Subj : RE: A camera project
To   : All
From : Blue White
Date : Thu Nov 11 2021 10:54:00

 BW> I would like to use that camera for other things, so I have been
 BW> looking at raspberry pi projects for security cameras.  I have
 BW> found some articles that say good things about motionEye OS.  I
 BW> have obtained a couple of pis... a 3B and a Zero W... and a
 BW> Longruner camera.

 BW> The Zero W is a bare-bones Vilros kit that came with
 BW> a case and power supply, and a couple of necessary adaptors but no
 BW> preformatted SD card or extras.
[...]

 BW> I am starting out with Raspberry Valley as my online info resource.

I wound up using the Zero, and an online tutorial that I cannot find the
link for now!  :)

motionEye OS was actually pretty easy to install, and its settings
really helped when it came to getting the correct camera resolution and
other setting set up.

The upsides to all of this... I have a fairly inexpensive camera that
takes good enough footage *during the day* for a security camera (it is
like I am standing at the window!) and I got to learn some things in the
process.

The downside... even with a camera that is supposed to be able to see at
night, if you are planning to use it as a security camera, you cannot
put it in a window or any enclosure that will keep moisture out.  The IR
lights will reflect off of the glass or plastic surface of the
window/cover and you will not see anything at night except the
reflection of the camera on the cover.

I have read around and watched video about it, and it is a common issue.
 Everyone points out how great they are during the day, or when used to
watch indoor places, but not at night outdoors.  I did find one video
where a person actually built a nature cam using a pi, pi camera, and
independent IR lights.  He put the lights on the outside of the
enclosure, while keeping the pi cam and motion detector inside and
sealed from the elements.

He used a different camera where the IR lights are not part of the
camera and wired it all up using a few circuit boards.  Not having an
electronics degree or background (his video included diagrams with
mathematics and all!), it was above my head.

One thing I am thinking I could use the motionEye OS and the pi for
would be to watch and capture video from IP cameras that are meant to be
outdoors.  motionEye will allow this (provided the cameras are not too
closed-source).  That would be a little more expense, and maybe not as
much learning or fun, but it might turn out to be the best solution.
 



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