[TowerTalk] Video surveillance for remote tower

Robert West robert.west at eatmoresoap.com
Thu Aug 13 22:22:17 PDT 2009


I've installed many wireless IP cams inside but never outside although I've
seen it done cheap enough.  Most of the exterior IP cams I've seen are
pretty expensive and have the pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) which is pretty cool
if you've ever played with it.  Digital zoom, however, sucks.  Just takes
the already grainy video and magnifies it.  Yeah, that's zoom I
suppose.......  

Here is a link to using a el-cheapo cam outside in a light fixture.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Outdoor_IP_Camera_Housing_from_garden_lamps/

Kinda fancy but you can get the general idea.  I saw one once that was a
Linksys PTZ wireless cam put in an exterior floodlight housing. Basically a
big watertight box with a large window.  The Linksys PTZ cams I've used have
an option in the setup to sense movement and will follow the action as well
as email you when there is an event if you have internet access in that
location.  They are also open source so you can find applications that will
do things outside the stock firmware.

Or, just wrap it in a climb shield and cover those cables in rigid conduit.
:)

B0b-

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bill Conwell (home)
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 12:15 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Video surveillance for remote tower

I'm preparing to erect a tower and antennas at a weekend retreat house that
is often vacant.  We haven't had any trouble leaving the place unattended to
date, but I'm a bit concerned that a tall tower might attract unwanted
attention while we're away.

 

Does anyone have experience with video surveillance systems for their
towers?  Desirably, I'd like something that might be solar-powered and
connect wirelessly to the home network (lest someone be tempted to cut
cables from the ground), although that isn't strictly essential.  A motion
sensor - either in the camera, or in software on the associated computer -
that captures frames when motion is detected would be a plus.

 

Paul Nyland, K7PN, referred me to Axis products (www.axis.com
<http://www.axis.com/> ) which offers a variety of systems.  Particularly
interesting is one that is remotely steerable, with autofocus and an 18X
zoom.  But the $1200+ price is a bit off-putting.  And while steerability is
a great feature while you're watching the image, I envision the camera will
mostly collect imagery unattended, which I'd review only infrequently.  If
the price were modest, I could install several static cameras - capturing
different views.

 

'Suggestions (including anecdotes about arrangements to avoid) are welcomed.

 

Thanks,

 

/Bill, K2PO

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