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Herp webcams???

Printed From: Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK
Category: Website and Technical
Forum Name: Web forum
Forum Description: Announcements, news and suggestions for RAUK
URL: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4677
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 10:29am
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Topic: Herp webcams???
Posted By: GemmaJF
Subject: Herp webcams???
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2014 at 7:58pm
Hi all,

Would anyone be interested is some live streaming herp images?

Not really sure what would be involved hardware or software wise and could do with advice on the topic.

In my case the camera would be placed about 60 ft away from the PC and I could run a cable of some sort.

The concept could I guess involve members with animals in their gardens, so the camera(s) is/are fairly secure and could easily be checked etc.


I could set up a camera for common lizards in my garden for example. Throughout the active season they can be seen on a purposely placed car tyre in our wildlife garden on suitable days.


Some members also have home enclosures for sand lizards which would be fairly amazing.


Any thoughts on the idea welcome. I've no idea of available hardware costs etc, but I think it could be fun to do. 





Replies:
Posted By: Tom Omlette
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2014 at 8:28pm
looks like a simple ip based webcam should do the trick for a small garden. i'd be up for showing off the frogs in the pond but again they are pretty late around here. no reptiles though Cry.

tom


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2014 at 8:41pm
Frogs would be great, I would love to see them. As I do not see them locally at all. (We've only seen one in 10 years in the garden pond and it got eaten by a grass snake Stern Smile

Thinking of it, perhaps promoting the web cams through the ID pages would be a good concept, so when visiting the pages one could then view the live streams for the given species.




Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2014 at 4:41pm
I'm still not really sure of the technology needed, I have a cheap web cam lying about, how does one get it streaming to a website? 

Chris do you have any ideas? It seems one requires a fast server at the source to get live steams to the web, though I'm really not sure.


Posted By: Iowarth
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2014 at 7:39pm
Hi Gemma

Certainly possible although not an aspect I have played with yet. I'll have a look into it - does sound like a both fun and useful idea.

Chris


-------------
Chris Davis, Site Administrator

Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED)


Posted By: Caleb
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2014 at 1:06pm
Originally posted by GemmaJF GemmaJF wrote:

In my case the camera would be placed about 60 ft away from the PC and I could run a cable of some sort.

If your webcam is USB, you won't be able to run a cable more than 5 metres. 

An ethernet cable could easily handle that distance though, so one solution would be to have a tiny computer (like a Raspberry Pi) near the camera to do all the work, and run ethernet from there to your router. 


Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2014 at 6:27pm
Gemma, depending on how much you want to spend how about a wireless camera?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/cctv-and-security/wireless-cameras" rel="nofollow - http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/cctv-and-security/wireless-cameras   

have a look on the inter-web for more examples Thumbs Up


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2014 at 7:45pm
Cheers Andy I do have a wireless camera somewhere, but I would need a video in card to see it on a computer.

The cheapest solution I have found so far would be to buy a 'USB over Cat5' extender. 

This apparently allows a USB device to work something like 50m away from the computer and costs around £10 - £20. Effectively it's a boosted Ethernet RJ45 connection. So I'll just need the Extender and a long enough Firewire.

So the first stage of my little mini project will be to build a waterproof housing for the cheap spare web cam I have, then get the images from the end of the garden onto my PC using the USB extender.



Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2014 at 5:56pm
Whilst waiting for the Extender to arrive I've started work on the Herpcam!

Simplest waterproof enclosure for the Herpcam I could think of was a Ferrero Rocher box, no shortage of them in our house after Christmas LOL

I used 5 minute epoxy to glue the camera mounting to the lid of the box: 




Then when the base of the box is added I should be able to seal the whole thing using some silicone sealer and PVC tape.



Though the excess wiring is shown outside the enclosure in the picture above, the plan will be to have all the extra USB wire and the Extender unit inside the water proof enclosure, so the only thing that exits the box is the Firewire, keeping moisture out of the camera and the connections. (This plan will need testing though to make sure all the bundled wire close to the camera does not interfere with the picture quality in any way).

The next step will be to put the waterproof enclosure in a wooden 'house' similar to a bird box, so that rain and moisture do not collect on the enclosure and interfere with the image.

Webcam I'm using is a Creative Live! Cam Optia - rather obsolete but also not very expensive.





Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2014 at 7:40pm
The Extenders arrived today.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Konig-USB-Range-Extender-Cat5/dp/B0037XJYSG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390592164&sr=8-1&keywords=konig+usb+extenders" rel="nofollow - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Konig-USB-Range-Extender-Cat5/dp/B0037XJYSG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390592164&sr=8-1&keywords=konig+usb+extenders

Initial tests showed they did not function on a very long firewire.

However I got it up and running on a shorter test firewire. 

So the concept is good, I'll just need to be careful regarding the quality and length of firewire I use to reach the end of the garden to ensure it functions OK. 

Ideas about bunching up the wires inside one enclosure were abandoned. I'm now planning two enclosures, one for the camera, one for the receiver end of the extender to help optimise the length of the USB cable used and thus shorten the firewire needed.





