Playing with drop cam

Webbsatwinni · 11-04-2013, 09:18 AM

I am trying a drop cam on the island so I can see the ice form at the dock this year, here is a test from this morning (I set the camera up over the weekend). Here is a link to the morning's video:

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/We...1bed0.mp4.html

MeredithMan · 11-04-2013, 09:21 AM

That is cool. Is something like that difficult or expensive to set up?

rgilfert · 11-04-2013, 09:31 AM

Outstanding!! Even shot through glass it is very clear! I want one.

Merrymeeting · 11-04-2013, 09:32 AM

I just looked myself. Pricing and info are on dropcam.com.

Are you using the regular or Pro version? Also I'd appreciate hearing some of the details on your setup. Is it inside? Given the clarity, it doesn't look like you are shooting through a window. The dropcam website says it needs to be installed indoors (or at least kept from rain and freezing temps). Based on the little research I've done, it's a good product but I'd like to see them come up with one that would work outdoors.

Webbsatwinni · 11-04-2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I just looked myself. Pricing and info are on dropcam.com.

Are you using the regular or Pro version? Also I'd appreciate hearing some of the details on your setup. Is it inside? Given the clarity, it doesn't look like you are shooting through a window. The dropcam website says it needs to be installed indoors (or at least kept from rain and freezing temps). Based on the little research I've done, it's a good product but I'd like to see them come up with one that would work outdoors.

The price was $189 for the pro, I bought it at the apple store. Set up was minutes, you need a pc to initiate it or change to a new network (I set it up as test in CT and had to change the wireless when I got to the island so I brought my laptop. It really was a 5 min set up, once done, you unplug it and plug it into a wall plug and its up.

It does use a bit of bandwidth, I shut off HD and both inbound and outbound sound (you can talk to it through your laptop and people on the other ends can talk back) but that kills the bandwidth on the island as it's slow dsl there.

We did have it set up when the power went out and it came back online without issues. You have two options in viewing, real time or stored video, stored video has a monthly charge. On the temp. I put it in the freezer and it worked fine (Great vid of ice freezing).

It only does video, so it you want to have it send a pic every so often, there is not a setting for that. The lens is a fisheye so positioning to get a good pic was tough, but once you do, its a great wide angle pic. It has controllable zoom and it has smart phone apps and if you make it public, a live link that you can share. The vid was through the slider and still clear, there is an infrared setting that works great, issue is that with the glass reflection is doesn't work for where we have it.

All in all, great toy, good quality, easy to set up. Hope that helps.

brk-lnt · 11-04-2013, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeredithMan

That is cool. Is something like that difficult or expensive to set up?

Dropcam is extremely easy to setup. That's been the whole premise of the company, it started when the founders dad was trying to get an Axis camera setup for remote viewing.

Dropcam has some nice products, the "downside" is that they are all relatively simple/cheap cameras, indoor only, and with a monthly fee. The upside is that if it fits your budget, it's probably the most consumer-friendly option out there.

Lakesrider · 11-04-2013, 11:31 AM

DropCam = bandwidth sucker! I looked into these and even bought one. After it was installed I could barely get on the internet. I returned it. I guess it just depends on how much you use the internet and how well the internet speeds are in your area. I went with a Panasonic camera and use their web server to view the camera I have set up in my house. If you want a great picture though DropCam is very nice indeed.

Webbsatwinni · 11-04-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

DropCam = bandwidth sucker!

I agree, but turning off HD and all sound, it wasn't that bad. The DSL is slow, and I am still getting a good vid transfer rate.

Lakesrider · 11-04-2013, 11:48 AM

yeah it is a great pic though, because I just noticed you have the same metal furniture I have....

wifi · 11-04-2013, 06:09 PM

Hmmmm, all I get is a login page

Webbsatwinni · 11-04-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wifi

Hmmmm, all I get is a login page

I wonder why, I just tested and it worked. The link is just to the photobucket page.

