Wireless Video

Try a search for wifi video camera. Connection should be straightforward, but I think the 175' could be a problem.

Thanks John. I didn't know that there were cameras made with integrated WiFi. I talked with a couple of company reps but neither even mentioned the WiFi cameras.

I did find one outdoor camera that is rated for 200'. Most listed camera specs don't mention the range. They do list other technical information related to the antennas. Is there anything in the specs that I can use to indicate what the range may be?

The range depends on the type of WiFi (802.11b, g, n etc) and whether you have line-of-sight or have walls etc. to go through. This wiki suggests you should be OK for over 175' outside, but I'd definitely go for wireless N or N1.

I live directly across the road from a pub, so if I take my laptop over, it's about 100' from my router, but (because of the walls it has to go through) I get a very low signal with wireless G on the laptop, even though the router is N1. Best results are when both devices are N or N1.

You could try a range extender (at the house end) with a directional antenna for the video link. Googling "WiFi range extender" will yield lots of info.

To tell the truth, I'm rambling a bit here, talking from my rather limited experience. I'm certainly no expert - but I think your application should work with a bit of careful selection of devices. Find an expert (if you can!).

GA John. You've provided a lot of useful information. Thanks.

If you get a camera that has a removable antenna (they usually have a small dipole) you could replace it with a directional .. or put a directional at the house.

Actually, you could build a reflector to slip onto the dipole to give it directional characteristics.

search "build a directional wifi antenna"

If a TV screen would be OK instead of the computer screen, there are those Video transmitters that work well when there are no objects between them.

I get great pictures from my caravan when it is parked on the other side of the house about 50 meters away. Line of sight should therefore be no problem for 175'.

I use a cheap one from Thomson to bridge between the TV and Sat receiver in our bedroom, The receiver was able to also receive from an X10 wireless camera bought in the USA many years ago and used as a rear view mirror/video from the caravan to the car.....they just happened to use the same channel......picture was really good quality, I was stunned!!!

Buy one and try it out, they are not expensive and either by an X10 or similar camera......

Thought!

Maybe the X10 camera has a superior transmit signal power.....e.g.Distance maybe?

Here are some modern versions of what I bought, including IP versions.....

http://www.x10.com/cameras/index.html#

Years ago I tried a little experiment to see what would happen that involved something like this.

I believe I fed the video feed from the camera into a VCR so that I could see it on a TV through the rf output on the VCR (channel 3), then I attached the rf output to an external antenna instead of a TV and was able to receive the signal on through any television that was nearby over that channel.

Note: I would say this is probably outlawed by the FCC, but it's only low power. I don't know if it would even transmit the distance your looking for though.

In my humble opinion, you should go for the IP-cam solution, and if local conditions blocks the wireless signal, you can extend the domestic wireless net with an additional access-point(extender), maybe with an external antenna, maybe placed outdoor and high. To check your own channel and for channels not in use, download the freeware inSSIDer http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/ on a laptop(portable), it will also show the level of transmitted power available. Take the laptop to the dock and check wireless signal level where you want to place the camera, then you will know what to do. At work we have tried out a couple of IP link devices, they performed well both at 1 and 2 miles with sight (20/20 Mb/s), so if you have line-sight, there should not be any problems. For security, remember to set wireless security in the wireless router (WPA+PSK etc.), which new wireless IPcameras can handle. Most cameras include some software to view picture from camera. To avoid "sales pitch", buy online and calmly compare specs. Good luck, /moe

IP camera

Thanks everyone for the information and recommendations. It's a lot to consider. I'll get together with my son and sift through the information.

If you just want to monitor the boat dock a cheap wireless and weatherproof camera and receiver will do the job. I have four such cameras. The receiver is attached to a ( flat screen ) monitor and they go 300'. This is over a clear line of sight. In our country the 2.4 GHz range is used. Each camera comes with dip switches for selection of 1 to 4 ( channel ). The receiver also switches between channels to receive different images from different cameras. It can be set to stay on one camera or rotate between all four. Our only problem has been spiders web over the lens'. Although the camera is waterproof the power supply isn't.

I can't get images relayed to my smartphone, but then again i haven't tried to hook up the receiver to any device that can do this.

As an aside, our neighbour had a baby and they installed a baby monitor which we could see on our monitor. We let them know!

A visitor with a reversing camera on his car received the surveillance image instead and as it was of the front of his car he was somewhat confused as to where he was going.

