Security Cams

Hi,
I want to know if it's viable to sent video from our office security cams
over the internet so the big boys can watch and check up from their home
PCs, at the moment we use analogue cams connected to a pinical card on a win
2000 machine, would it be better to install a second security cam system
that used usb cams and connect to a linux box? how can I send the video over
the internet and how do I watch the video from the remote PCs?
Steven

"Steven Hook" <stevenhNOT@NOTbowens.co.NOTza>,
In a message on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:58:47 +0200, wrote :

"H> Hi,
"H> I want to know if it's viable to sent video from our office security cams
"H> over the internet so the big boys can watch and check up from their home
"H> PCs, at the moment we use analogue cams connected to a pinical card on a win
"H> 2000 machine, would it be better to install a second security cam system
"H> that used usb cams and connect to a linux box? how can I send the video over
"H> the internet and how do I watch the video from the remote PCs?
"H> Steven

http://www.axis.com/

"H>
"H>
"H>

\/
Robert Heller ||InterNet: heller@cs.umass.edu
http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~heller || heller@deepsoft.com
http://www.deepsoft.com /\FidoNet: 1:321/153

"Robert Heller" <heller@deepsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5c174$421c6dc6$cb248f0$13310@nf1.news-service.com...
> "Steven Hook" <stevenhNOT@NOTbowens.co.NOTza>,
> In a message on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:58:47 +0200, wrote :
>
> "H> Hi,
> "H> I want to know if it's viable to sent video from our office security
> cams
> "H> over the internet so the big boys can watch and check up from their
> home
> "H> PCs, at the moment we use analogue cams connected to a pinical card on
> a win
> "H> 2000 machine, would it be better to install a second security cam
> system
> "H> that used usb cams and connect to a linux box? how can I send the
> video over
> "H> the internet and how do I watch the video from the remote PCs?
> "H> Steven
>
> http://www.axis.com/

The Axis stuff looks REALLY nice, it does EVERYTHING :-) t's just really
expensive.
Steven

>
> "H>
> "H>
> "H>
>
> \/
> Robert Heller ||InterNet: heller@cs.umass.edu
> http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~heller || heller@deepsoft.com
> http://www.deepsoft.com /\FidoNet: 1:321/153
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

"mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
news:383h9gF5gtkm2U1@individual.net...
> Steven Hook wrote:
>
>> The Axis stuff looks REALLY nice, it does EVERYTHING :-) t's just really
>> expensive.
>
> ... if the big boys are THAT concerned about watching
> their security cams from home, expense shouldnt matter.

Hey expense ALWAYS matters, it's more of a want than a need, but I'm the
middle man that has to get that want with as little damage to their pockets
as possible :) I thought the easiest way to do that might be a linux
solution, maybe using the pinacle to digitise the video and then get it on
the net somehow for them to be able to view.

Steven

> --
> << http://michaeljtobler.homelinux.com/ >>
> Fresco's Discovery: If you knew what you were
> doing you'd probably be bored.

"mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
news:383ijbF5gtkm2U3@individual.net...
> Steven Hook wrote:
>> "mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
>>> Steven Hook wrote:
>>>
>>>> The Axis stuff looks REALLY nice, it does EVERYTHING :-) t's just
>>>> really
>>>> expensive.
>>>
>>> ... if the big boys are THAT concerned about watching
>>> their security cams from home, expense shouldnt matter.
>>
>> Hey expense ALWAYS matters, it's more of a want than a need,
>
> ... i figured it was a 'want' - big boys are always
> about 'want', eh? :)
>
> i dont have a solution to the video cam stuff - i'm
> too tired to google right now. i will suggest this:
> simply get a still cam and get some software that
> will take a pic every few seconds (obviously you can
> set it to whatever cycle you need) and have it update
> a webpage. for example, most of these cams update
> every 6 seconds: http://www.galveston.com/webcams/
> these folks update theirs every 10 minutes and
> offer "the last 4 (or 10) shots (although i think
> the archive functionality is not very successful):
> http://www.netsurfing.com/surfcam/index_orig.shtml

Thanks! you don't need to google for me, I just want to know if anyone here
has any quick tips 4 me :)
Thanks!
Steven

> --
> << http://michaeljtobler.homelinux.com/ >>
> As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its
> fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar,
> it will cease to be popular. - Oscar Wilde

Steven Hook wrote:
> "mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
> news:383ijbF5gtkm2U3@individual.net...
>
>>Steven Hook wrote:
>>
>>>"mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
>>>
>>>>Steven Hook wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>The Axis stuff looks REALLY nice, it does EVERYTHING :-) t's just
>>>>>really
>>>>>expensive.
>>>>
>>>>... if the big boys are THAT concerned about watching
>>>>their security cams from home, expense shouldnt matter.
>>>
>>>Hey expense ALWAYS matters, it's more of a want than a need,
>>
>>... i figured it was a 'want' - big boys are always
>>about 'want', eh? :)
>>
>>i dont have a solution to the video cam stuff - i'm
>>too tired to google right now. i will suggest this:
>>simply get a still cam and get some software that
>>will take a pic every few seconds (obviously you can
>>set it to whatever cycle you need) and have it update
>>a webpage. for example, most of these cams update
>>every 6 seconds: http://www.galveston.com/webcams/
>>these folks update theirs every 10 minutes and
>>offer "the last 4 (or 10) shots (although i think
>>the archive functionality is not very successful):
>>http://www.netsurfing.com/surfcam/index_orig.shtml
>
>
> Thanks! you don't need to google for me, I just want to know if anyone here
> has any quick tips 4 me :)
> Thanks!
> Steven
>

How about HasciiCam http://ascii.dyne.org/
which will upload frames taken from the tv card - rendered into text files.
That'll get them excited to try and keep watch at home!

