Wx Cam adventures

[xairbusdriver]

I decided to view the camera on the mini last night. Viewing locally may be limited to using Safari Of course, the browser needs a plugin... Installed it, Quit and restarted Safari, tried to log in and nothing happened. Well, actually, something did happen, the connection "Timed out".

Went back to the iMac. Same thing!!

Unplugged/re-plugged the camera. De-powered/re-powered the Apple Extreme. Ran two different network apps, both of which showed the camera (it's set to a static IP address with a port number). No change in the results.

Got a very good English speaker in India and we set up a Teamviewer (Mac) session. We basically did everything I'd already done. He also tried using the IP Camera Tool app that has a few options usually only seen in the browser. Nothing helped. I'm now awaiting a return call from the next higher level of tech support. "Within 3 to 4 hours."

This is turning into one humongous, time-wasting, expensive, non-enjoyable experience. To top it off, I'm not sure WC can use the locally stored video, anyway; it's an ".avi" file. Nor was I able to get it to upload anything via FTP. It only took me an hour to figure out the exact path. I thought I was so happy to get a "Successful Connection" reply from the test function...

Oh yeah, my Evocam trial has expired so I can do anything with that, now. Deleting everything (even looked in the Receipts folder) and reinstalling doesn't clean out a hidden file the app writes which includes the first run date/time info. I can understand the need for that, but it's just another frustration.

If this turns out the way it starting to look like it is, I'll be running WC withOUT any camera.

I gotta go take another dose of my meds...

[elagache]

Dear X-Air and WeatherCat "Don't it yourself" types . . . .

If this turns out the way it starting to look like it is, I'll be running WC withOUT any camera.

I gotta go take another dose of my meds...

In the words of that immortal animated cartoon character Droopy Dog . . . . . "Fun, isn't it!" . . 

My sympathies.  At least as a stop gap, you might consider putting a Logitech camera indoors.  I did that "several" years ago as a "temporary" measure and . . . well, at least it works (if very poorly.)

One of these days I'll upgrade, but of course I'll do that as soon as I finish up on . . . . . .

No reason to panic yet . . . . she only need to be ready for the September 21 Classic car show . . . . . so why am I shaking like a leaf!!!

  . . . .Have courage! . . . . it is always darkest . . . just before everything turns completely black! 

Edouard 

[WCDev]

September? I have to have both front suspension struts replaced by Sunday. I did one on Tuesday and still haven't really recovered - muscles I didn't know I had are still aching and I've just sourced a replacement angle grinder and torque wrench for the ones I destroyed on Tuesday.

I'm planning the other one for Saturday. I know it'll be a lot faster this time, but still not looking forward to it 

[xairbusdriver]

Had a talk/remote access and control with another, higher level tech. She couldn't do anything different. Only change was that the camera came back up...  for a while. Her "solution" was that the 100' Cat6 cable run was too far for PoE, despite the fact that I bought the companies own power injector (45V/30W) and the standard claims over 300' is acceptable.

I've got everything back in the two boxes. I don't have time for this kind of 'railroad running'. When I post this, I'm sending an email asking for a "Return" RMA form. Next week, I might even call the first place I got a camera, at least I can talk to an American, that even understands my southern drawl! I know a few more questions to ask after going through this ordeal in two different ways...

I think the next order of business will be to upgrade WC. Sounds like a great way to celebrate the fourth!!

[elagache]

Howdy Stu, X-Air, and WeatherCat tinkerers, . . . .

September? I have to have both front suspension struts replaced by Sunday.

Oh yeah, what's da' hurry?  Some more "caravanning" in the near future? 

I did one on Tuesday and still haven't really recovered - muscles I didn't know I had are still aching and I've just sourced a replacement angle grinder and torque wrench for the ones I destroyed on Tuesday.

. . . . . Well, I plum wreckon that ya' must have been goin' about it da' hard way! . . . . . 

I'm planning the other one for Saturday. I know it'll be a lot faster this time, but still not looking forward to it 

Seriously, hope that it goes a lot more smoothly and much less painfully than the previous ones. 

Had a talk/remote access and control with another, higher level tech. She couldn't do anything different. Only change was that the camera came back up...  for a while. Her "solution" was that the 100' Cat6 cable run was too far for PoE, despite the fact that I bought the companies own power injector (45V/30W) and the standard claims over 300' is acceptable.

Unfortunately my joke about this being a negative example seems to have backfired.  It does appear that Power over Ethernet technology is a bit too immature for this application.  It is extremely disappointing that this company is trying to pull a fast one on you . . . 

I've got everything back in the two boxes. I don't have time for this kind of 'railroad running'. When I post this, I'm sending an email asking for a "Return" RMA form. Next week, I might even call the first place I got a camera, at least I can talk to an American, that even understands my southern drawl! I know a few more questions to ask after going through this ordeal in two different ways...

I think the next order of business will be to upgrade WC. Sounds like a great way to celebrate the fourth!!

