How to use your PC and Webcam as a motion-detecting and recording security camera
September 27th, 2006 by Ross McKillop |
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This tutorial will take you step-by-step through setting up your PC and Webcam to act as a motion-detecting and recording security camera system. And the software required to do this is open source (free).
Why?
What?
How?
Advanced includes: Multiple Webcams, Sending pictures to a remote location (FTP), How to duct-tape the light off your webcam (super-stealth)
Examples
Coming soon: How to do the same thing, with a Mac.
6 Reasons to set up a motion activated web-cam
- Maybe you live in a questionable (at best) part of East Vancouver and you’ve already been broken into (while you were doing the dishes). It would be helpful next time to have pictures of the intruder.
- Maybe you’re trying to prove to your landlord that some of the more questionable members of the general East Vancouver public are using the pathway between your building and the one next door as a shortcut between streets. Often with very large bags of cans (it’s a Vancouver thing). Loudly. At all hours of the day and night.
- Perhaps you want to catch someone using your PC after you’ve asked them repeatedly not to use it (because they seem to go out of their way to install spyware, toolbars you don’t want, and leave behind Britney Spears mp3s on your desktop)
- You’re bored?
- You want to get pictures of the pretty birdies eating from your new bird feeder.
- Yeah I know what you were expecting here, that’s lewd. Get your mind out of the gutter, this is a family site.
For this tutorial you’ll need:
- a PC running Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP (the software is untested on Windows 95 and NT, but should work)
- a webcam (or two, see advanced)
- Dorgem - an open source (free) webcam utility.
To upload images ‘off-site’ (in case someone steals your computer) you’ll need an FTP account. See the Advanced section when you’re done the initial setup.
- Install (if it isn’t already) your webcam. If you’re pulling one out of the closet and have long since lost the install CD, here are links to download the drivers for some of the most common webcam vendors:
- Download and install Dorgem. The installation is very straight forward, you’ll mostly click Next a bunch of times.
- Launch Dorgem and select your Webcam from the Camera selection drop-down list.
- Click the Preview button to display the view your webcam has. Physically adjust the camera to face the area you want to monitor.
- Click the Source button and make any adjustments to the Brightness, Contrast and/or other settings. Click OK when you’re happy with the results.
- Click the Options button
- Place a check in the box labeled Use motion detection. Certain Webcams (most often Labtec) can require Dorgem to “reconnect” after a certain period of no motion being detected. For now leave this box unchecked. If you notice that your Webcam isn’t capturing any images even though it should have, revisit this section and place a check in the box. It should be noted that if you do need to use this setting, your cam will likely take a picture every time Dorgem “reconnects” to it, so try using 5 minute (or higher) intervals. Otherwise you’ll end out with a LOT of pictures, most of which won’t have captured actual “motion”.
- Click OK after you have enabled motion detection to return to the main Dorgem window. Now you’ll need to create a ‘profile’ - which Dorgem refers to as Storage events. Click the Store settings button to create an event.
- Choose File and click OK (adding an FTP event is covered in the Advanced section, set a local file first to make sure everything works)
- Enter a Name: for this event, make sure Enable is checked, and then set an interval. Since you’ll be using motion detection, you probably want to capture images fairly “closely together” - so try 1 or 2 seconds. If you know for certain that this camera will detect a lot of motion (your camera faces an area with a lot of movement) you may want to set this somewhat higher. This setting can always be changed later, so experiment a bit. Click the … button next to Filename:
- Here you’ll be setting the folder to save images to, and the actual filename for each image. Dorgem allows special characters in file names so that each name is unique (otherwise each time your camera detected motion it would take a picture and over-write the previous one). Somewhere in the file name, enter the characters %g - which will give your file name a time-stamp. If you use %G in the file name, it will also add the current year.
Because my camera is taking pictures of movement on my patio, I named the file patio-camera%G%g. This results with images being saved as patio-camera20060926165001.jpg. Broken down that’s patio-camera - the current year - the current month, day, hour, minute and second. Click Save after you’ve selected a folder and file name.
- Click OK
- Click Close to return to the main Dorgem widow
- Wave your hand in front of the camera. Or throw something within its view. Jump around in front of it like an idiot. If everything was set correctly, you should now have some images in the folder you specified. Go take a look..
