New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Members Websites and Weather Cams => Topic started by: Te Puke Weather on March 12, 2012, 09:11:39 PM
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Hi all, I am thinking about adding a weather cam to my site.
What the best? and the cost? and pointer would help
Cheers
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I think the best quality pics you can get are from second hand digital cameras like a Canon or Olympus which both can be controlled by PC's directly. Almost all Canons but just the RYE series of Olympus cameras. There are two breeds of software that can control the Olympus (I use two Oly cameras and a Logitech as well), and there are also several other software progs, one from Canon themselves, that can add weather overlays to the pics that are created, some after the file is saved. TinCam is one, but will; have to do some more research to add the others - oh Tinplate I think is another...
I run a second PC in the garage where I have the two Olys running and Sebectec.com software adds a brief text and time overlay and FTP's both images to my website and creates a day video as well. That PC also runs a Lightning Radar system and a seismometer. The main Weather PC grabs one image across the LAN to add the overlay script from Weather Display of the weather details. It also runs the Logitech as well.
You can check out TradeMe for an Oly SP500UZ which is the recommended camera. I run both of mine at 640 x 480.
http://www.inmanavenue.com/webcam.html (http://www.inmanavenue.com/webcam.html) daytime... :)
You can also add enclosures to mount these out in the weather. I am running a 6vdc supply to each, needs to be 1Amp rated for continuous operation.
Graeme
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Ok, I did not think of doing that way. I will do some digging on trade me and see what I can fine :)
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Otherwise the logitech cameras have a reasonable picture - the Quickcam 9000 PRO version - Alan has been using them too - oh that is iomkiwi. And they are not too dear.
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Easier to hook up a reasonable CCTV camera pref IP
plenty of software out there to allow you to do whatever you want....
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I Agree with this post, you can pick-up Video capture cards for about $30 and plug CCTV cameras into them ... see the Clyde Weather page for an example of a CCTV picture ... pretty non de script, certainly the First option will likely result in a better quality picture, however CCTV cameras built specifically for outside pole mounting are easy care.
The Clyde Webcam is served up to the net from an old HP P4 Server running OpenSuSE ... it also handles the 1 wire weather sensors, and the MySQL server to store the readings. Simple scripting uploads various files using cron events .. to enable the tabled data. the data files are in xml/xlst files ... in other words using the url of http://www.alpnz.co.nz/includes/wxlast.xml would result in a page with just the last datagram on it. Its all a bit jerry rigged ... but heaps of fun as you learn the curve of the various scripting elements to achieve the whole picture. Just a note on Webcams ... please ensure the privacy of your neighbours ... very important.
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It should be pointed out that the video capture card works equally as well for the Olympus or Canon option above.
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I am aware of two Canon products - one being Canon Remote Capture which worked for some of Canon's Powershot model cameras, however I have not been able to get this going on Windows 7 (I have tried it in compatibility mode). I have not found anyone on Google who has made this work on this OS. Works fine on XP. If you know of anyone who has got it going I will be keen to find the solution. The photo quality was awesome and it works really well. I just wanted Windows 7. I am thinking of using one of my older computers so I can get it going again.
The other Canon product works on some of their SLR's. A pretty pricy solution and I have not investigated it.
I have trialled IP cameras (both wireless and networked), however the picture quality did not live up to the fantastic quality I got from my Canon camera. The solution was good in that I could FTP the files directly from the camera and no additional software was required other than WD which I use for my weather station and WDL which I use on my website.
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Ok - that's sad, I mean about the older Powershot model cameras because I was always impressed with the fact that the software was Canon freeware and supported by them. The Olympus ones on the otherhand, were left open source of the camera control code requirements at least two different version of software have been developed for the specific camera type - which I guess Olympus must have about dumped by now - I mean the RYE series of cameras - and one of which has moviemaker features and FTP fundtions. But the software that I use, does not do everything perfectly and the cameras don't perform equally as they are different ages/series that I use.
I hope you find a work around for those canon cameras and W7 - it seems a reasonable platform for most apps and I have been pleased with it on my Laptop. Nice to have you discussing this pet project of mine too chocaholic ... If you can't see the weather, how can you draw instant conclusions about it~!!~ :)
Plus, if you have a fab view, it's great to share it!! I hope you get to use the old cameras one way or another - I have a separate PC just for the cameras and lightning. - Oh and earthquake monitoring. :D
And - it's an XP SP3 on a 2.4GHz dual core... ex lease.
