Hey Everyone,

I'm thinking of setting up a web cam with streaming video (short clips done periodically).

I have never done this before and would like to learn more.  Can anyone on here give me an idea of how to host this?  What kind of bandwidth is needed?

Thanks!

-Jake

To set up a still web cam, you'll need

* A web camera, approximately $100 or so at Staples, etc. The Creative QuickcamPro 4000 as well as other upper-end Creative cameras are recommended. Cheaper cameras are discouraged because they produce inferior pictures. With a larger budget, more expensive CCD type cameras will produce better images than the more common and inexpensive CMOS cameras.

* A Pentium 3, 900MHz or better computer that can be left running 24/7 with Internet access (dialup or DSL).

* Web cam software to upload the photos to the web such as Webcam32, $39.95. http://surveyor.com/ . Some web cameras come bundled with web cam software. Your Internet Service Provider (Earthlink, etc) usually provides web space to store your photos. AOL is not recommended for this use because they use a proprietary dialer that may not work with your web cam software..


To install a live video web cam you'll need

* A web camera, approximately $100 or so at Staples, etc. The Creative QuickcamPro 4000 as well as other upper-end Creative cameras are recommended. Cheaper cameras are discouraged because they produce inferior pictures. With a larger budget, more expensive CCD type cameras will produce better images than the more common and inexpensive CMOS cameras. More expensive pan-tilt-zoom cameras are also available. If your computer has a video capture card, you may be able to use a camcorder camera.

* A Pentium 3, 900MHz or better computer that can be left running 24/7 with Internet access (dialup will work with limited success, DSL is recommended.) The Internet service provider must allow you to stay connected continuously even with no activity. Earthlink is a favorite for this.

* Video encoding software to serve the video. The free Windows Media Encoder is available for this purpose. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx . The encoder comes set for five simultaneous users and can be reset for 50 simultaneous users.

* A free dynamic DNS redirection service such as http://www.no-ip.com/services/managed_dns/free_dynamic_dns.html . This allows your computer may be reached with a non-changing web address even though the IP address changes.

* An optional remote pan-tilt robotic tripod will allow you to reposition the camera from the Internet http://trackerpod.com/ .


To set up a weather station you'll need

A weather station such as an Oregon Scientific WMR968 wireless weather station, $215. http://www.ambientweather.com/.

Weather station software such as Ambient Weather's Virtual Weather Station Internet Edition, $100. http://www.ambientweather.com/software.html .

If your web cam will be unattended, you'll want to consider using a battery backup power supply (UPS) to keep the computer running during brief power outtages. A small model such as the APC ES500, $48 at Sams Club, will keep the computer running for 15-30 minutes. Do not power your monitor with the battery backup because it will run down the battery more quickly.