Sounds like a plan.  It is time to put the webcam on the back burner and see if you can come up with another scheme that doesn't rely on PoE.  Clearly that is going to involve some new compromises because you rejected that earlier, but sometimes you've just got to come up with a Plan-B, Plan-C, Plan-D . . . . . I just hope I don't have to start with Plan-AA . . . . etc!

Courage WeatherCatters!!  Edouard 

[xairbusdriver]

I'm watching the bird feeder out back. Haven't seen any crows yet, but I might have to catch one and prepare it for eating... First, I'll be contacting some US dealers to gather some more info on PoE distances and power injector types. Wireless is a back up, but I'll probably buy an Express that will be about half way between the Extreme and the camera location.

Strangely, I did find hundreds of jpegs at my new web space today. The camera was sending 'snapshots' at regular intervals. However, it had created its own directories and I had not seen them when talking with the techs. However, based on Stu's comments, they wouldn't be of much use, since they would have required username/password to access. The trick seems to be asking the exact, correct questions in a way that is understood by even non-English speakers. I reset the camera to "Factory Settings" and will wait until after the weekend to look for return info.
"It ain't over till the fat lady sings, and she's not even in the building, yet!"

[Bull Winkus]

Dealing with Chinese tech support can be a bear?



But, even though we've been down that road before, we still like hearing about it. This is how we support you.

[xairbusdriver]

Thank you, thank you! Thank you very much!
 

[Felix]

It does appear that Power over Ethernet technology is a bit too immature for this application. 

Not true at all. That's based on an IEEE standard, the initial of which has been in existence at least 15 years! As I've noted in these threads at various times, my exterior webcams are powered via PoE including one long underground run which functioned fine during last winter's below 0?F temps...coldest in two decades for this part of the country. I did have to replace the power injector on that long run when it stopped functioning. It just flat quit. I think the reason the injector failed was strictly environmental...it's sheltered but exposed to the full range of temps. I couldn't find any temp-range specs for that particular injector but I did replace it with one spec'd at -4?F and the camera at the end ran fine for the remainder of the winter with one spell even below the injector's spec temp min.

I did invest in exterior grade copper ethernet cable for my outdoor cams. Quite frankly, I don't know if it makes any difference in the near term but I'm all for doing everything I can to extend the time before I have to run that exterior cabling again. I anticipate having to replace the cams long before the exterior cabling will succumb to the environmental conditions. But copper cabling is tough to work with...very stiff and larger diameter than what you're used to fishing inside a house.

[xairbusdriver]

I agree, Felix. I just need to find answers (preferably in English) about length, power, hardware, etc. Perhaps I need an industrial grade injector or even a PoE switch.

The cable was Cat 6, shielded, but not specifically environmentally rated. While it had less than a foot actually outside, the majority of it was in the attic where the temps could easily exceed anything seen outside, at least in my area. That was my only choice since I wanted only one ceiling hole inside, and that is in a closet.

One other point is that the LAN side of the injector is 25' from the Airport Extreme. That should not be a factor, but I'm beginning to wonder. If I have to go wireless, the first step may men moving the Extreme to within a few feet of the end of that 100' cable, that would mean all the other connections (to the mini, the iMac, and the cable modem) would then be about ~20' long. Seems like no advantages, at least on the Ethernet side; total distance to the mini would not change much. However, it might make wireless use less of a problem.

My major priority, camera-wise, is to make sure it can output a local file in a usable format for both Evocam and/or WC.

Today is for celebrating the founding of this Nation and family time, regardless of the weather!

[elagache]

Dear Felix and WeatherCat standard bearers . . . .

Not true at all. That's based on an IEEE standard, the initial of which has been in existence at least 15 years!

Yes, obviously the outfit that supplied X-Air's webcam doesn't seem to be very good at implementing a standard! 

As I've noted in these threads at various times, my exterior webcams are powered via PoE including one long underground run which functioned fine during last winter's below 0?F temps...coldest in two decades for this part of the country.

Which brand of camera are you using?  Don't tell me it is the same as X-Air!! 

Edouard

[Felix]

Which brand of camera are you using?  Don't tell me it is the same as X-Air!!

There's a reason why station details are right under our names. Doesn't even require a click. 

[xairbusdriver]

Don't be too hard on the nearly dried Californian. After all, he doesn't have his station wagon details right under his name...

[xairbusdriver]

Bull, meant to ask you last month if you've driven down to the newly reopened Sylamore Creek Swinging Bridge down in Stone county? It was added to the National Register of Historical Places back in 1999. Of course, that's not as long ago as a certain station wagon started being restored. From what I read, that thing may be on the Register before it graces any highway!!

[Blicj11]

I agree with Felix (probably because we use the same brand cameras). If you contact Sharx, I can promise you their tech support people with know what the scoop is with PoE. And their cameras are EvoCam compatible as well. I know it costs more to deal with a US-based company but 在结束时，这是值得的成本 (Z?i ji?sh? sh?, zh? sh? zh?d? de ch?ngběn). Dude.