DIY Webcam?

[bklein]

I’m pissed there aren’t many free webcams for local beaches anymore. Surfline too expensive and I think misses CDmar. What would it cost and what is necessary to do a DIY webcam? I am a ham if that helps? Cellphone vs ham radio approach (is it legal?). Solar powered?

 

[tvr]

I’m pissed there aren’t many free webcams for local beaches anymore. Surfline too expensive and I think misses CDmar. What would it cost and what is necessary to do a DIY webcam? I am a ham if that helps? Cellphone vs ham radio approach (is it legal?). Solar powered?

Trailcams that are fully 4g cell compatible are not very expensive and solve the interfaces for control and viewing very well. Pretty much weather proof and have solar panels to keep batteries charged. Then the issues of where to mount one and getting permission to do so remain. Have you talked to any of the businesses who had or still have a beachcam set up?

 

[bklein]

What is the cost? I suppose there is a monthly cell bill too? There are several multimillion dollar homes overlooking the beach - I haven’t talked to any homeowners. I don’t expect there is much incentive for them to allow placement.

 

[tvr]

What is the cost? I suppose there is a monthly cell bill too? There are several multimillion dollar homes overlooking the beach - I haven’t talked to any homeowners. I don’t expect there is much incentive for them to allow placement.

Depending on features they look like they start around $50 and go up. In a quick search I found there are a lot of different ones with slightly different features for around or under $200 that can do all sorts of scanning, panning, smart tracking, day or night with solar charging and remotely controlled from an app. I did not see notes on subscriptions ... maybe someone who has a trail cam can chime in on that. I know there are people on the forum who have trail cams.

If you want to pursue this you might have to make friends with a homeowner or two or more.

 

[Gold Seeker 69]

I have 2 cell phone trail cameras, very basic, motion activated photos, each one costs $5 a month for the subscriptions.