Video streaming from the garage

[bmwpower]

A while back someone had a video stream from their garage. I want to do the same thing. I have a camera, just need some recommendations on what software to use. I'd like live footage, but if I have to go with snapshot, so be it.

Camera I have is a QuickCam.

 

[enginerd]

Look into getting a SlingBox. You can broadcast it for free, its pretty secure, and its very easy to integrate it into your network (assuming you run it off the main router - if you have more than one that is). You can even connect multiple cameras to it, and use the different inputs on the SlingBox as different camera sources.

 

[mikeyr]

hmm, good timing on this thread. The Slingbox looks more like a TV Tuner thing to redistribute over the net and not really a webcam.

I had a plain old everyday little webcam on my website and it was a killer on the bandwidth, I eventually set it up to shoot pictures every 3 seconds and put it on the web server in a cool little java app that updated the pic when someone was on the website but it forced me to run the website under Windows so I eventually turned it off. That was 3 years ago and I would like to re-setup a webcam in my garage as I am getting to work on a special toy and club members would like to watch.

So, come on guys, tell us how to do this.

 

[Danglerb]

I picked up a Slingbox Pro from a recent special, something under $200 with the HD adapter, and its seamless and not bandwidth hog. Works great with my cable DVR and has a total of I think 4 inputs selectable remotely.

Maybe not a best choice for a webcam, but what exactly are you looking to do, let thousands watch your garage, or let just you watch it?

No endorsement, just the first hit in a google search for free divx webcam software.
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/divx-webcam.html

 

[bmwpower]

I picked up a Slingbox Pro from a recent special, something under $200 with the HD adapter, and its seamless and not bandwidth hog. Works great with my cable DVR and has a total of I think 4 inputs selectable remotely.

Maybe not a best choice for a webcam, but what exactly are you looking to do, let thousands watch your garage, or let just you watch it?

No endorsement, just the first hit in a google search for free divx webcam software.
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/divx-webcam.html

Not looking to spend any money right now, so free is what I'm looking for. I'm going to try that software link and see how it works. Thanks!

 

[mhoffm911]

http://ustream.tv/

FREE site to stream video from. We used it this year for our National Auctioneers Association seminars and convention. It worked VERY well.

Did I mention it is FREE?

 

[nova65ss]

I guess I forgot but when did you install a pole in your garage??

 

[enginerd]

I still think Slingbox is the way to go. Since its recent purchase from Echostar (Dish), there are going to be some cool partnerships created and applications.

You can connect anything to the slingbox basically, and it can stream highly detailed audio and video to almost anything: Cell phone, computer, etc.

 

[MikeN]

WebcamXP... http://www.webcamxp.com/

 

[DynoDave]

Oh man...it's posts like this that have put me WAY over budget!

 

[Blown71X]

I am doing this 2 different ways, I have a fixed camera on my driveway that is just a convential NTSC output run to a spare computer with a TV tuner video card in it that accepts NTSC inputs, It uses windows Media Encoder to stream, Due to my internet connection being wireless and only having around 1 Mb upstream bandwidth I use Camstreams.com for a server for it...Its a free streaming server and only requires you to log into it once a month.

I also have a Pan Tilt Zoom IP camera in my shop with a somewhat public link that is in the link in my sig, The IP camera has it`s own built in web server and can accept multiple connections in the number you desire, plus it has motion sensitive recording which is done both on and off site in my case..It really is very plug and play friendly.

Fixed IP cameras have come down in price alot in the last 2 years..PTZ versions are still somewhat pricey depending on what you want (the on in my shop was right at 200 on sale) there is a big difference in one with a REAL optical zoom or the digital zoom as is mine.....and to be honest, the digi zooms **** but i cant justify 1000+ for a optical.
In most normal setups, either can be integrated fairly easily, I had some minor issues due to using fiber optics between my shop and the house.

keep in mind if you want to access one from outside you will need a static IP address.

