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[raym]

Hi All,
I have had the AHP software for about four
months and I have suffered through some
growing pains. If you want to control video
capture at a bargain price, this is the
software.
I own some SmartHome devices, including
their PLC. They all work great BUT there is
no provisions for video. I had to purchace a
third (or fourth?) party video capture
device that never did work quite right.
I put my CM15a on an extension cord and set
it on a shelf that is two feet above my
computer. It seems to work a whole lot
better there than on the wall under my
computer.
My only remaining complaint is that
sometimes I get a ghost 'A6' on. I solved
the problem by re-assigning the A6 device to
something else.
Also, FYI, I have been using X10 devices for
about 10 years. So, no, my neighbors are not
using that address. I have the SmartHome PLC
still hooked up as a monitor and the ghost
signal comes in as a PLC command (even with
the SmartHome PLC disconnected).
Regards,
Ken

[SteveRF]

Ken,
I am thinking about some video too...tell us
more about your setup.  What you think of the
X10 Cams offered ... how you are using it,
resolution (day/night) etc... I'd appreciate
hearing about your experiences before I buy
stuff that won't do the job I expect it to
do.  I want to monitor a couple of places
around the home (yard and deck/pool) area.  I
currently own AHP/Macro systems. I think I
want the video to go to TV's but not sure...
may appreciate the PC video too as I do have
a monitor in the living room area.
I'd appreciate your (or anyone else's)
thoughts and ideas.
regards,
SteveRF

[raym]

I am currently using a couple of
the 'instant on' wireless color cameras. One
is on a 'pan and tilt' mount. I leave the
the front door one on so that I can see who
comes around when we are not at home. It is
set up to capture about five still frames
when a motion detector goes off.
The resolution isn't great but for the price
of the cameras I am not complaining. I think
their detector has a 510 x 492 pixel array.
It looks good on a TV set but on a computer
you can start to see the 'graininess' of the
pixels.
I would like to see them come up with an IR
camera with illuminator. I have a third
party wireless camera like that but the RF
is too weak to be reliable.
Oh, and that 'pan and tilt' mount is way too
much fun to play with. The AHP software lets
you control it from a live camera window.
Before you spend a lot of money on the
wireless cameras you might try just one. If
a close neighbor has a cordless phone on the
same frequency you will not be happy.

[raym]

I forgot to mention...
The night time video of the cameras I have
is mostly useless. That was why I made the
comment about the IR illuminator.
The day light video is good. The cameras
seem able to handle changing day time light
conditions well.

[SteveRF]

Ken,
Many thanks for the info...
What freq. cordless causes interference ?
2gh,5gh 900mh ?
What is the cam transmission freq ?  Ihave 2
corless phones ...eek...
THANKS !
SteveRF

[raym]

Someone can correct me if I have this
wrong...

I believe that the four X10 frequencies are:
1.080 GHZ
1.120 GHZ
1.160 GHZ
1.200 GHZ

I had now use 5.6 GHZ cordless phones wich
do not bother the X10 transmissions. I don't
recall wich of the other phone bands cause
problems. It has been a while since I had to
worry about that.

Ken

[raym]

Correction:

Let me try this again ...

X10 2.4 Ghz camera frequencies are
A - 2.411
B - 2.434
C - 2.453
D - 2.473

Sorry about the miss-info, I was in the
wrong camera band.

I have experimented with 1.2GHZ and 900MHZ
wireless cameras. Where I live the 2.4GHZ
work best.

In the United States, the FCC limits camera
transmit power so no brand has a clear
advantage there. I have tried a foreign
manufacturer's 2.4 GHZ model that had a
small whip antenna on it. The X10 flat type
of antenna works better for me.

A 2 GHZ cordless phone will definitely
interfere with the camera signal if it is
within about 50 feet. Even if no one is
using the phone, the base sends out a signal
about once a second that can cause problems
with the cameras.

Webmaster. If possible, could you delete my
post where I listed 1.2GHZ vice 2.4GHZ
frequencies. I don't want to confuse people.

Thanks,

Ken

[SteveRF]

Ken M.
Many thanks for the info !  I will find it
useful as I investigate what do do about my
urge to get some X10 (or someone elses)
wireless cams ... My biggest concern is
range, resolution, sensitivity at night (with
floods) and integration with home
automation....and $$$ price.
regards,
SteveRF
SteveRF