What are they steps to setting up a webcam in or outside of your house?

Question

I dont have any of the tools other than a computer yet. Thanks so much for any experience help/tips

Answer 1

Step 1 Get a web camera.
Just about any kind will do. There are many cameras for sale under $50 which are perfectly acceptable for most people. However, usually, you can get a better quality image from the cameras costing more than $75. See my WebCam Review page for a few examples.

If you have a video camera, either regular or digital, you can use that with the proper connection to your computer. However, this method is much more complicated and if you don't already have experience with webcams, you should consider purchasing a standard computer webcam to begin with.

Once you have the camera, simply install the software that comes with it and you should be ready to go to the next step. Make sure you READ the instructions before plugging in the camera. Some require that you install the drivers first, others require the camera to be plugged in first. If you do it in the wrong order you may not be able to get the camera working at all.

Step 2 Chose a delivery system
How are your images going to get to your viewers? There are basically 3 choices. Scroll further down the page to see the details on each of the following options.

1. Use a webcam service such as Yahoo, MSN or AOL. This is the simplest system for the beginner. However, this method requires the other person to install the same service in order to see your camera and usually gives the poorest image quality. There are also a number of pay webcam services but I don't have any experience with them so they won't be covered here.
2. FTP to your website. Use webcam software that uploads pictures to a website via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). This method is more complicated than #1 and you must have your own website which is FTP accessible. This may be the best method if you have a dial up connection, and expect to have a number of people watching at the same time.
3. In house server. Use webcam software that uses your computer as a web server. This is not recommended for the beginner because of security issues and complexity of setup. However, this method can usually deliver the best quality images and can offer a much faster image refresh rate than the FTP method, providing you have a high speed Internet connection.


Step 2 Option 1
Use a service
This is by far the simplist system for the beginner. If you already have an Instant Messenger program such as Yahoo, MSN or AOL, then all you need to do is download the webcam software from that service. Many of the newer versions already have the webcam software installed. Check either your Messenger program's help menu or their web site for their webcam software. Install it and follow the instructions.

This option works well, but usually gives the poorest picture quality and is reliant on your Messenger host keeping the service available and running smoothly. It also requires anyone who wants to see your camera to have the same service. If you don't have a chat (or IM 'Instant Messenger') program, download one and install it from your favorite service.
Step 2 Option 2
FTP
If you don't already have a web page, or don't know what FTP is about, this is not the best choice for you to start out with. It can get quite complicated initially. Once set up and running, this method works quite well and is easy to operate. However, this is the system that tends to give you the most trouble getting started, especially if you don't have any experience troubleshooting FTP problems. Check my FTP page for more on File Transfer Protocol.

For this option, you will need to obtain a webcam software program. Many webcams come with free webcam software. I use a program called ConquerCam which costs $15. I've tried numerous programs and continue to go back to ConquerCam. ConquerCam appeals to me and is the most flexible for the way I run my system. Many of the other programs are also good. You can also search the web for Webcam Software and should be able to find quite a few. Prices can run from free or just a few dollars to very expensive, depending on its intended purpose.

Once installed and connected to your webcam, you need to setup the FTP system within the program. Depending on the software, you may need to build and put in place a web page "wrapper" to show your webcam image. I'm not going to get into web page construction here because this can become complex and is beyond the scope of this article. Some webcam programs come with built in web page builders, others don't; it depends on the application. The JavaScript I use for my wrapper page can be found on my JavaScript page.
Step 2 Option 3
In house webcam server
This is the option I use, and I will describe my system further down the page. This method can range from quite simple to extremely complicated depending on several factors. I can't give you specific set-up instructions because every installation is different and there are too many variables to cover without writing an entire book on the subject.

Many webcam programs, including ConquerCam, come with a built-in web server. Once the camera and web server software are activated and configured, all a visitor needs to do is enter your current IP address in their web browser. As long as your computer is connected to the Internet, even with a dial up connection, your camera should now work unless your Internet provider is blocking the default port.

Huh? What? IP address? Port blocking? What in the #%& are you talking about?

