In Car Remote Web Cam Setup

[David Merrill]

That is just an example of .wmv file. A murder is like a knot (of frogs).

[Shuftin]

Originally Posted by Livefire

There is a case where an in car system filmed a police encounter and the idiot cop ended up losing his job over it! I think if freedom loving men and women want to keep it, we will have to resort to such tactics to keep the servants accountable!

http://www.policeabuse.org/lousiana.wmv

This Dateline .WMV documentary should scare the S**T out of you. Watch the video to the bitter end. Learn where to place your cams and mics and why.

[Slavic38]

My attention and focus is scattered to many more important issues and project at this time, but I have done a lot of research on this very subject and the solutions for the OP's questions that I know exist have not been addressed in this thread so I decided to take the time to contribute here. I hope those who wish to spend time and effort in this endeavor will find the info useful. I will include/link some other stuff/use that is related to the task or the devices used.


As far as transmission of data there's two main options I found to reliably secure a copy of video from an automobile.

1. The most effective, straight forward, legitimate and the most expensive way to achieve real time transmission of sufficient quality video is a PCMCIA EVDO card. PCMCIA is a type of connection used in a notebook/laptop for things like fax/modem, network, WiFi and as of recently EVDO. It's a slot on the side of a notebook where You plug in an electronic card slightly bigger than a credit card. EVDO is a type of wireless broadband connection comparable to DSL (phone line broadband) speed. It is currently offered by about 3 wireless cell providers. It can be used with or without a cell phone plan. With is ~ $50/mon (not including cell plan) without ~$80/mon the last time I looked. It requires 2 year contract the last time I looked. Some providers don't let You use it without a cell plan. It is possible to use some cell phones as EVDO modems instead of the card, but it is said to be slower and on some models You can't use botht the phone and modem at the same time. You do not use minutes when using the internet connection. They are entirely separate. Using a phone as a modem to access internet with a computer is called tethering.
   If only an EVDO card is used without aphone that might avoid any requirements for notice before recording the encounter since no phone device of any kind is used.
   So You would connect a camera/cameras and the EVDO card to a computer and have it transmit video to a remote ftp server.
   The cheapest way to achieve this connection is sprint SERO plan. It is is by far the best thing going on to the best of My knowledge. SERO is a heavily discounted plan for friends and family of Sprint employees which currently is open to the public. There are 3 different plans available (INDIVIDUAL PLANS ONLY):
   Sprint Employee Referral Offer 500 (minutes) for $30.00 per month
   Sprint Employee Referral Offer 1250 (minutes) for $49.99 per month
   Sprint Employee Referral Offer 2500 (minutes) for $99.99 per month

Mobile broadband (tethering a computer) is $50 on top of that.
It is possible to tether through the included unlimited Sprint Vision or Power Vision without being detected and charged for same use using a ppc-6700 alone with a tweak or the new PPC-6800 (mogul) and other phones with some ~$30 software, but that includes breaking the EULA, at least for the purpose intended in this thread, so I will not go further into it.

You can not buy a PPC or any other phone with a rebate and then switch to SERO!!! You will have to pay the full price (~$500 for PPC less for other phones).
See the below links for getting the SERO plan from Sprint (BTW, great sites for deals):
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=526998
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mess...hreadid=680568

Now, if You lay down the cash to buy a PPC You can use fring: http://www.fring.com/

BTW, fring alows free VOIP phone calls and presence over WiFi or EVDO with services that include: Skype, MSN Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk™, SIP, Twitter, AIM & Yahoo!™. To make things clear, You do not use any minutes to use the above services or any SIP VOIP provider such as grandcentral to make phone calls if You have WiFi or EVDO (or the included unlimited Sprint Vision or Power Vision, and since You aren't tethering a computer You aren't breaking the EULA in this instance). ( grandcentral invitations are ~$1 on ebay and if my memory serves me You do not need to be a resident to have a grandcentral US phone number http://www.grandcentral.com/support/howitworks/)
I would say that if You were to replace a landline/cell and DSL/cable combo with this deal You might actually be saving, so this might not be an expensive way to go at all. Depending on location the service should be of near same quality except for latency when using EVDO. Using fring over EVDO (the $50 broadband or Vision or Power Vision) would have a greater latency (echo, hearing Yourself talk etc.) and might not be acceptable for all use. There wouldn't be any latency issue when using fring over WiFi, whether through Your home broadband (DSL or cable) with a WiFi router or free WiFi hotspots (find location at http://www.wigle.net/ and http://www.jiwire.com/ ) or paid WiFi hotspots by http://boingo.com/ $22/mon and/or by Tmobile $30/mon: https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/accountcreate/SetPromotionCode.do?promotionCode=&submitImage.x=6 &submitImage.y=8http://www.jiwire.com/ ) (find location at http://www.jiwire.com/ )

