Need a better web cam.

[Ray Proudfoot]

We're either end of the age group! I feel your pain in trying to spread your resources too many ways.

Yes, it is expensive but the same analogy could be used for buying a lesser PWS and not the Davis. Quality lasts a long time and often works out cheaper than buying and then buying again.

All IP cameras come internet ready. They just plug into your router and they're ready to go. You don't even need to keep a host computer running as they can upload direct to your webserver. The cost for this one is around 350UKP or around 600USD but often things are cheaper in the US than the UK.

Can't help with your camera problem, sorry. Hope someone can though.

I envy your weather. Cloudy day after cloudy day here in one of the worst summers for a while. Hope it picks up for the Olympics!

[Skywatch]

We're either end of the age group! I feel your pain in trying to spread your resources too many ways.

Yes, it is expensive but the same analogy could be used for buying a lesser PWS and not the Davis. Quality lasts a long time and often works out cheaper than buying and then buying again.

All IP cameras come internet ready. They just plug into your router and they're ready to go. You don't even need to keep a host computer running as they can upload direct to your webserver. The cost for this one is around 350UKP or around 600USD but often things are cheaper in the US than the UK.

Can't help with your camera problem, sorry. Hope someone can though.

I envy your weather. Cloudy day after cloudy day here in one of the worst summers for a while. Hope it picks up for the Olympics!

Okay. but does the router need to be weather proof? The tower where the cameras are mounted on is on the other side of the yard on top of a 25 Ft (7.6 meter) tower. For example I have a pond system in my backyard. It takes a 50 Ft (15.2 meter) power cable to run that. That's half the distance I would need to run the cable to the router. By the time the cables back to the router it might as well be hooked straight to my computer. The description in the link said the camera's weather proof if installed in a weatherproof enclosure. I mean one of these days I may do it but I'd need to look into it heavily. After all one of my biggest fears is spending allot of money doing something wrong and  everything goes bust and be an expensive loss. Before I bought my VP2 I spent months studying a PDF of VP2 manual like a text book so when I got it I knew how to set it up with minimal error. I will admit I'm not the brightest bulb in the box. which is why I try to obtain as much info as possable for a purchase.

There's no such thing as impossible. One of these days I may get to it.

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I envy your weather. Cloudy day after cloudy day here in one of the worst summers for a while. Hope it picks up for the Olympics!

Believe it or not I envy your weather. Here in Texas it's day after day of sun and heat. We're in a stage 3 going on 4 drought. Everything's turning brown and the fire risk is high. Cloudy days maybe depressing but as along as you don't have a flooding rain your doing better than we are. Droughts cause allot of damage. Yesterday and the day before we got lucky. Had a rare July storm and both days were mostly cloudy so we were excited. Sun comes out things start to dry out again. If we could exchange weather that would be awesome. I'll give you some of our sunny days for some of your cloudy days.

[Ray Proudfoot]

Okay. but does the router need to be weather proof? The tower where the cameras are mounted on is on the other side of the yard on top of a 25 Ft (7.6 meter) tower. For example I have a pond system in my backyard. It takes a 50 Ft (15.2 meter) power cable to run that. That's half the distance I would need to run the cable to the router. By the time the cables back to the router it might as well be hooked straight to my computer. The description in the link said the camera's weather proof if installed in a weatherproof enclosure. I mean one of these days I may do it but I'd need to look into it heavily.

It comes in a weather-proof housing. It's connected to the router with a single cable. The sytem is called Power over Ethernet (PoE). The single cable provides power and sends the data to the router. I hope to position the camera about 15 feet up close to the room where the router is so the cable will only be 10 feet or so.

Can you position your webcam closer to the room where your router is? It just needs a decent view of the sky.

After all one of my biggest fears is spending allot of money doing something wrong and  everything goes bust and be an expensive loss. Before I bought my VP2 I spent months studying a PDF of VP2 manual like a text book so when I got it I knew how to set it up with minimal error. I will admit I'm not the brightest bulb in the box. which is why I try to obtain as much info as possable for a purchase.

I did pretty much the same. I think it's vital to research something like this pretty thoroughly so you don't make a big mistake. You've already shown your intelligence by doing your homework! And yes, I took an age before buying the VP2 because over here they're a lot more expensive.

Believe it or not I envy your weather. Here in Texas it's day after day of sun and heat.

