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Re: [TowerTalk] Cams

To: Don W7WLL <w7wll@xxxxxxxx>, towertalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Cams
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 29 May 2017 07:14:43 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Search for "1080p IP camera" on amazon and ebay. Pretty good video quality. Ethernet wired and 802.11, various focal lengths, w/wo pan tilt zoom, night sensitivity, IR leds, etc etc. Prices and capabilities are all over the map. I chose two different IP67 weatherproof cameras, one for top of tower, mounted on a 40m beam boom checking out the view and another at the shack looking at the whole tower. Full 4K video IP cameras are also available, $200 and up. However, that is lots of data to handle if full 30fps video.

The problem I found is poor (Chinese, like awful) documentation. I went with POE which is probably a bad choice for a number of reasons - noise, cable length, hard to filter. I couldn't make them work, and a more techie (ex uSoft) ham couldn't either. It took a network guru friend the better part of a day to make two different models work. Both are 1080p same pixels but one has better video so there are things not in the specs.

I recently tried a Blink cloud home monitor system, IP 802.11 cameras. Again, hopeless install problems as their software sucks (they don't do the security basics correctly and have incomplete 802 specs). $169 for two cameras and access point. They did call back and support got it working. I don't need to wonder how that business model works: small profit minus the cost of 2 hours of engineering support from Boston. Good thing the VC's are paying, otherwise they'd be broke.

Grant KZ1W


On 5/28/2017 12:51 PM, Don W7WLL wrote:
If I may I'd like to take the external ethernet protection question a step farther.

I want to mount a cam outside on the west end of my rooftop. Most camera's that seem to be within a reasonable price range have poor resolution specs or very restricted features. Don't know how police can get much from many of the images that show up on TV which are of such low resolution. The images seem almost useless.

Would be interested in input from any of you who have done a 24/7 setup with a reasonably high resolution but moderately priced cam. I'd also like the ability to do timelapse. Wire connection seems best considering all the RF in the vicinity. I want to primarily orient view to the west out over the ocean. Do have to contend with lots of wind, rain and salt air.

Frankly, I know little about this subject, other than what small amount I've read. Experience of others would be a better input means.

Suggestions from any of you on the best place to start or info on some successfully working setups would be appreciated. Since this is quite a bit off from tower stuff, we probably should take this to a direct contact vs cluttering TowerTalk.

Don W7WLL



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