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I use a Logitech 9000 pro myself
works good
http://www.weather-display.com/windy/gb/grahamsbeach.htm
(and see the videos and the bottom of the page)
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I picked up two Sony Handicams on Trade Me which had problems with the recording/drive mechanisms. Paid under $40 for each of them. If you are prepared to be patient, they crop up fairly regularly. The one situated at the far end of the house is mounted outside under the eve (2 storey house) and has a 5.8ghz video sender attached to it so wiring is not required. Both are connected to a capture card in an old PC which is seperate from the one hosting Weather Display. I am a couple of hundred metres from the sea, but can zoom the Handicam to pick up the wave action without loss of definition. I'm not using WD's web cam facility, but use Willing Webcam to record both still shots and a 25 second time delay clip (1 second per frame) which are ftp'd to my website. A number of surf sites have linked to the cam.
cheers
Tony C.
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It sounds very interesting Tony. When you say wiring is not needed and you have a Wireless signal back to the old PC capture card, how is the camera powered and how is the Wireless transmitter powered? DC - AC? Does the wireless comms allow you to reach the camera to remote control it? Is that direct through the old PC or via the LAN or wireless from another PC or the internet or a LAN?
I used an old handicam for over a year as well, pleased with the colours, picture linearity and the zoom. In the end, the Logitech cameras don't give realistic colours and have a distorted image, not well focused over the whole image. My QuickCam Pro 9000 was the best I trialled, but it was hungry on resources and needed very good usb cables. I am impressed with an IP Panasonic one you can't purchase in NZ... LOL!
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Hi there Tony
Like Graeme above I too would also be very inetersted in the technical Details of how you have set these up.
How have you weatherproofed them?
Kind Regards
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Probably a little misleading to say "wiring not required" as of course both the camera and Sender require power. My house is just over 7 years old and having an electrical ticket from my first job after leaving school, I wired it with a million electrical outlets. there's a handy one by the window (see photo). The eave of the house is quite deep so waterproofing it is not necessary. As the sun in the winter to the North is quite low I've had to put a bit of a sunshade on it.
The rca video out on the camera goes directly into the video sender and the receiver part of it is situated next to the computer to plug into the video card. (2 cards are required for two cameras unless you have a fancy one which will take more than one feed). As no sound is required I use the audio channels of the sender to transmit the sound from a nearby sky decoder to the computer so I can record music from the Concert programme from time to time. I've used a 5.8ghz sender as 2.4ghz gadgets abound around the house and my old LaCrosse weather station was on that frequency when I originally set everything up.
The second video camera looking out to sea isset up indoors near the computer so plugs directly into the video card. It has a 200x zoom which if you look at the pictures http://www.portrobinson.net.nz/Weather.html works quite well.
I've attached some pics to give you some idea of the set-up.
cheers
Tony C.
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Didn't press the right buttons for the rest of the pictures..........
TC
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AHA! That's sneaky in through the window frame haha! Yes its surprising how well some equippment survive outside so long as they are protected on a suffit by eaves - slight shade adjustment, and good pictures. So with the surf camera indoors, it is quite easy to adjust the zoom manually - I thought you may have had a complicated 2-way comms to the camera or a mechanical device to activate zoom-out or zoom-in buttons (or pivot button). Well done - nice and tidy too.
Still, with a bit of kiwi ingenuity, one can do most things. My handycam had been mounted up in the attic and had a heater of three ceramic 7.8ohm? resistors in series across 12V ac supply to give a demister effect to the upstairs window and all set on a 24hr timer, and also a bedroom heater temp control plug in unit. If it got cold and it was in rough daylight hours or one hr before, then the heater would come on... I still use the same system in the webcam box which is above the roof - but I have a 12vdc PC PS small fan running on 6v to spread the heat around the box. Also have a temp sensor in there to tell me its working LOL!
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That's good to know. I just bought a Logitech c920 HD Pro- don't know how good it will be but will soon see.
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I use a Logitech 9000 pro myself
works good
http://www.weather-display.com/windy/gb/grahamsbeach.htm
(and see the videos and the bottom of the page)
That's good to know. I just bought a Logitech c920 HD Pro- don't know how good it will be but will soon see.
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I had my eye on one of those, so let us know how you go. Also have a Logitech 9000 hanging around, but I think the c920 will be far easier to mount with it's flatish surface on glass.
For mine I went and brought a cheap aluminium external light fitting from mitre 10 and pulled the guts out of it. Drilled a hole through the case for the cable, then sealed it all up, and you have a ready made enclosure complete with fitting attachment ;-)
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That's an excellent idea!
So far, all I have done is add a 6m USB cable and poke it and the camera out the window, just to record and see if the thing gave good pix. And it does, so a good start!