In this day and age my "trust level" has fallen alot and even living in the boonies I consider these a "must" security wise and have multiple cameras that record both on and off site for redundancy and it is comforting to be able to access these from anywhere there is a internet connection.

There are 100 other ways to do it with stand alone web servers/ DVR`s etc. good luck and have fun with it.

Rick

 

[snorvet]

I had an outside house camera pointed at my garage using geovision software. I used to "watch" my garage over the web. I got my cameras from PalmVid. Everything worked fine except cold weather last winter fried the outside camera. Now have a security system, but looking at something new - maybe slingbox

Palmvid: http://http://www.palmvid.com/?gclid=CJnjlvbN2I8CFR-YWAod7VN77g

Geovision: http://www.remote-security.com/gv250.htm

 

[bmwpower]

I am doing this 2 different ways, I have a fixed camera on my driveway that is just a convential NTSC output run to a spare computer with a TV tuner video card in it that accepts NTSC inputs, It uses windows Media Encoder to stream, Due to my internet connection being wireless and only having around 1 Mb upstream bandwidth I use Camstreams.com for a server for it...Its a free streaming server and only requires you to log into it once a month.

I also have a Pan Tilt Zoom IP camera in my shop with a somewhat public link that is in the link in my sig, The IP camera has it`s own built in web server and can accept multiple connections in the number you desire, plus it has motion sensitive recording which is done both on and off site in my case..It really is very plug and play friendly.

Fixed IP cameras have come down in price alot in the last 2 years..PTZ versions are still somewhat pricey depending on what you want (the on in my shop was right at 200 on sale) there is a big difference in one with a REAL optical zoom or the digital zoom as is mine.....and to be honest, the digi zooms **** but i cant justify 1000+ for a optical.
In most normal setups, either can be integrated fairly easily, I had some minor issues due to using fiber optics between my shop and the house.

keep in mind if you want to access one from outside you will need a static IP address.

In this day and age my "trust level" has fallen alot and even living in the boonies I consider these a "must" security wise and have multiple cameras that record both on and off site for redundancy and it is comforting to be able to access these from anywhere there is a internet connection.

There are 100 other ways to do it with stand alone web servers/ DVR`s etc. good luck and have fun with it.

Rick

Aha. You're the one with the camera I saw a while ago. Good tips you gave. I'm not sure what I plan on doing with it yet. Just wanted to screw around and see what I could do with it.

 

[bmwpower]

Hey, do they make wide angle camera? I think it would be cool to have a camera with a wide view of the place in addition to some strategically placed regular view cameras.

Along those same lines...does anyone have any sources for regular cameras?

 

[icnsltmfg]

This is just one place I found while looking for a system for my wife's store.

http://store.bluecherry.net/

 

[bmwpower]

I had bought one of those 4 port capture cards about 6 years ago to run the DVR security setup for my house. It was pretty crappy, would crash the recorder program and/or stop recording when it felt like it. Have these capture cards gotten any better? It probably had a lot to do with the horribly written software.

Any recommendations?

 

[Blown71X]

Hey, do they make wide angle camera?

Yes....

Along those same lines...does anyone have any sources for regular cameras?

I`ll add if you have a Fryes electronics in your area check them out....the one here in Indy has a large selection.....On a off note, My wife just hates it when I go there....the geekiness comes out and it tends to be hard on the billfold


Rick

 

[Blown71X]

I had bought one of those 4 port capture cards about 6 years ago to run the DVR security setup for my house. It was pretty crappy, would crash the recorder program and/or stop recording when it felt like it. Have these capture cards gotten any better? It probably had a lot to do with the horribly written software.

Any recommendations?

I tryed one of those a few years ago and it put the SU in ****...i think it`s still up in the closet someplace...

