Web/security camera to monitor your tank? (1 Viewer)

[jamesw]

Does anyone use one? I'm thinking of setting up a pan/tilt remote webcam in my fishroom, so that I can check in with my critters while I'm away and someone is tank-sitting.

Since my fishroom is out in my guesthouse, I've even considered sending the video feed to my TV so that I can watch the tank from the living room - but I don't think there are any wireless HD cams... You know, see if the ATO is working, if the skimmer cup is full, etc...

Cheers
James

 

[flexrac]

you can hook up a camera system to a computer in the fish room and log into it via web. you can then hook up a laptop to your tv to view it as well.
don't know about the pan and tilt though.
funny, i was thinking about this at work today, because of the gbta i got, sunday i came downstairs just in time to catch it. for some reason it decided to detach from the rocks and went for a swim. He is now in the other tank.

 

[flexrac]

http://www.surveillance-video.com/wirelessnetworkipcameras.html

 

[d2mini]

I wanted to get one of these panasonic guys.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BL-C131A-Network-Camera-Wireless/dp/B000NVR9SM/

 

[jdeveaux]

This is the one I have. It is off right now but I can fire it up for you tonight so you can see how it looks.

DLINK Wireless 5300G

 

[jamesw]

John,

That would be great!!!! PM me the login info if you don't want all of MARSH checking out your tank

The best I could find is 640x480 resolution - I sure wish I could do better.

From reading the Spec, it doesn't sound like the D-link comes w/ its own web-server. I like the sound of the web server and software that comes w/ the Panasonic linked above. It would be cool to see your tank on your mobile device...

Cheers
James

 

[jdeveaux]

There are some HD ones out there but not that support Pan and Tilt ... at least not that I'm aware of. I don't know of any that are wireless.

 

[jamesw]

Do you have a link to the HD ones John?

Cheers
James

 

[jdeveaux]

Here are a few HD Security Cameras

 

[jamesw]

Ouch.

 

[tedu]

Yeah, affordable PTZ and HD and wireless don't really go together.

There's actually a big security industry tradeshow (ISC West) next week in Las Vegas so there may be more manufacturers announcing products with a better price point after that.

Another thing to consider:
The typical home broadband installation has a much lower upload speed than download speed.
And an HD image is going to require a lot more bandwidth, so a remote viewer may not experience optimal image quality or frame rate.
Also depends on the video stream encoding being done (MJPEG, MPEG or H264).

 

[jamesw]

Thanks Ted:

I totally agree. I wouldn't need the HD feed for just checking up on the tank, but it would be nice to stream the feed to my TV - and that would all be within my network, 54G or megabit ethernet.

But that's not worth $1000

Cheers
James