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Weather Station Hardware => Weather Web Cams => Topic started by: jdpsys on February 17, 2019, 03:47:54 PM

Title: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: jdpsys on February 17, 2019, 03:47:54 PM
I could use some suggestions finding a replacement for my aging Panasonic BL-C140A.
Have looked at Reolink's RLC-420 and HDViews dome cameras that I am installing on other projects.
The Panasonic allows me to FTP a jpg with a static name every minute. That is what I am looking for.
I really don't want to maintain a PC to process the image. What I have has worked flawlessly for many
years without constant maintenance (or an oopsies from Microsoft updates).
My Sheva Plug is the same, just sits there and updates the Davis Station to the website without a complaint.

Thanks ~ Jon
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: jdpsys on February 17, 2019, 06:25:06 PM
I just ordered a used D-Link DCS-4701.
Good enough for a weather cam and it's POE.
The manual says you can name the FTP file.
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: jdpsys on February 25, 2019, 11:33:54 AM
Update on the D-Link.
Yes you can name the file, but it adds a 6 digit random prefix and there is no way to turn that off.
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: Bushman on February 25, 2019, 11:48:33 AM
I could not find the 4701, but the 4701E and 4701VB (high def) both allow you to turn off the date/time suffix. 
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: jdpsys on February 25, 2019, 01:25:48 PM
it is the 4701E, and it does turn off the date and time, but still adds a number to the file name when I look in the ftp directory.
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: jdpsys on February 25, 2019, 01:37:20 PM
Just looked up the manual for the D-Link DCS-4802E.
Looks like the same firmware. You can name the file and turn off date/time, but it still adds a random 6 digit number to the file name.
Might have to hire someone to write a program for lunex box to capture images from a standard ONVIF IP camera and FTP them.

Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: Bushman on February 25, 2019, 02:14:23 PM
"lunex"  Linux?  Or???  And doesn't your Meteohub handle images like Meteobridge?
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: jdpsys on February 25, 2019, 04:16:10 PM
"lunex"  Linux?  Or???  And doesn't your Meteohub handle images like Meteobridge?

LOL, yes at bit tired when I typed that.
No, Meteohub does not handle images.
Title: Re: Suggestions needed for replacement weather cam
Post by: Bushman on February 25, 2019, 04:46:47 PM
A Python script like this will do what you want.

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import shutil
import os
import time

#--- set the time interval to check for new files (in seconds) below
#    this interval should be smaller than the interval new files appear!
t = 1
#--- set the source directory (dr1) and target directory (dr2)
dr1 = "/path/to/source_directory"
dr2 = "/path/to/target_directory"

name = "output_"; extension = ".txt"
newname = lambda n: dr2+"/"+name+str(n)+extension

while True:
    newfiles = os.listdir(dr1)
    for file in newfiles:
        source = dr1+"/"+file
        n = 1; target = newname(n)
        while os.path.exists(target):
            n = n+1; target = newname(n)
        shutil.move(source, target)
    time.sleep(t)



>>>>  Making obvious changes of course...