Author Topic: Not very impressed with the webcams  (Read 1714 times)

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Offline captgadget

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Not very impressed with the webcams
« on: January 25, 2017, 09:52:41 AM »
I purchased an Ambient webcam and I'm certainly less than impressed. It never stays connected wireless and then I connect the ethernet connection. Stayed connected 12 hours and shut down. Now why in the world would it loose an ethernet connection? Once again the equipment search tool won't find the camera and I've reset it 6 times now. As I read through this forum I'm less than impressed with any results on this subject of webcams. It appears you all struggle with them. While I think it's a great idea you need a lot more patience than I'm willing to give and up to this point I've given more than would should have too.

Offline ValentineWeather

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2017, 11:25:22 AM »
Agree few are turn key, closest I've seen are the expensive Stardot's with builtin server, at least they will overwrite single image unlike most all other cameras that ftp will only rename image making ftp worthless for updating single image on website. These cameras are all made for security unlike the Stardots that also consider websites. 
 
Randy

Offline GregJ

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2017, 12:01:21 PM »
Hi CaptGadget,
I operate several webcams both personally and some on contract.  The key is the software.  I am using all three of the Sebectec packages.  He has one for IP cams and then proprietary packages for Olympus SP500 and Canon T3 DSLR cams.  I run the IP cams where used to work and they are bulletproof. Here is a link: http://centralmarketweather.com/  You can drill down into each store and see the images as well as time lapse.  Those cams are Sharx 3905 and have been in operation for over 2 years... non-stop.  You can see my site here: http://skunkbayweather.com/.  I use the Oly SP500's 24/7 and they take about 3,500 images per day...  They are tanks.  I use the Canon for night photography only when the sky is clear or there is an event I want to capture.  Take a look at the Sebectec software at: http://iptimelapse.com/  The Oly SP500 and Canon packages are a bit more complex to set up, but provide superior quality.

Hope this helps.

Greg
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Offline Bushman

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2017, 01:43:50 PM »
Agree few are turn key, closest I've seen are the expensive Stardot's with builtin server, at least they will overwrite single image unlike most all other cameras that ftp will only rename image making ftp worthless for updating single image on website. These cameras are all made for security unlike the Stardots that also consider websites.

I used to use a bunch of Powershell scripts to manage all this for my non-Stardot cameras.  There is an easier option though:  http://www.dropitproject.com/
Need low cost IP monitoring?  http://wirelesstag.net/wta.aspx?link=NisJxz6FhUa4V67/cwCRWA or PM me for 50% off Wirelesstags!!

Offline captgadget

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2017, 02:04:16 PM »
One thing I forgot to include is that this is on a Apple OS X system so there are probably some limitations that way as well.

Offline captgadget

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2017, 02:07:02 PM »
Hi CaptGadget,
I operate several webcams both personally and some on contract.  The key is the software.  I am using all three of the Sebectec packages.  He has one for IP cams and then proprietary packages for Olympus SP500 and Canon T3 DSLR cams.  I run the IP cams where used to work and they are bulletproof. Here is a link: http://centralmarketweather.com/  You can drill down into each store and see the images as well as time lapse.  Those cams are Sharx 3905 and have been in operation for over 2 years... non-stop.  You can see my site here: http://skunkbayweather.com/.  I use the Oly SP500's 24/7 and they take about 3,500 images per day...  They are tanks.  I use the Canon for night photography only when the sky is clear or there is an event I want to capture.  Take a look at the Sebectec software at: http://iptimelapse.com/  The Oly SP500 and Canon packages are a bit more complex to set up, but provide superior quality.

Hope this helps.

Greg

Man, this likes like over kill for me. All I want to do is to send photos to WU by ftp on my Mac.

Offline Bushman

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2017, 02:21:41 PM »
Use the built-in FTP on your AmbientCam
Need low cost IP monitoring?  http://wirelesstag.net/wta.aspx?link=NisJxz6FhUa4V67/cwCRWA or PM me for 50% off Wirelesstags!!

Offline Cutty Sark Sailor

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2017, 02:30:31 PM »
Let's see... my three hikvisions might need a reset once in awhile, and I lost one to lightning EMF surge. So I keep a spare. The three logitechs have hummed along fine for about 4 years now, but need to have some maintenances on them this year... good cleaning, etc. may have to replace one.  Mine are only concerned with making stills and low fps streaming to my website... danged if I'm gonna let my hard work display free an a commercial website, never knowing if issue is mine or (most likely) theirs.... so I upload to Me... you can see 'em if you want, live, or within 10 seconds of snap, at 1024x576.

Fact is, most of us who don't try to supply other services, (other than incidentally, or as '2nd source') are able to maintain ours with little or no issues generally, once we've gone to the trouble and taken the necessary steps to accomplish what we desire...
 


Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Not very impressed with the webcams
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2017, 08:09:12 AM »
My weathercam is a Logitech.  It's "kind" of remote and basically the biggest problem have from it is occasionally the hard drive fills up and I have to go delete gigs of saved images...for some reason I save the images...I was putting together time-lapse videos but haven't done that it quiet a while.  Being a downtown shot, it's kind of like having a security camera for the area (used once to help semi-confirm id on a perp that busted a shop door down).   Anyhow, other than either the full harddrive or either Godaddy decided to choke-up for some obscure reason, I have no issues. 

Like Cutty Sark Sailor, I need to take my single cam down and clean it...seems during bright sunlight the contrast is very low and I get a muddied image...lower light levels and the image is much better.  Maybe a haze has formed on the camera lens or the glass of the housing.

As for uploading to WU I do upload to them.  If something happens and their system stops showing the image I don't sweat it.  I know that I haven't done anything to stop it so it must be them...eventually the image comes back up on WU...I figure it's their loss if it doesn't show up.  I'm not losing any sleep over WU, either way.  My primary, focused interest is for my own website.

Best wishes,
Ed

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