| Author | Message | ||
| Tom (Oldmansax)
Registered Member Username: Oldmansax Post Number: 14 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 67.142.166.23  Rating: N/A |
I am thinking about setting up outside surveillance in my Wanderlodge. Since I already have a number of computers available to me, I am considering using webcams at various locations on top of the bus. Has anyone tried them for this application? TOM | ||
| Bill Holstein (Billmoocow)
Registered Member Username: Billmoocow Post Number: 169 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 24.21.114.17  Rating: N/A |
Never thought of that one. Sounds like an idea! | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1649 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 97.214.117.171  Rating: N/A |
Interesting thought....let us know how it works out (if you do it)! Thanx RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1600 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 76.4.123.74  Rating: N/A |
My church just bought some wireless cameras for secutity purposes and they are 110v and again wireless and comes with a monitor system that can be plugged to a big screen and cheap in price. Comes with 4 cameras and the monitor is 7 in. No light needed as they have nite vision Gomer | ||
| Brian Evans (Bevans6)
Registered Member Username: Bevans6 Post Number: 115 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 184.151.127.128 Rating: N/A |
I have been thinking of installing a webcam, but I don't know much about them. Can anyone point me to a primer, or suggest a way to buy a web cam? Brian | ||
| Tom (Oldmansax)
Registered Member Username: Oldmansax Post Number: 15 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 67.142.166.26 Rating: N/A |
What I have been thinking about is mounting a small (maybe 14") flat screen monitor in the dash or overhead. The computer itself could be mounted in the overhead cabinets where I already have the other computer related equipment. A roll up keyboard & thumb mouse would complete the computer system. I could then use inexpensive webcams on all sides of the bus, mounted inside the windows, but outside the curtains for surveillance & a backup cam. There is plenty of free software that would allow split screen viewing and/or recording. I also would add some GPS/trip planning software so the screen would double as a GPS device while driving. I guess I could really get creative & add some kind of mechanical monitoring maybe. I was thinking about this system because I already have most of the components I need to do it laying around. It's an ambitious plan. May be more than I want to do right now. That's why I was hoping someone had tried this before me. Brian, as far as buying a webcam, most any electronics place will have them, or check Ebay or Amazon. Most now just plug into a USB port & come with the appropriate software. The more fancy ones have infrared, pan, tilt, zoom, and other features. TOM | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1644 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.45.7.143  Rating: N/A |
Auto Zone and the rest now sell back up cameras that fit on your license plate. They transmit (no wiring but power) to a viewer in the drivers area. In December they were $125 , should be cheaper today. FF | ||
| thomas flocks (Taflocks)
Registered Member Username: Taflocks Post Number: 528 Registered: 9-2009 Posted From: 74.78.79.86 Rating: N/A |
ask sean but i say it wont work.first the picture wont be in reverse and it will drive you f'ing nuts 2nd the run is too long for a usb cable.3rd just get one from walmart for $25 that is meant to be a back up camera. | ||
| Tom (Oldmansax)
Registered Member Username: Oldmansax Post Number: 16 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 67.142.166.26 Rating: N/A |
http://www.usbfirewire.com/parts/rr-usb2-ext-65ft.html This one has been tested with a web cam @ 65 feet. TOM | ||
| Brandon M (Brandon314159)
Registered Member Username: Brandon314159 Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2011 Posted From: 71.193.166.23  Rating: N/A |
I am using a relativity cheap 2 channel backup camera. You can get many screen sizes and the camera mounts on many different surface types. The video quality isn't great, but then again you're just looking for things to avoid. They only give you enough cable (composite video) to run a normal car length, so I made a 'long' video cable out of a piece of TV coax (RG-59) and some male video connectors. All purchased from home-depot in their home sound/video department. Make sure the coax is 75ohm (cable TV). It has two channels, so I'm putting the second over my entry/exit door to determine what's going on when I'm not in reverse. Only major downside with using a computer as a USB or Firewire camera video source is that it is over complicated for the purpose, and unless you use some new hardware running a minimal OS, boot time is going to be an issue. Start your coach, wait 2-5min for the computer to boot, then see what's behind you? Those reasonably priced cameras/LCD combos on Amazon work pretty good (get one that can see in the dark too) and if they have aux in ports, you can get crazy with the cameras. http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PLCM36-3-5-Inch-Universal-Rear-view/dp/B0037WNONS/ref=sr_1_2?ie =UTF8&qid=1325558202&sr=8-2 I have one 'similar' to that. Later, | ||
| thomas flocks (Taflocks)
Registered Member Username: Taflocks Post Number: 529 Registered: 9-2009 Posted From: 74.78.79.86 Rating: N/A |
the thing is, why spend $90 on a cable and then have to find a weatherproof cam that only shows frontwards not backwards and then have to fool with the computer,when for $25 and a hunk of coax and a cheap monitor you can have a great system that sees in the dark also. | ||
| Tom (Oldmansax)
Registered Member Username: Oldmansax Post Number: 17 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 72.61.250.103 Rating: N/A |
"the thing is, why spend $90 on a cable and then have to find a weatherproof cam that only shows frontwards not backwards and then have to fool with the computer,when for $25 and a hunk of coax and a cheap monitor you can have a great system that sees in the dark also." Originally, I just asked a simple question: 'I am considering using webcams at various locations on top of the bus. Has anyone tried them for this application?' If there is no one who has done this, then the question is moot. I really wasn't going to explain my motives, but, since it appears people are interested, here goes: I am in the computer business. I already have more than six figures worth of used computers setting around; stuff from old Compacs that are the size of an office desk & weigh 200 lbs., to rack servers to single space XP machines, to I don't even remember what else. I have probably a 100 routers, switches, & hubs. I have thousands of feet of various cable. I have a bunch of old web cams, some surveillance cameras, I think 2 thermal cameras,an ultra sound machine, a non-working MRI machine and to tell you the truth, I am not sure what else I have. And most anybody can write or find a little software that will reverse cam images. Besides that I said SURVEILLANCE. So, the only thing I would have invested is my labor. I just was interested to know if anyone else had already done it and, if so, what were the results. As to a reason, I guess it's the same reason anyone would buy a 20, 30, or 50 year old wore out bus, put $5000 to $200,000 in it, & ride it's sorry behind up & down the road, at $4.00/gal & 5 MPG. I'M CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!! However, I will just do it myself & see what happens......... AFTER...... I finish experimentation on the EMP gun I'm building that will fry most unprotected electronics at 75'. I can buy one of those too but they want $44,000 for one & there would be a record of me having it...... Then I can't have ANY fun!! Now, where did I put my lead lined billfold?...... TOM | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1651 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.218.45.211 Rating: N/A |
?????....'scuse us....   ...I think. RCB | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1651 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.54 Rating: N/A |
"at $4.00/gal & 5 MPG." "5 mpg" , not every bus , loads get 10+ and a few even better. Please don't fry mt DD electronics for pointing this out!! FF | ||
| Tom (Oldmansax)
Registered Member Username: Oldmansax Post Number: 18 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 184.242.226.101 Rating: N/A |
"Please don't fry mt DD electronics for pointing this out!! FF" Unfortunately, DD electronics fry themselves!! LOL! Don't ask me how I know! And besides, I only want to make the highways safer for SPEEDERS! LOL!! TOM |