How to make a webcam into a surveillance camera?
June 16, 2009 by Surveillance Tips and Advice
Filed under More Surveillance Answers
Can you answer Toto’s question about Surveillance?:
I was just wondering if an ordinary webcam may be converted into a surveillance camera that may be placed near and directly to the entrance door for security reason. Does it need a software? Please help. Thanks alot
Phone Surveillance Equipment
I was just wondering if an ordinary webcam may be converted into a surveillance camera that may be placed near and directly to the entrance door for security reason. Does it need a software? Please help. Thanks alot
Phone Surveillance Equipment
Surveillance Feedback: It could be done, but unless you have the camera, cables and a USB amplifier, it would be cheaper just to buy a security cam setup from eBay.
Webcams are only designed to work on the 10 foot cable that is attached to the camera. Some cameras will function on a 10 foot USB extension cable, but thats about it. You might get another 20 out of it, if you put a USB amplifier in the line, or run a powered USB hub for the first 20 feet. Webcams are designed for indoor use. Some may not hold up well if used outside.
If you acomplish all that, and have drivers for the camera installed, you could use Microsoft’s amcap program to monitor the camera in preview mode. It can be downloaded for free.
With wireless pinhole security cam kits on eBay so cheap, it just might be easier and more cost effient to go that route.
I hope this is helpful
Surveillance Feedback: you can purhase an IP surveillance camera for about the same price as a webcam go to
Surveillance Feedback: You can turn you webcam into a surveillance camera. It does need software though. Cheapest download is Windows Media Encoder free from, you can then select the webcam as the source. Windows Media can then stream the video over the internet in real time and record at the same time. However, the length of the USB cable is a factor and cannot be more than about 5 meters.
Another option is an IP camera, you can connect it to your PC or router and get the power source closer to the door. You can see a range of IP cameras at:
and there is also a link that shows a real time live demo of an IP cam and video of a news story on TV on how it works. Just a word of caution, if you dont know much about networking then get some help to install it.