horseflesh Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 I'm selling an old laptop, but before it goes I decided to use it to set up a webcam. I used a Logitech cam I had around and the trial version of some webcam software, just to get going. http://wrongcrowd.com/cam/ You may see my false perc or red firefish crusing around. In retrospect setting up the camera was a terrible mistake, because now I want a much better one. Why can't I have any cheap hobbies?! Link to comment
doncb Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Saw the Clown and Firefish! Nice tank! Link to comment
proraptor Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Thats awesome! It would be cool to monitor your tank while you are at work Link to comment
MrDumass Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Is it only me?? all I see is a still picture.... Link to comment
Samoyed Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Is it only me?? all I see is a still picture.... its pictures, but when you refresh the page its a new one...Love the open brain/GSP/xenia/clown cant find the firefish...is it helfrichi??? nice tank man!!! Link to comment
horseflesh Posted January 29, 2006 Author Share Posted January 29, 2006 I wish, he's a plain old red firefish. Link to comment
Nuhtty Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 its pictures, but when you refresh the page its a new one... Hit refresh every 20sec or so Link to comment
Fish Stick Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Very cool idea......What is the name of the software you are useing? I would like to set one up so i can keep an eye on my new puppy........hmmm.....I wonder what she is chewing on right now.....lol Link to comment
scatcat Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I see nothing. But it's a cool idea tell me how does this web cam thing work. I'd love to look at my tank while I'm at work. Scat Link to comment
Cuba Libre Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Cool, now instead of cruising nano-reef at work, we can actually watch our own tanks instead of working. The internet is great! Link to comment
Fish Stick Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 LOL...yeah thats all I need is one more reason to slack off..... Link to comment
reef n ale Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I'm not getting anything either...but a great idea. Something else to spend money on! Rob Link to comment
jmarches Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Just a black picture...Maybe the lights are off? Link to comment
reef n ale Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Yeah, it is still early on the west coast. I would definitely like to learn how to do this. Rob Link to comment
horseflesh Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 I set up the camera with a Logitech QuickCam Orbit, an old PowerBook, and the trial version of webcam software called Wuff-Cam. The software snaps a pic and copies it to a folder every 30 seconds... the folder is actually on my own web server that I run at home. However, most of the webcam software I looked at could also send an image to an external host via ftp. I am actually selling the old Powerbook, so last night I put together a junker PC from my spare parts bin and I started running the camera on it today. It will be up and down for a while until I get it all smoothed out, I'm downloading all the updates from WindowsUpdate right now... I found what seems to be good, cheap webcam software called SpyCam: http://home.rochester.rr.com/woatman/spycam/ I will have to register it to get the feature that turns capture off when the tank is asleep... but it will be even more fun to build IR illumination. If the camera can see it... I have to check that. Ultimately, I am going to use a real (though older) digital still camera to make very high-quality images. I just have to find the right one at the right price on eBay, then I can use freeware (VM95) to drive it. Keeping an eye on the tank while I am at work is great. I noticed that my clown is spending a lot more time in the torch coral lately. He used to only go in at night. Link to comment
Fish Stick Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Cool...Thanks for the info! Link to comment
horseflesh Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 Last night I found an old webcam that can focus closer than the Logitech, so I tried it out. It's looking at my torch coral. The image quality is better but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Link to comment
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