eWeLink Web and using an Old Phone as a Security Camera

As many of you know, I’m always testing Sonoff products – and as such I have their eWeLink APP on my Android phone.

I spotted an ad/link this week and just out of boredom (just recovered from Covid and have been playing with gadgets in-between coughing fits) I went off to that eWelink site link – where it suggested using the eWeLink camera APP along with an old phone, hence turning it into security camera – and using the eWeLink APP on another phone in the normal way… and you know what – it worked.

Mind you I don’t have any old phones handy so all I had was a pair of decent Samsung phones – which kind of defeats the point – but if anyone out there has 5 minutes to blow and an otherwise wasted old Android phone (as long as the connection works and the camera works) – it could be worth checking. As it happens I just ordered a cheap Doogee X86 Pro phone from Amazon for an entirely different reason – and it’ll double up as a web cam as above. Already tested – working.

Meanwhile – yes, of COURSE I know all about the Sonoff WeLink APP – but only THIS WEEK did I discover eWeLink WEB. Early days – if you log into the web page on, say your phone, it logs you out of, say the same page on your PC and vice-versa (I’ve tackled Sonoff/Itead already on the subject) – but GIVE THIS A LOOK. I’m a fan of Node-Red Dashboard and of course use Home Assistant etc. from time to time, but if you DO have a bunch of Sonoff devices which are running on their eWeLink APP, then eWeLink WEB is likely worth a look. In case you’re wondering – I’m not getting paid or even getting samples for this blog entry – I just had to let you know in case you are missing out.

First off – you need their eWeLink ADVANCED PLAN account, that means instead of the normal FREE eWeLink APP – you pay them (I think) $9.90 or equivalent a year (I ignored this until now – figured it was just money-grabbing – but no – it seems pretty good) which gives you… well, what can I say – I simply signed up – opened this web page.. and up popped my devices JUST LIKE MAGIC. See those two video blocks in the above image? One is the security camera I refer to above, the other is my Sonoff CAM Slim (of the two, only CamSlim is active right now).. but the best example is my Sonoff THR320D sensor – see the detail below..

Seriously – I did nothing but sign up then open a web page – link above – and my devices “just appeared” including on/off control as you can see below.

Have fun!