Looking for something to monitor an issue concerning an older relative and her safety (with regard to housemate)
Audio and video playback, concealed, mobile app accessibility, etc.

Go to Amazon, search "hidden camera." There are tons of them.

Jabin said:

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GeorgiAg said:

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Go to Amazon, search "hidden camera." There are tons of them.

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I suspect that he's looking for recommendations from people that have tried and used them in the past.

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Yes, thank you.

I'm sad that the level of competence we have come to expect is most easily addressed by: https://letmegooglethat.com/

Yes, I am looking for real user feedback, opinions and recommendations...

In the PI industry most people get their products from LawMate.com
They have all sorts of commonplace devices with cameras in them. They have some that can be viewed live / real time in addition to recording to a DVR and/or an SD card. But I have no idea if they have any that will record audio & video. All the ones I bought from them do not record audio due to the issue I mentioned in my first post. This is the same reason that all my attorney clients and insurance clients make sure I strip the audio from all video I submit to them.

I am part of an Amazon free spy camera hookup. Somehow I got on an email thing with some Chinese vendor. I can get free testing products. I've tested none of them because im not sure testing spy equipment for Chinese vendors is the best protocol.

I'll send you the email link though.

FSGuide said:

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You don't want to record conversations that you are not a part of. Texas is a "one party" state for recording conversations but that means one party of the conversation is aware of the recording and consents.

Now if your relative is doing the recording of the conversation and you are only purchasing the device for them, it's a different story.

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What are the repercussions of neither party knowing they're being recorded?

Federal wiretapping law violation like Linda trip

People also need to keep in mind that some states require every party being recorded too consent. So if you are in Texas recording someone from such a state, you may be in violation of that state's law, and possibly federal law, if you do not have that consent.

Caveat: I am not your lawyer and am not giving legal advice.

At first blush, If it's a family member that I was genuinely worried about, I'd say "who gives a crap", record what I needed for proof and use my cornfed buddy network to address the issue.

However, this isn't 1988. If it's truly at that point, then this could have a real need for intervention and I'd like it all kosher. I think the OP has the right info from the right folks to make a good decision.

Jabin said:

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People also need to keep in mind that some states require every party being recorded too consent. So if you are in Texas recording someone from such a state, you may be in violation of that state's law, and possibly federal law, if you do not have that consent.

Caveat: I am not your lawyer and am not giving legal advice.

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Is this really true? Residents of other states carry their state laws with them into Texas?

I thought you were always subject to the laws of the land in which you were present- unless an overarching federal law has higher authority. In other words, if the conversation happens in Texas, it is only subject to one party consent (Texas' law).

In any case, OP- I would not be recording conversations for/of other people. I'm sorry that your family member is having problems, and I sincerely hope you get them resolved quickly. FSGuide is the voice you want to listen to on this.

Thank you for the advice and insights.

Brazosdog, I would like that link still...
Fleen97 gmail

Fleen said:

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GeorgiAg said:

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Go to Amazon, search "hidden camera." There are tons of them.

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Haha.

If it were me and an abuse of a family member issue, I'd do it just because I want to know. You can take appropriate action without letting them know, but you better dang sure destroy and wipe everything. But it is a crime if no one knows they are being recorded (in Georgia). If the family member knows, it is legal (in Georgia.) I did divorce/family law for years and this cracked a few cases wide open. You also need to be aware there are different laws if recording crosses state lines, i.e., phones. Federal laws kick in there.

And Fleen I bought one for a situation where I thought my housekeeper (her daughter actually) was stealing from me (and drinking my liquor), but I got cold feet and never used it for real, so I have no idea how well it actually works. The issue became moot. She stole a check I had in my drawer and tried to forge my name but misspelled it. Idiot. Then she tried to make a phony affidavit but misspelled my name again. Really big idiot. She got arrested and convicted. Bank had security cameras of her trying to cash the check. Fired her and her mom, obviously. I hated it because her mom was a really sweet person, and this broke her heart.

It was a tiny rechargeable cube with a mini memory card. Had magnets on the back so you could stick it to metal. I got mine off Amazon, but it's not for sale anymore. I tested it one time but I have no idea about battery life, vision in the dark, etc... I still have it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MHN8DMS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1#customerReviews

Georgia is a "at least one party has to know the conversation is being recorded" state so I never used it. Except for the videos I later put on my porn website, www.GeorgiaAgsPornExploits.com. (joke)