Making your own wireless camera for home surveillance is not difficult. It is only a matter of knowing how the camera connects to a wireless router and then setting up multiple routers to feed a wireless signal back to the computer. After you have the routers communicating, you can set up a wireless camera or a network anywhere within the reach of the signal.
Instructions
1. Find a camera that would normally connect to your computer or modem using either an Ethernet cable or USB cable. You won't need a long cable, only about 1 foot long at most.
2. Purchase two wireless routers. You can find these either online or at one of the larger retailers in your community. You will need two routers to carry the signal from your computer to the camera. These should be the same brand so that they can interact without trouble. One router will be based at your computer, while the other will be based where the camera is located.
3. Set up your home network by connecting the router to the modem for your computer and installing the software. This should take only about 30 minutes at most, if you follow the directions. After your computer recognizes the wireless signal, you can add onto the network anywhere within reach of the signal.
4. Mount the camera where you want it, following the manufacturer's instructions. If you are mounting it outside, drill a hole in the wall to allow the cable to pass through to the inside of the house. You will be connecting the camera to the second router, which must be inside the house to avoid weather damage.
5. Mount the second router near where the camera cable enters the house or will be. Preferable locations would be in high corners or near windows for added protection and reception while providing the minimum amount of detection by outsiders.
6. Connect the camera cable to the second router. For most routers this will be either a USB or Ethernet cable. Ethernet connections look like what you would use to plug a land line phone into a phone jack. The router will have this same type of connection if it doesn't have a USB slot.
7. Connect the power cord provided to each device. Then plug the cord into a nearby electrical outlet. The camera and the routers will all run off of electrical current to operate. Then turn the camera and the router on to make sure you have power to both.
8. Configure whatever video software on your computer you have to pick up wireless signals. Most software, such as Microsoft Media Player or Real Player, will have a "wizard" or guide to help you do this. If you get stuck, go to the website for your software for further help.
9. Using the video software, locate the item you want to view. Most often this will be labeled "other devices" or "other gadget" or something similar. Click on this, and you should be able to connect to your camera using the wireless routers. The signal from the computer should reach the second router, which will connect to the camera through the camera's cable.
Tags: your computer, second router, camera cable, anywhere within, anywhere within reach