Foscam Barn Camer

[ykcharrier]

We purchased a Foscam FI8910W from Amazon and installed it in the goat barn last night. It was super easy to install, and the picture is great. However, it only stays on about 30 minutes before it freezes up. If I bring it back in the house, it works fine.

I don't know if it's the temperature in the barn or the distance from the router that's causing a problem. It's only 150ft to the barn.

So ... my question ... for those of you with a Foscam camera in an outside building, what is your outside temperature right now? We're currently 2º without wind chill. What is the lowest temperature you've experienced and had the camera still work.?

Thanks,
Yvonne

[dozedotz]

Excellent questions! Thank you. We are considering this camera and this is NOT a question that occurred to us!!

[Doug Hodges]

Temp doesn't make any difference. You are losing reception and must restart to get it going again. I have 4 of the 8918w's (think that's it) and the two that are in the corner were freezing up last night. I just installed these two more last night and thought I would try to see more so I moved one of the ones that had never froze up to a corner. My signal is getting blocked. I plan to fix that problem tomorrow and move them.

[Doug Hodges]

It was 5 last night and it was colder than that when I just had two. The ones that aren't in a corner never stop.

[Doug Hodges]

Originally Posted by dozedotz

Excellent questions! Thank you. We are considering this camera and this is NOT a question that occurred to us!!

The two pack or the 3 pack with the better antenna are the way to go. I got the 2 pack for 127 everything included.

[ykcharrier]

Doug,

Are you buying from Amazon? I can only find the 2 pack with the 9dbi antennas for $160 new. There are refurbs for $122.

[Doug Hodges]

Originally Posted by ykcharrier

Doug,

Are you buying from Amazon? I can only find the 2 pack with the 9dbi antennas for $160 new. There are refurbs for $122.

Yes. I'll post the link

[Doug Hodges]

Looks to be sold out. These are 132 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004UM...ref=mp_s_a_1_5

[Doug Hodges]

3 pack 198
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004UM..._s_a_1_fkmr1_1

[Doug Hodges]

Found them. 127
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005Y5...ef=mp_s_a_1_64

[ykcharrier]

Thanks for your help Doug!

[ykcharrier]

Thread update ... It's currently -3º, and the camera is working fine.

After working with Doug on the setup, I ended up taking my laptop to the barn to "measure" the Wi-Fi signal strength. I got 2-3 bars out 5.

I purchased the longer Foscam antenna that Doug uses. In my situation I think it actually made it worse.

The next step was to increase the signal to the barn. I pulled an old router from storage and changed its settings so that it worked as a wireless access point instead. I hooked it to my "main router" via Ethernet.

The camera now stays connected continuously. The video feed is much smoother. (And my daughter can now listen to Pandora while she's working in the barn.)

Conclusion: The camera operates at lower temperatures than advertised but check your Wi-Fi signal strength. The camera does not have a strong receiver.

[dozedotz]

Thought of another question: does it matter whether your barn is wood or metal?

[ykcharrier]

My barn is wood.

However, the part of the house that the original router is in is aluminum sided. The part of the house that we put the secondary router in is vinyl sided. The routers are only 20' apart. I think the aluminum siding has something to do with it.

I would suggest taking a wireless device to the barn (laptop, android phone using wifi, etc.) to check your signal.

[Doug Hodges]

My barn is metal roof and walls.

[Doug Hodges]

Originally Posted by ykcharrier

Thread update ... It's currently -3º, and the camera is working fine.

After working with Doug on the setup, I ended up taking my laptop to the barn to "measure" the Wi-Fi signal strength. I got 2-3 bars out 5.

I purchased the longer Foscam antenna that Doug uses. In my situation I think it actually made it worse.

The next step was to increase the signal to the barn. I pulled an old router from storage and changed its settings so that it worked as a wireless access point instead. I hooked it to my "main router" via Ethernet.

The camera now stays connected continuously. The video feed is much smoother. (And my daughter can now listen to Pandora while she's working in the barn.)

Conclusion: The camera operates at lower temperatures than advertised but check your Wi-Fi signal strength. The camera does not have a strong receiver.

You know what? My signal strength at the barn is not good on my phone. I need a booster too. I hadn't thought of that. I sometimes lose one of the cameras that is in a corner. Hmmmmmm. Boost signal strength at barn or add wifi at barn.

[ykcharrier]

I looked into an outdoor wireless access point in case my old router didn't work inside the house. They're not very expensive. I think this is a better solution because you usually connect the access point via Ethernet cable (which is faster than Wi-Fi). If I need to increase my Wi-Fi strength for multiple cameras in the future, I'll put one just outside the house and point it toward the barn if it has a directional antenna. If I keep it near/on the house, I don't have to buy buriable Ethernet.

This may happen sooner than later. I'm rather addicted to my "goat cam" and might have to put cameras in the rest of the barns.

[wmk0002]

I'm glad this thread was started as I was wondering this myself. How is your camera mounted in your barn? Just sitting on a ledge or is it fastened to something or even possibly mounted upside down?

[ykcharrier]

The FI8910W (and other similar Foscam cameras at least) come with a mount. You can mount them on the wall, on a rafter, etc. They can be mounted upside down if you need to. You can flip the image over in the software. I have mine mounted on the wall upside down to maximize the viewing angles. The camera screws to the mount like a camera would attach to a tripod.

[Doug Hodges]

Ceiling upside down.