Topic: The Webcam Project

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Hello all on the Australian severe weather forum. My location is in the northern rivers in Ballina NSW and in the next 2 to 4 weeks i will be launching a weather web cam possibly making it a interactive one (means you can control it) and it will be viewable on my Website under a web cam link. The site is http://www.ballina-nsw-weather-from-stormboy.com/ the camera which is going to be purchased is http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Wireless-OutDoor-IP-Colour-Camera-Webcam-CCTV-Night-Day-/330438738675?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Security_Equipment&hash=item4cefaf02f3#ht_6703wt_911.

The camera will be facing directly South because the camera can rotate 180 DEG it will be able to face east to west. it will be mounted high with my other weather station equipment which is approx 6M above the ground and it will be hooked up via solar panel.

one disadvantage is that southwest to west there is a large tree because i am next to a park so southwest storms may sometimes not be so visible but most of the times they will be.

The camera also has night vision which would allow lightning to bee seen as this camera will be live so thats all the news for now.

If anyone can help me with software needed to make this cam interactive so anyone can use it please post a link to the website with the software.

Thankyou and goodbye.

Antonio.

[Colin Maitland]

G'day Antonio,

Its all sounding good.

I remember a few postings on WZ regarding Webcams,  one of them was http://forum.weatherzone.com.au/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=812841&page=1.

Michael Bath would probably be able to help you out. And I think someone on this forum has a webcam based on the Gold Coast, although I am not sure if it or anyone else has interactive cameras at this stage.

All the best and look forward to the end results.

Col  

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Thanks. now what i really need to know is the web site / programs needed to host my future webcam on (free sites would be mice) my site would be preferred. so how can i broadcast my webcam on the net at all? will there be a setting in the program it comes with?

Antonio.

[Michael Bath]

I'm only familiar with programs that take a webcam snapshot every X minutes then upload it to a website. I haven't used any of the interactive video feed type webcams.

MB

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Just a quick update here. After some 3 days of deep research and faq pages i found that if i want to host on my website the webcam i need 2 things.

- FTP accessible website - Check

- Webcam software of some sort - none yet

so i just need to know now what webcam software i need to use and or any HTML coding needed to be set up on the webpage that i will have my cam on.

the cam could be up and running in 2 weeks from now. purchased the cam today its from china so it may take 2 weeks.

Antonio.

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Just a quick update here. After some 3 days of deep research and faq pages i found that if i want to host on my website the webcam i need 2 things.

- FTP accessible website - Check

- Webcam software of some sort - none yet

so i just need to know now what webcam software i need to use and or any HTML coding needed to be set up on the webpage that i will have my cam on.

the cam could be up and running in 2 weeks from now. purchased the cam today its from china so it may take 2 weeks.

Antonio.

If all goes well my cam will be like this but not interactive

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/

if this does not work out it will be uploded images at every 15 or less seconds.

[Michael Bath]

Keep in mind the bandwidth a webcam can use. A 50K image uploaded a couple of thousands of times a day can sure add up
MB

[Antonio (stormboy)]

MB i have a unlimited usage plan so this is fine i am only paying $4 a month for it so its nothing at all with space limits.

Antonio

[Michael Bath]

I don't mean your web-host - I mean data uploaded from your PC via your internet plan. My camera uses up about 20 meg a day and a fair bit more in summer when the days are longer and more shots taken.  That's a 65K image every 2 minutes. So around 1gb a month at peak times. Given you are talking about images uploading every 15 seconds, it could easily end up uploading 10gb/month.   It may not matter with your internet plan either.

regards, Michael

[Antonio (stormboy)]

I don't mean your web-host - I mean data uploaded from your PC via your internet plan. My camera uses up about 20 meg a day and a fair bit more in summer when the days are longer and more shots taken.  That's a 65K image every 2 minutes. So around 1gb a month at peak times. Given you are talking about images uploading every 15 seconds, it could easily end up uploading 10gb/month.   It may not matter with your internet plan either.

regards, Michael

That part i did not think about.. we do have a large plan but i dont want to use 30% of it just on uploads. what system do you use Michael to upload a pic every 2 minutes? i suppose i coud do every 45 seconds if i wish or low quality video even.

Antonio.

[Michael Bath]

Wait till you get the camera and experiment a bit with the setup. Not sure what to advise at this point.
MB

[Antonio (stormboy)]

just a quick update on what is happening

the webcam is not up and running yet nor purchased some cash problems are going to delay the webcam project but hopefully can and will be up and running by November latest.

Antonio.

[Hardy25]

AAPT/IINET have unlimited usage plans, [ which i am on] great service, maybe its worth wild changing to this provider?

good luck Antonio if you need anything pm me =]

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Hello ASW i have some good news.

After sending the nice people at BSCH a photo of my north and south views they decided to help me out by telling me that they will put a camera up for me and that all i need to do is supply the internet connection of 10GB a month the setup is Just like Michaels Baths one a snapshot every 2 minutes, they are most likely going to tell me what is happening in Mid November will keep you guys posted.

image 1 = north
image 2 = south

Antonio.