- If it didn’t work, start again at step 3 and double-check everything. The built-in Help file included with Dorgem is actually pretty helpful - use it for troubleshooting. Feel free to leave a comment below and include as much info as possible and I’ll try to help as well.
Multiple Webcams
If you can get more than one Webcam to work in Windows (not always an easy task, esp. if they’re Labtec), Dorgem can support them all. You don’t need to install another copy of Dorgem, but you do need to start each instance differently. To do so, follow the steps below..
- Right-click on your current Dorgem desktop icon and select Create Shortcut
- You should see a new Dorgem (2) icon on your desktop - right-click on it this time, and choose Properties
- Make sure the Shortcut tab is selected, and change the Target: to:
“C:Program FilesDorgemDorgem.exe” /c:cam2
If you installed Dorgem to somewhere other than the default location, make the appropriate changes.
- Click Apply and then
Sending pictures to a remote location (FTP)
If you’re using this as a personal security system for your residence, you may want to store the files off-site, in case someone steals your computer (rendering your security totally useless). To do so, follow these steps.. (note: you’ll need an FTP account - check to see if your ISP provides one for you, eg. Personal Web Space/storage).
- Click the Store settings button and then click Add.
- This time select FTP and then click OK
- Enter in the required information. The file name can use special characters (see step 11 in the first How part of this tutorial). You may have to experiment with some of these settings. For example, I have to use Passive mode because of the way my home network is set up. You may not. Click OKwhen all of the required info has been entered.
- Wave your hand in front of the webcam (or throw something through its field of view). Check your FTP site and you should see a new file (or files) there. Note: when I have both save to my local hard drive and save to FTP enabled, only one works. You may need to disable the local copy if you want FTP to work. If you figure out a way for both to work, by all means let me know.
How to duct tape the light off your webcam (super-stealth)
- Does your webcam have an annoying light that gives away its location when you try to hide it?
- Find some duct tape that matches the colour of your camera. Or, masking tape and a marker.
- Place tape over the light.
- Your camera will now blend in like a ninja. Extra bonus: use the duct tape to hold your hidden camera in place.
Examples (from the first day I set this up)
Yes, birds will trigger the motion sensing webcam.
Seriously, this isn’t a shortcut for you to use.
How patio furniture gets stolen.
I don’t care if you’re practicing your tight-rope walking, stop using this area as a shortcut.
You too.
My webcam lets me know when not to open my blinds. AKA get an unrequested view of some carpenters crotch.
–
Update 9/29/06:
Just a quick note of thanks to those who linked to this tutorial, offered constructive criticism and suggested other alternatives.
It blew my mind to see this tutorial featured on Lifehacker, one of my favorite web sites.
255 Responses to “How to use your PC and Webcam as a motion-detecting and recording security camera”
By Xitanto on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
Logitech Imagestudio is another alternative if you have a logitech camera. It also does nice things like stop-motion, etc.
By Ross on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
Xitanto - you’re right. I’ll update this in a bit, a couple of webcam vendors do include software similar to this. I *think* Creative Labs does too.
By Libby on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
Just read your “6 Reasons..for a web….etc.”
GREAT!!!! Yes, your literary style is entertaining!
By Mjuboy on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
Nice….gonna try this out right now!
By Lam on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
hi great stuff, is a very good start for a very low cost security camera system. Maybe just a suggestion, can keep adding others recording software in for alternative and those can record mpeg or mpeg4.
Thanks.
By Ross on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
Lam - for sure. As Xitanto mentioned, Logitech Imagestudio has similar features. I’m pretty sure that some of the d-link webcams come packaged w/ another app that does the same. Mine was OEM and didn’t come w/ any software (other than a windows driver).
By yourmom on Sep 27, 2006 | Reply
Can this capture video clips instead of snapshots until it doesn’t detect motion? is there a way to set the sensitivity?
I know Creative has some software that does that. I set it up pointed at my bed one night, it started recording once there was enough light in the room. Woke up with about 60 short video clips that I then stitched together, man, I toss and turn a lot!
By Billy on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
“is there a way to set the sensitivity?”
Would be very sweet if this was implemented!!!