Steven Hook wrote:
> "mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
> news:383ijbF5gtkm2U3@individual.net...
> > Steven Hook wrote:
> >> "mjt" <mjtobler@removethis_mail.ru> wrote in message
> >>> Steven Hook wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> The Axis stuff looks REALLY nice, it does EVERYTHING :-) t's
just
> >>>> really
> >>>> expensive.
> >>>
> >>> ... if the big boys are THAT concerned about watching
> >>> their security cams from home, expense shouldnt matter.
> >>
> >> Hey expense ALWAYS matters, it's more of a want than a need,
> >
> > ... i figured it was a 'want' - big boys are always
> > about 'want', eh? :)
> >
> > i dont have a solution to the video cam stuff - i'm
> > too tired to google right now. i will suggest this:
> > simply get a still cam and get some software that
> > will take a pic every few seconds (obviously you can
> > set it to whatever cycle you need) and have it update
> > a webpage. for example, most of these cams update
> > every 6 seconds: http://www.galveston.com/webcams/
> > these folks update theirs every 10 minutes and
> > offer "the last 4 (or 10) shots (although i think
> > the archive functionality is not very successful):
> > http://www.netsurfing.com/surfcam/index_orig.shtml
>
> Thanks! you don't need to google for me, I just want to know if
anyone here
> has any quick tips 4 me :)
> Thanks!
> Steven

The Axis products are about as good as they get for the $.

Looked at them _very_ seriously last summer for my cousin's trucking
yard and in the process decided that I would price out a solution with
them before shopping elsewhere. Diesel price increases have put it on
hold for now, so for him it remains just a want :) Never found
anything else that compared $/performance/features, fwiw.

Question is whether you need a video _security_ capability or just a
means to feed video images for the curious.

If you take the time to look at and price an Axis setup for security
purposes, you may find your insurance company would be most interested
and helpful (with reduced rates, etc.). A small setup may pay for
itself in 2-3 years or even quicker. Insurance companies usually have
someone familiar with Axis.

If you just need video frames for the curious your choices are bounded
by these practical considerations (among others):
-- upload bandwidth
-- streaming video server setup
-- available software

You _may_ be able to cobble together something that will send out still
frames every X seconds (the fewer frames and more seconds the better)
with your current hardware/software combination. Eg., a server playing
back the past 10 minutes of captured still frames, a server "relaying"
the "current" captured frame set, or sending frames captured/converted
to jpeg stills, etc. The idea would be to produce still sequences from
the video signal.

If you (or someone else) are willing to put in some elbow time you can
probably set up a streaming server with "free" software, assuming you
have the upload bandwidth to make it suitable for your needs.

I'm not sure if your current hardware would readily support streaming
over IP or not. Been years since I've played with video capture cards,
which is what I assume you are using. Haven't even priced current,
more capable capture cards. I assume there are some reasonably priced
cards that will aid streaming video.

Googling:
linux streaming video server
produced the usual suspects afaict. Worth a look. And note that some
of the projects support Windows as well as Linux if that is a
necessity.

hth,
prg
email above disabled

"Steven Hook" <stevenhNOT@NOTbowens.co.NOTza>,
In a message on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 15:42:03 +0200, wrote :

"H> "Robert Heller" <heller@deepsoft.com> wrote in message
"H> news:5c174$421c6dc6$cb248f0$13310@nf1.news-service.com...
"H> > "Steven Hook" <stevenhNOT@NOTbowens.co.NOTza>,
"H> > In a message on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:58:47 +0200, wrote :
"H> >
"H> > "H> Hi,
"H> > "H> I want to know if it's viable to sent video from our office security
"H> > cams
"H> > "H> over the internet so the big boys can watch and check up from their
"H> > home
"H> > "H> PCs, at the moment we use analogue cams connected to a pinical card on
"H> > a win
"H> > "H> 2000 machine, would it be better to install a second security cam
"H> > system
"H> > "H> that used usb cams and connect to a linux box? how can I send the
"H> > video over
"H> > "H> the internet and how do I watch the video from the remote PCs?
"H> > "H> Steven
"H> >
"H> > http://www.axis.com/
"H>
"H> The Axis stuff looks REALLY nice, it does EVERYTHING :-) t's just really
"H> expensive.

No more expensive than a USB camera *+ Linux machine*. I mean, not even
Dell sells a complete machine with network card for only $200. The Axis
units are *self contained*. No additional hardware (other than the
network switch) or software (other then the web browser of your choice).

They are quiet (no noisy system fans), small (easy to hide away), and
reliable.

"H> Steven
"H>
"H> >
"H> > "H>
"H> > "H>
"H> > "H>
"H> >
"H> > \/
"H> > Robert Heller ||InterNet: heller@cs.umass.edu
"H> > http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~heller || heller@deepsoft.com
"H> > http://www.deepsoft.com /\FidoNet: 1:321/153
"H> >
"H> >
"H> >
"H> >
"H> >
"H> >
"H> >
"H>
"H>
"H>

\/
Robert Heller ||InterNet: heller@cs.umass.edu
http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~heller || heller@deepsoft.com
http://www.deepsoft.com /\FidoNet: 1:321/153

Steven Hook <stevenhNOT@notbowens.co.notza> wrote:
> Hey expense ALWAYS matters, it's more of a want than a need, but I'm the
> middle man that has to get that want with as little damage to their pockets
> as possible :)

Webcam and GNU "motion".

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/c...re/4272041.stm :-)
Chris