Seriously..the dirt cheap simple way is to get a cheapie TV card for your computer and use windows media encoder....you won`t have many "goodies" but it will let you play enough to decide if you want to step up to the next level

Here is the camstreams link to my fixed cam if you want to see how that setup works ( it can have audio too)....obviously check in the daytime as there isn`t much to see here at night.
Fixed cam link

That is a total investment of less than 100 bucks you can access it directly if you so desire without using a outside streaming server.

The other option, while slightly more expensive is to pick up a stand alone video web server, i`ve seen these in single channel form for slightly over 125 bucks...you can plug a convential camera into it and have at it.

Rick

 

[bmwpower]

I tryed one of those a few years ago and it put the SU in ****...i think it`s still up in the closet someplace...

Seriously..the dirt cheap simple way is to get a cheapie TV card for your computer and use windows media encoder....you won`t have many "goodies" but it will let you play enough to decide if you want to step up to the next level

Here is the camstreams link to my fixed cam if you want to see how that setup works ( it can have audio too)....obviously check in the daytime as there isn`t much to see here at night.
Fixed cam link

That is a total investment of less than 100 bucks you can access it directly if you so desire without using a outside streaming server.

The other option, while slightly more expensive is to pick up a stand alone video web server, i`ve seen these in single channel form for slightly over 125 bucks...you can plug a convential camera into it and have at it.

Rick

Thanks! I guess the real problem is going to be DVR as I'd like to record it, too. I probably can't do that easily with the simple TV card setup, right since there is no software to run when/when not to record, etc.

I forgot I have another security camera somewhere that I could try this on. I need a tv card though...

 

[mhoffm911]

The website for slingbox is OUTSTANDING. I love their use of video and humor. I may have to look into one of these puppies.

http://www.slingmedia.com/

 

[bmwpower]

The website for slingbox is OUTSTANDING. I love their use of video and humor. I may have to look into one of these puppies.

http://www.slingmedia.com/

I still don't get why I'd want to watch my TV on my computer really. I guess I don't watch that much TV. The aux inputs I can see as being useful, though.

Now if there was an easy way to watch HD movies on my TV that reside on my computer, that would be cool. Apple Tv is cool, but I need more than the stuff I could buy off of iTunes.

....Offtopic...sorry

 

[enginerd]

There are lots of options, they are just not cheap.

As for watching TV on your computer, it comes in handy if you are on the road a lot, travelling for business, programming your DVR from the road, or for security uses, its very versatile, and free transmission. Now, factor in their new parent company and you have potential for some awesome technology to become mainstream.

 

[bmwpower]

There are lots of options, they are just not cheap.

As for watching TV on your computer, it comes in handy if you are on the road a lot, travelling for business, programming your DVR from the road, or for security uses, its very versatile, and free transmission. Now, factor in their new parent company and you have potential for some awesome technology to become mainstream.

How would you program/control your DVR from the road with this?

 

[Danglerb]

Slingbox opens a window with your exact remote control in it, and you just click the buttons and it sends the IR commands to the DVR. Bit of time lag, but you get used to it quickly. How we use it is that the whole family has their sets of stuff that get recorded, and its easy to bring the slingbox up in a window and watch stuff without bothering anybody via the big tv.

As for watching PC stuff on the TV, what I think is best is to build a dedicated "media PC" or PVR system, media server, many give it a few other chores like network storage since it will have huge hard drives. Its still a bit pricey and nerdly to do, but its the direction I think things are going in.

 

[1320stang]

Rick, I think you need to set off a bug bomb in your shop, there are bugs EVERYWHERE!!

 

[ranger_dood]

Yeah, Rick... it's ladybug season!

 

[Blown71X]

I know..I hate those stupid things....I finally just gave up and hit `em with the shop vac when I can. The amount of caulk i`ve went thru trying to make that building as air tight as possible is bordering on scary and they still get in .
Other than just a minor nuisance the only real problem is they set off the motion sense on the camera recording I probably have a couple of hours of ladybug video.

Rick