Cumulus Support

Hi All

I have just joined this forum and would like to know what web cams you recommend and those that you do not.

I am wanting to setup a webcam at home that looks out across the suburb where I live (mainly the sky line)

What is the best webcam that you have seen in terms of picture quality?

What produces the best results?

What can last the winters (-6c), the summers (33c), and of course everything nature can throw at it?

How are people protecting their web cams when they are outside?

My site
http://weather.crowe.co.nz

Cheers

Chris

Hi Chris,

I can't really help with webcams (I need to sort out a new one myself at some point when I can work out where to put it) but I notice you don't actually have your own weather station - have you considered getting one?

Hi Chris

Have a look at this thread: https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2796

There's info on what cameras we use in there.

steve wrote:I notice you don't actually have your own weather station - have you considered getting one?

I would like to - I have been thinking about it for a while now.

I like the look of the Vantage Pro 2 stations

Chris

hills wrote:Have a look at this thread: https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2796

Thanks Phil

I have been looking at that one since you posted the links - quite interesting.

As far as housing it from the weather I found this product (quite expensive - but what isn't in New Zealand)

These http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID= ... rm=KEYWORD look interesting - but typical they do not mention anything about the heating device, power source requirements, if it is on 100% of the time for anything else for that matter.

Chris

I considered a heated one too, but went with the standard model. I haven't had any condensation issues on mine and as far as Aus climates go we're in quite a cold area. It is completely sealed and I just put a couple of those moisture bags that you get in medicine bottles in there and touch wood so far so good. I've now had it up there in the latter part of summer and the coldest part of winter.

If I do get any issues I'll look at upgrading to a heated model.

Hi Chris,

Budget perhaps has some influence but you can actually get pretty good results with a small outlay, have a look at my site with webcam at http://www.llandudno-weather.co.uk

I use a basic 1.3mp usb webcam mounted in a converted security light case, images are captured by TinCam at 640 x 480 ratio and uploaded to, in my case, weatherunderground.com. (Windows 7 drivers are a problem though with this setup, as there is no daylight option available but XP is fine!).

You can also get various ip cameras with varying qualities of sensor, you will however note that in my case the camera faces into the sun at certain times of day, which is a definite no no for any camera with a ccd sensor!

Hope the above helps in your decision.

iisfaq wrote: As far as housing it from the weather I found this product (quite expensive - but what isn't in New Zealand)

These http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID= ... rm=KEYWORD look interesting - but typical they do not mention anything about the heating device, power source requirements, if it is on 100% of the time for anything else for that matter.

Well I can help you there. I work at Jaycar in Palmerston North (New Zealand). And typical - the website information and website of Jaycar is not the best - I could not possibly comment any more.

Power supply - 24VAC for the heating/cooling part of this case. If you are using a normal CCTV camera as a webcam, you will need an aditional 12VDC power supply. However a USB webcam will do just as well. Heating and cooling will come on when it needs to.

Palmyweather wrote:

iisfaq wrote: Power supply - 24VAC for the heating/cooling part of this case. If you are using a normal CCTV camera as a webcam, you will need an aditional 12VDC power supply. However a USB webcam will do just as well. Heating and cooling will come on when it needs to.

Hi

So I assume with a USB WebCam you will need a 24v source in addition to the USB cable 5v?

I went into JayCar in Christchurch and found that the device is too big - I guess it woud look like I was securing my property for a P lab or something.

I have purchased a USB - Cat5e adapter which will give me the ability to mount the USB camera up to 40-50 meters from the computer.

I have been looking at some JayCar products called SEALED ABS ENCLOSURE - not sure of the size I need yet, but they are rated at -20c to 100c.

I was thinking of somehow mounting the USB-Cat5E inside of one of these boxes, and then cut a hole in the clear part of the lid, and replace the cut hole with glass and silicon it in place. I then could mount a USB camera in this box.

I spoke to some hardware developers at work and I got a couple of "GORTEX" patches (not sure of the name) - they stick on and allow air to pass through but not moisture so this may elimate the need for a heater - another reason to keep away from metal enclousers.

I looked in the JayCar catalogue at their Cable Glands and was thinking of using one of those to mount the Cat5 cable in/out of the box.

Since you work there you may have knowledge of the products I have mentioned?

What are your thoughts on my idea?

I have been playing with writing my own WebCam software using DirectShow.NET in c#

cheers

chris

They are pretty big, so I cut mine in half. It was very easy to do, the front and back just screwed staight back on.

I just used a plastic box with a circular polarising filter glued over a hole in the end. Optical quality window with an improvement in contrast with the blue of the sky. A plastic cowl made from a plastic food container keeps the worst of the weather off (from my north facing webcam - south facing webcam is under the eaves of the house).

hills wrote:They are pretty big, so I cut mine in half. It was very easy to do, the front and back just screwed staight back on.

I thought you had from your photos. Looks a lot better though.


In regards to the ABS boxes, that's what I was thinking of using myself. You can also get clear lid ones. Depending on how big your camera is you may be able to fit it in with the networking to USB adaptor. That is exactly what I was going to do ... when I get the time. As I’m renting a house I have to be careful not to damage the place.

I agree that using those large CCTV camera cases is a bit of over kill for most webcams.

Just recently I got a Microsoft LifeCam HD5000 from Dick Smith which give really good quality images and does not wash out with the sky. (http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4c3f6e550 ... iew/XH1368). Currently this is mounted in the window which gets moisture in the mornings. But if you mounted it in a plastic box hard up against the plastic, you should not get this. I would recommend getting the smallest possible box you can so that you're less likely to buld up any moisture inside.

If I was to do it, I personally was not going to use a cable gland, I was just going to get the networking cable and silicon it up to ensure a good weather tight bond. If you're into crimping networking cable, you could use a really small gland and crimp it inside the box, or cur the bulky ends off the networking to USB adaptor and hard wire it.

There was a post around here I saw last night where someone had taken their webcam and mounted it into a plastic box with a lens on the front. It looked really good and I think is the way to go. Despite it getting cold down there, I don't think you would need to heating. Would be a waste of time.

You can see my webcam at http://palmyweather.ueuo.com/webcams.htm .