Thank you
settings
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aaqmacke - Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 7:22 pm
settings
I cannot figure out how to adjust lighting.. such as at night I need it to be adjusted to lighter and day it needs to be darker.. I left it on today and it was so light I could not see anything.. also.. for some reason it did not record but two things all day. it did not even get me leaving or coming back.. not sure what is going on..
Thank you
Thank you
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Semper Vaporo - Posts: 331
- Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:51 am
Re: settings
What camera are you using?
There are cameras that have a wide dynamic light sensitivity and others practically no range at all. Some have sensors that have an inherent wide range and others use a bias voltage that is set by the cameras circuitry to limit the signal from the sensor to be within a narrower range (and then adjust that bias to give good contrast in bandwidths of brightness... but might still have limitations of the number and range of the bands).
Cheap cameras usually are limited in the range of brightness they can handle... usually more expensive cameras have much better capabilities. "Webcams" (usually USB types and often very cheap) are normally only used indoors where the lighting is within a narrow range and thus do not need the more expensive sensors or circuitry to bias the brightness signal to handle a wide range, like is experienced outdoors between direct sunlight in the day and little or no light at all at night.
I use a mix of cameras and just know that one in particular is totally useless at night (totally black scene) AND on cloudless days (totally white scene). All of rest require supplemental light at night, but most handle direct sunlight without washing out.
There are cameras that have a wide dynamic light sensitivity and others practically no range at all. Some have sensors that have an inherent wide range and others use a bias voltage that is set by the cameras circuitry to limit the signal from the sensor to be within a narrower range (and then adjust that bias to give good contrast in bandwidths of brightness... but might still have limitations of the number and range of the bands).
Cheap cameras usually are limited in the range of brightness they can handle... usually more expensive cameras have much better capabilities. "Webcams" (usually USB types and often very cheap) are normally only used indoors where the lighting is within a narrow range and thus do not need the more expensive sensors or circuitry to bias the brightness signal to handle a wide range, like is experienced outdoors between direct sunlight in the day and little or no light at all at night.
I use a mix of cameras and just know that one in particular is totally useless at night (totally black scene) AND on cloudless days (totally white scene). All of rest require supplemental light at night, but most handle direct sunlight without washing out.
Semper Vaporo,
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aaqmacke - Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 7:22 pm
Re: settings
yes.. it is a logitech cheap webcam.. what is a good one to buy.. good but low priced? I have used this camera before and pointed it outside with a different system but it only took stillshots. I really love what sighthound is doing so far.. just cannot see outside in the daylight. LOL I will figure it out. I am going to get another camera.. prefer cordless because having to have the computer up near it is a pain in the behind!
Thank you for replying to my question
Thank you for replying to my question
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Semper Vaporo - Posts: 331
- Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:51 am
Re: settings
I am presently using:
1) Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
2) HP 3100 WEBCAM
3) Logitec Pro9000
4) Logitec WEBCAM 120
5) Logitec HD WEBCAM C270
(Plus 2 NETCAMs over Ethernet)
The LifeCam WAS very good, but it went out-of-focus and I have not been able to correct it yet. I think (NOT SURE!) it got hot in the direct sun and the glue that holds the sensor to the back of the assembly let go and it shifted forward slightly and that put it out-of-focus. I managed to take the camera apart and picked some glue out of the threads that hold the lens in place and can reset the focus, but it never stays in focus, like the sensor is still moving around as the temperature changes.
The HP 3100 has been doing very well so far (3 years).
The Logitec Pro 9000 is also doing well (4 years).
The Logitec WEBCAM 120 is horrible with bright light and night time (4 years).
The Logitec HD WEBCAM C270 is aimed indoors and so I don't know how well it works in bright light (I really should swap it with the 120, but it is a hassle to get to the 120 and I am lazy!) (2 years).
I have, in the past, used MANY other various WEBCAMs of one brand or another... most were horrible, but oddly enough some of the very cheap ones were not bad (paid $8 for a no-name cam at Menards once, and it was very good for about a year, then it died... and of course, I can't find one like it now). Many cameras are only on the market for a few weeks and then disappear so if you find one that works that is really cheap, get several while you can...
I had a Microsoft HD 5000 WEBCAM and it worked well for a couple of years, then one color (red as I remember it) went intermittent and then it died completely. A Logitec (don't remember the model) also died after a couple of years.
BUT... one BIG caveat!
MOST brands of WEBCAMs come with their own drivers and very few of them will handle multiple instances of the same brand/model of camera. So far, Logitec is the only brand where I have been able to get two or more of the same brand to work simultaneously with a PC. But they must be different models! When I try two Microsoft WEBCAMs (different models), they might both connect but they will be given the same name and SightHound (or any other multiple camera program) will get confused as to which is which... Might see camera #1 on camera 1's window and #2 or 2's window, but then one of them will suddenly be the view of the other one so that both windows are the same view or they might just swap views. Then my PC gave a "Blue Screen of Death" and spontaneously rebooted. Tried it more than once and the length of time it ran varied from a few seconds to maybe a minute, but never for more than that.
