New Internet Camera alarm systems - comments?

[DrewCrewOf2]

I have a 40' Safari and a precious little Bichon, as well as TV's etc. I have been looking at new security cameras that send you emails if the system is triggered. Some of the system send you an email snap upon movement and record 20 seconds which you can dial into from your Smart phone to review. Before I dig into one of these and make some expensive mistakes. anyone else had any experience?

Here is what I am thinking... I can get a camera and hook it up to my laptop in the RV, the laptop is tethered to my cellphone there so I can use (my wife's) cellphone (while we are away) to browse to the laptop and play real time or replay stills and short triggered snaps to keep track of the rig and dog. For those of you not too current on today's technology, this is actually cheap and easy to do... if you are a little computer aware.

Now I have just summarize the "plan" here but again, anyone done anything similar or have a complete system that isn't over $1000 that does similar? Thanks in advance - Dennis 1/2 of the "DrewCrewOf2"

[FDNYdave]

You're aware you will need internet access where you are stored and even then all you are going to get is a nice picture of someone stealing your laptop

[DrewCrewOf2]

Yeah, I am worried about that too, but "tethering" the laptop to my cellphone would me internet access anywhere I have cellphone coverage. The new little security cameras detect movement and immediately email you a snap... of the guy stealing your $1,200 Bichon and $350 laptop and $500 low power LED backlit Sony TV. Some of the new cameras act like a video "server" and can record to themselves on one of those little camera memory cards (like 8 gigabyte) of video. If you hide the camera (like YES!) you have a complete recording of what the thieves did. Better than nothing I guess. Some of these units cost from $100 - $400 depending if they will do remote pan and tilt from your Droid.

Security is one thing, checking up on the dog to see if she is too hot or barking is another. Bichons are notoriously good watchdogs and will light up ferociously if an intruder tried to gain entry. Some of the new cameras have sound alerts too... so you could start the secret recording when the little dog starts to bark. Your email would go off on your smart phone (if you were at dinner) and you could access the noise and see if you should run out of the Casino(?) to the RV and try an do a rescue. Also if the rv was hot and you left the air on for the dog and it quit another alarm could sense this and have you go out and take care of it. These kinds of sensors are already out there... I am wondering if there is a thread on this kind of stuff already here on iRV2, where I could add my experience and discoveries for others to take advantage of... and ideas?

Additionally I am a programmer and might want to write an app for the Driod to customize features for us RV'ers.