Network cameras (reefcams) Q's.....

aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Give this a shot here first.....
I'm looking to get a network camera (got a sizable Best Buy gift card and looking for something for the tank) so I can watch my tank when I'm away (esp. at work LOL!). Wondering who's got one (tr1gger and goodwin come to mind) and opinions on which one to get? The Panasonic's seem like the one most people on over on --. Noticed some have a pan/tilt feature, which would be awesome so I could turn and check out the sump as well. But read elsewhere the pan/tilt decrease picture quality? Is this true? What should I look for? Resolution (pixels x pixels) and FPS?
Leaning towards the Panasonics as well because they get a free site to host the stream. (viewnetcam.com). How would this work for non-Panasonics? Do I have to have my own website, or just the IP address of the camera is enough? Read something about dymanic IPs changing, so I'd be constantly hunting the address down?
 
cowfishrule

cowfishrule

Active Member
take a step back for a minute.
you want a webcam so you can look at your tank while at work.
even though, you'll be home in a few hours.
i dont get it.

hold onto that and get yourself a good blu-ray dvd player.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Well ideally, it would be for the weekends I'm gone. Every now and then I make a break for home (South FL) and have the tanks baby sat. Just be nice to know the sump isn't sucking dry...
As for work, just something to do, instead of pounding the refresh button, waiting for new threads...
I'll have a Blu-Ray player as soon as there's actually a game worth playing on PS3.....
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Most IP cameras can be viewed directly without the help of a web site, but setup can be complicated if you don't know your way around TCP/IP networking.
First, you need a home network with a router that assigns addresses via DHCP. If the camera is wireless, your router needs to support wireless or you'll need a wireless access point to connect to your router.
Assuming you have all that, most IP cams run an internal web server, so all you need to do is create a reverse NAT entry (every vendor calls it something different, such as virtual servers, RNAT, reverse NAT, blah blah blah you'll need to figure it out) to bring a port from the outside into your network, usually port 80.
Then, you can access the camera directly by using your OUTSIDE IP address. For this, it's easiest to get a static IP from your ISP so you always know what it is. Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs which change from time to time, so if you are on the outside, you never know what it is. You can set yourself up with what's called a Dynamic DNS service that will keep you abreast of the name changes if you don't want to pay for a staic IP (most ISPs charge about $5 a month for it, some offer it with their premium packages for "free")
I have no idea if all this is way over your head or not. If it all sounds like a foreign language, then the camera that uses a site like the Panasonic may be the easiest for you to set up.
The PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) feature doesn't technically reduce the picture quality. It does do it indirectly though in that the mechanism to do PTZ is expensive, so to keep the price competitive, they usually use much cheaper camera components when they are manufactured, so inexpensive PTZ cameras usually have a crappy camera to keep the price down. A good quality camera with a quality PTZ mount can cost many hundreds to a couple thousand bucks, so think about what you are paying and factor in where the mfr. cut the costs.
 
b_clark711

b_clark711

Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2696199
Well ideally, it would be for the weekends I'm gone. Every now and then I make a break for home (South FL) and have the tanks baby sat. Just be nice to know the sump isn't sucking dry...
As for work, just something to do, instead of pounding the refresh button, waiting for new threads...
I'll have a Blu-Ray player as soon as there's actually a game worth playing on PS3.....
I bought my PS3 just for the Bluray player! Until you have watched a Bluray, especially on a top-o-the-line Sharp Aquos, you have no idea what HD is my friend! LOL
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Thanks for the reply SCSI. If I had to go that route, I think I could manage. Not sure about that way though, because all of the cameras (at least with in budget) at Best Buy, the only ones not to be torn apart on reviews, have been those Panasonics. Not to be a bother, but have you/could you take a look on Best Buy and give an opinion on the cameras there?
Originally Posted by B_Clark711
http:///forum/post/2697239
I bought my PS3 just for the Bluray player! Until you have watched a Bluray, especially on a top-o-the-line Sharp Aquos, you have no idea what HD is my friend! LOL
That's one thing I've got covered!

 
triga22

triga22

Active Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2697146
Most IP cameras can be viewed directly without the help of a web site, but setup can be complicated if you don't know your way around TCP/IP networking
.
First, you need a home network with a router that assigns addresses via DHCP. If the camera is wireless, your router needs to support wireless or you'll need a wireless access point to connect to your router.
Assuming you have all that, most IP cams run an internal web server, so all you need to do is create a reverse NAT entry (every vendor calls it something different, such as virtual servers, RNAT, reverse NAT, blah blah blah you'll need to figure it out) to bring a port from the outside into your network, usually port 80.
Then, you can access the camera directly by using your OUTSIDE IP address. For this, it's easiest to get a static IP from your ISP so you always know what it is. Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs which change from time to time, so if you are on the outside, you never know what it is. You can set yourself up with what's called a Dynamic DNS service that will keep you abreast of the name changes if you don't want to pay for a staic IP (most ISPs charge about $5 a month for it, some offer it with their premium packages for "free")
I have no idea if all this is way over your head or not. If it all sounds like a foreign language, then the camera that uses a site like the Panasonic may be the easiest for you to set up.
The PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) feature doesn't technically reduce the picture quality. It does do it indirectly though in that the mechanism to do PTZ is expensive, so to keep the price competitive, they usually use much cheaper camera components when they are manufactured, so inexpensive PTZ cameras usually have a crappy camera to keep the price down. A good quality camera with a quality PTZ mount can cost many hundreds to a couple thousand bucks, so think about what you are paying and factor in where the mfr. cut the costs.
You lost me where the shrug is.
 
