Webcam

[sleddog]

I want to put a webcam atop the 125-foot lighthouse where I work. I'd like to have it capture and publish a still image at set intervals, every 20 or 30 minutes say.

I don't know the first thing about webcams, other than having looked at a few images on the web. What hardware do I need? What's good, what's bad? Is running 125 feet of cabling to it a problem? What kind of software do I use? Can I afford to do it without having to get a night job?

Comments, links, ideas are welcome.


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Paleo Pete]

I can't answer all your questions, but I can offer a few comments.

The Intel cam seems to be regarded as the best by about everyone on Mplayer. It's the only one that uses glass lenses instead of plastic, without going to a cam that costs over $500. I've seen plenty of them, they definitely have the best quality picture, and actually comparable to the over $500 jobs.

Hardware-camera, cable, USB port.

Software-you got me...most cams come with their own software to install and make the thing work, but you might have to look a bit to find something that will save an image at specific intervals. And I have no idea if the thing will work 125 feet away.

Cost- the most popular Intel is around $60-70 last time I checked, that's everything but a USB port on your machine. The longer cable would be extra, of course, and if it won't work at that distance some kind of signal amplifier might be necessary.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Randy_tx]

From everyone I have spoken to you can only go about 16 ft. or so with a USB cam. There are "wireless" cams on the market(I think) but the cost is way up there....they use a "sending unit" attached to a base computer I think.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[sleddog]

Thanks guys.

There are three models of Intel cams, Easy, Deluxe and Pro (http://www.intel.com/pccamera/caminfo.htm)

The Deluxe is $70, the Pro is $130 at http://store.yahoo.com/jandr/computers-digital-cameras-cybercams---webcams.html

What's the difference, other than some software -- any idea?

Randy: I guess I'm, gonna have to resurrect my Celeron 300 and put it up there with the cam http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[bassman]

Hiya Sleddog,
Check out smarthome.com (http://smarthome.com) They have a lot of stuff on surveillance cameras and equip. I didn't dig into the site to deep but in their catalog, page 83, they show how to use RG59 copper braid coax to transmit up to 750 ft. You might not like the price of their cameras, but you could get some good ideas. If you get this going, I would sure like to see it.
Here is the direct page http://smarthome.com/vidconnect.html

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If your not living on the edge, your taking up to much space!

[This message has been edited by bassman (edited 02-28-2001).]

[sleddog]

Thanks bassman. Any and all info helps.

For anyone interested, this is where it will go: http://www.labradorstraits.nf.ca/ptamour.html

It won't be in operation until May (when we re-open the lighthouse) but to get the technology working I'll do an interim setup at my house showing you the nice view http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

As I figure it now (before checking out bassman's links) I'll have a machine at top of the tower with the cam, networked to my office machine in a nearby building. I can use PC Anywhere or something to get a remote desktop. Distance for network cabling is going to be a factor, not only the height of the tower but even more so between buildings.


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sleddog]

Just an update:

Was on a business trip the past several days... and found the Intel Deluxe webcam on the shelf in the 4th comp store I visited. Price was CAN$100, amazing considering the web price I saw in a few places was US$70 (CAN$107).

Got enough old parts together to build a Win 98 machine for it, except for a case, which I should have tomorrow. So I might have some images in a few days http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[mjc]

Hey Sled,

Looks like you'll get some impressive shots up there!

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mjc
To ME or NOT to ME....

[sea69]

hey sleddoggy..

it seems I arrived too late to be of help http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

I have the intel pro, the difference is (as you pointed out) in the software for the most part.

Glad you went with the Intel.. it is the best for the $$.

I paid $75 (us) for mine a about a year ago, and have never regretted it, I also have an el cheapo logitech (which I only mention on reliability) it is a very simple and 'tough' camera, I have had it outside watching my front door to my house for 9 months (all types of weather) and no, it isnt an 'external' cam. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif btw-it came free w/ my pc so I decided to put it to use.

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"Remember your 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 03-10-2001).]

[sleddog]

OK, we're up and running. Scavenged enough parts to build a Celeron 300/Win98 machine to run the cam -- only 'new' purchase was a discounted (dented) case/psu for CAN$40 http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Images are saved to a networked Linux server which periodically does a dial-up (uploads the webcam image, does mail, etc.)

