: Telegram’s notification system is notoriously fast, often outperforming the native push notifications of cheap IP cameras.
| Component | Choice | |-----------|--------| | Camera | Any RTSP/ONVIF IP cam (e.g., Reolink, Hikvision, Amcrest) | | Middleware | + python-telegram-bot + opencv + ffmpeg | | Motion detection | OpenCV (MOG2) or scikit-image | | Deployment | Raspberry Pi 4/5, Orange Pi, or old thin client | | Group comms | Telegram group with bot added as member | ipcam+telegram+group+better
Total time: 45 minutes. Total monthly cost: $0. If you are still using a proprietary app
If you are still using a proprietary app to view your IP camera, you are wasting time and risking security. The combination of is demonstrably better because it leverages Telegram’s robust cloud infrastructure for distribution. ipcam+telegram+group+better
Most IP camera brands charge a monthly subscription fee to save "event" clips to their cloud.