BTW it is possible to use a PPC with a regular keyboard and mouse and using regular monitor with normal screen resolution. If You use it this way, that is by remotely controling the PPC interface (keyboard and mouse) from Your PC, You would be limited to the PPC applications, but You would not be violating the EULA by tethering, that is using Your PC and it's own applications over the PPC internet connection and would be able to legitimately use only the $30 plan for email, web browsing and anything else that a PPC application can do:
http://www.vijay555.com/index.php?Re...JFullscreenTSC
http://www.nyditot.com/NVDPage.asp
http://www.freewareppc.com/


BTW, http://www.kudla.org/index.php?wl_mode=more&wl_eid=56 is a proxy that “will produce a simplified version of that site that is much less likely to crash your cell phone's browser while also retaining most of the functionality of the original site.”

[Slavic38]

The next way to do it is to use boostmobile. It is not going to be real time video because the internet connection is way too slow, slower than a regular dial up modem, but the data charge is ~$11/mon (35 cents a day whether you use it or not) and You could still have real time audio and send the video after the encounter while the car is being towed/stored... (It can be gotten free using the technique described here: http://internet-nextel-boost.blogspot.com/ in which case the mandatory $20 every 2 months would accrue in the account and could be used for voice.

The best deal for the phone itself is on ebay. Motorola i455.

The setup would most likely require additional marine/gell cell battery(es) and a trunk mount battery kit ( http://www.google.com/products?q=bat...=1&sa=N&tab=wf ) It may also require a solar battery charger(s) ( http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...tery&Submit=Go (BTW the red plastic on the $10 one deformed from heat when placed in front of the aluminum windshield sun blocker in January in Miami. I strongly recommend the store for cheap tools, just subscribe to the newsletter and pay attention to the huge discounts. The $20 12 volt impact wrench is one of the most useful things I ever bought))


BTW, the beauty of boostmobile option and a reason to have it in addition to SERO is it's GPS. Unlike with Sprint phones the GPS on boost's phones is usable (hence the “where You at” commercials)


You can use amAze - the only GPS navigation software that is really FREE (http://www.amazegps.com/index.php?page=register&step=2 ) Alternatively, for $10 per month telenav provides features such as online and toll free phone address entry, alarm for exceeding the speed limit (it knows the speed limit and alarms You when You go over) and many others (http://www.telenav.com/campaign/page_02.htmlhttp://www.telenav.com/campaign/page_01.html )


You can use boostmobile's Loopt or http://mologogo.com/ to track Your phone for free in case of car theft (see this thread for more info: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/wire...st-mobile.html ) For a more sophisticated 24/7 GPS solution, suitable for businesses, with features like tracking, mapping, 30 day history of GPS tracking data in trail view, tracking reports (http://www.accutracking.com/features.html ) use the $6 to $8 http://www.accutracking.com/pricing.html )


If You want to go nuts with this and (remotely) control all kinds of things like ignition, headlights, door locks, trunk etc. You can get something like: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fusi...ion-brain.html or http://www.connect2car.com/web/mfc/m...advantages.php .

[Slavic38]

As far as cameras and software go
I would use X10. It's a home automation company that makes modules that let You do pretty stuff like adjust all your lights to a pre determined dimm setting, turn Your TV, audio and whatever else with a touch of a single button, schedule the same, do it remotely or when a motion sensor is tripped and such.


For the longest time I wanted to combine night vision cameras with a laptop placed on the roof so that the LCD is in place of the sun visor in order to get a night vision enhanced rear and front view from the car in addition to the ability to record any encounters with the agents.


If I'm not mistaken, and I just might be in this case, they have some sort of a rule where the video must have been rolling before the cop initiates the stop in order to be admissible in court. If the cameras are used in this fashion that rule would be satisfied and they would serve a good purpose.


Subscribe to the newsletter to get sales. Keep track of prices because every sale is the “best” but they do vary. Pay attention to diferent types of cameras (instant on, wide lense, night vision, tiny, built in microphone, hardwired as opposed to wireless, pro zoom, pan & tilt...)
Links:


Vanguard internet software with kit (3 kit options):
http://www.x10.com/promotions/va11a_ed_ex_0716_2.html
http://www.x10.com/promotions/vk75a_ed_web_0119.html
http://www.x10.com/promotions/xx13a_...tcam_0807.html
USB adapter & camera kit w/Software (different than Vanguard):
http://www.x10.com/products/va11a_ed_mcpw_fb259.html
http://www.x10.com/products/xx20a_ed_3csuper_0123.html
Cameras:
http://www.x10.com/products/sc23a_ed_2c_0123.html
http://www.x10.com/products/xx17a_sp_3cm_fb199.html
Automation unit & software (2 bonus options):
http://www.x10.com/promotions/cm15a_...lert_0121.html
http://www.x10.com/promotions/cm15a_...lert_1130.html
No fee home security (calls a list of phones one after the other instead of the security company)
http://www.x10.com/promotions/ds7000...door_0717.html
http://www.x10.com/promotions/ds7000...ecam_2008.html