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Just rescued the old outdoor flood lights from the pile to take to the dump shop....thanks for the great idea. They should do the trick....just got to decide on the camera now so watching this thread with interest :)
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I have manged to get my old Canon camera going for now and using Canon's remote capture tool. Only problem is that I have it indoors going thru the double glazzing. It seems to reflect more than the old windows in the old house...just looked at the photo and you can see my tripod. Oh and I have to clean the windows yet. http://www.worldsouroyster.com/WD/index.html (http://www.worldsouroyster.com/WD/index.html).
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yep - it does need to be hard up against the glass so double glazing won't help. You might find that as the sun moves around the reflection will change or disappear, and that could be something you can live with
I'm about to put a new one up, hopefully today. I paid about $20 for an e-390 lamp (IQ Group) from mitre 10. The one I used previously was also there, at $20. Cabling 3*5m USB extensions with repeaters came to about $60 (Digitus USB repeater cable 5m) available from ascent.co.nz
Cheap Logitech camera from Dick Smith C-170 I think ($30)
Some sealant, and a bit of tape to stick the camera to the glass on the floodlight enclosure.
So for around $50 plus cabling.......
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My sony handicam is looking through a double-glazed window looking at the surf conditions. I've got it on a tripod with the lens hard against the window. No reflections.
Cheers
TC
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I will see what I can come up with....I have the added problem of a sliding door...so it could create double the problems if I have it open. Should really be outdoors inside the old spotlight casing I have...but that means holes need to be made...not sure my partner would agreed to that.
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Here's my new effort that went live this morning:
(http://www.huttweather.co.nz/data/jpgwebcam2.jpg)
as mentioned it's a $30 webcam from DSE the Logitech C170 http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/dsnz/search/dsnz_search_results.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302028227 (http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/dsnz/search/dsnz_search_results.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302028227)
It's all contained in a outdoor floodlight housing E-390 $20 from Mitre 10. Some appropriately drilled holes and splashes of silicon were also involved
It now gives me a view out to the west, where our predminant weather comes from. I'll likely move it a bit towards the NW during the winter months so that it catches the sunset, and SW for the summer months, but will see how things go. Although it looks uneven, we are on a hill which is what you are seeing, and as the house isn't parallel with the fence, the angle of the fence in the image won't help either!
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Wow picture clarity is great!
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Nice picture Gabba! That house is huge!! I don't think it was there when i visited... you just have to have more than one camera - that'll solve the problem... LOL!
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Nah - don't think it was either. The guy across the road (now at the back) sold his land at the front, and I think they put two houses on it. I don't think you can see the original house any longer.
Unfortunately if I tip it up any higher I will catch the roof of our wee house!
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I meant the other camera is to point the other direction - to the harbour... :)
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Yep. Already have one out the other way so now have one on each side of the house. I'm in the process of rebuilding my website. The new site will show both cams. I can't add any more on as I've run out of USB connections on the PC lol
Sent from my Ideos using Tapatalk 2
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Although it looks uneven, we are on a hill which is what you are seeing, and as the house isn't parallel with the fence, the angle of the fence in the image won't help either!
I did wonder!
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Sounds like you could do with a USB hub and then of course you will have room for more cameras :)
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Yep got one of those - needed it for all my stuff and my next project - solar detector
There were a couple of others in this thread indicating they wanted to put up a webcam (Te Puke and Choc-a-holic, I think). How did you get on?
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After battling unsuccessfully with USB cameras at the top of my mast, I have taken the plunge and ordered my new camera. It is an IP security camera with PTZ and can be wireless if I want, but seeing as I will need to have power to it anyway it will probably be wired.
After wandering around Auckland CBD and seeing all the cameras down there (and no easy way to 'nab one ;) ) I did a search and found a couple of 'cheap' chinese cameras - one had night vision, the other had zoom. I went for the zoom option as the night vision capabilities would have barely reached ground level :D
The price was a lot less than I thought it would be - about the same as the retail price on those Logitech C9XXX cameras mentioned earlier, will be interesting to see how it turns out.
The camera is one of the 'pendant' type of outdoor camera - does anyone know if it is OK to mount these upside down? As it is a weather cam I want to make sure it can point high enough - and if I open up 'guest' access to it don't want people to be able to zoom in on me mowing the lawn without my coat on :o
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I bought a chinese wifi camera about 18 months ago which I have mounted above a window to cover the driveway, plus swivel to monitor the backdoor and wine cellar. Cost me about $NZ90 landed through Ebay. Has operated flawlessly. From memory I think it can be mounted anyway up. (not weatherproof though). When I am in Christchurch I can check everything is OK up here through a browser.