Any REAL wireless webcams, that can be carried around and stream live in house?

Question

The short version:

Can anyone recommend a webcam that I can carry around the house - totally unwired? I guess it should be wifi, battery-charged, and if there are both mic and speakers it would be great. If it has fisheye lens it would be totally perfect. :)

Long version:

Ok, this might sound really silly. But a family member is totally scared of being alone, I can't even walk into the other room when I'm there, then she will start calling. So I was thinking of mounting my GoPro on a helmet and let her see me on a monitor in her room. However there is a delay with the GoPro camera (Silver 3+), which ruins the whole idea.

So my question is if there is a real wireless camera that I somehow can mount to a helmet, and stream via wifi to a computer and on to the monitor/TV via hdmi.

I have seen Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam, but it's a few years old, there gotta be newer and cheaper cameras? :-)

ANY ideas will help me, thanks! <3

Answer 1

There are quite a few options available to you, depending on how much comfort you want to have vs. how much money you want to spend.

1. There are a few do-it-yourself solutions as suggested by @filo

You can use a Raspberry Pi + Camera + USB Battery pack to setup something, but it requires some effort and it's not going to be the most easy-to-use option.

2. There are plenty of USB WiFi cameras available that would be suitable.

Same as with the former option, just add a large battery pack and you have a mobile solution. (Nest Cam / Dropcam Example: http://www.instructables.com/id/Dropcam-Unplugged/) The clear advantage is less trouble setting it all up, but it's still not the most user-friendly, if you really want to carry it around.

3. Build-in battery WiFi Cameras:

• Logitech Circle http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/circle
• Netgear Arlo https://www.arlo.com/en-us/

These products have a build in Battery and are made to be used without any wires (until you have to recharge them).

You can read a comparative review on some of these options here: http://arijaycomet.com/2016/01/23/comparison-netgear-arlo-q-vs-nest-cam-vs-logi-circle-vs-samsung-smarthd-vs-d-link-dcs-2630l/

[ALTERNATIVE ANSWER]

If your sole use case is for that family member to see you - I don't understand why you would want to carry the camera around on your helmet in the first place?

I think it would make more sense to either just install a few simple WiFi camera (e.g. Nest Cam) around the house and have her look at those on a tablet. They will show where you are and even give her security, when you are not there.

Alternatively, any smartphone you may already own, can do exactly what you want. Just start a Skype / FaceTime / Hangout call and carry your phone around. Assuming you already own a smartphone - it would be the no-cost option. (Well, you need a viewing tablet / computer for her, but you need that in any case.)

Answer 2

Perhaps you could use a cheap tablet or smartphone with a streaming app?

You could also use a BananaPi with extra batteries, camera module and USB WiFi stick (or BananaPro with built-in WiFi). Batteries require some simple soldering.