What's On -- Museum Cam

[DavePEI]

Hi All:

I thought you might get a kick out of this. I debated what category to place it under, as it really didn't fit into any, but as I was sitting at my desk at home tonight, I thought I should check out the remote cams in the museum, to make sure all were working. These shots were the result. Note, they were taken in the absolute dark, in which case the cameras take using infrared light provided by LED's and under that situation, take black and white only. During the day or if the lights are on, they take in colour and in higher resolution. Not bad for night-time shots, though.

The first shot is looking towards the museum workshop from the main display area, second a camera facing the entrance of the museum, and the third, a remotely panned cam in the main display area.

This video feed augments the main museum security system.

Dave

[AE_Collector]

Can you turn on the coffee maker remotely as well Dave?

Terry

[DavePEI]

Can you turn on the coffee maker remotely as well Dave?

Have to get the automatic heat controls and the automated tour guide wired first!

[AE_Collector]

Yeah, first things first I guess! Weather a bit better here today but not as warm as back east. Even had snow flakes coming down again in Vancouver at one point today! Didn't last for long though.

Terry

[DavePEI]

Hi Terry and all:

Now that I have opened up the new room in the museum, I will have to get another camera to cover that area, as well.

The story of why I wanted to have cameras there? A couple of years ago, I had some visitors in the museum, and went back next door to get the guestbook for them to sign, and after they left, I noticed a brand new gap in my insulator display. Imagine, stealing what was actually a fairly common insulator!

The thing that bothered me most, is I would have given them one had they asked, as I keep a box of the more common ones which I often give to people as a souvenir of their visit! I am glad all they took was a common insulator, but it did make me realize the need for video, If they will take an insulator, what else might have left the premises during my short run over to get the guestbook!

As I pay for everything in the museum personally, as well as its operating and maintenance costs, and don't charge people for tours, I figured the cost of three cameras was well justified to protect the collection. They are helping me to keep the museum available to the many children, families, teachers and collectors who visit, and to keep the history within alive..

Dave

[teka-bb]

Hello Dave,

What brand / type of camera do you use? Are they IP camera's?

[DavePEI]

Hello Dave,
What brand / type of camera do you use? Are they IP camera's?

Hi Remco:

I forget the exact brand of each. One is a wired network cam (the pan/tiltable one), the other two wireless I.P. cameras. All bought off eBay from China. Perhaps an even greater deterrent are the alarm stickers and warning stickers advising visitors that video is in use in each door. Everything helps.

Update: I got a chance to peek at the manufacturer's names on them today. The two wireless ones are Foscam outdoor cameras, and the wired pan/tilt camera is an EasyN. It had been a couple of years since I installed them, so I had forgotten their manufacturers.

I have decided to order one more to cover the new area of the museum. I have ordered the panable/tiltable version. It will fill out my normal monitoring panel (which tiles 4 cameras on the screen for monitoring) It will eliminate the remaining area which cannot be viewed.

Dave

[teka-bb]

It's actually sad you need cams to protect your property.

[DavePEI]

It's actually sad you need cams to protect your property.

And security systems besides.  When this happened, the security system was turned off as the people were there, so the cameras were the only way I could protect it further.

I am just glad it was an insulator that went AWOL, and not something I had a lot invested in! But it was more that I felt violated - opening the museum to strangers and having them take it.

Dave

[Adam]

Dave, you should stream the cameras live on the internet for everyone to see!  You'd be the only live telephone museum on the internet!

[DavePEI]

Dave, you should stream the cameras live on the internet for everyone to see!  You'd be the only live telephone museum on the internet!

Hi Adam:
Too much of a nuisance, though - then I wouldn't be able to keep any secrets!

[teka-bb]

Hi Adam:
Too much of a nuisance, though - then I wouldn't be able to keep any secrets!

I know what you mean, I also have a few IP cams in my museum but because the museum is part of my home I want to keep my privacy.

However I have been playing with the idea to put a camera in one of the switches and let people call the switch through CNET so they can see it move.

[DavePEI]

I know what you mean, I also have a few IP cams in my museum but because the museum is part of my home I want to keep my privacy.

However I have been playing with the idea to put a camera in one of the switches and let people call the switch through CNET so they can see it move.

Yes, I might do the same if I ever get the linefinders working correctly on my switch. They had been loaded with a loader into a dump truck, then dumped into a farmer's field and left to the weather for 20 years, shafts and relays bent and rusting, and I have never been able to get them working. Sure wish I knew how to work with them better. There may be a relay problem, too. Thankfully, at least the rest of the switch works well, and I can demonstrate the switch from the selector onwards.

Photo of switch a few years ago before the LF banks and connector banks were installed as I was building it. I have never been able to get the linefinders working properly:

Dave

[AE_Collector]

There are probably lots of you out there that have never seen SxS or Strowger switches and those of you who have, probably have not seen Ivory Can Covers. Northern Electric. I only ever once saw a working SxS Exchange with Ivory NECo equipment rather than the usual gray and/or occasional very old Sliver Can Covers.

Terry