xterm
So Baby Raúl started his first day at nursery today and I'm going crazy not being able to monitor him. I'm going to suggest to the nursery that i set up an installation at my own expense in order to monitor my child.
The entire legal or acceptance aspect is of no relevance here so let's stick to the subject at hand:
I need the cheapest possible solution to be able to setup a camera and view the stream over the internet. To get the obvious out of the way let me start the listing:
1- Internet connectivity
2- Real IP
3- ???
4- ???
5- ???
Joe
I think you should check out
VideoLAN. They're the people behind VLC.
And as usual, I'm willing to help.
nuclearcat
Real IP at least one side, other side you can manage over fake ip. Maybe you can get from some DSP/ISP local connectivity.
It matters a lot also realtime or not, do you need to record and keep video or not. Just for safety maybe no need for permanent connection, just record video, and take it over wifi as you get him. If there is any abuse, you will see it by fast reviewing it.
24/24 realtime, over internet, will cost u too much in Lebanon.
xterm
Realtime, for about 8 hours. In not looking for 1080p or anything similar, black and white works as well.
mesa177
That would be a wireless webcam that comes with a commercial domain name service (access to webcam provided through static, globally accessible IP address despite the dynamic IP address that's assigned to the webcam itself). Once I read an article in Servo magazine that used the Panasonic BL-C30 (cost 250$ back in 2007) which comes with free dynamic DNS service on viewnetcam.com to build a web-based telerobot (application: monitor elderly patients and provide remote assistance when necessary). I can scavenge the internet and local electronics shops for something similar if you want.
nuclearcat
Greyscale YouTube SD - 0.16 MBit/Sec, i guess it will be really crappy video.
Average working days per month - 22. Means 8x22 = 176 hours of video.
0.16 * 60 * 60 * 8 = 4608 Mbit/day = 576 Mbyte/day
12.672 Gbyte per day. Don't forget, you have to pay BOTH sides.
You can get D-Link securicam, they have pretty good settings for choosing bitrate and sure networking capabilities. But i had problem with few, that they are getting busted after while.
Regarding connectivity, maybe you can run some VPN inside ADSL router, or use separate wireless router with DD-WRT.
MrClass
Before you think about the hardware, I think you have to consider what areas will you cover? I mean classroom, playground, Library...etc
Then you have to think about how will you connect the cam to the internet. Since ADSL/HDSL/Dedicated is not an option (telephone line, frame relay required), the optimal solution would be something like mobi (maybe if you wait some more time, you can use 3G).
mir
I think you need to let go a bit and just make sure that your kid is in a good nursery.
If you keep this habit, ur kid will not have privacy
if you still wanna do it, i suggest to use some livestreaming techniques, they cost nothing.
check ustream.tv for example - costs nothing , free to setup and such.
If u wanna pay, i suggest u offer the nursery to have this service for you and other parents. It will be an added value for them
ranibalaa
Have you considered those hats/caps that have a camera on them? You just have to make sure he keeps it on all day long and problem solved. This way you can put a 32gb sd card for the day and delete it once he's home to make space for the next day.
J4D
Euh you are a good programmer. Get a webcam, a single board computer (beagle board) and setup a website. with a good internet connection, you can stream videos that you can convert to JPG stills in somewhat good FPS.
What i can contribute with is actually making the camera pan and tilt over the internet ;)
Making it stream to a website will allow you to be in anyplace and catch a glimpse of your child. Since its online, it can also save the stream for you to download later.
mesa177
So here's what's available at Radio Shack (you can check the recently opened department at Jnah, just across Katranji and Hariri Hospital's ER gate, they tend to have stuff that other Radio Shack stores in Lebanon don't) concerning IP webcams:
1)
TRENDnet® SecurView™ Wireless Internet Camera Server; Price (before VAT): 90$
2)
Panasonic BL-C1A Wired Home Network Camera and Pet Cam; Price (before VAT): 100$
Note: The prices in Lebanon aren't that more expensive than what's stated on the website. I remember buying a ratchet for about 20,000 L.L when it was offered for 11$ on the
website.
As for the internet router, go with MrClass's suggestion of mobi.
xterm
Thanks guys and thanks mesa.
I'm not trying to spy on the nursery staff. I just want the ability to see my son all the time (that's how much i miss him).
J4D
Mesa, these are surely not available in Lebanon. plus they require a fixed IP.
mesa177
J4D wroteMesa, these are surely not available in Lebanon. plus they require a fixed IP.
from the technical description of Panasonic BL-C1A cam:
free, permanent Web address, which comes with the camera....Built-in Web server/IP address (IPv4/v6)
You'll never know if they do or don't exist in Lebanon until you ask, did you ask? The same situation happened with the ratchet, everybody told me I won't find it herein Lebanon, and what do you know, I did.
samer
If JPG stills are acceptable, simply hook up any webcam to an old laptop and start capturing photos. You can then either:
– Get the files to be saved in a dropbox folder. Woosh, you get the files in your drop box folder at home.
– Run rsync every minute.
