Using a tablet as viewing screen for cameras

[applesauce]

I was using an old Hudl tablet as an always on screen in the kitchen to view all the cameras. Perfect for when someone came to the door, no grabbing phone and opening apps to see who was there…

However the battery eventually got fried and swelled up, so stopped using it.

I’m now thinking of getting a cheap Amazon Fire tablet in the Black Friday sale to replace it, but am curious - does anyone else use a tablet screen for an always-on view (other than through PC or phone) and if so, what do you use? Is there a better alternative?

Thanks!

[lib.r]

I was looking at using an old tablet as an always on screen a few months ago, however main concern, as you have unfortunately encountered, was the battery. I decided on getting a separate screen that I could then hook up to some kind of device, either Raspberry Pi, or an old laptop that could be powered without the battery present (some models allow this, and some don't).

After looking at various HDMI touch screens (with no battery) on Amazon, I decided that I wouldn't really need to interact with a touch screen, so in the end, I managed to buy a dirt cheap 22" Dell monitor, hooked up a Raspberry Pi to it with Chromium showing UI3. I also hooked up a cheap USB speaker to the Raspberry PI for sound/alerts. It's worked perfectly so far.

If you're going down the cheap monitor route, make sure it's LED backlit (rather than CCFL) to cut down power usage, since it'll be always on. Also, make sure it's got an HDMI input, and you could also possibly get a screen with built-in speakers (audio via HDMI).

I had also looked at cheap small TVs, but again make sure they're LED backlit. An all-in-one PC might also be an option

[Serodgers]

I have various Ipads displaying camera groups. Oldest is a Ipad2 and IpadAir. I can use the Blue IRIS app or use a web browser to monitor various outdoor cams.

Can get old used Ipads cheap. I catch all the family hand-me downs and have recently bought a Ipad 5 & 6 used on Back Market web site.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mikeb]

You can get tablets pretty cheap now days. If you will be using WIFI, try to find one that will use 5g. I purchased a Meberry and use Onvier (pro version) to monitor the doors and it works well. I've been using it for over a year now and no battery problems. I have BI on it but only to get the push sound notifications from my BI service.

[TimG]

Can one (or more) of you guys do a write up on how to do this ? Apple ? Android ? Kiosk mode ? Other mode ? Wall mount ? Good/bad things to do ?

I'm guessing a proximity sensor would help reduce screen burn. Am I right ? What can you tell us

[Serodgers]

My setup is three IPads that display Homeseer touch screen control software 24/7. Displays turn off at night. They use BI UI3 web view hosted in inside the HS touch screen for interface so they can display and control the house and display camera feeds by default.

Homeseer can control which camera or group displays. So when the doorbell rings it switches to two camera front door view. Doorbell is interfaced to Homeseer. Homeseer also can set Blue Iris macros so HS sets a macro that is displayed on my camera video feed with overlay text that is overlooking driveway. Displays garage door status Open/opening/closing/closed and partially opened open.