Cameras

Camera are an easy additional to a node, and is often the first thing a node owner will add. Some camera have lots of experienced and helpful users; other are more experimental.

Camera pages

• BAM/SFWEM Advanced Cameras Page

Recommended Cameras

The recommended cameras are easy to setup, and require no extra software to access from the mesh.

AXIS Cameras

Axis cameras are the gold standard for video surveillance, and found on the Alert Wild fire network. New PTZ cameras models will cost ~$1000 a camera. Ebay or B&H may yield a deal.

NOTE: don't forget the mounting bracket! The don't come with one.

• Q6074 720p PTZ Network Dome Camera (60 Hz)
• M5525-E 1080p Outdoor PTZ Network Dome Camera. Pproduct link HD PTZ with 20x zoom, 120x digital zoom, Configurable mpeg and H264 encoders. 48v PoE/ 20-26v VDC input on the camera. "Sample photo"
• Q6075 1080p PTZ Network Dome Camera (60 Hz)

Sill images can be requested from the device /jpg/image.jpg. I strongly suggest you read up on the AXIS API.

Ubiquiti Cameras

Ubiquiti cameras are a popular choice as they are easy to setup. They also have a public /snap.jpeg page make it easy to view the camera image on the mesh.

G3 Bullet

One of the easier camera to start with, supporting the same passive PoE voltage as the nodes, so can be plugged into the same power injectors or into the auxiliary ethernet port found on some nodes.

G4 Bullet

A higher resolution version of the G3 bullet, but requires 802.3af PoE (not the passive PoE used by most nodes).

G3 Flex

A cheaper version of the G3 Bullet, but requires 802af PoE like the G4 Bullet.

Other Cameras

Other cameras that can be used, but require extra software before they can be viewed on the mesh.

Amcrest UltraHD 5MP Outdoor PoE Camera

Amcrest make rugged, cheap, security cameras.They require 12V external or 802.3af PoE (most nodes use 24V Passive PoE).

Snapshot plugin

Now provide a public snapshot page. By installing this software on one of your nodes from here.

Ricoh Theta SC2 (360° Camera)

Ricoh Theta are a range of 360° degree cameras which create a merged image from two fish eye lenses. The image cannot be directly displayed from the camera onto the mesh and require some addition web-based viewing software running on a Raspberry Pi. The cameras have internal flash storage for photos and an internal battery, but can also be powered from micro-USB. The camera is controlled over WiFi using the OSC API.

Problem Cameras

SUNBA P636 V2

The P636 V2 is a serious camera probably best used for security at backbone sites rather than home deployment (ie. it's very big!). Unfortunately, a firmware bug (June 2022) means it fails to work as an AREDN LAN device using DHCP unless AREDN LAN is set to NAT mode. The camera requires a netmask of 255.255.255.0 which non-NAT AREDN doesn't use.

Power

While some cameras can be powered using the passive 24V PoE (the same as most nodes), many cannot. For these case power converters or injectors are required.

24V to 12V Converter

This converter accepts a passive 24V PoE input and spits it into separate non-PoE ethernet and 12V outputs. Useful for camera such as Amcrest which support external 12V power.

PoE for cameras

802.3af Injectors

802.3af injectors (there are many) can be used to provide power to many of the non-passive PoE cameras.

Passive PoE in / 802.3af Out

Another option is to use a passive PoE power switch, which supports 802.3af PoE outputs making it easy to add multiple 802.3af cameras at one location.