You are here

AREDN on Ham Radio Now

12 posts / 0 new
Last post
w6bi
w6bi's picture
AREDN on Ham Radio Now
Randy WU2S was on the most recent episode of Ham Radio Now and gave a great interview about ham radio networking.  Props to Randy for doing a stellar job of representing AREDN and ham networking!
It's here on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBlO4IVv9Ls
AJ6GZ
!
Excellent!
AA7AU
AA7AU's picture
Thank you so much, Randy! 

Thank you so much, Randy!  What a superb and thorough discussion on the current status of what it is we're all working on. I would encourage *everyone* here to budget approx 1.5 hours to focus/watch/understand/appreciate this video interview. You will NOT regret the time.

Thanks again,
- Don - AA7AU

N4FWD
Video camera
Randy had mentioned using a camera for streaming video via the mesh net. Any suggestions on which camera unit to use with this service in  mind? Most POE cameras for outdoors use the 48 Vdc standard.
w6bi
w6bi's picture
PTZ Cameras
We've standardized on this one locally for PTZ.   They work very well.
AA7AU
AA7AU's picture
Less expensive alternative possible?

Very nice camera!  We're working on a shoe-string budget. Are there any less expensive options available that compare OK to these?

TIA,

- Don - AA7AU

AJ6GZ
Not going to find a PTZ much
Not going to find a PTZ much cheaper than that! (how long are they lasting outdoors?) Just make sure it's ONVIF compliant to avoid web-browser plug in issues.
w6bi
w6bi's picture
What KD6EPQ said...

For my first PTZ, I bought a cheap Chinese PTZ camera off of eBay and am regretting it.  No documentation, and falls out of focus every couple of days.

W2TTT
W2TTT's picture
PTZ Camera

Several members of our team have bought these Fiscal PTZ  cameras.  They are solid performers in 12VDC  (nominal) environments where we need to set up rapidly using batteries or vehicles.  We haven't had any driver issues as we use Blue Iris management software. Also, being able to run both our AREDN nodes and cameras from a 12-15VDC source simplifies operations.  We also have standardized ID/password schemes along with node and device names to make our setup more efficient, when new devices need to be configured.
In any case, for $150 and a simple power source, these work great, day or night.  Several of us got them for $99 on a sale day.
 

 
N4FWD
Interesting
The picture, showing on Amazon, looks like a wall mount. Were you able to adapt the camera unit to a pole mount?
W2TTT
W2TTT's picture
PTZ Camera Pole Mount
Yes, and it was easy and inexpensive, too! We used scrap pine, poplar or oak board and two U-bolts. Screwed the camera onto the board with the supplied screws and inserted the U-bolts into the holes we drilled. Then we tightened up on the U-bolts to secure it to the pole. We used stainless 2x3 inch U-bolts from Home Depot or Lowes. It took only a couple of minutes. If you want, you could mount a NEMA box for the connections or tape and goop them. Use hardware that matches your poles and intended deployment mode. 73, Gordon, W2TTT 201.314.6964
WX4LTG
I've made a few brackets like
I've made a few brackets like that, but using IKEA cutting boards for their plastic rather than wood - my first attempt resulted in the camera angle changing almost two degrees when the wood swelled unevenly in the rain.

Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer