mains) with a web cam connected to it, pointing out my shed window, with a view of my garden.


The laptop has wireless networking and the OS is Windows XP.


My main computer runs Windows 8.


No people will be viewed, unless they climb over my 6 foot fence.


That is how the cat enters my garden.


The idea is to contact my main computer from the laptop and show me what is happening, or if I am not at home, to record what happens if a cat enters my garden.


What sort of software, preferably free, would I need?


I would imagine some motion tracking software and how would I set it all up?

If this
http://www.supremesolutionsuk.co.uk/index.htm
is the sort of thing you need, then all you need is Windows Media Encoder 7, which is free to download. Connect your webcam to your computer, click broadcast, and away you go.