Long range wireless security camera.

JasoninMN · #1 11/20/12, 01:40 PM

I am trying to find a way to monitor some bird feeding stations I have in the woods behind my house. I would like to set up a camera over them so I could view whats going in my house from my t.v. The problem is all of the wireless security camera's I have come across don't have a long enough range. I need at least a 1000 ft to make it to them. I started looking at receivers and transmitters and things go way over my head as far as me understanding. The other restraint is money, this is just for fun so I want to keep it around $200 or less. Any ideas how I could get a live nature camera going that far away?

**highlands** · #2 11/20/12, 02:20 PM

The best thing might be to move closer to the bird feeders.

plarkinjr · #3 11/20/12, 03:20 PM

tagged - cuz I'm interested in same.
The other problem I've seen with wireless cameras is that they still need power.

Can you run wires? Maybe a wired system can drive them from 1000ft away. Honestly, I don't know if wired cameras need external power, or they can get it from the feed lines... nor how far feedlines can be before signal degrades too much.

ETA: Of course it isnt LIVE, but maybe get some game cameras?

houndlover · #4 11/20/12, 03:58 PM

In a word, no. I have researched this same idea but for me it's that my gate is 1200' from my house. You can buy a system that has "repeaters" set along a path, but the cost I found was nearer to $1000 to set up. Also, each repeater needs a power source, solar works, but I am also finding that difficult to set up because of all the trees I have. I've decided it's going to be cheaper to run cable all the way out there and have a wired system.

plarkinjr · #5 11/20/12, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houndlover

In a word, no. I have researched this same idea but for me it's that my gate is 1200' from my house. You can buy a system that has "repeaters" set along a path, but the cost I found was nearer to $1000 to set up. Also, each repeater needs a power source, solar works, but I am also finding that difficult to set up because of all the trees I have. I've decided it's going to be cheaper to run cable all the way out there and have a wired system.

Tell us more about the wired system?
How far can you go? What kind of cameras? Coax or 3-wire RCA cables?

JasoninMN · #6 11/20/12, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highlands

The best thing might be to move closer to the bird feeders.

Well I could but often time the feeders can also consist of road kill deer which wolves, coyotes, fisher, fox, etc feed on and I would rather they stay in the woods. Also I have photography blinds set up at them so I would need to move the blinds as well. My yard is mostly open field and not very "bird" friendly to the winter residents but I do have feeders in the yard as well.

Houndlover and plarkinjr from what I understand these distances are easily reachable with an IP camera. My problem is my internet connection. I pay by the GB and at $10/GB the bill will add up fast. If you have DSL or another connection other then dial up it may be something to look into.

The cameras can generally be ran with a 9V battery but will need to be changed frequently so they no not need to be at a power source.

I am considering this unit. It has up to a 1200ft range and is closest to what I want so far.

Trailer Eyes ®

houndlover · #7 11/21/12, 12:52 AM

Interesting. I am on wildblue satellite and with usage caps, so I don't dare set up a streaming system. I'm just going to set up a wired security system with dedicated dvr using my desktop and something like a first alert or similar from Costco. I believe the wired coax system I was looking at is only about 100$ but the upgraded coax for that distance is another $200.
http://www.securit---eas.com/cableselection.html

Sunbee · #8 11/21/12, 01:09 AM

A biology prof just did something like this at our place. However, his cameras didn't stream--he had to download the data after the fact, and he had to change the batteries every two days.
I don't see what your ISP's bandwidth limitations have to do with this project, unless you're planning on uploading the data to the internet. You ought to be able to make a network between the cameras and your computers, wired or wireless, that has nothing to do with your ISP. Get a tech savvy friend on board--the guy who runs an internal network for some entity--that's the guy you want to help you out. When he starts telling you about routers and switches you know you've got the right guy.

plarkinjr · #9 11/21/12, 04:26 AM

houndlover, your URL got mangled, but I found it
http://www.securit---eas.com/cableselection.html
Good stuff! Will poke around there some more.

Jason, I think Sunbee might be right. I'll have usage-based pricing on my Internet when I get out there, but unless the IP camera has a cellular uplink, I am not sure why you have to have Internet... I know a bit about networking, but have never used an IP camera. The camera probably sends its data via WiFi to your router (and range for that WiFi will be a huge limiter). In most applications (i.e. city-folk), the camera signal gets sent up to the internet from your router, so that you can then use your iphone, or a web browser at Starbucks to view the image. But, the image is going to your house (where your internet connection is) FIRST. Whether that WiFi signal can make that distance, and whether the camera software lets you tap that image in your home before uplinking it to the internet are both questionable.

Harry Chickpea · #10 11/21/12, 12:15 PM

Probably illegal, but here:

Home | Ayrstone

cab · #11 11/22/12, 07:35 AM

I looked through the entire web site without once finding the usage range for their products listed.....

Steve in PA · #12 11/22/12, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasoninMN

Well I could but often time the feeders can also consist of road kill deer which wolves, coyotes, fisher, fox, etc feed on and I would rather they stay in the woods. Also I have photography blinds set up at them so I would need to move the blinds as well. My yard is mostly open field and not very "bird" friendly to the winter residents but I do have feeders in the yard as well.

Houndlover and plarkinjr from what I understand these distances are easily reachable with an IP camera. My problem is my internet connection. I pay by the GB and at $10/GB the bill will add up fast. If you have DSL or another connection other then dial up it may be something to look into.

The cameras can generally be ran with a 9V battery but will need to be changed frequently so they no not need to be at a power source.

I am considering this unit. It has up to a 1200ft range and is closest to what I want so far.

Trailer Eyes ®

An IP camera will "talk" to your home computer and not use your DSL or whatever connection anymore than your printer does.

Harry Chickpea · #13 11/22/12, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cab

I looked through the entire web site without once finding the usage range for their products listed.....

Suspect they have removed the power ratings purposely. IIRC, they were claiming 1000 ft line of sight - most others poop out around 200 ft, although cantennas and such can increase range.

JasoninMN · #14 11/23/12, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve in PA

An IP camera will "talk" to your home computer and not use your DSL or whatever connection anymore than your printer does.

I am not to tech savvy and was under the impression from what I read online that you needed internet connection. I now understand you only need that if you want to view it from another computer.

frankva · #15 11/23/12, 06:36 PM

You might have been reading about remote viewable game cameras.

X number of years back they used the internet.

Get yourself some tech savvy nerds on the job. First pack of 15 year olds you see...

Wintergrower_OH · #16 11/24/12, 06:15 PM

Their are deer camera that you can use . Not via tv , but your computer . The company is based in Athens , Ohio . Basically a wireless network for monitoring deer .

Ayrstone · #17 11/28/12, 01:43 PM

I just wanted to jump in here and assure everyone that the Ayrstone AyrMesh system is perfectly legal in the U.S. and Canada. The FCC and IC give you up to 1 Watt of power for WiFi to a 6 dBi antenna, which is exactly what the AyrMesh Hub does to provide a WiFi signal for "normal" devices (like laptops or WiFi cameras, including the AyrScout Cameras) up to half a mile away (depending on line-of-sight). Hubs can be up to 2 miles apart (because they have more powerful radios and antennas than laptops or WiFi cameras).

More information on wireless farm networking using Ayrstone products.

-Bill Moffitt, Ayrstone Productivity