It's set up now looking out my basement window -- which means the angle of view isn't great, but not too bad. We'll get to the lighthouse in May.

Best pics are in the morning when the sun is low and behind the camera. Here it is:
http://www.komatik.org/webcam/

SEA: Some questions for you!

I'm not particularly happy with the software that came with the Intel Deluxe camera -- I wonder if the Pro version is better? Here are my gripes:

1. Despite the much-advertised 640x480 image size, this resolution is next to useless. It doesn't auto-adjust colour or exposure, which means the image is totally washed out. And it's impossible to get it anything close to right using manual adjustment.

2. Even if the 640x480 size auto-adjusted, the "autosnap" feature doesn't use it. The largest image size available for autosnap is 320x240.

3. Autosnap saves images as jpegs (no choice), but doesn't offer any control over the compression ratio. Saved images are around 15-20kb and are quite highly compressed I think -- which means a LOT of image quality loss due to jpeg compression. I'd really like to have a ~30kb image, less compression with better detail.

Generally the software is big on cool appearance and idiot-proofness and very small on features. A pretty good camera for the price but disappointing software.

SEA... Is the software that comes with the Pro version any better in these regards (1-3 above)?

Is there any *other* software that can be used with the Intel camera ?? Anyone know ??


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sleddog]

To answer my own question... there's lots of shareware available that works with all -- most, anyway -- webcams. Just search for "webcam" on the shareware sites. I've spent the afternoon downloading and trying them out. There's an app called ChillCAM that does just what I want. Straightforward timed image capture, with variable jpeg compression level. At 95% image quality I get a good crisp image sized 25-30kb.


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[mjc]

Hey Sled,

I'm impressed even at night you've got a decent picture of distant lights so if your running that 30KB image it must be excellent during daylight image wise, can't say much about the scene (10:30 pm EST). I really want to see it from the lighthouse, guess I'll just have to wait until May!

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mjc
To ME or NOT to ME....

[Paleo Pete]

Guess I'll have to look in the morning... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Glad you got it up and running, should be pretty cool once it's in the lighthouse.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[sleddog]

Yes, pictures are pretty decent now, though I find daylight helps. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

And yes, you're all gonna have to wait 'til May for the lighthouse, unless you want to come up here and help me carry it over 3 kilometres of snow-filled road http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

While I'm smiling I gotta tell you this. Before putting the camera up in the window I took out the window panes and washed & polished them. Put 'em back, set up the cam and started adjusting things. The view has the shoreline of the bay in the foreground. At the time there were large pans of sea-ice along the shore. I was concentrating on the image on-screen with one hand on the camera focus, trying to get it sharp, when I noticed a black blob on the ice. D*amn! I thought, crap on the window! Polished the window some more.... black blob still there. Took down the camera, cleaned the lens, put it back.... black blob still there, but oddly it seemed to have moved. Cleaned the window & lens again..... well, some time later I actually *looked* out the window. There was a harp seal sunning himself on the ice pan http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[bassman]

Pretty cool Sledd,
Glad you got everything set up. It's always neat to see something you might not otherwise. Do you ever see whales? Thats funny about the seal.
Help me out, my map is pretty funky, Where exactly are you? You can E-mail me so we don't tie this up. I would like to show my son where the pictures originate from.

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If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried

[VR7DETA]

Sleddog
I couldn't find Forteau Bay on my world atlas(maybe that's because it's
15 years out of date)Where is it in relation to Cape Harrison?

[Paleo Pete]

Looks nice in daylight, all I could see at night was the lights. The seal incident was very funny...wish I could have seen your face. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Regional Links (http://www.labradorstraits.nf.ca/homeport/regional.html) has a small map of the general area, the bottom image pinpoints Forteau. I assume that would be near the bay...An overall map of Canada would give you the location in relation to the small area covered on the page.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Randy_tx]

V E R Y C O O L , Sled http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[sleddog]

There's now a new page with some simple maps showing camera location: http://www.komatik.org/webcam/ http://www.komatik.org/webcam/location.html


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[blazer2boy]

VERRRRRRRY INTERESTING. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

No kidding I think it a Great view cann't wait to see the Lighthouse view later this year.


Great job Sled http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


Blazer