Webcam streaming video

M

MyWorld

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Location
Wes Transvaal
Background:
We want to set up a webcam overlooking the Vaal river to give us accurate flow estimates and show conditions on the river for our fly fishing pleasure.

Basically I'm going to use dyndns to get to the server where the webcam will display the picture needed. So it's just an IP with a webcam on the other end, nothing more.

What I need:
  • A webserver
  • Wireless webcam
  • ADSL connection

Now my questions:
What am I looking at server wise to be able to handle streaming video? What is the minimum specs that can handle streaming a video stream embedded in a website?

Wireless webcam, what make can give us a decent picture quality and decent range? For sanity sake we cannot have the server to close to the river, so the webcam needs to transmit say +/-100-150m LOS with almost no obstructions (cam will be mounted on a pole and will clear the tree tops).

IF the cam has some advanced features like remote control (roll, pitch and yaw, then that would be a super bonus!)

ADSL connection:
What connection will handle streaming video well when we host the webcam on the server?
Will a 30Gb local account be enough to handle the traffic? Traffic will be +/- 200 views per week, mostly nearer the week-ends.

The setup of the webserver and whatnot I can read up on, but if you have any advice on software to use, then I'll be happy to hear from you. Everything Linux of course.
 
It all depends on what kind of frame rate you're looking at, what resolution, and what kind of compression you're hoping to use.

100 - 150m is a LONG distance to be transmitting stuff like that. What will you be using for power?

What you are probably looking at is an IP camera. It will do everything for you (who needs a server? :p )

Otherwise, if you come across a wireless webcam that will do this, see if it's JMF compatible. Done a few things with JMF that turned out to be REALLY cool
 
MyWorld said:
Background:
We want to set up a webcam overlooking the Vaal river to give us accurate flow estimates and show conditions on the river for our fly fishing pleasure.

Basically I'm going to use dyndns to get to the server where the webcam will display the picture needed. So it's just an IP with a webcam on the other end, nothing more.

What I need:
  • A webserver
  • Wireless webcam
  • ADSL connection



Now my questions:
What am I looking at server wise to be able to handle streaming video? What is the minimum specs that can handle streaming a video stream embedded in a website?

Wireless webcam, what make can give us a decent picture quality and decent range? For sanity sake we cannot have the server to close to the river, so the webcam needs to transmit say +/-100-150m LOS with almost no obstructions (cam will be mounted on a pole and will clear the tree tops).

IF the cam has some advanced features like remote control (roll, pitch and yaw, then that would be a super bonus!)

ADSL connection:
What connection will handle streaming video well when we host the webcam on the server?
Will a 30Gb local account be enough to handle the traffic? Traffic will be +/- 200 views per week, mostly nearer the week-ends.

The setup of the webserver and whatnot I can read up on, but if you have any advice on software to use, then I'll be happy to hear from you. Everything Linux of course.
Click to expand...

For the money you are looking to spend, you could buy a tent and a cheap cellphone, then pay someone to stay next to the river and phone in with status updates. And in the process create a job. :D
 
Hmmmm, IP camera....

I take it that an IP camera just needs to connect to the router and away you go.

Power is handled by the lodge where we are going to set up the ADSL. 100-150m is the extreme, but rather overpowered than underpowered.
Compression will then be handled by the IPcam, so now, again, brand and features of the cameras...

Resolution should be good, though not perfect, we would like to be able to see what is going on, not guess whether it is raining or snowing. There will be a pole in the water (measuring stick) so we would need to see this from a distance. The camera will be mounted on the riverbank nearest to the lodge and then we will need to zoom in quite a ways to see the relevant parts of the river to form a accurate assessment of river flow rates (+/- 200m). I know the picture cannot be HDtv clear, but if you can at least read a blurry number from the measuring stick at +/- 200m then I'll be a happy flyfisher!
 
Last edited:
I was going to recommend axis as well, especially for the PTZ stuff and you can get some pretty high res stuff as well...
 
R1300, that is much cheaper than the one webcam I was looking at...

Thanks for the link there!
:)
 
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