justonemore
Active Member
OR the cost 
(free)
(free)
webcam software feature matrix
- Thread starter electron
- Start date
jrfuda
Active Member
Hmm, Windows Media Encoder.
Reading your last few posts, it sounds like if all I want is streaming video that MWE is the way to go. Is it pretty easy to setup? Can it handle more than one source at a time? Can HomeSeer serve the stream, or is do I need IIS, or does it have its own server? If I'm asking this many questions, does that mean it's probably too complecated for me and I should stick with something that all ready to go? Should I just shut up and download it?
Reading your last few posts, it sounds like if all I want is streaming video that MWE is the way to go. Is it pretty easy to setup? Can it handle more than one source at a time? Can HomeSeer serve the stream, or is do I need IIS, or does it have its own server? If I'm asking this many questions, does that mean it's probably too complecated for me and I should stick with something that all ready to go? Should I just shut up and download it?
it has it's own built in server, but the entire package can take up a lot of resources depending on what quality you are streaming. Not sure about multiple sources, if I am not mistaken, it does support it, but I never tried it, you might be better off using some sort of video switcher (like the ASL one discussed in another thread on this board) to take care of these things.
What abou the actual Windows Media Server included in 2000 and 2003 server edition Windows OS's? I've never used it beyond installing it and taking a quick look at it. I know Windows Media Encoder has some really good quality, I can stream CNN or any tv channel for that matter to the internet and watch it when I'm at work 
Or even wirelessly on my pocket pc when I'm 'borrowing' wifi internet access from someone... h34r:
Or even wirelessly on my pocket pc when I'm 'borrowing' wifi internet access from someone... h34r:
justonemore
Active Member
Setup is pretty straight forward. Multiple inputs...humm, that would be a question for skibum. I use the asel to switch the cam input before it gets streamed so never bothered . It does have it's own server.
All it takes is a little settings tweeking to find a comfortible glove. One in which you find a balance between quality and cpu useage. I've gotting it down to about 40% cpu with great quality.
Sorry. didn't see the post ?? about it until Joshua posted here today, which brought it to new posts again.
All it takes is a little settings tweeking to find a comfortible glove. One in which you find a balance between quality and cpu useage. I've gotting it down to about 40% cpu with great quality.
Sorry. didn't see the post ?? about it until Joshua posted here today, which brought it to new posts again.
I'm using Webcam2000. It returns a single still image every time you demand a page from its server. I haven't upgraded to the most recent release.
I use it to grab images from within scripts in HomeSeer (using geturl).
I use it to grab images from within scripts in HomeSeer (using geturl).
JeffCharger
Active Member
Electron, did you ever publish the matrix?
Great idea! I searched high and low for a software package that would be capable of monitoring my eight or so cameras and be able to have motion detection that would email pictures.
I used webcam32 for a while and tried most of the products out there until I found Active Webcam (pysoft). The software is amazing and does everything I need. I even feed images from the camera to my website!
I used webcam32 for a while and tried most of the products out there until I found Active Webcam (pysoft). The software is amazing and does everything I need. I even feed images from the camera to my website!
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
Stinger:
Welcome to Cocoontech. I am thinking about trying that Pysoft Active Web Cam. For $29 is seems like it does a lot. I have been looking for a replacement product for WebCamXP, which I have been using. It does a great job and I purchased it when it was $35. Now the author wants over $100 for the same product.
It is a good piece of software, but I feel that $100 is a little much when so many other comparable products are out there for a lot less. I even did a How To on integrating this product with Homeseer's web server. Boy was I upset when the price was raised after doing all of that work.
If Active Web Cam turns out to be as good as WebCamXP (hopefully even better) I will do a How To on integrating this product with Homeseer's webserver as well.
So, hope you are going to stick around on this board in case I have problems!
Regards,
BSR
Welcome to Cocoontech. I am thinking about trying that Pysoft Active Web Cam. For $29 is seems like it does a lot. I have been looking for a replacement product for WebCamXP, which I have been using. It does a great job and I purchased it when it was $35. Now the author wants over $100 for the same product.
