Hi All…Just starting to set up Weather Station…Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced external web-cam that will stand up to the elements and software to use with the webcam to display on proposed weather web page…Thanks Rob
You might like to take a look at the Now using Panasonic BL-C140A near the top of this Board.
It seems that most external cameras are quite expensive.
This article gives food for thought and I intend trying it out with a Linksys WVC54GCA Wireless Camera I have just bought.
See:- http://www.r3uk.com/index.php/home/37-hardware/96-the-weatherproof-webcam
A word of caution on the WVC54GCA - it streams MPEG video and therefore at the moment WDs own webcam capture s/w won’t work with it. However there is a thid party piece of s/w that so far seems to work well for me and is reasonably priced - Active WebCam from http://www.pysoft.com/
Not so different if you look at the big picture:
WVC54GCA - best price I saw about $90
External housing (security light) - Ace $17
Active Webcam - $29
Total - $136
BL-C140A quick search $175 (I paid less)
…and the price at the UK source mine came from is currently
Fair enough - however I was only trying to make some helpful suggestions.
The spec for the BL-C140A suggests that it too streams MPEG so I guess one still needs some capture s/w!
BTW the WVC54GCA is wireless (although it requires a power supply) whilst the BL-C140A does require a permanent cable connection.
No problem, it’s good to have a well rounded discussion.
The spec for the BL-C140A suggests that it too streams MPEG so I guess one still needs some capture s/w!The documentation isn't very clear, in fact you can grab a still image off the panasonic's own server, or it will FTP a still image at your choice of interval, in addition to serving the stream.
BTW the WVC54GCA is wireless (although it requires a power supply) whilst the BL-C140A does require a permanent cable connection.Since it's power over ethernet it's relatively convenient to install, but I agree not quite as convenient as a wifi one. I happen to use networking over powerline as well so I could install it pretty much anywhere, but I do have it fully wired at the moment.
I got caught out twice with WVC54GCA - a case of rushing into buy without fully checking the spec. First it was streaming MPEG and secondly it needed a power supply when I thought it could capture single frames and use batteries! 
Irrespective of the camera used I though the article I referred to of using a simple housing was well worthy of trying.
I’d also like to have a go at adding a zoom lens of some type to the web cam as well my view of interest is the coastline about 1Km away.
Hi Rob ,i have a web cam Logitech quik cam pro 9000
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/3056&cl=gb,en
And i am very happy with the quality picture.
And i have build a waterproof box with fan and resistor inside
Here it is the image picture
We have several users with usb cams in security light housings, it is a good option.
“touch wood”
http://www.gorgecreekorchards.com.au/webcam.htm
my webcam is enclosed in a steel box but open (no glass etc)
its a Logitech 3000 and been going for over 6 years now
Do you have USB extenders to it?
no, just used a 5m extension (nothing fancy)
and went through Larry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Larry
Thanks All…Quite in favour of the security light housing…But to do without USB Extenders and use 5m cable,end to end,as the saying goes…Hope the practicalities of connecting to a USB Hub is not going to cause any probs…Rob
What camera are you going for? If its the Logitech Pro 9000 then you will need active
USB cables to extend it as it requires more USB power then normal webcams!!!
Appears most of you folks favour the 9000.One problem is that a 5 metre usb is,nt going to reach after reaching for tape today.Hope to site it on a 10ft mast to get good view S/WEST over the Bristol Channel then route via the roof into a spare 1st floor bedroom and now looking at something around 8-9 metres to be safe.Picked a Cat5 usb booster via Ebay earlier and 10 m rj45 - rj45 cable and make up a housing but still undecided what cam to splash out on…Thanks Rob
See this thread referring to USB cables and the 9000 Pro
Niko, can you please confirm that is the case without having to buy any additional s/w.
…and perhaps a few details.
An update on the Active Webcam s/w I’ve been using for a short time.
I’m finding it quite unreliable. Sometimes it works, most times it doesn’t.
Although I know the camera is working fine as shown with its own host s/w.
Active Webcam sometimes reports it can see the camera but just doesn’t capture any video.
I’ll persevere for a little while longer but I don’t have confidence in finding a solution.
When you say active cables is it the 5m repeater type or something like an extender/booster set -up.The intention is to run it via a 4 port USB hub…#-o.Rob
Something like this Maplin Electronics | Batteries, Cables, Chargers, Cameras, Lighting but there cheaper on eBay
As long as the USB hub is USB 2.0 and plugged into a USB 2.0 on the comp and using the active
USB cable above then there shouldnt be any problems