Topic: Ambient Weather recommended Webcams

[MNicastro]

Hi, instead of purchasing a Ambient Weather Network Outdoor Wi-Fi Weather Camera, are there any other recommended webcams that can be used?  I have a Foscam FI9900P that I use, and have it connected to AWN fine, but has periodically connection issues. I'm pretty sure that the Ambient Weather camera is just a relabeled Foscam outdoor webcam. It looks exactly the same as my FI9900P except white color. Ambient Weather technical support is pretty useless and either takes weeks to respond or not respond at all. Anyone else have experience with using webcams on AWN?
https://ambientweather.net/dashboard/00c434a2776ddaa1faf77f38fc3b8484

[davidmc36]

I use that camera on AW. I do seem to have the odd connection burp. (Offline just now as mice chewed the wires.)

I am planning to mouse proof it and run Ethernet before remounting.

I do think most connection burps are after router reboots and the IP changes. Ethernet will get me connected to main router which can assign Static IP

[MNicastro]

Thanks for the fast reply.  Yeah, I changed to static IP address right away so it would rule out any DHCP issues.  It may also be the location which is stretching the wireless range a bit. I may eventually go with a hard wired ethernet connection as well.

[Mikey94025]

I just setup a new outdoor webcam with FTP upload to ambientweather.net.  This $50 Foscam 3K/5MP wireless outdoor camera is a recent model with 5Ghz/2.4Ghz: https://a.co/d/0UhV82y.  Example snapshot image: https://images.ambientweather.net/E8DB84E64E48/latest.jpg

Just remember to prefix your FTP address with "ftp://" as it says in their instructions: https://ambientweather.com/faqs/question/view/id/1795/

Some cameras like Foscam may require you enter the server header ftp://ftp.ambientweather.net, rather than ftp.ambientweather.net.

FYI - My old Nest Outdoor cam stopped working with ambientweather.net.  When you create a public live feed (not possible anymore in their new Google Home app) the nexusapi snapshot image URL returns "Forbidden" if used outside their embed HTML.  Something has changed since the old Nest setup instructions: https://ambientweather.com/faqs/question/view/id/2280/

[captgadget]

I'd like to try the new solar web camera from AWN, but it says it has to be used with AWN. I use Meteobridge and I have my current Foscam setup in there so I can send that camera to AWEKAS.. I called ambient sales and they guy said I didn't need Meteobridge to use the camera but I told him about my Metobridge and he said I could so I'm still not sure if I can or can not. Anyone here have any thoughts they'd like to share? I'm interested in solar because my Foscam is on a GFI and every once in awhile it gets kicked off until I reset it.

[R.Sidetrack]

I'm interested in solar because my Foscam is on a GFI and every once in awhile it gets kicked off until I reset it.

Perhaps getting "notified" about a tripped GFI (so you can resolve the problem) would be useful. I don't have any of these, but they look interesting: https://gfinotify.com/

According to the FAQ, there is no ongoing fee, just the original equipment purchase.

After cleaning out spoiled food from a freezer that WAS plugged into a GFI circuit, I ran a new dedicated circuit from the breaker box to the freezer that is not GFI protected.

[captgadget]

I checked this out on Amazon and not very good reviews. But a great idea anyway!

[Mikey94025]

I just setup a new outdoor webcam with FTP upload to ambientweather.net.  This $50 Foscam 3K/5MP wireless outdoor camera is a recent model with 5Ghz/2.4Ghz: https://a.co/d/0UhV82y.

Unfortunately my Foscam MGS5030 outdoor webcam's image has become complete unclear and illegible.  I recently reconnected it after our winter rainy season and now see that its image is complete unacceptable (see attachment).  I can see condensation inside the sensor window.  This is despite the camera being advertised as IP66: https://a.co/d/c3M77hz.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

[SoMDStargazer]

So did anyone ever come up with a good list of cameras that can work with the Ambient Weather Station?

[Mikey94025]

So did anyone ever come up with a good list of cameras that can work with the Ambient Weather Station?

If you're looking for an Ambient weather station camera suitable for Ambient Weather Network (https://ambientweather.net/) public display, then I do not recommend it.  I don't think anyone is reviewing and approving AWN cameras.  My own camera has been waiting for approval since October 2024 (7 months)!  It's still waiting on: Your weather cam is awaiting approval to become public.

• I've read the FAQ (https://ambientweather.com/support/weather-cameras/) and made sure my camera is showing 80% sky.
• I've submitted ambientweather.com Contact Us (https://ambientweather.com/contact-us) and emailed their support mail, but no response.
• I even paid for a month of Silver Monthly Camera, but that didn't help either.

I've given up trying to get AWN camera approved.  Lack of public weather cameras approval also explains why there are so few of them in my area (none in all San Francisco, 4 if I expand to include San Bruno/Pacifica/Daly City).

[jaltman]

I have the Foscam V5P and it works well with Ambient.  I switched to it after being unable to get any help from Ambient.  My "old" approval carried over and they never noticed the change.  Find on the Foscam website the CGI interface guide and WD pulls images fine and it works well with my webpages.  One thing about it that is not well documented is the "weekly maintenance" tickbox on the system -> reboot page.  It will reboot the camera weekly and seems to help with the occasional wifi bumps and burps.  I have not had to manually restart the camera since i ticked that box.

Jim

[alanb]

My Reolink RLC-520A has been working well on the AWN site for almost a year. If I recall, approval from Ambient took about 10 days.

[Mikey94025]

I've given up trying to get AWN camera approved.

Good news!  I'm happy to say my AWN camera was recently approved.  After waiting 7 months, I tried deleting it and adding it back again a few days ago.  It seems to have done the trick to get it in front of the approvers.

P.S.  I'm still using a Foscam MGS5030 outdoor webcam rated IP66.  After my first one got water/condensation damage during the last winter with lots of rain, Foscam honored their warranty and sent me a replacement.  It's working fine now.  I have to wait until the next rainy winter before I know whether it is still weatherproof.  It's working well for now.

[davidmc36]

My Foscam has been fine even with front covered in 1/4 inch of freezing rain once. And buried in snow many times.

It must have been a bum unit as I find them to be good quality.