It is a good piece of software, but I feel that $100 is a little much when so many other comparable products are out there for a lot less. I even did a How To on integrating this product with Homeseer's web server. Boy was I upset when the price was raised after doing all of that work.
If Active Web Cam turns out to be as good as WebCamXP (hopefully even better) I will do a How To on integrating this product with Homeseer's webserver as well.
So, hope you are going to stick around on this board in case I have problems!
Regards,
BSR
I am actually looking at the X guard DVR card Martin sells, the software that comes with it looks pretty solid: http://www.grandtec.com/xguard.htm
BraveSir-
I'd be happy to help with any questions on Active Webcam. As I stated I looked high and low for something that would meet all my requirements, and it passed with flying colors, and even exceeded them!
I've started to document my camera setup on my website, but I've still got quite a bit left to do.. Here's a summary of what I did and the products I've used:
5 Black and white - Cheap $40-$50 cameras that are hardwired back to my automation closet. They work well outdoors! Link to Camera (Expensive site to buy them though)
1 Color Bullet Camera - Fit in hole left by outdoor water spout when we installed Bilco door and had to move the spout! Link to Item
Active Webcam (Running on three computers - One Server that has DVR card for outside cameras, Kitchen laptop for webcam and den computer for webcam). Software shares feeds so main server has all feeds on it.
8 Channel DVR Card - 8 Channel 240 f/s PCI DVR Card from Ebay - Feeds from outdoor cameras are split via RCA splitters and one feed comes into DVR for Web, security and monitoring and other goes into Modulators for viewing on TVs around house. Server has 500 GB of storage for feeds.
Two Tripleplay 3 channel modulators - The signal from the outdoor cameras are split with an RCA splitter and one feed goes into the modulators and one into the DVR card. When motion is detected in camera areas, or other actions such as doorbells are rung, my stargate sends IR commands to the TVs to activate PIP and show the camera that had motion (or other activity) for 45 seconds and then it turns off PIP.
You can see livefeeds from the webcams (some of them) on the website, but I do occasionally have a lockup on Active Webcam and need to restart it. But considering it's looking for motion to email me, recording live feeds (with close to a month of archives), and uploading the pics to my website, I can live with the weekly restart.
I'd be happy to help with any questions on Active Webcam. As I stated I looked high and low for something that would meet all my requirements, and it passed with flying colors, and even exceeded them!
I've started to document my camera setup on my website, but I've still got quite a bit left to do.. Here's a summary of what I did and the products I've used:
5 Black and white - Cheap $40-$50 cameras that are hardwired back to my automation closet. They work well outdoors! Link to Camera (Expensive site to buy them though)
1 Color Bullet Camera - Fit in hole left by outdoor water spout when we installed Bilco door and had to move the spout! Link to Item
Active Webcam (Running on three computers - One Server that has DVR card for outside cameras, Kitchen laptop for webcam and den computer for webcam). Software shares feeds so main server has all feeds on it.
8 Channel DVR Card - 8 Channel 240 f/s PCI DVR Card from Ebay - Feeds from outdoor cameras are split via RCA splitters and one feed comes into DVR for Web, security and monitoring and other goes into Modulators for viewing on TVs around house. Server has 500 GB of storage for feeds.
Two Tripleplay 3 channel modulators - The signal from the outdoor cameras are split with an RCA splitter and one feed goes into the modulators and one into the DVR card. When motion is detected in camera areas, or other actions such as doorbells are rung, my stargate sends IR commands to the TVs to activate PIP and show the camera that had motion (or other activity) for 45 seconds and then it turns off PIP.
You can see livefeeds from the webcams (some of them) on the website, but I do occasionally have a lockup on Active Webcam and need to restart it. But considering it's looking for motion to email me, recording live feeds (with close to a month of archives), and uploading the pics to my website, I can live with the weekly restart.