Ebay bird box cameras?

nicolac

Hi all,

I'm looking for a bird box with a camera as a gift. I found two sets on Ebay, is one any better than the other or are there any strong opinions about them?

www. ebay. co. uk/itm/221772543802?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

www. ebay. co. uk/itm/231585726408?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

(remove spaces from the first part of the urls)

Thanks!

Alun

The first one has an analogue camera, so you'd have to invest in some kind of USB video capture device (Easycap or similar) to get a picture on a PC or broadcast it over the web. These things are notoriously tricky to set up with loads of identical looking but technically quite different Chinese knock-offs with dodgy drivers and virtually no support. I have a similar camera to that one and it delivers nothing like a colour picture in the nestbox despite having a frosted glass window giving plenty of light and just gives something close to black and white instead.

The second one appears to be a USB camera. If the pictures shown are to be believed it's vastly superior to what I have, however that looks to be down to the built-in daytime LED illumination. Note however that it doesn't have Infra-Red capability for night time viewing so they suggest you manually turn off the LEDs off at night which is a bit of a pain. The only other obvious drawback is the limited cable length, only 6.5m, but it appears they do a version with an active extra 5m USB extension cable, so that might be OK. The advantage of the USB camera is that it should be immediately compatible with a load of software to broadcast your images without any messing with capture devices.

If you can live with the restrictions, i.e. no night time viewing, and having to remember to turn the lights off at night, I think the second one might be the better option.

nicolac

There is also this option....might be better?

www. ebay. co. uk/itm/Wireless-Bird-Box-Camera-Kit-Garden-CCTV-Animal-Night-Vision-Colour-Camera-Kit-/261923647646?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cfbddb09e

Its a potential Dad gift so although it might not be the highest quality it might be handiest for him to use and view?

Alun

That's a camera only, no bird box included. Much the same quality of camera as the first option above, but wireless. I've no experience with wireless cameras so can't comment on the quality.

There's a site here http://www.handykam.com/ that has lots of both cameras and complete nestbox/camera setups, and a pretty good advice section that goes through all the pros and cons of the various options available.

nicolac

Thanks for your replies Alun! Yep, the wireless one would need a separate box but has the potential advantage of being easier for him to use and view and get him set up with a starter kit sort of thing.

I'll take a look at that website too. Thanks

Alun

No problem. There are starter kits that include wireless cameras too.

swifts need our help!

I use these cameras in my swift boxes
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400470360967?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

but I'm upgrading to these
http://www.securitycamera2000.com/products/SONY-700TVL-940nm-Invisible-IR-8m-Indoor-Mini-Camera-MIC-Audio.html

This is the video capture device I use
https://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/easycap-video-capture-usb-audio-cctv

Alun

swifts need our help! wrote: »

but I'm upgrading to these
http://www.securitycamera2000.com/products/SONY-700TVL-940nm-Invisible-IR-8m-Indoor-Mini-Camera-MIC-Audio.html

That's what I'm looking to upgrade too as well.

swifts need our help!

They are excellent Alun

What box were you thinking of putting them in to?

Alun

swifts need our help! wrote: »

They are excellent Alun

What box were you thinking of putting them in to?

It's my existing bluetit nestbox. I'd toyed with idea of getting a better box, i.e. one with better illumination, but seeing as it took 2 years for the existing box to get used I don't really want to do that if I don't have to.

nicolac

Just to let ye know...I went with this setup as a starter kit for Dad. It looks like the box doesn't have windows so they may need to be added but thats ok, he likes to work on things so this is a deliberate plan to give him a little project! I was going to find everything separately but it was working out the same price so at least this way if there is a problem there is someone to contact if needed. Then if he takes to it, it can be upgraded down the line.
www. birdwatchcameras. com/bird-box-camera-kits-for-home-use/byo87.html

swifts need our help!

OMG that person knows how to charge!!

Cameras I bought were under £10 and the cable about £6

nicolac

You should advertise your services for kits so! Any bits I found separately for wireless (although I'm a complete beginner at this in fairness) were coming out not far off that price altogether.

I don't think the order has been processed yet though....so if you know where I should be looking for something similar....send on the links and I'll cancel that one!

swifts need our help!

Oh, you're going wireless. Mine are all cable

camera and power
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400470360967?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&clk_rvr_id=849273281459&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

20 meter cable
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20M-CCTV-Security-Spy-Camera-AV-Audio-Video-RCA-DVR-Power-Phono-Extension-Cable-/161109621245?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2582e1b9fd

Video capture device to make recording on your computer
https://www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/easycap-video-capture-usb-audio-cctv

If you have more than one box with a camera you'll need a switch box
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Way-Audio-Video-AV-RCA-Switch-Selector-Box-Splitter-3-RCA-Cable-for-XBox-DVD-/111444577043?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19f29d4b13

nicolac

Yep, its for a present so it has to be as simple as possible to set up and to view so the receiver on wireless hooks straight into the tv for viewing as they already have feeders and watch the birds that come to those.

If Dad gets more into it then I'd steer him towards the wired options and then would go for those options alright.