MICROSOFT Lifecam Studio (Any Good)

[PaulMy]

Thanks for the link Ray, excellent information. And see there is a http://www.sandaysoft.com/products/cumulus/ link in there as well.

SJG1976
Your Yawcam link is not working for me at the moment but from your time lapse still I would say that is a good weather view preferred over the front view.

If I relocate mine to the back I'll get more and better weather/sky but also several houses in the Court as well, but I should again look at IP or wireless.

Paul

[SJG1976]

Sorry....

Was playing about with the Camera trying to get a better mounting position.
It back again but you can't see much at all.

(unless I'm moving it about again)

Just means my laptop is in the wrong place now....

So going to have to get something else sorted out soon.

Still too much reflections at the moment, and you can't see anything outside.

[SJG1976]

Here's a Still From the Day...

[SJG1976]

And one from Just now (Too Dark)

20.00.37.jpg

[hills]

Looks good, well the day time image does.

Just bear in mind that with an inside camera at night time with the curtains open and the light on, you may be transmitting a reflection of your room. I've seen a couple of people get caught out by that.

[6719jason]

Just bear in mind that with an inside camera at night time with the curtains open and the light on, you may be transmitting a reflection of your room. I've seen a couple of people get caught out by that.

Yeah I have to second this, I was having such... interference so I now have the Webcam Fixed behind a Net Curtain which has a Black T-Shirt covering an area the Size of the Window

[SJG1976]

I've sort of got that bit covered.

I've been using or was using for when the camera was at the front, a black cardboard box, with a hole in it that pressed up flat to the glass, and the camera points through that.

But using it out the back, I don't get the angle I want so I need to make another modified version.

Haven't had time to do that yet, but will need to get one done soon to keep my hands busy, as I've just given up smoking (that justifies all the money I've spent over the last week)

At the Moment the cardboard box is on the camera, but. Still gets reflections, so will get that sorted soon.

[RayProudfoot]

I've found what might be an ideal IP camera. I've posted a couple of questions on the seller's website and am waiting for a reply.

http://www.use-ip.co.uk/outdoor-ip-came ... amera.html

This is similar to the Y-Cam camera but has wireless n caapbility. Not cheap I appreciate but given it will be providing images for years should give good service. Most security cameras point downwards but weather ones need to point slightly up. I hope that won't cause a problem with rain on the lens.

The IP rating of 65 suggests it can withstand low pressure hosing down so should be more than capable of withstanding the British elements. http://www.ezscreen.com/ip_ratings.htm

[SJG1976]

That looks an intresting WebCam.

I'm starting to think maybe I should have gone the IP Route!

So far spent £70 on the Camera and £30 on cables, and it's still sitting inside on the Windowsill.
It's now on a better mount, but still suffers reflections. So really needs to be external in a housing (which will be at least another £40 plus drilling holes and mounting)

(and cables running everywhere)

It's a Gooseneck which eventualy fitted the Microsoft Camera with a bit of force!.

Cameramount.jpg

I've now change the WebPages.
The WebCam is now on

http://www.cm2weather.co.uk/webcam.htm

Will have to see what it's like in the morning for position, it too dark at the moment..

Seem to be speding all my time doing this at the moment.
Now trying out a better timelapse, but not getting very far at the moment....

[RayProudfoot]

Yes it is but consider the price. Double what you've already shelled out and I don't imagine it would stop once the camera has been bought.

I won't be buying anything until the spring by which time I may have a clearer idea about how much extra I need to pay for the additional bandwidth of showing these photos. Are you running your own server? if not what sort of deal do you have with your web host?

Whilst I would prefer to keep the camera inside the problems you're experiencing with reflections are making me think an outside camera would be less hassle. Image quality is the great unknown. For more modest sums you don't expect it to be great but for that sort of money I would but I'm using it for something quite different to what it's designed for. I imagine blue skies will not be a problem but showing some detail on overcast days is essential. I have no way of knowing that prior to purchase.

Keep up with the project. I'm sure many are watching with interest. Consider how few weather sites have webcams. It's a challenge but implemented succesfully it makes your site far more popular!

One question regarding your software. Can you stop images being recorded overnight? Ideally I would like to cease recording 30 mins after sunset and start 30 mins before but that would require the software to know those times. I doubt it does but I'm curious what control you have.

[SJG1976]

At the moment I've got my site hosted by http://www.freeglovine.com

Although I belive they are making some changes to the way they host things (I belive they are setting up a special area for Cumulas users)

<<Perhaps Steve can confirm some more as I belive he said he had a letter from them>>

The Streaming WebCam is run of a PC in the house, and is linked back from the WebPage using a DynDNS Account (www.dyndns.org)
That way if my IP Address changes the Camera will remain live (or should do anyway)

The TimeLapse videos are hosted on WeatherUnderground (they do all that bit for you)
But I'm trying some of my own as well, which will be hosted on YouTube. (Still Very Much work in progress)

At work we use the Axis IP Camera's I did consider borrowing one to see what that perfoms like, but got the Microsoft one instead.

As for WebHosting my sites not popular enough to consider a paid for solution, but I may in the future.

The Other sticking point for me at the moment is my ADSL Connection isn't very good (3014/768)
Would like to go for something better, but it's all money money money!! (none of which I have)

[steve]

At the moment I've got my site hosted by http://www.freeglovine.com

Although I belive they are making some changes to the way they host things (I belive they are setting up a special area for Cumulas users)

<<Perhaps Steve can confirm some more as I belive he said he had a letter from them>>

Their email didn't really go into much detail, or explain what they were proposing to do in a way that I could understand, unfortunately.

[SJG1976]

They don't really say much on theie landing page either.

I'm just wondering if it will effect thoes who already have a hosted solution with them.

[SJG1976]

Right trying to make a mount for my Camera now.
So I can mount it outside.

Have been insired about using an old (or maybe new) External Camera housing (or a Dummy Camera Housing frame)

Anyone else use one of these on a Microsoft Lifecam?

And what make did you use if you did.

[RayProudfoot]

At the moment I've got my site hosted by http://www.freeglovine.com

Although I belive they are making some changes to the way they host things (I belive they are setting up a special area for Cumulas users)

Thanks for the info. Mine is hosted by a fellow member of this board but I'm not sure if I can increase my monthly bandwidth allowance.

The Streaming WebCam is run of a PC in the house, and is linked back from the WebPage using a DynDNS Account (http://www.dyndns.org)

The downside is that I think you're limited to a 15ft USB cable run and that isn't convenient for me. I really want the camera up at 1st floor level.

The TimeLapse videos are hosted on WeatherUnderground (they do all that bit for you)

That's handy to know. I upload to them so that will help on the bandwidth.

The Other sticking point for me at the moment is my ADSL Connection isn't very good (3014/768)
Would like to go for something better, but it's all money money money!! (none of which I have)

I have BT Infinity available in my area and it cost very little extra over my slow copper connection. But you don't need super fast speeds if you're only uploading an image every 10 mins or so.