How can I put a live webcam on my site?

TimTim Southwest PA Icrontian
edited January 2004 in Hardware
Since Jennicam (jennicam.com) is due to close today after 7+ years, I've been giving some thought to adding a live feed webcam to my site.

But I have some questions.

Would I have to have the computer turned on all the time for it to work? Can I find another old slow 200 Mhz (or so) machine and let it handle all the webcam stuff?

I know nothing about this, and need to know a lot.

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Well, first you need a hosting-grade connection, such as a static DSL line or a T1. SDSL starts at around $150.00 a month for, say, 384K up and down. T1s are much higher - they start around $400 a month.

    Second, you will need a computer to be on all the time and be a webserver. You will be hosting your own website out of your house.

    Third, you'll need a live codec (encoder/decoder) computer. The cameras will feed the codec, which will provide the feeds to the webserver.

    Plan on spending about $1000 startup costs ($2000 if you get the T1 line), and $150-$500 a month for bandwidth.
  • TimTim Southwest PA Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Well, looks like I won't be getting a webcam anytime soon. Thanks for the response and dollar figures.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Or, you could do something like a friend of mine did back in college - set up a piece of software that snaps a photo from the webcam every 30 seconds or so, and uploads it to your website. A javascript on the browser side displays the 'webcam' photos for the viewers.
  • TimTim Southwest PA Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Ahh, it wouldn't be that interesting to look at anyhow. I was just curious as to what it would take to do it.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Er.... Prime.... What the hell does he need all that for?
    What is the actual bandwidth usage of a Webcam anyway?

    For example, my entire site runs off my home 512/256 line and static IP addresses only cost about £2 more (on top of the normal ADSL charge). Are static IP addresses really that expensive over there?
  • dodododo Landisville, PA
    edited January 2004
    GHoosdum wrote:
    set up a piece of software that snaps a photo from the webcam every 30 seconds or so, and uploads it to your website.

    Would you happen to know a specific program that does this?

    ~dodo
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Sorry, I don't know what program he used for it, he never told me that much. :(
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Conquer cam does that.
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