Recommend web cam complete cost under 100.00 dollars

Weather Weather Photography
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Recommend web cam complete cost under 100.00 dollars.
I know I won’t get much . Like to be outside . Cable for web cam to weather computer 50 to 100 feet
Also I can build my own housing
Thank you
info

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I use a Logitech Pro 9000 http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Webcam-Amazon-Frustration-Free-Packaging/dp/B002M78ECK You would have to get a few extension cables though. http://www.usbextensioncable.com/ And here is some ideas for a housing. http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/42283

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thank you
The cable ext. at that web site . I got order USB Cat5e Extender
then order the cable ?

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IIRC there are some posts on here indicating that the 9000 does not work well with the cheap cat 5 extenders that are USB 1.x. Also you can probably get those cheap extenders a lot cheaper on ebay.

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Niko

I look back in the furoms , I can’t find anything about those extenders. Can you Or someone help me on what I would need to make this work?

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In my personal opinion you are unlikely to get the combination of a good camera and 100 feet distance for 100 bucks, and it would be a waste to spend a big percentage of the money on the cabling.

If you have a network I can recommend a very good IP camera that will run 100 feet away with only a network cable (it’s powered over the that cable too) but it’ll cost about $170 and that’s a Panasonic BL-C140.

Hopefully someone else can come up with a tested solution that fits your budget.

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Thank you
that’s all I needed to know. I save up more cash then.
Thank you

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I agree Niko, the Panasonic takes a huge load off Weather Display’s WDwebcamcapture program being an IP webcam and one which in my opinion has far better results than the Logitech series, and is still about the same size. And being an IP camera Cat5 connected, allows a good distance for remote installation. You may have to think about some Silica gel crystals inside the box if cold temps outside and condensation can occur.

TK

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niko

did you built a box for it?
Also where I live Indiana winters months temp. between 40 to 0 outside with humidty

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No, I mounted it under the house eaves so that it’s out of the direct rain and sun. It doesn’t often go below 32F there but we did have some 20’s this last winter and the summer can hit 120F. I don’t think it needs a full enclosure, just a shelter, but there are other users on here who have more extreme weather so hopefully someone else can comment from experience.

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Thank you

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I use the Pro 9000 with 2 x 5m Active USB extending cables, I did try it with the cheaper Cat5e and
USB extenders but it did not provide enough power to run the webcam at a reasonable quality, it was
pixelated. As soon as i tried it with the Active USB cables its worked great ever since, but, Like
TokKiwi said, it does use about 50% processing power using the WD webcamcapture program, so
if you do have an alternative solution, i.e. the Network camera then go for it unless your using a
reasonable PC… :slight_smile:

You can see a video of my webcam here http://www.northantsweather.com/videolastday.wmv
Please excuse the squatter in the housing, IT will be evicted as soon as i send the Mrs up there
cause theres no chance i will be going near the darn creature 8O :? :oops:

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I used an electrical junction box with a clear ABS lid and added three 6.7ohm ceramic resistors in series and fed with 15Vac as a heater (old 2Amp 12V charger without the diode rectifier circuit), and placed a PC PS fan in behind the resistor bank running on just 6vdc just to circulate the air. I used a wall mounted temp control outlet originally for a bedroom heater unit - adjustable room temp knob - and this powers AC for both the 6vdc fan and the heater circuit - outlet is up in the ceiling space so temp up there is related to ambient. On top of this, first on the outlet is a 24hr time switch set for mornings and evenings. So get a box a lot bigger than you think you need initially… if you are adding a heater circuit. We get frosts and high humidity here in inland NZ elevated at 1300ft so condensation is an issue for us.

The other camera in the garage is in better conditions but the window above the workshop bench gets frosted and condenses too so I have another heater circuit on a time switch there too. No fan there though as heater resistors are below the camera and window and heat rises.

Loitech cameras are ok so long as the drivers are not actuated at boot up.

TK

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That’s for the Logitech - right TK? If so that’s definitely an indoor camera being adapted for outdoor use, whereas the Panasonic is described as an “outdoor ready” unit so one would hope that it doesn’t need such extensive protection.

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Thank you Tokkiwi where do I get these parts at? Also can this be solar power?

Niko what all wiring would I need for cam c140 or all parts ? Wiring about 75 to 100 feet. I do have a weather copmuter plus linksys G router
thank you

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It seems the Panasonic does not need an enclosure, and I have seen others use a Logitech under the eaves outside without any protection at all either. Although I would not class the Logitech as IP65 rated, so I would trial the Panasonic placed wherever you wanted it to be and if it has problems and has a moisture issue, then you can dry it out inside and arrange a box for it. I would follow Niko’s suggestion and just trial it anyway. Most of what I was describing is either available from any hardware store or the resistors from an electronics shop.

TK

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Thank you Tokkiwi

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I would start with an open enclosure, like a bird house without a front panel (maybe also without a bottom panel, just so that the rain and sun doesn’t hit it directly. You will need a long cat 5 network cable from the cam to the power injector, and then a shorter cat 5 cable from the power injector to the router (there may be a short one included, not sure). If you don’t have the tools and expertise to make your own cable then buy a ready made one, 100’ ones are pretty cheap on ebay. You’ll have to think how to protect the cable, ideally run it in pvc conduit or water pipe.

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Cat 5 wire not made to be run outside? Or due they make outside cat 5
I work in the heating & air condtiton field as service tech . Running the wire no proplem.
I also found this site for the web cam thru amazon
http://www.posglobal.com/BL-C140A.html
sorry for all the ?
Just tring to figure all the supplys for this web cam project budget

Is this the cat5 cable
http://www.cablesandkits.com/one-hundred-foot-snagless-cat5e-cables-c-121_40_189.html

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They do make outdoor rated cat5 but it’s more expensive like PROVANTAGE: Tripp Lite N007-100-GY 100ft Cat5e Gray Outdoor Rated Patch Cable 350MHz you can also get direct burial cat5 but I think only as bulk cable, not made up cables. To make a cable you would need the RJ45 crimp tool and the connectors, I have those, I’ve done it a few times, and IME unless you have a lot of practice (which I don’t) it’s quite a tricky little exercise.