Anyways I was wondering if this will work as a service (I know there is some way to make any software run as a service but I forget how to
)
If not, that would be one nice feature, that way I can log off the current user and the application still will work (at least the app I have been using for security requires the user to stay logged on)
Anyways keep up the good work, oh, and adding uploading would (not sure, maybe you have this) be the best… imagine someone steals your PC, at least u can go to an FTP or email and get some evidence!!!
By Daniel F. Kudwien on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Does anyone know HowTo build an optical zoom for a webcam? In combination with this great HowTo there would be even more usage scenarios.
By lidiving on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Nice app.
http://members.tripod.com/acls2001
By Kris Bravo on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Here’s a handy linux equivalent - even shows you the pixels that trigger it. Found it while dealing with a nutjob that was stuffing mail boxes with incindiary flyers in our neighborhood. You’ve gotta love America Suburbia. Ugh.
By Kris Bravo on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Link:
http://gspy.sourceforge.net/
By DerekB on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Works wonderfully. Thanks for the tut.
Any ideas why, when I use FTP to store the file, “.temp” is appended to the filename.
By CypherBit on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
I have a similar setup using Pryme (http://www.hilo.dk/pryme.php) had some problems with auto capture, but solved those using AutoHotkey.
It’s basically the same as this, with the addition of being able to set sensitivity.
By Jamie on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
How can I make this email to my gmail account? Is that even possible?
By Daniel Kiim on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
A nicely integrated product similar to this is the TrackerCam (www.trackercam.com). They have a motorized pan/tilt base for USB webcams that is controlled via USB. It can be set to follow a moving object and record video. Other software will let you record multiple video streams, and includes motion detection control.
They also have a product that controls pan/tilt and zoom for certain digital video cameras with a firewire interface.
I have used TrackerCam’s USB product, and it works pretty much as advertised. (no affiliation with the company, just a customer)
By T.J. on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Nice, but I have a question. Does the camera detect movement as the sun sets and it gets darker outside? Or is it too gradual to pick up?
By Ross on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
TJ -
Yes, it does.
Derek -
I think those are ‘partial’ uploads - as the image is being uploaded it might have a .temp extension until the entire file is done uploading. Do the .temp files stay around?
yourmom -
Yes, I’m pretty sure. There is an .avi output, but I haven’t played with it (yet). I’ll be updating this document before the end of the weekend and I’ll see if I can get the .avi thing to work and then outline it as well.
Cheers!
Ross
By Hank on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Too bad no one in their right mind uses Windows anymore…
By DerekB on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
Ross - thanks for your reply.
Yes the file stays. If I chop off the .temp, it seems to be a fully formed JPG.
The .temp extension seems to be coming from the Dorgem. I’ll try it with a different FTP server though.
By DerekB on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
My bad - if you’re using FTP, the account needs more permissions than just ‘write’.
By Mr. Posteer on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
That camera takes some great pictures. Seems to work better than a sensor. How would you use this for a camera than scans from left to right?
By Rod on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
to send it to gmail, download GMaildrive, and then store your security images in that drive.
Great software - better results than on3 I nearly paid twenty dollars for!
By Dennis on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
I’ve pretty much cleaned up my neighborhood of the junkies and crackheads using surveillance and my website http://www239.pair.com/nanden00/chc/
The detectives love it. I just burn them off a cd of the activity and off they go to court with the evidence. Real simple.
By TheWendyLady on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
Fantastic tutorial! Slight problem getting it to save pics in gmail….anyone fancy helping with a tutorial on that lol. thanks x
By Paul on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
I have a labtec camera which comes with a motion detection routine…
I like the fact that you can set the sensitivity on it to stop leaves or whatever from triggering it.
Only supports the one cam though…
So Dorgem wins on that one, just wish it had sensitivity control
By Ross on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
Hank,
I look forward to the day when OS X and Linux are installed on more home computers than Windows.
DerekB,
Ahh now that makes sense. I’ll include a note about that when I update this again (re: permissions).
Paul,
It’s not out of the question re: sensitivity. There might be a command line option to set it. When I’m back in front of a PC w/ Windows I’ll check. It might be in the Dorgem help file…
By Sean Hattaway on Oct 3, 2006 | Reply
This is a great tutorial. But does it only work well with Windows, and not with other programs? It would be more helpful if it’s not limited to Windows only.
