Streaming Equipment

[Jayson Prentice]

This is stemming off from the ongoing thread on streaming video, but as I am interested as well as many others I'm sure in streaming I find myself wondering what kind of equipment are people using to stream. Are you using a type of basic webcam, a low-end camera, or the only camera you have to both stream and capture video to mini-dv or hd...

Just thought I'd get an idea of what everyone is using. This might actually go better in the equipment thread the more I think about it, mods feel free to move it if necessary.

 

[rdale]

Just a Microsoft webcam - I started with a basic one but the contrast wasn't good enough for outside shots. Didn't spend a ton ($40 I think) but more than the $10 one

 

[Blake Michaleski]

I'm using a webcam also that I mounted to the arm of my rearview mirror with a custom made bracket. Mine IS a cheap camera and the contrast is pretty bad but i was trying it out as a test since i didn't want my primary DV cam to be tied to my truck with a wire at all times. I plan to buy a better webcam before the first land falling hurricane of the year (assuming we have one).

The cam is pretty much pointed straight ahead at all times but it is adjustable once I stop.

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

There are many Mini-DV video cameras on the market lately under the $200.00 price tag. Just this past weekend in the sale papers I know I saw at least 4 different ones. I am not sure which of the big retailers it was, but I would guess something along the lines of Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart, etc.
There was one that was a clearance item that was under $150.00.

 

[cedwards]

I use an old Sony dv camera that no longer is reliable for recording. It is connected to the computer with a firewire cable. I tried several webcams, but none of them had satisfactory picture quality for me.

 

[Stuart Robinson]

I wanted a simple no fuss solution so I went with a Microsoft HD webcam VX-6000 ($79)

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/digitalcommunication/productdetails.aspx?pid=002

I am actually impressed with this little device as it has a wide angle lens, is very small, requires USB power only and contains a 1.3 Mp video camera as well as a 5 Mp still camera.

Over all it worked well for me in 2008 with out a glitch.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I use and recommend the Logitech QuickCam Orbit AF, http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/3480&cl=us,en

It's a bit pricy, $130. The video quality is amazing and what sold me was the ability to do pan and tilt with it. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a good webcam for streaming.

 

[Steve Miller TX]

I use a Sony DCR-HC30 which is a few years old, but with great results. The cool thing is that in addition to using it for my live stream, it is also my dashcam. I can easily record to tape simultaneously.

I connect the camera to my laptop via Firewire. Windows Media Encoder is used to stream the signal to the internet. I use a cellular amp to boost the signal making it more reliable. A Wilson Trucker antenna completes the setup.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Woot has a JVC MiniDV cam for $119 today. It even has a firewire port and would most likely work with streaming live.

This isn't much more expensive than most webcams nowadays.

http://www.woot.com/

 

[John Wetter]

I use a miniDV video camera I got off the clearance shelf at Best Buy. I believe it's a Sony DCR-HC26. No frills camera that's nice to have on the dash and I keep a tape in it should anything exciting happen. I wouldn't want to put much more than $120 on my dash to be baked by the sun all day long.

 

[Verne Carlson]

I tried to use my old Sony camcorder but it has a sleep feature that would shut it down unless I was recording to a tape. The tape workaround sucked because after an hour I'd have to pause and rewind and start over. The other thing that was a pain was having one more thing on my inverter drawing power and the USB cord was starting to short out from bumping down dirt roads.

I've since gone back to the old cheapo Logitech USB webcam with a darkening filter rubberbanded over the lens. It has marginal quality but the fiddle factor is now something I can deal with.

 

[Blake Michaleski]

Yeah my Sony TRV38 miniDV cam has a sleep function that cannot be defeated. It will only stay on if it's plugged in and DOES NOT have a tape in it. I agree to the simplicity of the webcam. plus a small webcam is quite inconspicuous, which is important to me.

 

[CraigFisher]

I first tried the Logitech webcam route. During the day the picture was washed out. Have an older VHS-c camcorder that I had from years back that I use with satisfactory results. I can get 2 hours on tape in the extended play mode.

 

[Niccolò Ubalducci]

And... When I have the webcam, what is the addres to send the image for streaming!?

 

[John Wetter]

And... When I have the webcam, what is the addres to send the image for streaming!?

Whatever streaming service you sign up for will provide you with those details.