 |
INFORMATION SERIES |
|
INFORMATION SERIES |
|
Updated: 20250423 The MADAR OPERATIONS CENTER has four, 5-megapixel 2560x1920 display resolution, RLC-511W surveillance cameras recording the skies each day. The angle at which they are aimed is aproximately 70-degrees and each covers the West, North, South and East sky sectors. The frame-rate currently is set at 15 frames per second. The automatic recording schedule was 9 PM to 6 AM until 22 April, but sighting information prompted us to begin the scanning sessions earlier, so we now begin automatic scanning at 2 PM and end at 11 PM, 10 hour-long sessions, all under one date-file. Our primary monitor is a 32" flat screen, operated with the main computer that we use for most of the work that we do every day.  Skycam Views
The skycams have their outside microphones 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 our building blocked
most of the view. That camera was
mounted on the east side of the
building.
I 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 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.
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 |