By dryl on Oct 3, 2006 | Reply
sorry if this is a stupid question but,does the computer have to be left on for this to work?
By Ross on Oct 3, 2006 | Reply
Dryl,
I’m a firm believer in the “no such thing as stupid questions” phrase - yes, your computer has to be left on (if you want to capture images 24/7. The monitor can be turned off.
By Test on Oct 4, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for the info. It was very helpful and came at the right time for me.
By yenjai.net on Oct 5, 2006 | Reply
Thanks.
The info provided is really useful
By Daniel on Oct 5, 2006 | Reply
this looks very useful, but even though my webcam is pointed at an unmoving aprt of the room, it seems to constantly capture images, what might ibe doing wrong? Please email me at REMOVED-BY-ROSS-SO-YOU-DONT-GET-SPAMMED@gmail.com if you think you may know.
By Ross on Oct 5, 2006 | Reply
I’ve emailed Daniel but I thought I’d post the info here too in case someone else has a similar problem -
–
1. Are you turning lights on and off? I’ve tried this w/ 3 different webcams so far, and the Creative Labs N10225 is REALLY sensitive to light. Even a window in the background can cause the camera to capture images when a cloud passes by.
2. What did you set the “File store settings” interval to? Try 5 or 6 seconds.
3. Does it start taking pictures when there’s motion, and then not stop? Or does it just immediately start taking pictures? If it doesn’t stop AFTER it detects motion, try placing a check in the “Reconnect if no motion is detected for x minutes” (step 7 way above). That’s not REALLY the purpose of that check box, as it seems the ‘reverse’ might be happening to you.
4. Is the Webcam being moved somehow? (vibrations? is it sitting on a sub-woofer?
)
Hope this helps -
Ross
By Dreamstruct on Oct 5, 2006 | Reply
Great Tutorial! Here is an inexpensive version of webcam motion-detecting and video recording software:
http://www.WebCamSecuritySystem.com
By michael on Oct 7, 2006 | Reply
a really great software package i’ve been using for a couple years is Supervisioncam. very flexible code, and FREE.
of course it motion senses, and it also will post captured jpg’s to a website along with an html file to let you view them conveniently.
great stuff
http://www.supervisioncam.com
By A.Cunha on Oct 9, 2006 | Reply
Esta solução resolveu o meu problema de saber quem “retirava” lol as mais lindas plantas do meu jardim na casa de férias…
Um “velho” PC de secretaria, uma cam ja com 6 anos e…
aí esta um magnifico sistema de segurança!!!
Óptimas instruções…
By intel on Oct 10, 2006 | Reply
is there a wireless webcam which u can connect to your pc. and can u use multiple wireless webcams if thereare any
By boing on Oct 12, 2006 | Reply
hey wow!! awesome!! Im loving this!! thank you so much!!!!!
By Ross on Oct 12, 2006 | Reply
intel - yes there are a few. I’d suggest checking amazon.com, just search for wireless webcam. While I don’t have one (and can’t confirm for sure), I’d expect you could use multiple wireless webcams the same way you would multiple ‘wired’ webcams. That’s a lot of w’s.
boing - you’re more than welcome!
By Malikie on Oct 12, 2006 | Reply
hi, wicked idea, but it doesnt seem to work with my (rather poor) Web camera!!! ive ypinked my sisters My_cam Usb web camera and it refuses to use the motion detection setting!!!! Ive even added the 5 minutes auto re-connect, and i still get a new pic every 2 seconds regardless of motion!!
Any ideas or help would be most appreciated!!
Cheers
By Green-laser on Oct 14, 2006 | Reply
Hi If you remove the Infra-Red blocking filter from the webcam, in my case the Toucam, it can be used in complete darkness with the area you are surveiling illuminated with an IR lamp.
By Morphet on Oct 18, 2006 | Reply
Does anyone know how to use this on a Mac desktop and a Windows webcam? Is that even possible? Thanks in advance, fellas.
By Cheryl on Oct 31, 2006 | Reply
I got many pics in my documents when the puppy just walked by but I can’t see anything. It’s dark. The camera is in the window. Also in the dropdown box my camera isn’t listed.