Joy! Send it over! But seriously I wouldn't want your searing heat. I go to Spain each year and the heat makes it too uncomfortable. It's a rare day in the UK when it's too hot to sleep and very few of us have air-cond.

We're in a stage 3 going on 4 drought. Everything's turning brown and the fire risk is high. Cloudy days maybe depressing but as along as you don't have a flooding rain your doing better than we are. Droughts cause allot of damage. Yesterday and the day before we got lucky. Had a rare July storm and both days were mostly cloudy so we were excited. Sun comes out things start to dry out again. If we could exchange weather that would be awesome. I'll give you some of our sunny days for some of your cloudy days.

Believe it or not much of England was placed under drought orders this spring. That means no hosepipes or paddling pools in people's gardens if filled with a hose. Since then it hasn't stopped raining! April and June have been particularly wet and the last few months have been very dull. I suppose we always wish for things we don't have! Happily swap a few of our days for yours. 

[WeatherHost]

Okay. but does the router need to be weather proof? The tower where the cameras are mounted on is on the other side of the yard on top of a 25 Ft (7.6 meter) tower.

By the time the cables back to the router it might as well be hooked straight to my computer.

The router will be inside the house.  You do not want to connect an outdoor device directly to your PC.  That's just asking for lightning damage.

Mine comes down the mast into a network lightning protector which is grounded, then in to the network switch which is connected to the router/modem.  I used outdoor Cat 5 cable which has a tougher shell and is filled with waterproofing gel.  The tools and the connectors are cheap enough to make cables to the desired length.

[Ray Proudfoot]

I should have made it clear it's the webcam that has a weather-proof case. The router, as WeatherHost points out, will be inside the house.

Having to take extra precautions for lightning is not something many do in the UK such is the infrequency of it.

[Skywatch]

The router being inside the house kinda discourages the idea. I have my cameras mounted on the tower so they get a good view. I'd rather see a storm off in the distance so I can watch it's development as it comes through. Also I don't want to get ontop of the roof. Cameras are also like weather stations and in the same context I settled on the wireless Vantage Pro2 and not the cabled version. Wires are just too much of a hassle. If there was a way I could get the cameras wirelessly transmitting from the tower through the an IP setup that would be nice but if the router has to be inside than it's out of the question. I'd need 150' of cable to accomplish this. Also WeatherHost you mentioned that with an IP setup you can replace individual parts. If lightning hits the tower everything's fryed camera router and all. In the end it's just the same as buying a new system. With a kit like I have it's cheaper than a whole setup. I may still look into IP but right now I'm discouraged. I want to avoid running cables from the outside in.

[WeatherHost]

Obviously you're not understanding home networking at all.

The IP cameras can be wireless with the router/modem/access point in the house.  But you still have to get power to them somehow.  You're going to be running wires no matter what you do.  Most wireless IP cameras can easily communicate to 300' even if you have to add a booster antenna to the inside access point.  Even at that, you're talking less than $100 in components (minus the cameras).

Lightning is always a factor, but there are ways to deal with it.  Grounding the mast is just one step.

I lost almost everything in the house one time (including the thermostat and control unit in the furnace) when lightning hit the ground outside and came in via the water pipes.

 

[Skywatch]

Obviously you're not understanding home networking at all.

The IP cameras can be wireless with the router/modem/access point in the house.  But you still have to get power to them somehow.  You're going to be running wires no matter what you do.  Most wireless IP cameras can easily communicate to 300' even if you have to add a booster antenna to the inside access point.  Even at that, you're talking less than $100 in components (minus the cameras).

Lightning is always a factor, but there are ways to deal with it.  Grounding the mast is just one step.

I lost almost everything in the house one time (including the thermostat and control unit in the furnace) when lightning hit the ground outside and came in via the water pipes.

 

I don't understand networking. So what? Home networking is not like learning your ABC's. My dad is a engineer for Texas Instruments and he's doesn't like networking either. Consider the fact it maybe simple for you and a few others technically geared. But for someone like me who doesn't learn stuff like this easily maybe like taking calculus. It's better to understand someones confusion than to put show your inpatients with someone. Best thing is to either explain networking and answer the question than to make a statement that criticizes the point of confusion. So I'm sorry I don't understand but it's not really a big deal. I'm happy with my camera system I have.