web cam-ing the tank?

geaux xman

geaux xman

New member
would it be hard to do? how much would it cost?

just something low grade. nothing that will generate thousands of hits requiring a ton of bandwidth.
 
I had been looking for something a few months back, thank you for talking about iCam. Just to be clear it supports Mac and PC...

Building an old netbook with windows XP right now to test it out.
 
BlueIrisSoftware.com and dyndns.com are your best friends. BlueIris has a freeware for only one camera with an integrated web server. Get a domain from dyndns (free again :thumbsup:) and ... up you are !

hope it helps,
MaLi
 
Took me 5 minutes to setup! So cool!!!
457edd51-c7a3-0774.jpg
 
i guess i'd be willing to spend a few hundred if the resolution is nice. i'm not looking for 24/7 all day streaming burning tons of bandwidth. just occasional access while not at home....
 
geaux xman said:
i guess i'd be willing to spend a few hundred if the resolution is nice. i'm not looking for 24/7 all day streaming burning tons of bandwidth. just occasional access while not at home....
Click to expand...

The 'cheap' option would be to attach a web cam to your computer and VNC into your box over the internet. The resolution is dependant on the what webcam you buy or what already exists in your computer, if say you're using a laptop that already has one integrated.

Here's a link to the free version: http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/index.html
 
instead of vnc, you can install software from yawcam.com
it sorts of streams to any browser (it actually just refreshes the jpg picture a couple of times a second).

or you can get an astak webcam it is available at my local costco for $180, it can pan and tilt, has built in web server and has night vision.
 
I have a webcam installed in my tank since 2008 working 24/7. I use Windows Media Encoder and a Logitech Pro9000 HD cam connected to my computer with a USB cable. I use my DSL internet connection.

Here is a link to the webcam. I have it on the side of the tank to avoid reflection of the glass. At night sometimes I move it to he front of the aquarium.

The music is from my computer using itunes.

http://www.prtc.net/~luisgon/luisgoreefcam.htm
 
most who are looking to do webcam now want to view it from a smartphone. I am not sure using windows media encoder is viewable from a smartphone (most likely not from an iphone). The most common method that will work on any smartphone is one that simply updates jpg images a few times a second. That is what Astak webcam does and the free yawcam software does for any USB webcam. I have written a program for use with AC jr and AC II to web enable it and used the same method to stream video from a USB webcam.

BTW, I am not sure if the infrared light used in night vision for the astak webcam bothers the fish or not, but you can see everything clearly (in black and white only, not color) in complete darkness. and the ability to pan and tilt the camera from your smartphone is a nice plus.
 
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Tagging along, but for those of us that don't want computers near our tanks... That just sounds bad.. :)


Are the inexpensive (around $100) Wireless IP webcams of decent video quality? I saw som spy shops online that had these between $89 and just over $100 a piece. That come with software to stream over the home network (and with some know how probably over the internet.).

I'm leary on the quality though as these are meant to be "home security" monitoring cameras.. Not sure if they would work well with the lighting and movement of an aquarium or not?
 
<Random thoughts about what I know about this>
the better than camera the more drain on your internet connection, and the harder it is to view with remotely because of the bandwidth required to transmit better quality video. Best to keep this in mind when looking, since the camera can't do more than your connection can do.
The linksys wireless ones are about $100, and from what I've seen the quality is decent (friend had one, but doesn't use it anymore) Your not going to see polyps on your sps, but you'll see them on your torch/frogspawn.
DynDns just gives you an external IP so that you can connect. Even if the camera comes with streaming software, you will most likely need this. (I have them for other things, and am happy with the service)
The last time I looked all the "cheap" home security cameras where black and white.. that could have changed though.
</Random thoughts about what I know about this>
 
I use USB Microsoft Live Cam (HD), installed Seedonk on PC, installed Seedonk client on Android Phone and this works best for me.
No need for dyndns because client logs in to seedonk server.
I had to pay to get 640x480 resolution. Free version supports 320x240.
I have tried all free applications and quality was always bad even with setting set to max. Seedonk seems to be the only one giving me crystal clear view of my tank.


Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
 
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