IP Cameras for video downlink??

[Photo Higher]

I have a contact here in NZ who supply IP (internet Protocol) cameras for servailance i was wondering if they would be any good as a video down link.

I was wondering how good they would be as a long range video link as you could hop from one wifi hot point to the next (not sure if this is possible or not)
Has anyone every tryed using an IP camera as a down link and using wifi direct on to a lap top? What are the limitations compared to standard video down links?

[jrohland]

My first reaction is:
Big, heavy, expensive and very limited range.

The commercial/surveillance wireless IP cameras I have seen are pretty large and heavy not to mention expensive. They also have a pretty limited range.

As to jumping from hot-spot to hot-spot, it would probably do that reasonable well. Remember wireless IP is NOT cellular. That is, there is no hand-off protocol. As it moved around, it would establish new connections with each transceiver. You might not notice that in realtime but, recording might be a problem. Lastly, every one of these systems I've seen have a 1/4 to 1/2 second delay. That might be a problem for flying.

However, if you can borrow one go ahead and try it.

[Photo Higher]

Thanks for your input. The company i have been talking to are keen to put one of their cameras on the helicopter so i will give it a try and will post the results. When i was talking to them they said that there was no delay and that the cameras were small and they have been getting good range up to 30km (with a directional antenna) So we will have to see.

[perelo]

What camera are we talking about here? I'm interested in the same solution but I will try to use a cellphone (with wifi) as a "what the camera see" monitor. A iPhone would fit nicely on top of the transmitter!

//Per, Sweden

[Smokytyrz]

Originally Posted by perelo

What camera are we talking about here? I'm interested in the same solution but I will try to use a cellphone (with wifi) as a "what the camera see" monitor. A iPhone would fit nicely on top of the transmitter!

//Per, Sweden

+1

[Photo Higher]

The Ethernet transmitter’s receivers are not big and heavy they are actually very small and high power. The advantage I can see is that they are cheaper and you have a huge variety of antenor's to choose from. The signal is also digital.

The only problem is that I am trying to find a converter to convert a composite video signal to a digital Ethernet signal which can be sent over a wireless network. Does anyone know more about this technology who may be able to help out?

This is what I am wanting to use:
Transmitter - http://www.gowifi.co.nz/WISP-Client-...owifi.tpl.html
Receiver - http://www.gowifi.co.nz/WISP-Client-...owifi.tpl.html

The receiver can plug straight in to a laptop or it can be converted back in to a composite video and displayed on your video goggles etc.

Please if somebody knows a bit more about this technology let me know if I have this all wrong?

[jrohland]

Since you can buy 2.4Ghz NTSC/PAL A/V transmitters and receivers, your plan as I understand it looks unnecessarily complicated. If you plan to send a digitized stream this might be a good option. If all you are sending is analog audio and video, there are easier ways.

Anyway, keep us updated. If you get this working it might be possible to send A/V and telemetry from the aircraft and servo control to the aircraft through the single 802.3x connection. That would be nice to have.

[Photo Higher]

Can anyone see what other disadvantages there could be going digital?

Does anyone know what complications there are in converting a video overlay signal eg. CCD camera with Eagle tree OSD Pro converted to digital?

If there are any IP wisses please give us your feedback?