Posted By: Tom Omlette
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2014 at 8:32pm
whats the iq like gemma?


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2014 at 9:14pm
There doesn't seem to be any change in the quality using the extender Tim. It's more a case of either works or it doesn't.

I would say for a web cam 'not bad' but not expecting it to be really good. I'm hoping it will be better outside in daylight too. There is quite a bit of motion blur, but I think that is inherent in the camera rather than the connection.

I've currently got some issue with video recording though, as it comes out with a lot of vertical lines that I do not see on my monitor.

Here though is a still capture, lighting is pretty  poor, so not bad really.





Whilst searching the web tonight I also came across Wireless IP camera's. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=Wireless+IP+camera&rh=n%3A560798%2Ck%3AWireless+IP+camera" rel="nofollow - http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=Wireless+IP+camera&rh=n%3A560798%2Ck%3AWireless+IP+camera

That might be a way to go if I can't get the USB webcam working how I want it, though the draw back with these is they need a 5V/2A supply so effectively they need plugging into the mains via an adaptor. 





Posted By: Tom Omlette
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2014 at 9:42pm
that should be good enough in daylight. the ip cams were what i was looking at


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2014 at 5:50pm
I see now Tim that you mentioned IP cameras earlier, doh! 

As some of them are quite a reasonable price I might trial one against the USB webcam and see which works out best. I like the idea of the pan and tilt functions provided with IP cameras too. 

They may even work out cheaper, as the USB web cam + cable + extenders could easily add up to £50+ 

The only real drawback to the IP cameras I can see is providing mains electricity to the end of the garden, which if done properly with armoured cable is going to be lots of ££££s. Could work well though from say a shed with mains already provided.


Posted By: Tom Omlette
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2014 at 10:44pm
i thought you could get battery powered wireless remote ones.


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2014 at 11:46am
Not seen any yet that say they are battery powered yet, but I'll keep researching.


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2014 at 10:43am
Good news on the USB camera. Went out and purchased a 20 metre Cat 5 Patch Cable and it's working with the extenders Big smile

Just need it to dry out a bit in the garden before setting the whole thing up. Smile


Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2014 at 7:47pm
Gemma, better get it a life jacket just in caseThumbs Up good luck, will be good to see the pictures/video


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2014 at 4:09pm
No hope of getting out there yet, still far to wet. 

Our neighbour is going to be replacing wind damaged fence panels too, so I'll wait for him to do that as I want to run the lead along the bottom of them and don't want the lead damaged whilst the panels are replaced.

I'm really looking forward to getting it up and running though.


Posted By: Mark_b
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2014 at 10:20pm

This web site has an overwhelming selection of wireless cameras

http://www.spycameracctv.com/" rel="nofollow - http://www.spycameracctv.com/

The cameras still need a power supply though (but maybe a waterproofed car battery?). Some of them connect with your wifi but quite a few use their own wireless receiver.

These ones look the most exciting but there are much cheaper options...

100m range, night vision
http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/long-range-digital-wireless-cctv-camera-10m-ir-usb-converter" rel="nofollow - http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/long-range-digital-wireless-cctv-camera-10m-ir-usb-converter

400m range, night vision
http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/digital-wireless-foaling-camera-kit-long-range-400m-colour-audio" rel="nofollow - http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/digital-wireless-foaling-camera-kit-long-range-400m-colour-audio



-------------
http://www.wgarg.co.uk/">


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2014 at 1:23pm
Cheers Mark, that will give me something to look at whilst waiting for an improvement in the weather, strong winds and rain here..... .....again.


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2014 at 8:20am
Garden is drying out so hoping to get the lizard herpcam up and running very soon.

I've had another idea that I'll throw open for opinions. I have been thinking of a newt cam. I don't think it is practical to set this up outside in my own situation. In the past I have taken a pair of smooth newts early season. Watched their activities in an aquarium then released them after egg laying. To then watch the developing young.

I was wondering what people thought about me doing this again and streaming the images to the web. The animals will at no time be more than 40 ft away from their native pond. The adults will be in captivity for a relatively short period (though we should see some courtship and egg laying) the young will be released back into the garden after metamorphosis.

I'm thinking the educational benefits, potential promotion of the forum and just general interest of the project might outweigh any negatives of the idea.

But I would invite forum members to comment as I don't want to do something if it offends or has pitfalls I'm not considering. 




Posted By: will
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2014 at 4:46pm
I think it's fine in principle, a pair in a decently set up tank would start courting and egg laying in a few hours; give them some Daphnia and they'll turn cartwheels for you!


Posted By: Tom Omlette
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2014 at 6:32pm
no worries from here


Posted By: Liz Heard
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 12:11am
Admittedly, the audience was considerably smaller (IE me) when i used to watch native species breeding taking place on my 'aquarium TV' as a youngster, but theres no doubt that enjoying the 'ballet' etc, close up and convenient, really accelerated my interest in UK herps.