That is some great points, with a few of the to my mind, small drawbacks, similar to my experiences, but it does allow a mix and match of compatible manufacturers to achieve a functioning system if required...

I am not surprised (but pleased!) at the 300' (so should the OP be too!), though I personally have never tried the extremes, it always worked well for me with a great picture even through a house!!

If you want to be able to view the video image on a PC, schmuttfone etc without any add on boxes then a wirless IP solution (wifi 802.11n) is the way to go.

You will need to install a wireless router at the premises and a high gain (directional) antenna outside pointing at your jetty (it might work with the omni antenna that comes with the router give it a go)

Normal browser interface to the camra from any devices attached to your wireless LAN now. You effectively then have a personal wifif hot spot. You can ave internet on your boat if you are in range.

Shop for IP Cameras or Network Cameras

Wal, my son has a router hardwired to one computer and it feeds internet access to another computer in another room. Would he be able to use that same router for accessing the signal from the camera? I do want a camera which does not require a dedicated receiver, mostly because of added cost. Is the wireless IP camera the same as wifi camera? Forgive my ignorance about this whole thing.

It seems the more I learn, the more I discover that I don't know.

The non IP method should cost well under $100 new (assuming you have an old TV around, even less if you buy secondhand equipment off ebay.....I paid only about $60 for one of my units (Transmitter/Camera and receiver).

Here is the transmitter and camera from the same sort as I use:-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/X10-B-W-Video-Camera-XC22A-with-Remote-Controlled-Power-Supply-XM16A-refurb-/320861086395?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab4cfa2bb

You can of course digitize the signal with a cheap inline digitizer if it MUST be shown on a computer.....but having an old TV stops the need to keep the computer switched on......

I am unaware of the reasons behind using a computer as the OP has not as yet told us....

For example:-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/X10-2-4-WIRLESS-COLOR-CAMERA-VIDEO-SENDER-XC16A-LOT-3-/380416087067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589290d41b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/X10-Wireless-Video-Receiver-/190649225458?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c639450f2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/X10-Four-Audio-Video-Senders-VT30A-Four-Audio-Video-Receivers-VR30A-31A-/220968660487?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3372c22e07

So you could put a really cheap system together, but that sounds like penny pinching - having a boat worth more than say a $1000 and not wanting to spend anything on security.....hopefully fully insured!

Sorry for late response. I've been chasing the filthy lucre.....gotta eat.

If your router is a wireless router (aka wifi, 802.11n) and your wireless camera is an IP (wifi) camera (there are wireless and wired IP cameras) then you can view the camera images from any PC connected to your LAN (which is what you have) using a browser.

The correct camera will look a little like this

You will need power at the camera end.

If you want to access the camera over the internet ie beyond your LAN you will need a fixed IP address (talk to your ISP) or set up a VPN (virtual private network). That's only if you want to viewthecamera when you are away from home. Your wirelessrouter will provide access to any terminal that can connect wirelessly (or wired) to your LAN (PCs, notebooks, schmuttfones....)

I used a 2.4 GHz wireless camera in my backyard, but the interference from all of the WiFi modems in the neighborhood was pretty annoying. If you get one, make sure it is channel selectable so you can mitigate that issue. If there are a few live-aboards in the marina (?) you may be interfering with their WiFi as well. WiFi is judged decent at 300' in the right environment.

As others have said...go with a directional antenna to boost your gain.

The receiver that comes with such cameras can be had with USB or composite video output.

We want to be able to access the view via computer mainly because we want to be able to view when we are not home. Quite often both my son and I are not home home at the same time. Although thefts are not a problem around here my son is fully insured. We don't have a marina or wifi in the area, that I know of. One neighbor uses an air card for internet access but I don't know if that would cause a problem. Thanks again.

Not a problem with the aircard...different spectrum

Are you planning on saving or archiving the footage in any way?

Recording is not a priority. The main objectives are to be able to access a live picture, not have to have a dedicated receiver, and be able to view over the internet. If I have to have a dedicated receiver, I'll do it. I just want to make it simple and as economical as possible. Thanks.

If for some reason you do need to burn your files to DVD or what not, I have been using a few different systems and services lately. If you are looking for software that will burn DVD's with speed and efficiency than I would point you here. That seems like it would be the best solution for what you would end up doing with all the footage...