b_clark711

b_clark711

Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2697409
Thanks for the reply SCSI. If I had to go that route, I think I could manage. Not sure about that way though, because all of the cameras (at least with in budget) at Best Buy, the only ones not to be torn apart on reviews, have been those Panasonics. Not to be a bother, but have you/could you take a look on Best Buy and give an opinion on the cameras there?
That's one thing I've got covered!

Nice! What series is that? And I also see that you have your Wii Sensor Bar atop the tv, NICE, same here! We don't even play the PS3, it's NOWHERE near as fun as the Wii. Plus, I have never been into video games, besides early childhood, and with the Wii, it's a video game, but not in the standard sense! Dude, you HAVE to get Bluray. You haven't even seen what your tv is capable of. It looks like it's the 64 series, which is AWESOME, I recently purchased the 94 Series and put our old 64 Series in our bedroom, and I will NEVER own another television, if it's not made by Sharp! The new Vision line is going to be KILLER! Sorry, I know this is a saltwater forum, but obviously we stumbled on my other addiction! LOL
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Very good eye! Yep, an 64 series. Looking at getting something bigger for the room and moving that TV as well (upgrading from only a 42"). I really, really like the Sony XBR series. Beautiful tv and beautiful picture. At 52" the quality is very bit as good as the Sharp IMO. Though for the 61", the Sharp seemed to have the edge. I've not heard of the "Vision Line" from Sharp, will have to look into that.
But yea, definitely will get a PS3 at some point, was dissappointed with Gran Turismo 5. Our laptop is a HDDVD player, so we have played some of the old HD disks on that through the TV. Oh well, just lots of Xbox (Halo 3 and Forza 2) and Mario Cart for the Wii (just got yesterday! Awesome!).
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Wireless would be preferred so I don't have to run a 50ft cable or tie a computer down it to. Would wireless lower the quality/refresh rate any?
 
b_clark711

b_clark711

Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2698323
Very good eye! Yep, an 64 series. Looking at getting something bigger for the room and moving that TV as well (upgrading from only a 42"). I really, really like the Sony XBR series. Beautiful tv and beautiful picture. At 52" the quality is very bit as good as the Sharp IMO. Though for the 61", the Sharp seemed to have the edge. I've not heard of the "Vision Line" from Sharp, will have to look into that.
But yea, definitely will get a PS3 at some point, was dissappointed with Gran Turismo 5. Our laptop is a HDDVD player, so we have played some of the old HD disks on that through the TV. Oh well, just lots of Xbox (Halo 3 and Forza 2) and Mario Cart for the Wii (just got yesterday! Awesome!).
Good deal, the 42" is what we just replaced and is now in our bedroom! The XBR series are fine televisions indeed but, imo, Sharp still holds the crown! My buddy recently took back & exchanged 3 different series of Sony's until he finally heeded my advice and went with the SHarp Aquos 64 series, and he was head over heels about it! Of course, the XBR is the top of the Bravia line, but as far as price goes, he bought the V series Bravia & let the salesman talk him into exchanging that for the W series Bravia (which I told him not to listen to the salesman) and the whole reason he was taking the Sony's back is because he would come over to our house, and see the crystal clarity of our Sharp, and he was comparing, and I had to explain to him that if you want a tv like ours, you have to drop the money, so needless to say, he took my advice and is a proud addition to the Aquos family! Sony's mid level televisions are NOTHING compared to what they used to be! Check out the Vision line, it will beat all comers!
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2698425
Wireless would be preferred so I don't have to run a 50ft cable or tie a computer down it to. Would wireless lower the quality/refresh rate any?
No, it shouldn't, but wireless connections are generally less reliable than wired. Given that this thing requires a continuous 24x7 connection, you may want to think about running a wire.
Regardless, it won't affect the quality of the picture.
The panasonic cameras on Best Buy's site seemed pretty decent as far as consumer webcams go, so I'd give them a shot. Just review Best Buy's return policy before you purchase it and make sure you can return it if it doesn't meet your expectations. Avoid them and go someplace else if they impose a restocking fee or anything like that.
 
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