[TheForge] OT - Video Camera ?

[Ben Barrett]

If you have a laptop available, or computer nearby, you could try
http://www.zoneminder.com/
It can be run from a bootable CD too... can use a USB camera (some
digital cams also work as USB cams, feeding directly/live into the
PC), or any video-in source (or a fancy network-capable camera).  It
will let you setup "zones" in any video area and trigger different
alarms, recording, etc based on the zones, which is a lot smarter than
simple motion-detection.  Might not seem like it is "on the low end",
but really, the software is free and many folks have an old PC around
(any pentium or better should be able to handle simple webcam use for
this, I think), and it coud be a handy setup for other purposes too.
Just remember that to use something like this for real security
requires a lot more coverage, like a camera and battery backup to
cover the system itself...
But yeah, for finding out what kind of animal that is nesting in the
barn (use night-vision/IR) or to see when that fails.  I'm pretty sure
it can buffer video, so that it can effectively start recording just
before your event is triggered, too  :)

ciao,

ben


On 10/8/07, Jerry Smith <jerry_smith at anvilsandinkstudios.com> wrote:
> There are digital cameras for $100 out there, but you
> may want to check out the freecycle (recycling) BBS at
> Groups.Yahoo.com for VHS or 8mm cam corders.
>
> I just bought a really nice sony unit with a lot of
> bell sna whistles for $400, that is cheap compare to
> what they used to cost 3 yars ago.
>
> Jerry
> --- Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer <artgawk at thegrid.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Bruce;
> > Closed loop of video tape till linkage fails and
> > shuts it off?...pf
> >
> > Bruce Freeman wrote:
> > > I'm tapping this list for its diverse expertise.
> > >
> > > I mean to set up a piece of motorized equipment,
> > and
> > > run it until a particular linkage fails.  I need a
> > > record of when and how the linkage fails.  Problem
> > is,
> > > in one test the linkage broke within fifteen
> > minutes,
> > > and in the next test it was still going strong an
> > hour
> > > later.  I sure don't want to sit there and watch
> > it!
> > >
> > > I might be able to use a trick to signal me when
> > it
> > > fails (by breaking a microwire and throwing a
> > switch)
> > > but I'd rather record it on video.
> > >
> > > What I'm wondering is whether there's some cheaply
> > > available videocamera.  B&W would do.  Need not be
> > > high resolution.  Used equipment would be fine.  I
> > > could possibly record on a VCR videocasette, using
> > the
> > > slow speed.
> > >
> > > Cheap is in order, but I do have some money to
> > spend
> > > on this.
> > >
> > > Any ideas or suggestions?
> > >
> > > Bruce
> > > NJ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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