Getting video to the station (no firewire port)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason Boggs
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Jason Boggs

Ok, after the problems with streaming video last Thursday, I'm wanting a (backup) alternative to getting video to the station I chase for. Here is the problem...I don't have a firewire port on my computer to hook up my camcorder to. What would be the best solution to this problem? Once I get the video on the computer, I'll be using MediaFire to upload the video to. I've played around with mediafire and I really like it. So again, whats the best solution to the lack of a firewire port on the laptop. And no, buying another laptop is not a solution I'm looking for. Any help is appreciated!
 
It works very nicely, although make sure that if you get one it comes supplied with cables - the ports on the card are not the same 'size' as a Firewire - but the other end of the cable is Firewire size.
 
You will still have the same issue though Jason. It doesnt matter how you get the image to your laptop. The only way to send it back to the station is still through a cell tower and that is where the problem was last Thursday and will be for the near future at least. Too many people DL'ing radar data, talking on cell phones and streaming overloads a towers bandwidth so you either cant connect or have such a slow connection its useless to send any kind of video.

Only solution would be either a satellite connection of some sort or a remote live truck..lol. That or avoid storms that have 200+ chases on them so the cell towers wont be clogged. I had no issues until right about the time the tornados started dropping and after that I couldnt even make a cell call let alone connect my data card and get a radar image. Nothing but "network busy" messages. 4 bars the whole time but nothing.
 
Satellite uplink FTW.

Oh wait...those run like $5,000 to $10,000 a month don't they.


Seriously though, aside from the data network overload (just drive away from the gen-pop to tower with available bandwidth), a PCMCIA card (or express card on the newer laptops) with the firewire port is all that is needed.

Depending on your laptop, if you have an express card slot, note that there are two sizes. The smaller (thinner) slot is always available, but the wider (54?) is difficult to find a card that fits that slot that has a firewire. I've only found one, very expensive one online. But, that will be a more secure system unless your express card slot itself is the thinner (34?) and card seats firmly.
 
Amature radio can send video. Now, of course, you can not use AMATURE radio to do it since it is for business purposes, but I would guess you could use something in the business band to do it. Marti microwave equipment would work too, but range is line of sight....Just thinking out loud here....Hoping I will spur an idea with someone....
 
Jay McCoy said:
You will still have the same issue though Jason. It doesnt matter how you get the image to your laptop. The only way to send it back to the station is still through a cell tower and that is where the problem was last Thursday and will be for the near future at least. Too many people DL'ing radar data, talking on cell phones and streaming overloads a towers bandwidth so you either cant connect or have such a slow connection its useless to send any kind of video.

Only solution would be either a satellite connection of some sort or a remote live truck..lol. That or avoid storms that have 200+ chases on them so the cell towers wont be clogged. I had no issues until right about the time the tornados started dropping and after that I couldnt even make a cell call let alone connect my data card and get a radar image. Nothing but "network busy" messages. 4 bars the whole time but nothing.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I agree with ya there. At least I can stop at a wifi spot and send the video that way if I have to. At least I have somewhat of a backup alternative, and on Thursday I didn't have any kind of backup at all.
 
Lol, you need one of these!

The big dome in back is an auto-tracking satellite dish that the Weather Channel used for their live on-the-road reports. They'd stream wirelessly from this car to the dome truck. Everything worked well, unless they went around a really tight corner -- the dish can only rotate so fast to keep tracking the satellite.

Aside from that, right now you're outta luck -- as other have mentioned, if the cell tower won't let you stream because it's overloaded, your link to the station is gone.
 
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