Ideal Web Camera

[craiglove]

hi all, wanting to get a web cam to attach to WDL for outside viewing. can someone recommend a model what is weather proof, and possiable put the URL so to look..

Regards Craig
http://www.scientificsales.co.nz

[Weather Display]

it does not have to be weather proof...i.e put it in a outside security light enclosure (remove the light)
the logitech cameras seem to be good
i am thinking of getting one myself:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2204,CONTENTID=10556

[gabba]

Hi Craig

I asked this not so long ago:

http://www.weather-watch.com/smf/index.php/topic,18853.msg146214.html#msg146214

General consensus was that the Logitech 4000 was a minimum. However in saying that I'm constantly amazed at how clever some people have been here in making their webcams "waterproof"

There's another active thread here that talks about this model being outside, but with no cover on it. Of course things are a little dry in Blenheim at times, but you would probably want to cover it with something I would think!

Cheers

[Softvark]

I've been using this camera for a number of years http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=98269&doy=13m10

I plug it into a Hauppauge capture card I had lying around and let WD do the rest. Works well for me.

Julian

[administrator]

I have one of those cameras as well. The only problem I had with it was that the infra-red lights had quite a lot of visible red component to them. I wanted something unobstrusive and the red glow at night made it stand out far too much.

[Softvark]

I have one of those cameras as well. The only problem I had with it was that the infra-red lights had quite a lot of visible red component to them. I wanted something unobstrusive and the red glow at night made it stand out far too much.

I must have got a different model as I've never noticed that with mine or perhaps you've got infra red vision !

Julian

[administrator]

or perhaps you've got infra red vision !

Doesn't everyone have that? I assumed everyone could see infra-red

[niko]

Are you kidding? That thing really has "infra-red" leds that you can see? That's very strange, leds emit a real narrow spectrum so it's hard to imagine what the heck those are  Or maybe you can see your TV remote flashing too?

[lehautfourneau]

You need a caméra whose picture doesn't saturate too much with bright light. I have here webcams which don't make the difference between white and blue when there is a lot of light (like the sky). That's annoying.
I have a Philips Philips Fun webcam and it's a good camera. See my post: http://www.weather-watch.com/smf/index.php/topic,18548.msg147805.html#msg147805
Cheers.
 

[craiglove]

thanks guys, can you also supply a link for the camera in action? ie: just wanting to see what it looks like on the net.

was thinking of a simple USB connection that WD will pic up the images etc...

Craig

[TNETWeather]

Are you kidding? That thing really has "infra-red" leds that you can see? That's very strange, leds emit a real narrow spectrum so it's hard to imagine what the heck those are  Or maybe you can see your TV remote flashing too?

My Swann's have kind of a red dark glow to them at night too.  They are not that noticible but you can see them if they are in a very dark area.

[aifan27]

Craig,

You can take a look at my webcam page here.  The sun will be going down in about 45 minutes, so you may want to wait until tomorrow to take a look at the streaming video.  I do have a link to my daily video, though, on that same page.

By the way, I am using the Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000, which I got for around $100USD.

--Tim

[dknia]

If you want a little more freedom in placement, you might consider a LAN and/or WiFi enabled webcam.

I'm using a 640*480 D-Link DCS-2100G (maybe slightly overkill).

However, it does a pretty neat job, and has allowed me to experiment with placement around the house. Only recently have I come across the excellent light-enclosure idea referred also below, that I consider as maybe a final solution; probably mounting it on the waterpipe carrying the Anemometer, allowing for much better view. Again, I can put it just about anywhere as I'm not limited by USB-cable restrictions.

Another thing it allows me to do, is to address it directly from the web wathing a live video feed without any other software being involved. I'm considering offering this as a service as soon as I have redesigned the website (looking at implementing a carterlake-template based website).

A few examples attached, or look at 10min. updates linked below. The first link is the 'raw' image as fetched from the webcam, the other one is after being enriched with data thru WD.
http://vejr.axelsson.dk/netcam.jpg
http://vejr.axelsson.dk/netcam-enriched.jpg

Just my 5c

/Niels

[administrator]

I can't really see IR, but there is definitely a glow. The place I wanted to put them is a dark corner and the glow was definitely noticeable. Perhaps they're using cheaper LEDs that are mainly IR, but also have a visible red component?

[Cruck]

I have a an IP cam Vivotek 6124 and i am very happy with it.

http://www.vivotek.com/products_pz6114.htm

You can control remote and move over internet.

You can see in link below to my web site.

Good morning !