Topic: Help Connecting an Amcrest IP Cam to my Weather34 Aurora MKII Template

[2thepoint]

Hi All,
Before I get into my problem, ANY help is greatly appreciated!!! I'm not super techy, so please understand.

My Meteobridge platform is a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
RAM: 940 MB total, 800 MB free (14% used)
Storage: WD SLC, 14.6 GB total, 14.5 GB free (1% used, 3380.8 yrs)
SW Version: Meteobridge 5.3 (Mar 12 2022, build 2718), FW 1.3

The Amcrest is an IP3M-943 wifi attached to my local network. I can access jpeg images using a browser with Amcrests Web View plugin. I added my MB to the camera's ip filter list. I generated numerous scripts/api using various jpeg scenarios with ISpy. I did get one that looked promising "green checks" under Cam setting and uploads. I could click the "bullet INTERNET camera next to the camera settings and it would generate a still image. However when I tried creating still images/URL's under Weather Nets, the pages generated were blank .

My goal is to have a functional back yard weather camera that can be launched from my website template running Weather34 Aurora MKII

Thanks in advance for your help.

phil

[davidmc36]

Does the Amcrest have a URL where you can see the still image? My Meteobridge is pointed to:

http://192.168.2.19:88/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=Weather&pwd=XXXXXXXX

It adds the overlay and the W34 on my site acceses the URL of the image with overlay on the MB:

https://admin.meteobridge.com/cam/1d5f7a5c216df8a304b687901b0ba428/camplus.jpg

[2thepoint]

David, thanks for the reply.

Yes, I can input a URL string in MB's Cam tab>Meteobridge Weather Cam>External Picture>URL>.http://admin:myPW@192.168.1.xx/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi?1.  When I trigger the "Internet Bullet Camera" icon on the Cam tab, it open a new page and produces a still image.  The URL http://192.168.1.xxx/aircam.jpg of the page, the image URL page contains the ip of my MB.  I get green checks & no errors.

Where I think I'm stuck is when I try to generate a jpeg when I switch tabs from Cam settings to Weather Nets>Meteobridge Weather Camera and try to generate a still image when I toggle either of the camera icons.   
When I launch the icon prompting image & text, a new blank page opens with a URL of: http://admin.meteobridge.com/cam/61dd7418a80d95e550da27bd4ff3fad9/camplus.jpg

I did try inserting your URL string under the Cam setting URL.  I got the following error back with red checks.  Data logger will restart now, caused by configuration changes.
Error: Camera URL not providing data: http://192.168.1.xxx:88/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=Weather&pwd=myPW

I've tried numerous combos with no success.  The journey continues.

thanks again

[davidmc36]

.......
I did try inserting your URL string under the Cam setting URL. ....

Mnnnnn, ya. Just example of mine for the URL.

I poked about and found this again:

https://www.ispyconnect.com/camera/amcrest

Your URL should be there if model listed.

[2thepoint]

David,
I poked the death out of the iSpyconnect app and tried every jpeg string offered for my model camera.  Also downloaded the Amcrest HTTP Protocol API Specifications pdf. 

Below is a clip from Amcrest's http spec sheet.  The string I highlighted works for the cam settings, not the MB Camera Web Net settings that allows you to frame the pic or just use the plain jpeg.  Can't get beyond that point????

Syntax http://<server>/cgi-bin/ snapshot.cgi[?channel=1]
Method GET
Description Get a snapshot of a video channel.
Example
To get a snapshot of video channel 1, the URL can be
http://192.168.1.108/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi<<<<<<<<<<<<<<NOTE: this one works when I add username & PW at the beginning of the string.
or
http://192.168.1.108/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi?channel=1
Success Return Image of jpg format.
Comment ChannelNo: integer, the video channel index which starts from 1, default 1 if not specified

[2thepoint]

Making progress...power cycled the MB RPi. Now I can grab images from the Cam settings along with Weather Nets MB Weather Cam settings. Images were generated with and without text overlay. Next on to the Weather34 Aurora MKII!!

stay tuned.

phil

[davidmc36]

W34 is dead easy. Just I put the admin.meteobridge.........blah blah address into settings. It will fetch that image.

[2thepoint]

David,
do you use the http: string setting used in the Cam setting i.e http://admin:my_pw@192.168.1.xxx/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi?channel=1
or one of the URLs generated from one of the two camera icons on the Weather Net page? https://admin.meteobridge.com/cam/61dd7418a80d95e550da27xxxxxxxx/camplus.jpg
thanks,
phil

[davidmc36]

Whatever the address is where the two icons are. One with overlay text, the other without.

Sounds like what you describe as the Weather Net page.

[2thepoint]

Whatever the address is where the two icons are. One with overlay text, the other without.

Sounds like what you describe as the Weather Net page.

David,
You nailed it!!

Thanks much,

phil