Webcam or no webcam?

[administrator]

I think I will have a talk with the lady that is head of the HOA regarding the webcam.

The danger with that is that they seem to start from 'No' and move rapidly more negative. If you've got the HOA rule book take a trawl through it to see if you can see anything that might prevent a webcam. If you can't see anything, you can legitimately claim that you did take a look at the rules and couldn't see anything that saidf you couldn't. The anemometer was always a risk...you sort of knew it wouldn't be allowed before doing it and hoped that you might get away with it. If the rules don't say you can't have a webcam or they do refer to 'visual recording equipment' or privacy considerations and you can comply with the requirements I'd avoid asking a question that allows them to say 'No' without any real thought.

[snowman]

Stan,

I installed my ISS (and originally my anemometer) in my backyard attached to a RadioShack 15' mast back in November of last year.  (Remember, though, that I installed the anemometer of my old OS WMR-968 station on that 15' mast last summer.)  I never asked the HOA for permission, and basically took the chance, assuming that they would send me a letter telling me to take it down.  It has been about a year since I have put the 15' mast up in my backyard, and no letter from the HOA.  I'm assuming that since the mast is on "my" side of the fence and no one has complained about it, then I am able to keep it there.

--Tim

Well, this kind of adds to what Chris just said above.....
Why not go for it like you did with the ISS?
Just be thoughtful enough, like other posters have said, and be sure not to point it where it will catch anyones home or any people at all.
Your camera itself will not be seen as it has to be inside.

[niko]

Well, this kind of adds to what Chris just said above.....
Why not go for it like you did with the ISS?
Just be thoughtful enough, like other posters have said, and be sure not to point it where it will catch anyones home or any people at all.
Your camera itself will not be seen as it has to be inside.

Good advice.

You can camouflage it too so that it's minimally visible from outside (my guess is that you have the kind of neighbors who like to peek in other folks' windows).

[aifan27]

Yes, I guess I should just "go for it", like I did with the ISS...I just want to take a quick look at the Rules & Regulations before I do so.

I guess as long as it's pointing up towards the trees/sky, I should be fine.  I would really like to get the webcam upstairs, as it would already be high enough up (and it would be much less noticeable, too).  Also, if I do put it upstairs, the room that it would be in isn't used as much.  Mounting the webcam upstairs would put it a long ways from the computer (75+ feet), so I would rather just buy something wireless.  Is that possible?

Quick question...When looking at the camera online, it says that it has a "built-in microphone".  You can disable this, correct?

I am thinking about buying the camera off of ebay.  I wouldn't mind buying one of the refurbished ones, since they're so cheap (less than $20).

Thanks.

--Tim

Edit: Also forgot to add - the webcam will be facing ENE, which is not my preference, but my only choice.

[carterlake]

I have older windows so fog may not even be a problem...

I think your issue will more likely be glare. I'm using a basement window so adding a thick black cloth to the frame was no great loss. You might not want to do that in your living room or wherever. If you don't, then at night, every time you have a light on, the glare on the camera's view out the window will be horrible... maybe so much that people will be able to see into your house (from the glare reflection).

I'd at least buy a camera and start playing with it... you can get some Logitech clone cams for what... $10?

It's one of the most popular features on my site.

(note to self: clean the darn window again!)

[aifan27]

I'd at least buy a camera and start playing with it... you can get some Logitech clone cams for what... $10?

$7.    http://insidecomputer.stores.yahoo.net/usbwebcamwep.html

I'd rather just spend ~$20 on ebay for the Logitech 5000 pro...

--Tim

[administrator]

Edit: Also forgot to add - the webcam will be facing ENE, which is not my preference, but my only choice.

N, NNE or NE would be better to avoid the rising sun. If you have to go with ENE then just be careful about getting direct sunlight into the lens. You might find a purple line across your images before too long when you've sunburned the image sensor.

[aifan27]

N, NNE or NE would be better to avoid the rising sun. If you have to go with ENE then just be careful about getting direct sunlight into the lens. You might find a purple line across your images before too long when you've sunburned the image sensor.

Chris,

I could probably turn it enough to face NE, but that will probably be the best I can do.

I really wouldn't know until I actually get it set up.

--Tim

[aifan27]

Just took a quick look at the Rules & Regulations and didn't see anything about webcams or videotaping...

I guess I will buy the Logitech 5000 Pro on ebay and mess around with it.

--Tim

[niko]

I think your issue will more likely be glare. I'm using a basement window so adding a thick black cloth to the frame was no great loss. You might not want to do that in your living room or wherever. If you don't, then at night, every time you have a light on, the glare on the camera's view out the window will be horrible... maybe so much that people will be able to see into your house (from the glare reflection).

I couldn't do the cloth thing so I put a hood around mine to solve the glare problem. I just used some thin card and formed it into a tube that butts up against the glass.   

[snowman]

Just took a quick look at the Rules & Regulations and didn't see anything about webcams or videotaping...

I guess I will buy the Logitech 5000 Pro on ebay and mess around with it.

--Tim

That's great Tim - you will get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
And like Tom says, once set up correctly it becomes one of the best features of your site.

[aifan27]

That's great Tim - you will get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
And like Tom says, once set up correctly it becomes one of the best features of your site.

Thanks, Stan...I will definitely be sure to let you guys know when I get it set up.  I'm sure I will need plenty of help with this one! 

How accurate are the google maps (http://maps.google.com)?  I'm just curious as to how accurate it is N, S, E, W wise, to see which direction the webcam will really be pointing.

Thanks.

--Tim

[aifan27]

I got another quick question for you guys...

I know that many people use Webcam32, but I was wondering if I have to buy software for the webcam or if I can just use WD?  Are their certain things that Webcam32 can do that WD can't?

Thanks.

--Tim

[JaxWeather]

Tim,

I just use WD with my Logitech 4000, works great.

-Bob

[daveq]

Tim, the Logitech Pro I have came w/ it's own software.  You'll need that to install the drivers.  After you set it up WD will recognize the camera and you won't need the software that came with the camera.

--Dave

Edit:  Bob beat me to it.  I still think you'll need the drivers.  May be able to just download them from Logitech.