Final Version of dog-cam

Keep in mind I’m aware that there are wireless web cams available from companies like D-Link that would make this process a lot easier. I went the convoluted route because I didn’t want to spend any money on anything.  This was all junk I was able to scrape together laying around my office. Here is a link to the page where you can view the web cam feed

Software being used

• Operating System Windows XP Pro (no hot fixes, service packs, or anti virus…just running light because it’s not a powerhouse machine)
• Mozilla is my browser of choice
• Stickam is handling the streaming for me, and here is a nice video with the details
• To turn a MiniDV camcorder into a web cam I am using DVdriver.

Hardware being used

• Old machine with like a gig of ram
• Firewire PCI card
• Belkin MIMO USB Wireless adapter
• Cannon ZR45MC Digital Video Camcorder
• Tripod
• Toolbox on wheels
• Power strip

Implementation

This is where I got a little creative (little being the operative word). I didn’t want a computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse and all that laying around where ever I wanted to use the web cam and I didn’t want to dedicate a laptop to the project.

I took the computer apart and placed it all in a tool box on wheels. There is a power strip attached to it for the computer and Camera to plug into. Since I’m using wireless I don’t need to be near an RJ45 jack in the house.

Also since I didn’t want to waste an LCD flat screen by mounting it to the toolbox (or strap a giant tube monitor to it) the setup doesn’t have a monitor. I have XP Pro installed and can turn on Remote Desktop and simply manage the system from another machine in the house.

Here are some pictures of the final setup, today I used it while he was in his dog room and then quickly moved it to the basement window with relative ease. If you had an extra machine with a monitor laying around and would be filming in a stationary location you could skip the entire toolbox step.

Pictures of final version

Here is a picture of the entire thing, the camera on the tripod all attached to a computer stuffed in a toolbox on wheels.

Here is a shot of the motherboard, power supply, HD, CDRW, and all the wires that go along with it.

Here is a shot of the little wireless USB device from Belkin I’m using

The old power strip I had laying around

Here is the firewire plugged into the MiniDV Camcorder

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