Is there a way to extend a cameras range?

[Chris142]

I have several trail cameras around my property. I have an app on my phone I can use to look at the pics they took, clear pics etc .

One camera is just a little too far away for the app to work. Even though it's line of sight ( I can see it from my porch) it's RF power output is so little that it's signal is not strong enough to make the 240 or so feet.

In my CB radio days I had illegal power amplifiers to get more range. I'm not sure how I could do something like that to the camera as I do not know the frequency it uses, how to hook a coax up to it etc.

Moving the camera from my corner would defeat it's purpose.

Any thoughts?

 

[tom slick]

Are they WiFi?
https://www.amazon.com/Orayafid-Repeater-Weatherproof-Extender-2-4GHz-Battery-No/dp/B0FDJXGSP1

 

[slacktide_bitog]

a telephoto/zoom lens? Binoculars? A telescope?

EDIT: I misunderstood the question

There's probably some kind of bluetooth thing you could get to extend the signal

 

[methusaleh]

A higher-gain antenna. Has to be the proper length.

As a ham radio geek, I’ll stop myself there before I send you down a rabbit hole.

 

[jghall00]

Perhaps a directional antennae would be helpful here.

 

[Chris142]

Are they WiFi?
https://www.amazon.com/Orayafid-Repeater-Weatherproof-Extender-2-4GHz-Battery-No/dp/B0FDJXGSP1

Yes but doesn't connect to the house. Only my phone.

 

[JohnnyG]

Yes but doesn't connect to the house. Only my phone.

So, you log on to each camera separately?

 

[Chris142]

A higher-gain antenna. Has to be the proper length.

As a ham radio geek, I’ll stop myself there before I send you down a rabbit hole.

Actually my dad was a ham.W5LRI was his call sign for decades , Ham was too proper for me, I preferred to cause hate and discontent on the 11m band. Cutting limiters,running liniers that caused interference on people tv's when I drove past etc.

With that said I may actually understand a little...

Just not sure how to implement it into a trail camera though lol

 

[Chris142]

So, you log on to each camera separately?

Yes

 

[JohnnyG]

Yes

So, I'm thinking that there is a way for that camera to connect solely to that repeater.

 

[Chris142]

Perhaps a directional antennae would be helpful here.

It does have an antenna that can be turned. I tried that and it was worse

 

[Skippy722]

It does have an antenna that can be turned. I tried that and it was worse

Can you unscrew the antenna? If so it might be worth picking up a high gain/directional antenna off Amazon or something.

 

[methusaleh]

Actually my dad was a ham.W5LRI was his call sign for decades , Ham was too proper for me, I preferred to cause hate and discontent on the 11m band. Cutting limiters,running liniers that caused interference on people tv's when I drove past etc.

With that said I may actually understand a little...

Just not sure how to implement it into a trail camera though lol

Awesome!

Find out what band(s) the unit operates on. Presumably there is a detachable antenna; identify the name of the connector at the bottom of the antenna. An online image search would help if you don’t recognize it. It’s probably SMA. You can then seek out an antenna that’s resonant at that frequency with higher gain.

As someone suggested above, a directional antenna may be best. I’m guessing you would have to run a short length of coax and properly mount the antenna.

 

[jghall00]

Yes but doesn't connect to the house. Only my phone.

If they're WiFi, you need a WiFi range extender.

Why are you connecting to the individually? There are many programs, such as Home Assistant, that can aggregate data from multiple cameras.

 

[mk378]

What make / model camera?

It is probably possible to get the camera to connect to a router that has a better radio and antenna than a phone, and then connect the phone to the router as well.

 

[Chris142]

If they're WiFi, you need a WiFi range extender.

Why are you connecting to the individually? There are many programs, such as Home Assistant, that can aggregate data from multiple cameras.

I don't know how to do it any other way. This is the screen I pick a camera to look at. As far as I know it only allows one at a time.

 

[chemman]

Try putting a metal pie plate or a metal dish behind it. That might act as a reflector for the camera's antenna and increase the received signal at your phone. No guarantees.

 

[jghall00]

I don't know how to do it any other way. This is the screen I pick a camera to look at. As far as I know it only allows one at a time.

I looked into it briefly and apparently this vendor doesn't permit stream access via rtsp or onvif, so you're limited to their software for access.

 

[Chris142]

Try putting a metal pie plate or a metal dish behind it. That might act as a reflector for the camera's antenna and increase the received signal at your phone. No guarantees.

Wr used to put foil on our rabbit ears on the tv lolol

 

[chemman]

Same here!