Wireless target camera. Don't need no stinking spotting scope

[atblis]

Here's my take on a wireless camera setup. I've seen the versions that use a camcorder and a transmitter. I like this better because of the availability of IP cameras with pan/tilt/zoom that you can access and view on your laptop as a webpage.

What you need.
A) IP camera. Can be purchased from Newegg, Amazon etc. I bought the cheapy Panasonic BLC1A just to do a proof of concept type deal. I'd like to get one that has more resolution, and also pan/tilt/zoom.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...180006&cm_re=IP_camera-_-81-180-006-_-Product

B) A wireless link. Some IP cameras have WIFI built in, but I went with a wireless router and a wired IP camera due to the ease of tweaking the router and adding a better antenna. The Buffalo HP routers are nice (use DD-WRT). I am also using a 7dBi panel antenna. I have a few other antennas I'll be testing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4&cm_re=buffalo_router-_-33-162-134-_-Product

C) A way to power everything while it's down range. I am using a car battery and a couple power supplies. The router wants 5 Vdc, and the camera 9 Vdc. You can buy the power supplies off Ebay and also hobby stores (RC people use them for various things). $5 or so each.

D) A laptop to view the camera with at the bench. I originally planned on using a second Wifi router to receive at the bench and then connect the laptop to it. The router would certainly outperform the Laptops wifi especially after sticking a better antenna on it and cranking up the power. For now, I found I was able to get the range I needed.

I've tested range using the Buffalo router with stock antenna directly to my laptop. I ran out of room in the neighborhood testing (300 yards +). I don't expect 1000 yards being a problem.

So anyways, the setup looks like this

Here's what you get on your laptop. The camera shows up as a webpage that you simply point your browser at. Those are 22 cal. holes and also in the shade. If you had a fancier camera, you'd also be able to move the camera around and zoom

 

[Jim Watson]

Fascinating.
I have been hearing and reading about these for some time but with little hard information except advertising for high priced custom builds.
I have access to a 600 yard range that needs video spotting for serious practice.
I would want to set the camera farther back to reduce the viewing angle effect and to pick up a 4 foot target. Might take a nicer camera.

 

[atblis]

Yeah, the camera is the weak link in my setup. It's only a 640x480 resolution. I just bought the cheapest wired IP camera that got decent reviews. I played with putting it in various position and you can certainly still see the bullet holes with it off to the side and further back.

You don't have to take the router apart at all. Originally I just cut the power cord to the router and spliced in the power supply for it. I pulled the case off it so I could directly solder the power supply to the board and fit it into a tighter package.

Another thing to consider is that the battery, router, power supplies, etc. don't have to be near the target. Only the camera does in reality. You do need line of sight from the antenna to your bench.

 

[Jim Watson]

I can hope to miss the camera if I have my sight dope anywhere close to correct for the range.

I figure if I have line of fire from the firing line to the target, it ought not to be hard to get line of sight from the target to the PC.

 

[Chris Rhines]

What a great idea!

I think I'll have to give this a try.

-C

 

[fallout mike]

Why didn't I think of this? If this was on your own property u could put a receptacle down there and have power without having to worry about a battery.

 

[atblis]

Also to clarify how easy this is to setup, this is nothing more than the same wireless netowrk you have in your house, but running off a car battery.

Here's a picture with things arranged a little better like how I'd probably be using it as it is now. I am going to put a couple sandbags in front of the camera for now.

To setup the camera, you take your laptop with you down range and look at the image while you move the camera around. Easy as pie.

I'll play with mounting the camera to the side later.

 

[Matt304]

I built a camera system. The stuff I use will transmit about 2000 yards!

What I use is an amateur television transmitter in the 815MHz band. The TX chip fits in your hand, along with the RX chip. I use an 8AH 12V battery at the TX end, and a 5AH 12V batt at the RX end. But for the camera, that is where I find quality is your best friend. I use a Samsung 30X security camera, SDZ300. http://www.samsungcctv.com/prd/pro_view.asp?pro_uid=1470&cat_uid=15&cat_biz=ctv&cat_lev=AB

I mount the camera on a tripod off to the side, up to 35 yards away, and get a perfectly clear view of the target with no worries of ever hitting the system.

If you wanted your stuff close to the target, you could just build a V-shaped steel plate over the camera. Hit it and it will deflect the bullets left or right. Just an idea.

I also do not use a laptop. I use an inverter with a 19" LCD TV. It provides a great picture.

If anyone wants, I can post pics of it all.

 

[Jim Watson]

Pictures and bill of materials would be a help.
The actual owner of the private range has ham radio experience and should be able to hook some commercial stuff up.

 

[Jim Watson]

Pictures and bill of materials would be a help.
The actual owner of the private range has ham radio experience and should be able to hook some commercial stuff up.

 

[gearjammer-2000]

I noticed you are using corn binder for a backstop in the last pic, somehow that just seem appropriate!!

 

[jmorris]

I use a camera I picked up for my RC aircraft at boostervision.com.

The TX and camera are powered by a 9v battery and the RX is powered by a 12v 7.5ah battery. Plugs into a portable dvd player.

 

[Matt304]

The 12V batts look like mini car batteries.

Sorry, not 815MHz. 850-978MHz.

You guys should really look into upgrading to one of the Samsung zoom cameras + LCD TV. The video quality is in orders of magnitude greater.

 

[atblis]

Tested successfully at over 500 yards this evening and didn't even have line of sight (540 yards according to Google Earth). That's with the laptop as one side of the link too.

Need to find somewhere with more room.

 

[atblis]

Works at 1k yards. Looking for place to test at longer ranges.

Here's the updated version. New 2 mega pixel camera which runs directly off of 12V so I was able to get rid of one of the DC-DC down converters. Stuck the router back in the case. This has been tested to work at 1000 yards using a Wifi dongle and 7 dBi antenna on the receive side. Going to pick up another higher gain antenna. Should be able to hit 2k yards.

Here's a full res target image
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/atblis/Target.jpg