Blue Thunder · 11-04-2013, 08:37 PM

How much is the monthly fee?

Webbsatwinni · 11-05-2013, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

How much is the monthly fee?

If you only want real time and no history there isn't one, if you want storage the options look to range from $10 a month to $20 a month. They start you with a 15 day test of free storage, thats how i made the video. I may do the limited one year at $10 a month, if you pay all upfront its $100 for the year. Then we can have an "ice in" video!

Orion · 11-05-2013, 09:21 AM

These would be great if you could turn off the IR LED's so they could be used to monitor outside through a window. I don't know why it's so hard to find a non-IR-LED camera. They are all pretty low-light sensitive and the IR LED's just make them useless when it starts to get dark due to window reflection of IR lights.

pjard · 11-05-2013, 03:40 PM

As far as the recording goes, remember that for the $10 per month, you only get 7 days of storage.

11-04-2013, 09:18 AM	#1
Webbsatwinni Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lebanon Ct and Rattlesnake Island Since 2007 Posts: 610 Thanks: 180 Thanked 137 Times in 72 Posts	Playing with drop cam I am trying a drop cam on the island so I can see the ice form at the dock this year, here is a test from this morning (I set the camera up over the weekend). Here is a link to the morning's video: http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/We...1bed0.mp4.html

11-04-2013, 09:21 AM	#2
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 924 Thanks: 252 Thanked 798 Times in 321 Posts	Playing with Drop Cam That is cool. Is something like that difficult or expensive to set up?

11-04-2013, 08:37 PM	#12
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 936 Thanks: 249 Thanked 323 Times in 148 Posts	How much is the monthly fee? __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

11-05-2013, 09:21 AM	#14
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	No IR LED's please These would be great if you could turn off the IR LED's so they could be used to monitor outside through a window. I don't know why it's so hard to find a non-IR-LED camera. They are all pretty low-light sensitive and the IR LED's just make them useless when it starts to get dark due to window reflection of IR lights.

The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Webbsatwinni For This Useful Post:
MeredithMan (11-04-2013), Merrymeeting (11-04-2013), Pine Island Guy (11-04-2013), Sal (11-05-2013), trfour (11-04-2013)

11-04-2013, 09:31 AM	#3
rgilfert Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bedford, NH / Rattlesnake Island Posts: 299 Thanks: 152 Thanked 227 Times in 57 Posts	Outstanding!! Even shot through glass it is very clear! I want one.

11-04-2013, 09:32 AM	#4
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 799 Times in 368 Posts	I just looked myself. Pricing and info are on dropcam.com. Are you using the regular or Pro version? Also I'd appreciate hearing some of the details on your setup. Is it inside? Given the clarity, it doesn't look like you are shooting through a window. The dropcam website says it needs to be installed indoors (or at least kept from rain and freezing temps). Based on the little research I've done, it's a good product but I'd like to see them come up with one that would work outdoors.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Webbsatwinni For This Useful Post:
DRH (11-04-2013), Merrymeeting (11-04-2013)

The Following User Says Thank You to brk-lnt For This Useful Post:
MeredithMan (11-04-2013)

11-04-2013, 11:31 AM	#7
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	DropCam = bandwidth sucker! I looked into these and even bought one. After it was installed I could barely get on the internet. I returned it. I guess it just depends on how much you use the internet and how well the internet speeds are in your area. I went with a Panasonic camera and use their web server to view the camera I have set up in my house. If you want a great picture though DropCam is very nice indeed.

11-04-2013, 11:48 AM	#9
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	yeah it is a great pic though, because I just noticed you have the same metal furniture I have....

11-04-2013, 06:09 PM	#10
wifi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 1,321 Thanks: 282 Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts	Hmmmm, all I get is a login page

11-05-2013, 03:40 PM	#15
pjard Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 634 Thanks: 481 Thanked 194 Times in 101 Posts	As far as the recording goes, remember that for the $10 per month, you only get 7 days of storage.