Want to add a streaming webcam

[MuralReef]

So one of the ideas I've had is to add a webcam of some sort. I am not sure what kind, but I would like it to be a simple camera that I could control from a mobile device and also allow for students to view from home. My most recent thought is to get some kind of wireless security camera that has a dome and is waterproof and mount it so that the dome is submerged but the rest is above water. What do you guys think? I have been looking and there isn't anything really in the hobby for this purpose that I could find. This is just an example:

 

[jahmic]

Subscribed...I've been looking into setting up a submerged cam as well.

There were a couple threads on RC about using an Apex to view the cam and a 2nd program to control it...but I don't remember seeing a completed setup. I'll see if I can dig up the links again later.

 

[Huskyguy]

I had a camera I front of my tank and I could view it from my cell or computer, sine I was traveling a lot. Now my wife works from home so I put the setup away. It was pretty cool and I loved to watch the fish swim around.

 

[Munch]

If anyone comes across wet or dry remote control ones for a decent price, post up...

 

[CRW Reef]

Some one smarter than me needs to put these together and make it happen. I feel like these are the pieces you need just not sure how to go from ethernet cable feed to view-able ip address.

Cam you need:
http://www.sears.com/security-labs-...1x000001&kpid=05795884000&kispla=05795884000P

here is a forum for koi fish/ponds where someone is using the cam clearly underwater with whats reads as no mods to make it water proof http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showt...-CAMERA-HOOKED-UP-!!!-Pics-Inside!&highlight=

Coaxial to Ethernet Adapters:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ethernet-ov...g-IP-Camera-Video-on-Coax-Cable-/151096526361
or maybe this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Actiont...k-Adapter-HCB1000-No-master-req-/131102292962


Hopefully someone can figure this out and we can be the first club with underwater reef cams IF someone figures it out Im buying

 

[opakapaka]

Might want to ask that guy who is doing that project for his masters from Washington that is planning on moving here.

 

[Blindrage]

The Master's project actually allows the camera to move in three dimension within the tank while avoiding rock, coral, PHs, etc. In this case he just wants a normal waterproof pivot-and-turn camera. These are easy to find in non-waterproof versions, but waterproof may be a bit of a stretch.

 

[MuralReef]

Might want to ask that guy who is doing that project for his masters from Washington that is planning on moving here.

I've thought about that, but what he is working on is far more complex than what I was planning.

 

[CRW Reef]

Here is what you want Mike

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Aquabotix-HydroView-Sport-P3670.aspx?gclid=CILinY6cyrwCFYeEfgod1loABA

[video=youtube_share;-6JZTm3hKis]http://youtu.be/-6JZTm3hKis[/video]

 

[MuralReef]

They have waterproof for "outdoor" use, but saltwater is a bit more corrosive then usual outdoor wear and tear. What I was thinking is taking a camera like the one pictured above having most of it mounted outside the tank with the dome below the waterline. I would be able to pan/tilt and zoom. Plus it wouldn't be taking up a ton of space in the tank and would still be easy to clean the dome when algae begins to show up.

 

[jahmic]

That'd be a sweet setup.

I'm pretty much computer illiterate when it comes to network setup...but from what I read basically all you have to do is hook the camera up to your computer and access it via the cam's IP address. I don't think you need anything like dynDNS to setup a static IP as the camera already has one...but it may be useful if you want to give the camera its own domain name that's easier for students to remember.

Actually controlling the camera remotely though, I'm clueless on. That's basically where I got loss and dropped the idea

I'm all in for setting one up if we can get this figured out

 

[aztecdreams]

I have a wifi camera set up on my tank that I can access from my phone. Was actually really simple. Not waterproof though and I'm pretty sure they had one that you could pan and zoom

 

[CRW Reef]

Hmmm how about adding a rubber seal or silicon to that outer ring of the camera you posted Mike and then using pvc heat shrink wrap to seal it up from just above the lens up to the top of the cam?

Using something like this http://www.batteryspace.com/PVC-Heat-Shrink-Wrap-Tube.aspx

 

[WatercolorsGuy]

I have a cam set up for viewing my tank. Originally I just used an old android phone. I am using a Foscam (http://foscam.us/products/foscam-fi8910w-wireless-ip-camera.html) now, and now I have the ability to pan and tilt from anywhere in the world, plus it has night vision. With port forwarding through a wireless router you can view it from your phone or any computer anywhere. I use No-IP for my dynDNS service. I originally set this up to use with my Apex, however now I just use it as a stand alone tank viewer. Very easy to setup.
I could see building your own waterproof acrylic housing partially submerged as a viable option with a Foscam.

 

[J.guokas]

The drop cam pro is sweet camera. It is high def and has 8x zoom. Accessible from phone or computer. Also has a Mic and speaker so you can hear and talk to your fish lol.

 

[GiraffeCat]

Just how much do you want to spend........

Camera on a stick - http://www.aquabotix.com/

Nuclear holocaust tank camera - http://www.rovtech.com/Cameras/Index.html#PTZF

How big is your tank? - http://www.videoray.com/

Throw this in - http://www.gnom-rov.com/products/dcam/

This is cool - http://www.gnom-rov.com/products/panoramic-dcam/

Seal this little guy in a box and toss in - Looxcie

Then just stream the video output online from your computer. Tons of websites or phone apps.

Or just throw your GoPro in the tank.......:crazy:

Okay, I'm done.

Late,
GC

 

[Balz3352]

These guys have made some for some ocean webcams but that's about all I know. Perhaps contact them and see what it's about
http://www.subeye.ca

 

[SquidBreath]

Actually I have done some research on this.

The best camera I found is the Logitech Orbit. It's one of the very few with good resolution, stream speed and it has motor controls allowing you to zoom and pan.

Here's a link http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...-Xs-Pey7wCFRSUfgodJHAAQw#CustomerReviewsBlock

From there, you would need to build a watertight enclosure. I was going to leverage off these guys. http://www.eztopsworldwide.com/domes.htm

The entire thing could be enclosed and sealed pretty simply, as long as you leave the usb connection dry and keep the cord long enough to have it (the connection) out of the water. Might throw a silicon desi-pack into the innards just to make sure it's perfectly dry in there once it's sealed.

That is my plan anyway. Not up to that stage yet...

Hope that helps!

 

[SquidBreath]

Oh....forgot to say...build cost on the above should be about 340 bucks.

 

[halmus]

Might want to ask that guy who is doing that project for his masters from Washington that is planning on moving here.

I thought I should clarify a little, I'm working on a BS.

I've thought about that, but what he is working on is far more complex than what I was planning.

I'm going to add a few updates to my own thread (don't want to hijack this one). However, the project I'm working on is needlessly complex, or complex because we're trying to impress the faculty as much as possible. I am planning on building a much more simple and reasonable system for in-tank video streaming with just a few bells and whistles. I'll keep everyone in the loop as I get things working. Maybe once I get settled in and have a working design, we can have a mass-production party for the club.

I had a Panasonic BL-C230 IP camera (or something very similar) that worked reasonably well for a fly-on-the-wall view from outside the tank. It had pan/tilt capability. Digital zoon (which was junk) and a frame rate that wasn't all that good. Still, it was better than nothing.