Keep Your Baa-bies Close, Even When You’re Not:
- Setting Up a Dedicated Video Surveillance Camera for Lambing Season
January, like a new-born lamb, stumbles into being, bringing with it the flurry of lambing season. For us sheep farmers, and especially those who lamb early, it’s a time of endless cups of coffee, missed meals, bleating lullabies, and, well, let’s face it, a tad bit of worry. After all, you can’t be glued to the lambing shed 24/7. But fret not, shepherd! Technology offers a helping hoof with a dedicated mobile hotspot and security camera combo, letting you keep tabs on your ewes from afar.
What You’ll Need:
- A dedicated mobile hotspot: This handy device uses a mobile phone SIM card and acts like a mini Wi-Fi router, broadcasting a signal you can connect your camera to. Choose one with good battery life and signal strength. Ideally you need a plug socket to power it. Here is an example picture, there are a few different types. (Read the reviews before buying one…!)
- A weatherproof security camera with night vision: opt for one with its own APP for easy viewing and recording. Motion detection would be an extra baa-nus! Again, there are many different types to look into, so read the reviews first. Most cameras are very similar to each other. Resolution is one aspect to consider, the higher the resolution, the better the picture.
Just a note, you can buy cameras now with a built in mobile hotspot. So read the specifications before you buy. These type can be a lot more expensive.!
- A SIM Card: Nowadays you can buy a SIM card at a very low monthly cost, and if you buy on a monthly contract, you can always cancel it when lambing is over. Check which networks have good coverage where you are. Remember it will be inside a building, so the reception needs to be good. You can use any of the major mobile network websites to check which signals are strongest in your area. You can check by postcode.
- A local power source: Hopefully, as mentioned, you have a plug socket somewhere handy. (get that 50m extension lead out.!) But if not then consider solar panels or a 12v car battery to keep your camera juiced. A rechargeable ‘power-bank’ is another option.
How to Set Up Your Remote Lambing Watch:
Before I get into the detail, one thing to note is that ALL of this should be set up and tested at home first.! Its best to get the kit all working while you are sat in the warm having a cup of coffee.! You don’t want to be half way up a ladder in the freezing cold wondering what the wi-fi password is…! (Take my word for it.!)
Right…
1. Install the Camera APP. Make sure you have the camera APP downloaded onto your mobile phone or tablet. (Refer to the manual for which APP to use and how to configure it)
2. Place the hotspot: Find a central spot in the lambing shed with good signal strength. Remember, walls play hide-and-seek with Wi-Fi, so adjust accordingly.
3. Connect the camera to the hotspot: This will vary depending on your camera model, but generally:
- Turn on the hotspot and give it a shepherd-worthy name and password.
- You may have to connect your phone / tablet to the new hotspot wi-fi for the APP to work at this stage.
- Put the camera in Wi-Fi pairing mode. (Consult the manual for the secret handshake!)
- Select the hotspot network on the camera app and enter the password.
4. Tweak camera settings: Customize your lambing watch experience:
- Motion detection: Get notified when something (hopefully a woolly wonder!) stirs. (This can be problematic, as you may get a notification every time the ewes move…!)
- Night vision: See clearly even when the moon plays hide-and-seek.
- Data usage: Check what your data download limit is on your chosen SIM card. As a rough estimate, streaming a 720p video feed, 4 times an hour for 5 minutes each time, 4 hours a day, every day for a week would use approximately 1GB per week. (Reducing frame rate and resolution will reduce data, as will using a H264 codec setting on your camera). I use a 12GB per month data plan and that is ample on three cameras. This plan currently costs me about £6 a month.
5. Test and adjust: Check the camera feed on your laptop or tablet or mobile phone (just like any Wi-Fi device!). Reposition the camera or hotspot if needed.
6. Monitor and rejoice! Now you can watch your ewes birthing remotely, offering them privacy while staying in the loop, no matter where you are. But remember, even with a camera, occasional visits are still key!
With a dedicated mobile hotspot and camera, you can watch over your lambing flock like a watchful sheepdog, ensuring their comfort and safety while giving you peace of mind (and maybe even a few adorable lamb videos to share!). Happy lambing season!
