Bear Island Camera
 

There is a BearCam on Bear Island with live images looking north towards Center Harbor.



http://www.bearisland.org/BearCam.htm



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Thank you - It will be great to see conditions at our end of the lake. This weekend it was sure too windy on Saturday for the outboard. Winds kept up right through the night. Too windy for grilling then but we're fired up & having the ribs tonight!

How did you do that?
 

Just wondering, whats involved in setting up a web cam like that? Does it automatically dial in with the picture? I'd like to do something similar at our palce on Cow.....

I used an Axis 2110 Network Camera. It has a built in server so no computer is needed. Just connect the camera to a modem with a serial cable, the modem connects to a phone line. The camera can be set to call in on a predetermined schedule. If you have a high speed internet connection you can skip the modem and use a hub.

If you have a spare computer you can use a cheaper camera to do the same thing, but it requires software and can get complicated.

With the Axis you use a computer to program the camera and then it runs by itself.

Intermediary web server
 

Can you remotely dial into your axis web server to change settings, etc?

Am I correct that if you are on a LAN/WAN users can see the images directly from the webserver included with the camera, but you are uploading the images to a webserver elsewhere?

Yes, you can call in from another computer and change the settings using a username and password.

If you are connected via a LAN you can have full motion video. I have it upload a single image every hour through an RCN dialup to the bearisland.org web.

Setting up the camera is not hard but you do need to understand LAN and internet terminology.

Sound
 

Yup I do... I am an MCSE. I am looking to do a web cam facing the broads from Rattlesnake Island (just need a webserver to which I can upload)... and I want one in my house that I can have on the LAN so I can monitor my house when I am away. Do you have sound?

I don't have sound but Axis has an optional Audio Module that can be added to the camera.

My problem setting up the camera was I used username@rcn.com when I should have used username@rcn, it's those little things that can drive you crazy.

Thanks
 

Thanks for the info on the Axis. All this talk has me thinking about this as well. Last year, I was wondering if there was a way to accomplish this without setting up a dedicated PC (foolish, since I would not be there for extended periods). But it would be cool to have a year-round view of the place.

The hamster is running...the wheel is in motion...

Is that Wortleberry Island to thr right?

Thank You Bear Islander
 

Thanks for all your work setting up this web cam. This is a part of the lake I frequent on a regular basis. It will be great when boat traffic picks up.

Thanks

Pine Island is on the left about 1/4 mile. To the right is Three Mile Island about 3/4 mile. Up the center is Center Harbor 4 miles.

Modem for webcam
 

Looks like you needed a modem too. What did you buy for that? Does anyone know what the Wolfboro StreetCam uses for a camera? It has a clear large image.

For the modem I used an old USRobotics 56k I had at the office.

dial in info
 

thanks, sounds like I might try this, but one more question.....

I have storage space on my comcast account. How would I get a dial up modem to deliver the info to my comcast account? What local number would I have the modem dial? Dont I need to subscribe to another local NH dial up isp for this? Do you know where theres a good FAQ I can study on this topic?

thanks,
Mark

When you say you have a Comcast account I assume it is for somewhere else. You don't have a cable modem on Cow Island do you? We can't get cable on Bear.

If you had a cable modem you wouldn't need a modem or a dialup. But if you are using the phone line you will need a local dialup. I use RCN and found they have a Laconia dialup number. You will also need a web page to upload the image too. You don't need storage space because the image you upload over writes the previous image.

You can do an internet search for Axis and Camera, also try webcam and faq.

dial in
 

No, I dont have cable on Cow, wish it were so. I have a broadband account with Comcast and 10meg of storage space.

Is RCN a local NH ISP?

I was reading the Axis 2100 doc and think the "dial in" feature might be better for my needs. I'll probably pick up one of these cameras on ebay and see if I can get it running, it'll take some trial and error work, I'm sure.....thanks.

Axis listings on the Net...
 

Interestingly, Ebay does have some listings for Axis Network Cameras.

Some additional Ebay listings for network cameras.

Some additional Ebay listings for security cameras.

Also, pricewatch.com has some interesting listings.

Some additional Pricewatch.com listings for network cameras.

RCN is one of many Internet Service Providers that have dialup numbers around the country. If you don't already have an ISP make sure the one you pick has a phone number that is in your free calling area.

The Axis 2100 can't be used for outdoor images. It is cheaper than the 2110 I used, but the 2100 can't handle the bright light of a sunny day.

Thanks!
 

Great WebCam!

I love to see another cam showing the lake.

And to think a camera on Bear Island. What would the old timers think?

If the axis 2100 is an indoor camera can you put it in a weatherproof enclosure and use it outdoors?

None of the Axis cameras are weatherproof. They must be in a weatherproof enclosure, or protected by a good overhang or, like I did, use it inside pointing out a window.

The problem is light sensitivity. The 2100 can take up to 10,000 Lux, which means indoor light levels and watch out for sunlight coming through a window. The 2110 and 2120 can take up to 200,000 Lux which means outdoor sunlight but not pointed at the sun.

The don't point it at the sun warning is important, the rising or setting sun can get into your picture if your camera is pointed at the east or west sky.

Bear Islander, I'd just like to say thanks for the webcam. I find that I check it all the time when I check the Mt. Washington webcams and the Weir's beach webcams. Great view. Thanks again.

Bear Islander, the BearCam is great!. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

technology
 

It's pretty amazing trying to stay abreast of all the latest technology, if everyone on the lake just got a web cam we wouldn't have to spend so much money on our boats!!

bear lover's old timers
 

We used to have a big generator to make our electricity on Bear; finally electricity came but if everyone on the line before you had breakfast at the same time it would take forever to toast you bread. Then we got more electricty and a telephone!!!!!! at first it was party lines and it was impossible to use in the evenings because Camp Lawrence counselors would be on the line . Some people got hot water heaters. Some people waited for many years to get the new conveniences. Cameras, electric heat, dish tv - holy cow what is next?

Wireless broadband access points.

Just don't drop yer laptop into the Lake.

Thanks Again
 

Bear Islander, Thanks again! The second camera is great.