So for that reason, personally, i think its a good idea - and i'd be a hypocrite if i didn't!


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2014 at 6:52pm
Thanks guys, probably be a project for next year, see how the lizard cam goes and if it's popular.

Just splashed out on one of these as suggested by Mark earlier:

100m range, night vision
http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/long-range-digital-wireless-cctv-camera-10m-ir-usb-converter" rel="nofollow - http://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/long-range-digital-wireless-cctv-camera-10m-ir-usb-converter

Not sure it will work very close up like a web cam, but it's part of the Cat War to monitor the deterrents, if they prove to work, I'll try it as another herpcam!


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 4:57pm
Update on the herp webcam idea, it's been very delayed due to all the work in the wildlife garden but technically it could have been up and running months ago.

Today (in the pouring rain) I finally set-up the first herp cam. It is not currently streaming to the web but I thought it worth sharing a still picture taken with it to show the quality. 

uploads/21750/2014-10-09-16-44-59.jpg" rel="nofollow">

When something interesting happens I'll post up a video capture. I'll probably move it to give a more top down view of the top tyre but I had to finally give in and take cover when then thunder and lighting started Shocked



Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 12:32pm
Changed the view this morning by fitting the camera to a short post:


Obligingly within minutes the first two lizards arrived:



Still room for some tweaking but functional enough Smile Problems at the moment are that most of the activity happens furthest from the camera and also that the camera and post shadow appears in the image as the sun moves round. So will probably move the post around to the other side of the tyre.

The plan is to be live streaming to the internet next spring with this camera and perhaps others too.




Posted By: superdart
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 4:09pm
If anyone wants an aquarium for newt breeding,egg hatching and rearing, or whatever I can donate one FOC,collection only.I have spare 2' and 3' all glass tanks if wanted.


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 4:15pm
Where are you (PM if you want)? I might be interested as discussed above.


Posted By: superdart
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 5:59pm
I live in Cam near Dursley Gloucestershire.GL11 area.


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 6:44pm
Bit far for me!


Posted By: Tom Omlette
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2014 at 9:04pm
gemma i found that fascinating! you could walk past a feature a dozen times in a day and see nothing, never knowing that when you weren't there there there was all sorts going on! 

tim



Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 7:39am
Glad you liked it Tim. Smile

I've some work to do with the image quality and camera positioning but I'm hoping it will be interesting enough for the project to be a success and help to increase the public's awareness of our native herps.

I need to do some research into streaming video to the web and the best way to go about it, also thinking about how to get the public involved and interested. 





Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 8:13am
It's not just for herps either, just caught this on the cam as I submitted the post above.




The way it pops up out of the middle of the tyre couldn't be scripted, reality TV at its best LOL


Posted By: Iowarth
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2014 at 8:44am
Just love the bird! Springwatch, watch out!

Chris


-------------
Chris Davis, Site Administrator

Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED)


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2014 at 11:13am
I've been talking to the camera supplier for Springwatch Chris, could be that when the cams go live in the spring we'll be watching in ultra high definition Thumbs Up


Posted By: Hawley
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 9:40am
Loving the bird.

http://i.imgur.com/PhbOnEn.gif" rel="nofollow - http://i.imgur.com/PhbOnEn.gif


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 10:37am
That's a brilliant clip, talk about the shoe being on the other foot!!

The wrens are as much part of life in the wildlife garden as the lizards. Log piles, old tyres, willow brash, always a wren hopping about in there doing what they do. We've had them nest too in the past. Been a fantastic year for birds locally, so many young and adults around after the great summer.


Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 4:16pm
Love the clip Hawley, although a bit tough on the frogs!

-------------
Suz


Posted By: Hawley
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2014 at 9:57am
Originally posted by Suzy Suzy wrote:

Love the clip Hawley, although a bit tough on the frogs!


Hopefully they were fed some real worms later on Smile


Posted By: Paul Ford
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2014 at 7:34am
Hawley,

What type of frogs are those? (apart from Hungry Frogs!)

Cheers

Paul


Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2014 at 7:56am
Leopard Frogs by the looks of them Paul, not sure which species as there are several of them.


Posted By: Vicar
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2014 at 9:47pm
Just breezin' through.....

I use a self-contained camera with SD card, which triggers on movement detection. Compact and surprisingly effective!

The one I use is the Vosonic Looker, but I bet technology have marched onwards and there is better kit available nowadays.

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/vosonic-gv6200-looker-digital-video-recorder-motion-detector-color-cmos-camera/" rel="nofollow - http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/vosonic-gv6200-looker-digital-video-recorder-motion-detector-color-cmos-camera/



-------------
Steve Langham - Chairman     mailto:steve@surrey-arg.org.uk">
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group


Posted By: Caleb
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 9:06am
Originally posted by Vicar Vicar wrote:

 I bet technology have marched onwards and there is better kit available nowadays.

There are now loads of movement-activated camera/recorders marketed specifically for wildlife & hunting- usually called 'trail cameras'. 

I've never used any, so don't know if they'd trigger on anything as small as a lizard, though...



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