Remote site, no broadband, power available

[Gresford]

My sailing club, in rural UK, would like to install a webcam and have the images shown on our club web site. We don't have broadband or a great mobile signal. We don't expect high speed streaming - even images once every few seconds would be OK to get us started. We need to understand what kit we need. We think that might be a webcam that includes a SIM card to talk to the net via a mobile network without a PC or router. We can supply mains power. We don't need it to work at night or particularly to act as a security device. We don't know how much data such a setup would generate or how that might translate into mobile network data costs. Could you help us?

Thank you, Brian

 

[PeteJ]

You didn't mention where in the UK, but if traditional broadband isn't available, have a look at WISP.

WISP internet providers, UK: Members list of UKWISPA

WISP internet providers UK: members list of UKWISPA. See the approved members of the UK Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, the official trade body recognised by UK authorities.

www.ukwispa.org

Sailing isn't cheap, so I am guessing Starlink might not be out of the question for your club.

 

[Gresford]

Thanks PeteJ for that swift reply. We are in North Wales. Sailing in volunteer clubs run on a shoestring is pretty cheap here with adults fees < $100 US a year and children < 10$ so only a very inexpensive solution will fit the bill.

 

[PeteJ]

Thanks PeteJ for that swift reply. We are in North Wales. Sailing in volunteer clubs run on a shoestring is pretty cheap here with adults fees < $100 US a year and children < 10$ so only a very inexpensive solution will fit the bill.

If you have mobile service, maybe a cheap IP camera with a sim slot is the easiest way to do it. Reolink makes a few decent cameras a sim slot.

 

[Gresford]

Thanks again PeteJ. I have started to look. Amazon offers other solutions such as ieGeek that seem to work in the same way - using a SIM card with a network plan. A suggested plan has 200 GB a month. Any idea if that is enough data to run a web cam?

 

[biggen]

Can you get Starlink? That would be my suggestion if cell service is spotty.

 

[Gresford]

Yes Starlink is available in the UK - looks good but pricey (for us) at around $95 a month + $600 installation ...

 

[PeteJ]

Thanks again PeteJ. I have started to look. Amazon offers other solutions such as ieGeek that seem to work in the same way - using a SIM card with a network plan. A suggested plan has 200 GB a month. Any idea if that is enough data to run a web cam?

If you are not streaming from it all the time, 200G should be plenty.

 

[Gresford]

OK ... do you know if it is usually possible to limit the streaming/data used - say by only running Dawn till Dusk or by running at a reduced frame rate? Perhaps other ways to manage data usage ...

 

[PeteJ]

OK ... do you know if it is usually possible to limit the streaming/data used - say by only running Dawn till Dusk or by running at a reduced frame rate? Perhaps other ways to manage data usage ...

That will depend on your camera and how you config it. If you want to control how much data you use, a more advanced camera with AI would probably give you more flexibility, for example, only sent alerts/images on detection of people rather than just motion. So spending more on the camera could help you stay with a smaller data plan.

 

[johnfitz]

OK ... do you know if it is usually possible to limit the streaming/data used

Most cameras will allow you to set the max bit rate:



If you set the max bit rate too low, the image will not be as good... you can set the max bit rate you want and then adjust FPS to get the best image you can... H.265 encoding will allow a lower max bit rate than H.264 encoding.

 

[SIR VEYOR]

There’s an app “Alfred”? For older cellphones that might do what you need. Free and uses an old phone that’s easy to setup a Charger maintaining with a battery and small solar panel.