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INFORMATION SERIES |
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INFORMATION SERIES |
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Updated: 20200528 Each night before we retire we place the live images from the four (4) skycams on the 32" monitor on the west wall, ready to be recorded with the OBS system. This is the main computer that we use for most of the work that we do every day.  Skycam Views
The skycams have at least one camera with its outside microphone turned on to capture any sounds, dogs barking, jet or prop engines, or a sudden drop-off of crickets chirping, etc.  View looking South
showing three SkyCams pointing S,W and N.
The East camera was NOT placed
on the mast because the building blocked
most of the view. That camera was
mounted on the east side of the
building. I used (4) RLC-511W cameras by
ReoLink. These are about $100 each and
well-worth the price.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GXG3ZXJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I staggered the cams but may
not have had to. The antennas I thought
were in each other's way. The West cam
is at the top and the N & S are
about 9" lower. All the power adapters
are plugged into a long power strip
which is enclosed in the 4x4 sleeve. An
appropriate length of a lightweight lamp
cord-sized extension cord was passed
through the two sections and spacer into
the building.
 4x4 pvc fence post sleeve with
1"x4" spacer.
The 4x4 fence
post sleeves are 6' long ($16 at Lowes) so I
cut off an 18" section, leaving a 4-1/2 foot
section for the main mast. The spacer is to
get the mast clear of the roof extension.
The 1/2" x 12" carriage bolts are a foot
apart and use flat washers and wing nuts on
the inside wall of the building, and 5/8"
flat washers on the carriage bolt shoulders
for support.
Mounting
the cameras to the top of the
mast I used 6-32x3/4" stainless
steel machine screws. The camera
company says #10 but that
appears to be too tight. Remember
to drill a large hole in the
middle of the 3 #10 holes you
drill for the templates for the
wires coming off each camera
(RJ45 plug on cam is large).
Also a hole through both 4x4
sleeves and the spacer for the
main power wire into the
building if that's where you are
mounting the mast.
Buy at least 2, 4" sleeve
caps (about $5 each). One for the top of
each piece, maybe even a couple more for
the bottoms of each section to keep bees
and other insects, birds, out.
The computer used for the Skycams uses OBS Studio for manual recording if I elect to do so for some reason. Otherwise the MAVERIC System will automatically record all four cameras along with the audio from one of the mics. The Skycam system cost me about $450, but well worth it. Fran Ridge
skyking42@gmx.com Information on MADAR and how to order the MADAR-III DataProbe can be found at: http://www.nicap.org/madar.htm |