Cumulus Support

Thanks Neil, I'll have a look at that site.

Gina, thanks for the comment re the website.

There is a lot to digest in your reply but it will be very helpful. Thanks for the links to the kit, I'll have a good look tomorrow. I haven't braved Linux yet but will do as you suggest and find something similar for Windows.

I use the wired version of this http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=256534 works really well, will upload images by ftp at pre-defined intervals, and you can also access it live. Can be set to keep overwriting the old file (which is ideal for a web page).

It does other stuff like motion sensing but the images captured use the time/date as the file name which makes using those on a webpage tricky.

That's a good point - these webcams often come with Windows software - I think mine did. Being used to nothing including Linux software I don't look at the included software I do still have one PC with Windows (XP Pro) on the HD

Regarding Linux and Ubuntu, I would say to anyone using Windows and happy with it, stay with what you know unless (like me) you like playing with new things. IMO both operating systems have their good and bad points. It's just that Linux suits me and the way I think better than Windows - with the bonus that the software is free

I've been watching this thread with interest as I know nothing about webcams and I'm in the same situation as Helen, where I need to place my webcam a greater distance from my PC than the standard USB cable lengths. I tried using 2 wire CCTV and a video to USB converter but that didn't do the job. I'm very glad you're now putting the exact model webcams & s/w you're using.

I use an ANC-600v ip camera http://www.svp.co.uk/electrical/digital ... 01027.html all it needs is access to a lan cable if you have a home network. It has its foibles which doesn't surprise me as a budget ip camera but it works well. there are wireless variants around which may be simpler for some to set up especially if you don't have cabling in place.

Poor Sitting, but I stuck one of my webcams in the windowsill "Inside the sun screen". So it is a horrible picture, but during the day was okay.

Looking for my box which has the older webcam I used to use which no longer has the base to stick back outside in the same location (outside the screen), but I think my son was playing with it.

If I find it, I will replace the current cam. Don't want to use this one outside as I use it for video conferencing.

This is using PySoftware's Active Webcam software.

I set the image to 320x240 to keep the processing down and am running it at 1fps.

With the street lamp you can actually see the street, and the cars driving by. Bit boring.

http://cumulus.tnetweather.com/webcam

I will be out of the office in the other room so I will turn off the lights and it should make the image look better, though not by much.

Time for some online Poker...

I'm getting "IE cannot display ...." for the server IFRAME

Seems my logic for displaying which port was wrong. should be fixed now.

I have to use a different port depending on where I am looking.

Yup - That's working fine now

Woohoo, I got my webcam up and running: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~storerfa ... webcam.jpg

I have just sat the camera in the front window at this stage. Its a MS LifeCam Cinema True 720p HD. I also got a security camera dome which fits it perfectly and a 10m USB extention cable.

At this stage I'm collecteing an image through yawcam as detailed above and using cumulus to send the image to my website. It will stop updating when I start mounting the camera permanently, so this is just a test. I haven't linked it to my home page yet either.

Thanks for the info, this has been a great help.

So you could (If you want) overlay your pic with weather conditions using php or javascript / dhtml or .... take a look in yawcam extravars folder - you can use cumulus to create variables to be embedded in your pics.

Yep, this is just the beginning!

Thanks I'll look into all of that, but for now its time to crawl into the ceiling space on a 34C degree day.

This is all great stuff, really helpful. I will decide on a webcam first then start thinking about how I set it up and code a web page. I like the way Gina has overlaid her webcam image over a still image of the same view. And I would also like to overlay current weather information, as suggested by Beteljuice.

A question for Alan - RCE - as the cam you use is a candybar form, can you easily tilt and position the lens or do you have to move the whole unit? This was broadly my price range and they have a wireless model so had possibilities. But was worried about how easy it would be to target the image.

Kevin & Phil, I just need to catch your cams in daylight to have a good look!

Thanks very much everyone. When I finally order something, collect it when next in UK and then set it up, I will let you know.

Positioning is very easy, it comes with a wall mount that has a ball head this can be adjusted and locked into position. The mount screws into the camera using a standard tripod threaded socket so other options would also be possible (eg buy a clamp type tripod and use that instead).

Would grab you a photo of my installation but won't get chance until the weekend.

Ahaaaa, very clever! However I think of the config I definitely need wireless, so the wireless model of yours does it at a reasonable price. Can you zoom in with it?