Re: Webcam to stream video 24/7 for surveillance - How To

geraldk63@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hi. I travel away from home frequently and want to set up a streaming
video
feed that I can view over an IP address 24/7/265 and have it all set
up for less than $50.
I've looked at the Panasonic network cameras as the most inexpensive
and least technical option and the Grand X Guard PCI cards as a step
up
option but it's more expensive. My question is, how do I easily and
quickly
set up my webcam (Logitech) to stream video? I use Win Xp Sp 2.
I will assume port forwarding is involved, a big headache, since I run
my DSL off a Motorola Cable Modem and a Linksys BEFWxxxx Router.
I have a Hauppauge PVR-150 installed and working well.
Best step by step guide, best freeware software, anyone who has
experience setting up one...??
Help.

Try a search on

surveillance netmeeting

I didn't find the results particularly satisfying, but you may get
some additional terms for further searches, from reading the adverts.

The basic idea, would be to use video conferencing software, like
Netmeeting, CuSeeMe, or some of the more recent offerings. That is the
easiest way I know to stream video. Now, how robust this would be (
i.e. you're away from home, and Netmeeting refuses to connect), is
another question.

If you have NAT or a router in your home network, video conferencing
software may need more than one port opened (port forwarding to the
PC with the video camera). There may be a port for connecting and
authentication, another port number used for the streaming data
connection, and so on. Also, there may be *security* issues involved,
with opening up ports on the router, port forwarded to the computer.

Whether custom designed software makes this any easier, is debatable.
For example, custom software could set up a web server, and you could use
dyndns to give yourself a symbolic address "www.myhome.blah", so that
you could reach the web server. But not all ISPs approve of customers
running web servers, so this may not be an option (a web server implies
a business user, seeking to get business quality service, from a home
user account). A web server can be set up on another port, so that
is a possibility. As is using secure protocols, with "https" being
just one example.

An application that takes snapshots of the scene at low rates, or takes
snapshots only in the event of activity, and emails them to some
account, would be another way to do it. The email server would
need a large allowed storage space, to make this practical. The
advantage would be the simplicity and cleaner networking issues.
(Your network setup is probably already open enough to send
emails.)

Depending on where the camera is pointed, you'll need a light source
for nighttime. There are some infrared light sources that can be used,
and the LED based ones may be less obvious to a casual observer, than
a light bulb with a visible light filter over it. (Ones based on normal
light sources, may show a dull red glow, whereas the LED ones can be outside
human perception. It is a delicate tradeoff, since the camera response
also drops off in the deep infrared. Some color cameras will have optical
"infrared cutoff filters" installed over the detector, which is there
to improve color balance in daylight, which will also defeat the
illuminator to some extent. There are special cameras, where the cutoff
filter can be mechanically moved in and out of the optical path, for
best flexibility. A $50 webcam isn't likely to do that.)

http://www.supercircuits.com/IR-Illuminators/IR26
http://www.supercircuits.com/IR-Illuminators/IR20

You can get the 12V for the illuminator, up to a certain number of
amps, from your hard drive four pin power connector. Products like
this, would give you the connectors and scraps of wire you might use.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102434

Paul
.

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