Andrew O'Hara
HomeKit app developer Matt Hochgatterer today has unveiled an open-source HomeKit camera project. The HKCam utilizes a Raspberry Pi Zero W and a 3D printed enclosure to allow users to create their own security camera compatible with Apple's HomeKit for less than $30.
HomeKit cameras are a sore spot for smart home owners as there are only a few available and they all carry hefty price tags. The most notable to date include the D-Link Omna 180, the Logi Circle 2, and the Netatmo Welcome cam. All of which carry price tags well over $100.
HKCam is easy to assemble even for fairly novice users. It will require a Raspberry Pi Zero W with a power supply, the official Raspberry Pi camera module, a microSD card, and the 3D printed housing. If you don't have a 3D printer Hochgatterer is able to print an enclosure for you for a small fee.
The whole assembly snaps together and then will be accessible through the Home app. Hochgatterer provides a near ready-to-go Raspbian disk image to write to the SD card that runs a modified version of HomeBridge. The 3D printed enclosure will prop the camera up or allow it to be mounted to a wall.
Hochgatterer is the developer behind the popular Home 3 iOS app, arguably the best third-party HomeKit app available. It preceded Apple's own Home app and includes much more functionality, including specific features that work just with HKCam.
Using Home 3, HKCam will support Persistent Snapshots. Persistent Snapshots allows you to take a picture and store the image on the camera. This is perfect to go back and view past event where motion was detected and is crucial if acting as a security camera.
AppleInsider has provided a ready-to-go setup for creating your own Raspberry Pi HomeKit camera in the past though it lacked the 3D printed enclosure, motion support, or the Persistent Snapshots features in HKCam.
Hochgatterer has laid out all the steps on his website and accompanying Github page to get users up and running quickly after obtaining the requisite parts. We've started building our own HKCam so stay tuned to see how our experience plays out.
Get started on your own by grabbing a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a Raspberry Pi camera module, and a microSD card from Amazon.
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12 Comments
What to say. Cool. No idea what cost commercial equivalent .
The field of vision of the Pi cam is way too narrow to be an effective security camera though, in my opinion. Take a look at the comparison of what the Pi cam sees versus a run of the mill cheap 1080p security camera in this Amazon review:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/B01ER2SKFS/R5L1O5P6BVJ1?ref=pf_vv_at_pdctrvw_srp
You get about a quarter of the view with the Pi cam versus what the 1080p security cam sees. If someone made a lens adapter to go over the camera, sort of like those kits you can get for the iPhone, it might make this worth it. Otherwise it’s just too narrow of a picture.
I don't understand why the enclosure is so tall. The two circuit boards don't need to be placed end to end, they could be stacked so the max height is the size of the CPU board. Also why is the enclosure such bright colors? I'd make it neutral grey or perhaps camo. The kit needs more options like battery power.
There is no way you can build this for under $30 using the Amazon links in the article. It adds up to $70 before the power supply. But they're just $25 on AliExpress via the link in HKCam's website.
If the HomeKit aspect is not a dealbreaker, you can get a WyzeCam for $20 that is much better and requires zero assembly.