As far as software
it might be more involved to set up boostmobile because of the slow speed, but either way would likely involve using a macro recorder. It might be enough to use the X10 macros, but there are a number of them out there, including free ones.
If I remember well I have used automate years ago and it was the most full featured and easiest to learn and use automation software that I checked at the time. OK, I just looked it up and for the $995 they ask for now it better be the best (http://www.download.com/AutoMate/300...-10000220.html ). I'm sure cheaper alternatives, such as $39.95 Workspace Macro Pro with it's “Pre-defined templates like... FTP upload/download “ would do the trick ( http://www.download.com/Workspace-Ma...dlpid=10719756 )


You might need to use windows 2000 or an nlited version of XP so as to avoid any of the silly XP pop up balloons or some such disrupting the macro.


(nlite let's You make Your own installation CD of winXP that can be made switchless, as in You don't have to enter any data during the actual installation, can remove windows components such as internet explorer, which eliminates great majority of viruses etc, and can include any software You use in the instalation disc itself so You don't have to install it afterwards. see:

Notice it is against Microsoft EULA to reverse engeneer etc, but the whole lawsuit a while ago was about being able to uninstall internet explorer from windows them being separate products and Microsoft trying to monopolize the browser market. To the best of My knowledge MS is aware of nlite and has not taken steps against it.

You could get the nlite settings file and make Your own instalation or get a CD that someone made.

For example TinyXP runs using 39 mb of ram and under 500 mb of install space on its initial boot.

The latest version I've seen is October 15, 2007, but You'll have to find Your own torrent of tinyxp at:
http://www.google.com

http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/nlite.html
http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/updatepack.html
http://www.ryanvm.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511

http://www.nliteos.com/
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100471
http://www.nliteos.com/addons/#10
http://addons.wordpress.com/addons/

http://powerpacker.siginetsoftware.com/index.php?download
http://www.driverpacks.net/

[David Merrill]

Thank you Slavic38;


I think that is really what we were looking for. Very informative.

If any crime or malfeasance happens and they see the camera, they will take it or destroy the SD card. Once I had to walk a few blocks in the Denver downtown area on a Sunday morning carrying camera equipment. Sure enough a couple homeless dregs started following me. I pulled out my small digital camera and as I rounded a bend held it around the corner of the building as I heard them speeding up to close the gap a half block behind me, thinking I had just rounded the bend and kept on my way.

I grabbed out the SD Card and slipped it into my sock. And kept going. They must have seen the camera around the corner because they never rounded the corner after me. I was so nervous that I failed to press the shutter completely or I would show them to you.



Regards,

David Merrill.

[Extramural]

Originally Posted by David Merrill

I was so nervous that I failed to press the shutter completely or I would show them to you.

Bears come in all sizes, shapes, and manifestations...

http://www.udap.com/

"I thought it was a bear."

Next time, give us video of their reaction to this.

[David Merrill]

I read about the awards for stupid awards - like burglars who get jury awards because they stole a sharp knife and cut themselves. I would not want to be caught pepperspraying homeless people these days.

Yesterday I passed some folks walking their dog and the lady looked at me and fell down on an irregular patch of pavement - while I was still twenty feet from her. Her husband (I presume) was helping her out and I asked, "Everything okay?" - basically offering the use of my cellphone if needed.

He turned and commanded me, "Stay right there!"

I turned and left. But it got me pondering he was probably in law enforcement of some kind and his reaction was to determine my culpability in his wife's accident. Commanding me like that really put me off though.



Regards,

David Merrill.

[Slavic38]

You're wellcome,

OK, if You insist on going unnoticable then You will likely need spy micro cams and posibly micro DVRs.

Quick google search for micro + camera http://www.google.com/search?q=micro+camera yelded dime size wireless or eyeglass cameras for ~$100 all with sender receiver & batteries and cigarette box size DVRs that record to SD cards with camera kit for ~$200.

I don't see why You couldn't feed that video signal to X10 software or use a splitter and feed to both X10 and the DVR. You would get one of the cheaper X10 kits that don't include any cameras, but only the video capture hardware and software:

Vanguard internet software with kit (3 kit options):
http://www.x10.com/promotions/va11a_ed_ex_0716_2.html

USB adapter & camera kit w/Software (different than Vanguard):
http://www.x10.com/products/va11a_ed_mcpw_fb259.html

[weishaupt1776]

Slavic, thank you much