As for distances... I have several USB extension cables in use. I am sure there are several brands available, but I am using a "StarTech.com USB 2.0 Active Extension Cable" on 3 of my WEBCAMs. They are 16-ft long and you can daisy-chain up to 5 of them for a total distance of 80-ft (and I have gotten away with the standard cord from the camera adding an additional 5-ft, plus an unpowered 5-ft extension cable for a total distance of 90-ft.!) I think there are also pairs of devices available that you plug into a power outlet and connect the PC to one and the camera to the other to use the house wiring to convey the signal much further (best when on the same fused branch, but will work all the way through the fuse panel and out another branch!) (I am using a similar pair of devices to extend my local network through the house from a NETCAM to my LAN router.) I just did a search on-line and found some USB to Ethernet extenders, so there is possibly a way to use either those directly, or in conjunction with the LAN to house wiring devices.
Note that even a 'Wireless' camera needs power and that surely implies "wires" to get it there. I had one battery powered camera and it only ran about 4 hours on a set of batteries, so that was quite useless in a full-time surveillance system! Modern cameras and batteries might do a lot better, but I doubt if it would last long enough to make it worthwhile.
1) Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
2) HP 3100 WEBCAM
3) Logitec Pro9000
4) Logitec WEBCAM 120
5) Logitec HD WEBCAM C270
(Plus 2 NETCAMs over Ethernet)
The LifeCam WAS very good, but it went out-of-focus and I have not been able to correct it yet. I think (NOT SURE!) it got hot in the direct sun and the glue that holds the sensor to the back of the assembly let go and it shifted forward slightly and that put it out-of-focus. I managed to take the camera apart and picked some glue out of the threads that hold the lens in place and can reset the focus, but it never stays in focus, like the sensor is still moving around as the temperature changes.
The HP 3100 has been doing very well so far (3 years).
The Logitec Pro 9000 is also doing well (4 years).
The Logitec WEBCAM 120 is horrible with bright light and night time (4 years).
The Logitec HD WEBCAM C270 is aimed indoors and so I don't know how well it works in bright light (I really should swap it with the 120, but it is a hassle to get to the 120 and I am lazy!) (2 years).
I have, in the past, used MANY other various WEBCAMs of one brand or another... most were horrible, but oddly enough some of the very cheap ones were not bad (paid $8 for a no-name cam at Menards once, and it was very good for about a year, then it died... and of course, I can't find one like it now). Many cameras are only on the market for a few weeks and then disappear so if you find one that works that is really cheap, get several while you can...
I had a Microsoft HD 5000 WEBCAM and it worked well for a couple of years, then one color (red as I remember it) went intermittent and then it died completely. A Logitec (don't remember the model) also died after a couple of years.
BUT... one BIG caveat!
MOST brands of WEBCAMs come with their own drivers and very few of them will handle multiple instances of the same brand/model of camera. So far, Logitec is the only brand where I have been able to get two or more of the same brand to work simultaneously with a PC. But they must be different models! When I try two Microsoft WEBCAMs (different models), they might both connect but they will be given the same name and SightHound (or any other multiple camera program) will get confused as to which is which... Might see camera #1 on camera 1's window and #2 or 2's window, but then one of them will suddenly be the view of the other one so that both windows are the same view or they might just swap views. Then my PC gave a "Blue Screen of Death" and spontaneously rebooted. Tried it more than once and the length of time it ran varied from a few seconds to maybe a minute, but never for more than that.
As for distances... I have several USB extension cables in use. I am sure there are several brands available, but I am using a "StarTech.com USB 2.0 Active Extension Cable" on 3 of my WEBCAMs. They are 16-ft long and you can daisy-chain up to 5 of them for a total distance of 80-ft (and I have gotten away with the standard cord from the camera adding an additional 5-ft, plus an unpowered 5-ft extension cable for a total distance of 90-ft.!) I think there are also pairs of devices available that you plug into a power outlet and connect the PC to one and the camera to the other to use the house wiring to convey the signal much further (best when on the same fused branch, but will work all the way through the fuse panel and out another branch!) (I am using a similar pair of devices to extend my local network through the house from a NETCAM to my LAN router.) I just did a search on-line and found some USB to Ethernet extenders, so there is possibly a way to use either those directly, or in conjunction with the LAN to house wiring devices.
Note that even a 'Wireless' camera needs power and that surely implies "wires" to get it there. I had one battery powered camera and it only ran about 4 hours on a set of batteries, so that was quite useless in a full-time surveillance system! Modern cameras and batteries might do a lot better, but I doubt if it would last long enough to make it worthwhile.
Semper Vaporo,
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aaqmacke - Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 7:22 pm
Re: settings
thank you.. gives me a lot to think on.. I will do some research.
yes.. wireless uses battery and they do go dead fast.. I remember I used to have a little $30 camera.. many years ago.. and had it hood to my vcr.. LOL yes.. VHS tapes.. it was a good one.. waterproof had night vision too.. very clean pics.. I cannot remember what kind it was it was so long ago..
Eventually after figuring out which cameras I may get I want to try to figure out the whole system so I can check on my house while I am at work.. My neighbor has some system he paid $300 for.. and he can see his house, his moms and the area around.. sounds good to me!
Thank you again. very informative reply!
yes.. wireless uses battery and they do go dead fast.. I remember I used to have a little $30 camera.. many years ago.. and had it hood to my vcr.. LOL yes.. VHS tapes..
it was a good one.. waterproof had night vision too.. very clean pics.. I cannot remember what kind it was it was so long ago.. Eventually after figuring out which cameras I may get I want to try to figure out the whole system so I can check on my house while I am at work.. My neighbor has some system he paid $300 for.. and he can see his house, his moms and the area around.. sounds good to me!
Thank you again. very informative reply!