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Bluefish Webcam Setup


SpencerShepard

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SpencerShepard

diy-aquarium-led.gif

 

I recommend the D-Link IP cameras as they are easy to setup, cheap, and available almost anywhere that sells computer products. However, almost any camera that produces an MJPEG stream should work (this will be most IP cameras).

 

Here's a quick guide:

 

1. Set up IP cam with static IP on your home network

2. Register for Dynamic DNS at dlinkddns.com

3. Log in to your router, and enter your new dynamic dns info

4. Add a port forwarding setting to your router: IP is your webcam IP, port can be anything that works (eg. 8080), and both TCP/UDP

5. In the Bluefish app: enter your dynamic dns domain you created in step 2, with the port number chosen in step 4, in this format: http://domain:port/mjpegurl (eg. http://johnsmith.dlinkddns.com:8080/video.cgi)

 

If you are having trouble locating the URL of your camera's MJPEG stream, check out this page: http://www.ispyconnect.com/man.aspx?n=D+Link

 

All other cams: http://www.ispyconnect.com/sources.aspx

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Do you have an idea of when the Auto Feeder will be released? I can't wait to use the webcam with the feeder.

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  • 2 weeks later...
SpencerShepard

What username do you use for the d link cams?

I believe it is admin by default, but you can change it in the camera's settings.
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SpencerShepard

Argh now the app crashes every time I hit feed/view

 

Edit: It crashes every time I click an option that has a camera in it

Please post a screenshot of your camera settings, or email me your username and I will have a look at your settings.
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  • 4 weeks later...

Yikes! After 3-4 hours of tinkering with various settings, I can't get the webcam working with the Bluefish app. I consider myself to be a tech-saavy 28 year old, and while computers/networking is not my strongest suit, I didn't expect to have so much trouble. I literally ran into questions/difficulty with all 5 steps, so diagnosing where the actual problem is, is going to be tough. I understand that the majority of my issues likely have to deal with my router settings and not Bluefish, I was hoping this would be a bit more plug and play. If there are any guides that dive into each of the 5 steps above with more detail, I'd appreciate a link. Thanks!

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SpencerShepard

Yikes! After 3-4 hours of tinkering with various settings, I can't get the webcam working with the Bluefish app. I consider myself to be a tech-saavy 28 year old, and while computers/networking is not my strongest suit, I didn't expect to have so much trouble. I literally ran into questions/difficulty with all 5 steps, so diagnosing where the actual problem is, is going to be tough. I understand that the majority of my issues likely have to deal with my router settings and not Bluefish, I was hoping this would be a bit more plug and play. If there are any guides that dive into each of the 5 steps above with more detail, I'd appreciate a link. Thanks!

Yes, unfortunately it can be a pain. It's too bad we can't make webcam setup as simple as it is to set up the controller itself. Maybe sometime in the future we will have tools to make this possible.

 

Every router is different, and pairing that with different webcams, I don't know how much more detail I can give. Take it one small step at a time, and try following the webcam instructions and get it working from your local network first. Then try getting it working from a browser from outside your network with your public IP (check https://www.google.ca/search?q=what%27s+my+ip). Then get dynamic DNS working. Finally get it working with the app from outside your network.

 

When I have some time I will hunt around for some general guides to router port forwarding and dynamic DNS and post them here.

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Yes, unfortunately it can be a pain. It's too bad we can't make webcam setup as simple as it is to set up the controller itself. Maybe sometime in the future we will have tools to make this possible.

 

Every router is different, and pairing that with different webcams, I don't know how much more detail I can give. Take it one small step at a time, and try following the webcam instructions and get it working from your local network first. Then try getting it working from a browser from outside your network with your public IP (check https://www.google.ca/search?q=what%27s+my+ip). Then get dynamic DNS working. Finally get it working with the app from outside your network.

 

When I have some time I will hunt around for some general guides to router port forwarding and dynamic DNS and post them here.

All good - I understand the issues I'm having probably have little, if nothing to do with Bluefish. I think an IT friend of mine will be coming over to assist. Thank you!

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

If say I downloaded an ap on one of my old Iphones that is just sitting around right now, and turned that into an IP Camera would i be able to use that

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SpencerShepard

If say I downloaded an ap on one of my old Iphones that is just sitting around right now, and turned that into an IP Camera would i be able to use that

Yes, as long as it produces an MJPEG feed.

