Web Cams for Security of Bonsai.

Ian_Homer

Hi All,

Spending most of my Day in the office on the Computer, doing e-mail quotes, layouts of Signs, Billboards and general Adverts, (Ok - Bonsai Talk too !), it struck me why dont I have a "Web-cam" trained on my Bonsai Display benches back at home. I can then log in and see them. Presumably, as I am on Broadband at both locations, once I have the equipment, it would not cost much to operate.

The trees are as secure as can be in an enclosed Courtyard, but it would be nice to check on them from time to time. Even say have multiple Cams, so you can check other areas of the property.

Given, that in the states, you have larger "more open" plots than us in Europe,
are there any members with experience of using such a system.

If so, how does it work, is it cheap, what software is used etc... etc.??.
Any useful web-sites ? Say a site where you can send the picture files to, then log in to check - thus avoiding running it as a separate Web-page.

It would be nice to see a discussion on this, since I think it is something we can ALL make better use of in the future.

Best wishes,
Ian.

__________________
help save The Vulcan...
Return to Flight

Advertisement

Emperor Fish

Ian,

I have just such a system and it works great, it is free, and I have multiple viewing positions, all updated in real-time.

I work from home.



Regards,

Fish.

__________________
Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

HEALTH WARNING: Engage brain fully, before typing into keyboard.


"We are the average gamers and we'll kill you badly. There'll be no finesse. no fancy tricks, no inventive attacks, just 2 whole smg clips and a rain of 'nades."

Ian_Homer

Fish,

Ha, nice work if you can get it !

Heres my view of the World. With all great thanks and appreciation
to Candy for this.

Oh, you may just be able to see "I KEEP AN EYE ON FISH ALL DAY"

Best Regards,
Ian.

Attached Images

IansviewtotheWorld.jpg (66.5 KB, 59 views)

__________________
help save The Vulcan...
Return to Flight

Alasdair

I have just been doing a piece of coursework for my IT exam. One of the sections was on internet enabled home security, and i found this site very helpful...

http://www.iviewcameras.co.uk/

You'd be looking at between £90 and £260 for the software that covers between 2 and 16 seperate cameras. Then it doesn't cost much to get a few web cams from PC world.

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

fuzzymoto

I recently added a wireless cam that can be easily used for guarding your bonsai. My camera is wireless so it can be placed anywhere there is a power cord. It is not an outdoor camera so I have it looking out a window. It has a built in web server (built into the camera) so no additional computer is required. I simply leave on the broadband modem, the wireless router and the camera and it works. I can monitor in several ways.


1) I can tune in from any web browser anywhere in the world and watch a live video feed. (password protected so only you can see it)

2) I can set software to record video or still frames at specific times/dates (like a VCR) and play them back later.

3) By far my favorite setting is the motion detector. My camera is setup to detect motion in it's field of view. When it does detect motion it records 5-seconds of video and e-Mail's the video clip to me. You can set various parameters (sensitivity of motion, area of motion, amount of video to film, intervals between video recording, e-Mail addresses to send to...). I have mine set to send 5-seconds, high sensitivity with 2-minute intervals. I get e-Mail at work with video attached and then if necessary I can tune into the live feed. The only problem I've found so far is that on a windy day the camera sometimes detects a lot of motion and sends a lot of video e-Mail until you adjust it for that day.

Works great for me and didn't cost much for the equipment.

Ian_Homer

Fuzzymoto,

Wow, that sounds ideal. The fact of being wireless and not needing to be linked to a computer is even better.

Have you a link to where I can see the spec and purchase any ??

Welcome to the forum by the way - glad my post made you come from behind the trees

Thanks,
Ian.

__________________
help save The Vulcan...
Return to Flight

fuzzymoto

There are a couple of cameras that work like this. Mine is the Linksys WVC54G.

http://www.linksys.com/products/pro...cid=38&prid=650

It does require that you have a broadband connection in the house and a wireless router connected to it. To make it easier I also use a Linksys wireless router.

Alasdair

wow, think i'm guna have to edi my coursework a bit! lol

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

fuzzymoto

I believe both Linksys and D-Link make all sorts of cameras like mine. They both also market wireless routers so the setup is fairly easy. The only limitation I've found on mine is that the highest level of security I can set on my router will lock out the camera so you have to tune the wireless security down a little to allow the camera to work.

I actually purchased mine through Dell but I'm not sure what is available in the UK.

I wouldn't worry about the course work. This stuff changes on a daily basis.