NetCams are the new way to monitor your project when you can not be there in person.
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Live image from a curent project in Oregon |
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What Is a NetCam?
Simply stated, a NetCam is a digital camera with a built-in computer. Similar to a webcam only a webcam needs a computer in order to send the images to/through the internet. With a NetCam, you configure it, plug it into power and the internet and it will automatically take pictures that can be seen from any computer, at any time, from anywhere in the world.
What Can NetCam Do For Me?
A NetCam can offer monitoring, security and peace of mind that your project is on target and on schedule. Having a NetCam onsite is like having a pair of eyes there 24/7.
Typical Scenario?
You are building a new home and it is across town or in another state. You want to be there as much as possible to see the progress of what is happening on a daily basis. Solution, install a NetCam.
Let's start at the beginning. Once you have determined that you are going to use a NetCam for your project, there a number of things to consider.
- Is there (or will there be) electrical power and either a phone line or cable connection at the site when your will want to start to monitor the project?
- What is the best angle to place the camera to get the best view of the entire process of the construction?
- Will you need to have constant LIVE coverage of the site?
There can be other considerations, these are the most important and all we need to deal with at this time.
Once you have determined this, we can address the questions. Let's assume the following:
- Power and Phone
You have power and a telephone line can be installed prior to the construction. With a phone line, the pictures the camera takes can be sent to the server (the web) using a dial-up modem or you can see if you can have the phone upgraded to DSL so the camera can have a faster connection to the internet. The faster the connection, the faster pictures can be sent to the web. With a DSL or a Cable modem, you can see the camera Live ( about an image once a second). With a simple phone line, images can be uploaded to the server about once every 10 minutes. This is still very sufficient for monitoring the site.
- Placement of Camera
You have determined that the best angle of view will be from the front right corner of your property looking at where the house will be built. Things here to consider are the sun and how it crosses the property (and the house). For best results, think of this like you would when you take a photograph with your camera. It is always best to have the sun somewhat behind the camera and have the path of the sun be at right angles to the camera as much as possible. I have had situations where the sun ran almost parallel to the access of the camera where he sun came up behind he camera and set in front of the camera. This is OK, just not ideal. The enclosure that houses the camera has a hood so you can use this to keep weather from the front lens and to shade the camera from the sun.
Other things to consider is how tall and wide your house will be when it is finished. It may be helpful to place stakes at the corners of the house and purchase a piece of 2" x 2" lumber that is as long or longer then the tallest part of your house. When you install the camera, you will stand the pole up and check the stake locations to make sure all of the house will be covered from the original position of the camera. It is possible to change the camera position through out the process if that suits your needs. If you are interested in making a time-lapse movie of the total construction, it is best to have the camera in the same location for the duration.
The last thing that need to happen for the camera placement is for you (or your handyman) to set a pole to which the camera to be connected. Depending on your location and any potential for vandalism, this pole should be at least 10 foot tall, placing the camera on or near the top and out of reach. (It could be that there is another place, a building or shelter, to fasten the camera.) With the placement of the pole, you will either have your power and phone line connection at this pole or you can have these at another enclosed location and run a single cable that provides power and internet to the camera.
- Live Coverage
As we mentioned in the power/phone section above, if you want to be able to see the site at any point in time, you will need a DSL, Cable modem or other high-speed connection to the internet.
Let's get started.
Now that you have answered those questions, it is time to purchase your NetCam. There are two basis setups. Dial-up modem or High-speed version. Next we will need to determine the lens for the camera so we can be sure that your entire project is in the view of the camera. You will most likely need a Light Duty Enclosure to protect the camera for the duration.
Now that we have the camera and lens, the next step is to configure the camera so it can be connected to the server (and the internet) so we can see the images as the camera takes them. This is my job, taking all the requirement we have discussed and inputting them into the NetCam. With the NetCam configured, I test the camera with the server and the internet to make sure all is working as planned. At this point I should mention that most people have me set up a simple website for them so they can share the progress of the construction with friends and family.
Next I ship the camera in the enclosure to you and you install the camera in it's predetermined place, connect the camera to the power and internet and point and focus the camera. Once this is complete, you are in business and you can enjoy all the benefits having a Network Camera has to offer.
Here is a link to a home construction site in Oregon. Click Here.
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