X10 Community Forum

📸Cameras & Camera Software => Camera General Discussion => Non X10 Cameras => Topic started by: B.A. on December 27, 2010, 08:42:42 AM

Title: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: B.A. on December 27, 2010, 08:42:42 AM
Can I just use a VA12A and AHP with iWatchOut with a non x10 camera?
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Tuicemen on December 27, 2010, 09:12:42 AM
Yes!
Many users here do that for other cameras.
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: B.A. on December 27, 2010, 09:35:13 AM
Anybody have any recommendations?
I would prefer wired. Needs to have night vision. Color optional. Outdoor rated.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Tuicemen on December 27, 2010, 09:41:20 AM
Many here use the Astrak (CM 612W) color night vision cameras in there setups.
I've mounted one to a ninja Pan n Tilt for even more night time coverage!
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: birdzeye on December 27, 2010, 11:02:10 AM
Yes you can use non-x10 cameras with iWatchout but you need to turn them on/off with an appliance module.
The camera switching is not always as fast this way, compared with just x10 cameras.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: peg-leg on December 27, 2010, 11:28:59 AM
Anyone using these as a wired setup?  If so, how are you switching the camera views?  Also,  is there some type of multiple input hub that's used to connect the VA12A to?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: HA Dave on December 27, 2010, 11:29:44 AM
Yes you can use non-x10 cameras with iWatchout but you need to turn them on/off with an appliance module....

And the appliance modules don't work like the cameras do in the "groups of four". Turning an appliance module (controlled camera) ON will turn an X10 camera (in the same group of four) OFF. But... [if you already have the appliance module turned ON]... turning ON a camera in the same "group of four" will NOT have any effect (like turn OFF) on an appliance module.

I have a tiny IR camera [controlled by an appliance module] at my front door that is triggered/turned ON by a macro triggered by ringing the doorbell (a powerflash module attached to the doorbell provides the X10 PLC for AHP). The macro displays the video of the visitor on a picture frame as well as making a short recording and then [after a few seconds delay] turns the appliance module (and the camera) OFF.

That is one way of working around the limits of not being able to auto-switch like is done with an all X10 camera setup.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: hawk1 on December 27, 2010, 11:45:49 AM
Dave, can't you just setup the appliance module as a camera in AHP?  I think I've tried that before but can't remember if that works or not.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Tuicemen on December 27, 2010, 12:06:39 PM
I have a mix of both wired and wireless in my setup.
Like Dave stated wired cams need to be on an appliance module.
I've never tried setting one up in AHP as a cam(good Idea Hawk1)
But as I had issues with AHP in the past switching cams I created macros to turn off the other cams when I switched to another.
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Brian H on December 27, 2010, 12:52:17 PM
The problem with an appliance module. Is it does not turn off when one of the other three in the unit group is turned on. You would have to specifically turn it off when another one was turned on.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Tuicemen on December 27, 2010, 01:01:39 PM
The problem with an appliance module. Is it does not turn off when one of the other three in the unit group is turned on. You would have to specifically turn it off when another one was turned on.
And depending on the version of AHP, going out side the group to the next group Camera modules in the first group don't turn off either! B:( ::) :'
Creating macros to turn off the other cameras isn't a big deal!
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: B.A. on December 27, 2010, 01:40:57 PM
I'm only planning on 1 camera for now so I'm not too worried about switching right now.
So, do most of these cams have a built in motion sensor or do you look for an sensor signal, turn on the appliance module, then
capture the images in AHP from the live camera feed?
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Tuicemen on December 27, 2010, 01:56:49 PM
If you plan on using none X10 cameras there motion sensor most likely will not work with X10.
So you'll need a x10 motion sensor,only the X10 Flood cams have built in motion sensors.
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: B.A. on December 27, 2010, 02:17:03 PM
I have some, but do the built in motion sensors normally turn on the power supply for these cameras?
If I use a MSXXa to trigger an appliance module that powers the camera, does that pretty much bypass
the built in motion sensor? What do the built in motion sensors normally do? The power supply must be already on to power
the sensor? (if not using x10)
When you turn on the appliance module for the cam power supply, do you get a live feed while it is on?
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Tuicemen on December 27, 2010, 05:33:37 PM
I'm not sure what camera your planing on using!
It is posible that if it has a built in sensor it turns the camera on. It is also possible that it triggers software to start recording.
If you configure a X10 motion sensor corectly to have the appliance module comeon then it is like pluging in your camera for the first time.
If there is a warm up period then that takes place.  you'll get live feed after that and untill your motion sensor tripps the appliance module off.
Hope that Helps
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Rugger on March 02, 2011, 06:40:40 PM
I started another thread with more specifics, but a basic answer could be answered here.  If I have a nono-X10 camera, does it have to be a USB?  If I have a 4-channel camera board and Windows recognizes the devices, can they then be assigned for use with iWatchOut?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: HA Dave on March 02, 2011, 08:33:22 PM
... If I have a 4-channel camera board and Windows recognizes the devices, can they then be assigned for use with iWatchOut?

No. iwatchout will only work with the X10 video adapter. However you may find the software that came with your videocard exceptable. Or another software that can be downloaded.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: tybirdtybird on April 20, 2011, 10:42:29 AM
Stay away from swann camera they suck. I had four of them took them all back. I had them setup outside they wheren't seeing green the grass look brown.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on April 21, 2011, 09:29:43 PM
Stay away from swann camera they suck. I had four of them took them all back. I had them setup outside they wheren't seeing green the grass look brown.

You sure it wasn't just a lawn watering issue?   :'

Sorry, it just popped into my head and right out my fingers.   rofl
 >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: kenrad on April 23, 2011, 08:37:26 PM
Ihave a computer running xp service pack 3 that I have had for many years for my camera system. I would like to be about to see those cameras with Iwatch mobile pro will it allow me to use the cameras that are connected to the pc through the existing pci cards or do they need the x10 usb adapters. 

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Kenrad B:(
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: Knightrider on April 23, 2011, 08:42:37 PM
you need X10's adapter for x10's software.
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: kenrad on April 23, 2011, 11:18:10 PM
thanks knightrider,

I figured that was the answer I was just hoping there was a work around.  Does anyone know of any program that will allow you to view cameras that are connected to pci cards on a xp machine that will allow you to view them on an android phone?

Thanks

KenRad >!
Title: Re: Can I use non X10 cameras with iWatchOut?
Post by: hawk1 on April 23, 2011, 11:28:03 PM
You might want to take a look at Blue Iris.  You can setup a web server page and view them from a browser, which I'm sure your phone probably has.

http://www.blueirissoftware.com/