Mini-guide: turn your old phone into a permanent video call pet cam

Mas tipo listen up!! Old phone = free pet cam, no Vultr subscription needed!!

Step 1: grab that cracked samsung from drawer
Step 2: install IP Webcam app (free!!)
Step 3: connect to wifi, note the IP
Step 4: open browser on main phone, tipo boom, live feed!!

Extra: old phone charger + gorilla tape = wall mount!! Perfeito!!

Mas warning: default stream has NO PASSWORD!! Anyone on network sees!!

Fix: app settings login/password make strong!!

Port forward? Tipo why!! Use VPN to home network instead!! Mais seguro!!

Automation bonus: Tasker app = motion detect telegram alert!!

Anyway thats it!!

OP forgets: exposing camera to internet needs static IP or DDNS. DDNS free tier disappearing. IPv4 lease prices at Hostinger: $3/month now, was $1.50 last year. /24 will cost you a kidney.

VPN back to home router safer. But home upload bandwidth? Contabo 100mbit symmetric still €80 in most areas. Prices only go up.

Good guide, OP. YMMV on the IP Webcam app though — I've had better luck with tinyCam Monitor on the viewing end, IMO. More stable reconnects after network hiccups.

For the password thing: take it with a grain of salt, but I'd also check if your router can isolate IoT devices to a separate VLAN. Most cheap routers can't, but if yours does, it's worth the extra setup. Prevents the camera from talking to your NAS or laptop if it gets compromised.

Motion alerts through Telegram are solid. Home Assistant has a similar integration if you want to self-host the automation side instead of Tasker.

Port forwarding bad. VPN good. Server good. Price bad. Network okay.

Tasker battery drain. Perkele. Old phone battery already swollen. Use wall power. Disable screen. App still run.

Motion detect false positive. Cat moves. 200 alerts. Perkele.