Author Topic: Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky  (Read 2524 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline DeepdaleFarm

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3
    • Weather | Deepdale Camping & Rooms and Deepdale Farm
Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky
« on: June 13, 2022, 11:39:14 AM »
For years we've loved our Bloomsky weather camera, posting the photos from it on our weather page - https://www.deepdalebackpackers.co.uk/weather/ - and on various social media accounts such as https://twitter.com/deepdaleweather

Sadly now Bloomsky appears to have gone out of business and so their services are giving up.  We need to find an alternative and would love to know what suggestions there are out.  We want a camera that looks upwards, not outwards, so we can see the cloud formations and hopefully one that will work at night too so we can capture the stars on a clear night.

Suggestions please, preferably with links of where to buy.

This is the sort of image we want to capture:

Offline mkutche

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1041
    • GosportWx.com
Re: Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2022, 08:08:32 PM »
guess no one knows :( i miss mine too!! I heard they sold to China
Mike K.
Davis Vantage Vue 6250 - CumulusMX (3.21.1-b3205)
Gosport, Indiana
Gosportwx.com twitter.com/GosportINWX
-----------------------------------------------------------

Offline ocala

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 4383
Re: Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2022, 04:16:24 PM »
Just my guess but I think their business model was doomed from the start. When you give away cameras to everyone for free where does the revenue come from. If there was reoccurring charges for the service then I could see it being somewhat successful.
The blues had a baby and they named it Rock & Roll

Offline Otis

  • (aka Paul)
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 724
    • Lake Huron Weather
Re: Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2022, 05:42:16 PM »
Just my guess but I think their business model was doomed from the start. When you give away cameras to everyone for free where does the revenue come from. If there was reoccurring charges for the service then I could see it being somewhat successful.

I have to agree with this  :-)

CW3699

Offline Aardvark

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 2305
  • Tonto to Lone Ranger : "never take off mask.
    • turned off
Re: Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2022, 10:29:55 PM »
You could get an outdoor IP camera and save the images to a capture software.   I would get an enclosure like what security cameras have.  You just have to see what on the internet will work, will the software work with your computer.

Offline scudwatcher

  • Billy T. Forecaster Webmaster csraweather.net
  • Senior Contributor
  • ****
  • Posts: 157
  • Amateur Radio KC4SRA csraweather.net
    • CSRA Weather
Re: Weather Webcams - Alternatives to Bloomsky
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2023, 04:03:34 PM »
I have two REOLINK RLC-511W IP WIFI Cameras, one is currently facing "upward" towards the East.  The other cam is facing true north.  Unfortunately, I can't position a westward facing camera due to trees.  Any Paul Bunyans out there?  I use IPTimelapse to capture still and timelapse images of sky conditions:
Website = https://csraweather.org
Daily Timelapse Video = https://csraweather.org/DailyTimelapse.php

AMAZON = USD 99.99
IPTIMELAPSE = USD 129

I also have a REOLINK DUO 4K WIFI and these cameras sport a wider view due to the dual lenses.  (Could probably look cool facing upward towards the sky).  Current project trying to configure still images and timelapse videos....

Current Image (sort of) = https://csraweather.org/GNTS1ENECam5.jpg

Amazon = USD 127.99
IPTimelapse = USD 129

You may try alternative cheaper webcam software:
Netcam Studio = USD 49 to 99 different packages
Blue Iris = USD 59.99 (BE AWARE TOO MANY UPDATES!)

Hope this helps.