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  • 5 months later...

Just set up my BlueFIsh controller. I would like to buy an IP camera next. Can someone recommend what model D-link camera they are using? Do we really need a HD camera to view our tanks on our phone?

 

Thanks

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  • 4 months later...
reefernanoman

There are many free pc based DDNS services out there if you have a pc running at home.. For example:

 

http://www.noip.com/remote-access

Thanks, yeah I just finished the whole process of port forwarding, etc. with success! I did actually used that website to create a host, and since my router only accepts paid DDNS providers, I had to install the noip dynamic update client in order to access my camera remotely. I did buy a DLink camera to simplify things. The model I got can zoom in and out. My model is the DCS 933L

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reefernanoman

BTW, I did find an app in the android play store that worked great too using this method, just in case you have an old android phone or tablet laying around( I couldn't find one for my old Iphone). I actually used my N7 2011 tablet because the screen is cracked and it is running very slow after the latest update. I added a static IP address to the actual tablet( not sure if that was necessary) , but used the IP address of the camera (which is given automatically by the router and doesn't change). The APP will give you the address of the camera on the screen and the port number too. Here's the app that I used:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam

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reefernanoman

Here is my rig. Now I can spy on my clownfish. I did password protect all my cameras too, which should be a given! Better than just laying around :lol: :

IMG_3332.jpg

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Does anyone recommend an HD IP camera? I have my VGA cam all set up but was wondering if I could pick up a better camera that will give me better picture quality.

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reefernanoman

Just in case someone wants to use my method, I did a little guide for ya!:

 

1) Download the IP camera Android APP that I used:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam

 

2) Watch these videos:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIrGNDB91EM

 

 

3) Now, go download the app into your android phone/tablet, and the app will give the IP address of the camera and the port number that it is currently using. You will need the IP address and the port number so that your router can direct traffic to the IP camera. I think that the default port is 8080, so put 8080 for internal and external port. In my case, to port forward, I need to access the "application and gaming" section of my cisco router. BTW no static address is needed for the android device, so don't worry about that step. Edit: you will have to reserve an IP adress through your router while using DHCP, if not, the router will give your camera a new address every day. In my case, my router uses the MAC address of the component so that it knows which component it reserves the IP adress to.

 

To check to see if the port that you opened is working(example 8080):

http://www.portchecktool.com/

 

Read this right here for extra help:

http://www.noip.com/support/knowledgebase/how-to-setup-a-webcam-and-access-it-from-anywhere/

 

Now, hopefully, if you configured everything correctly, you will use the host name that you created from your "noip" account to access your camera from anywhere in the world. I would also put a PW on your camera(it can be done from the android app). So go to your address bar and use this format:

http://myhostname.ddns.net:8080

 

So, "myhostname" is the hostname that you created, then your router will direct your request to port 8080, which is your camera.

 

4) Now go to the Bluefish app and hit: settings--> system settings---> Enable camera (set to "on")-----> Camera MJPEG URL ( add your address here: http://myhostname.ddns.net:8080/video)---->camera username (leave blank if you didn't set one up)----> camera password (leave blank if you didn't use one)

Now go back and hit Feed/view a couple of times(it might take a few tries) and you should be able to spy on your fishies and corals from anywhere in the world now! Note: since the "noip" service is free, I have been told that you have to renew it once a month I believe.

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reefernanoman

Does anyone know if this cam would work with the bluefish? Looking for something with better pic quality.

 

Vimtag (Fujikam) 361 HD, IP/Network ,Wireless, Video Monitoring, Surveillance, security camera,plug/play, Pan/Tilt with Two-Way Audio and Night Vision

http://www.amazon.com/Fujikam-Wireless-Monitoring-Surveillance-security/dp/B00JAJ9U8K/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

I don't know about that camera, but I would just look for a D-link HD camera because they are very easy to make work.

I'm sure that will help people. Thanks!

No problem. I like helping and I do have an AAS in network security and assurance, but I'm a little rusty because I have never used it ;)

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Also just a tip, if you use the virgin media netgear super hub, DDNS is automatic so there's no need to use a DDNS service.

Edit:

Or at least on mine it was

I had the older one though

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