I said this could get complicated.

When you point your web browser to a web site, such as CowboyFrank.net, you are actually connecting to a specific computer somewhere that has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. IP addresses are a series of numbers with dots between them like this (61.95.198.81). The Internet doesn't understand when you ask for CowboyFrank.net, it only understands IP addresses. Being able to use a name like CowboyFrank.net, rather than having to remember the number, is a convenience developed to help us humans remember computer addresses easer. This process makes use of a system called DNS (domain name service) which translates the requested name into the proper IP address for you, then your computer can find the website you are asking for. Check my DNS page for further explanations covering DNS and IP addresses.

Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique IP address assigned to it. No two computers connected to the Internet at the same time can have the same IP address. Usually you will get a different IP address each time you connect to the Internet, or, if you have high speed Internet, your IP address may change every few days. This is called Dynamic IP addressing. Your IP address is a little like your phone number except it can change every day or two. Imagine what the phone system would be like if everybody's phone number was different each time you tried to call someone.

I don't want to confuse the issue here but it is important to know that there are "external" and "internal" IP addresses. If your computer is connected through a router or proxy server, you will most likely have an "internal" IP address. Most "internal" IP addresses are in the range of 192.168.*.* where the * could be anything from 0 through 255. If you are connected directly to the internet, you will be using an "external" IP address. Your "external" IP address is what the world sees you through.

This is your current "external" IP address 61.95.198.81

How do I know what your IP address is? When you retrieved this web page from my site, your computer supplied it's IP address to my website so my server would know who to send the page back to. If you sent in one of those little "subscribe to us" notes that are always falling out of magazines, and failed to include your address, you would never get the subscription.

Ports are another thing. A port is a little like a CB radio channel. Software programs that are designed to connect to other programs, listen for connection requests on a specific port. When another program calls on the right port, the program answers and the two programs can then talk to each other. There are some 64,000 software ports available on your computer. The default port for a web page to connect through is port 80. Another common port used by some webcam programs is port 8080.

Just about any port can be used, providing another program on your computer isn't already using the same port. However, if you use any port other than the default one, both the webcam program and the visitor's browser must know which port you have chosen. The catch with web servers is that some Internet providers block port 80 so you must use a different port if this is your case. If your camera is working on your own computer, but someone on the outside of your home can't connect to your camera, then port 80 is probably being blocked. The method for configuring a different port is dependant on your software, so you have to check the instructions.

For a visitor to pull up your webcam, they must first know your external IP address and the port number you are using. For example, lets say my current IP address is 68.100.43.74, and I am using port 8080, the visitor will have to type into the browser address bar, http://68.100.43.74:8080 and press "go" or "enter". Notice the http:// at the beginning and the colon : separating the IP address and the port number, both are required. (Don't' bother trying that specific number, you wont get anything). If you are using the default port 80, then the visitor dosen't have to specify the port when they type in your IP address.

If you are using a router, you will have to set a fixed IP address on your computer and map the port you want to use through the router to your computer. If you don't know what a router is then you probably don't have one. If you do have a router, check the instructions for Port Mapping, Port Forwarding, Firewall settings, NAT [Network Address Translation], or NAPT [Network Address and Port Translation] (some of the technical terms for this).

Answer 2

webcam inside your house:
- Where you want that webcam ? if is close to your PC, less than 3 m (6ft) all you need is a regular USB webcam. Buy it; read the instruction; Do the installation - very easy - few steps only. You can use yahoo messenger with that webcam.
- If you want that webcam outside or far away from your PC... well you must ask for a special webcam (network / IP camera). Go to a computer store and ask, because you have to setup a small network in your house (a LAN). They have now even... wireless webcamera. Depends by your budget.

Answer 3

Buy a Nokia Series 60 phone with bluetooth + a bluetooth dongle. Then download the following and follow the instructions. Then you can keep your fone anywhere within 50-100m from your PC and capture live video.

http://www.soft32.com/download/63-14697/mobiolawebcam_v1_0_4.zip

Answer 4

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