By Ross on Oct 31, 2006 | Reply
I’ve emailed this to Cheryl but I’ll post it here in case anyone else is having the same problem -
Have you tried adjusting the color settings in step 5 of the “how” part of the tutorial? That should help brighten up the pictures. Are they totally “black”? Was it at all light out when the puppy walked by? When you click the ‘preview’ button in Dorgem, does the video show up correctly?
I’m not sure about the camera not appearing in the dorgem list - is it in use by another program by any chance? A lot of webcams come w/ software that the webcam is “supposed” to use, and may be ‘using’ the webcam even without you directly knowing..
By Cheryl on Oct 31, 2006 | Reply
It was not totally black. I could see the street light in the back ground. Let’s just say I only knoew my puppy was there because he barked and then the camera started taking pictures. When I click the preview button it is also very dark. The camera is not being used by another program Ross. It says Microsoft WDM Image Capture (win32). My camera is a Logitech.
By xaki on Nov 1, 2006 | Reply
Hi! Your article is very helpful and detail, thanks a lot!
I am planning to make a device which can use the motion detection to trigger external program, such as sending a ASCII code like “esc” key to system. Could anybody give me some hints?
I would like PC to run a slide show (powerpoint or flash), when there is an object moving in front of the webcam, the slide show changes to other page and play sound or movie. Is this difficult to do?
By Williams on Nov 4, 2006 | Reply
thanks works just fine and great, i use zoneminder in linux but this is great for the windows pc i have.
thank u
By Jasper on Nov 4, 2006 | Reply
I tried this and it worked perfectly! This is an excellent tutorial with clear and illustrated examples.
By Cheryl on Nov 5, 2006 | Reply
Last night it worked fine. Today I open it and the preview is pitch (how doe’s that sound) white. I closed it and restarted. I also tried to take a capture piture and it worked. I went to the folder and there were pictures. Unfortunately they were also solid white.
By Christian on Nov 21, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for the great site. Next time I’ll figure out security monitoring BEFORE my car is broken into!
Great info, easy to follow.
Christian
By John Orchard on Dec 3, 2006 | Reply
Great Program!!
Can I play a sound file when motion is detected? For example, I could create an alarm or say something like “you’ve just been photographed” when motion is detected.
Thanks, John
By Marc on Dec 5, 2006 | Reply
I really like the Gmail Drive suggestion, but I can’t find a way to make it work. GDrive is a system folder and can’t be found by browsing from within Dorgem. Creating a shortcut to the Gmail Drive is easy enough, but even when I copy the shortcut properties for the target to Dorgem and it will not work.
Otherwise, I’m sure I’ll use GMailDrive for other things. Thanks!
By unohoo on Dec 6, 2006 | Reply
step by step how to on video surveillance with a vcr and/or a dvr.
By David on Dec 16, 2006 | Reply
Anyone know how to upload the capture pictures/video to mobilephone. That’ mean we can remote viewing by mobilephone ( GPRS / 3G based mobilephone ) ??
By das on Jan 1, 2007 | Reply
can we use even a mobile phone with built in camera in this fashion
I will be waiting for your answer
Regard
Das
By Rudolf on Jan 4, 2007 | Reply
Has anyone figured out how to output all captured images to AVI? I tried it but couldn’t figure out how to make it work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
By Ed Ration on Jan 6, 2007 | Reply
I think the USB connected web cams have a wire length limitation of about 15 feet at the longest and probably shorter in many cases.
As far as I know the process of extending the wire length can be one of the following:
1. Use active extender modules that are good for 15 feet each (up to 5). They run about $25 and don’t always work well for every knid of application.
2. Use a fiber optic extender (150 feet, $200). Problem there is that (far as I know) they only run USB 1.x (slow)
3. For each web cam use a server box ($80) with a USB port and connect over WiFi. Might be a little hairy.
4. Use the new wireless USB standard. Limited distance (a few meters at full USB 2.x speed, 10 meters at USB 1.x speeds.
5. Use Bluetooth (slow, need the special longer range flavor of Bluetooth - compatibility?).
I’m listing all this because I like the idea and with the hope someone comes back with a long connectivity solution.
You can do similar things with regular digital cameras USB connected, but only with certain models.
For Canons:
http://www.breezesys.com/products.htm
(here’s their pitch)
Why Use PSRemote?
PSRemote enables Canon PowerShot camera users to:
Control the camera from a Windows PC
Operate the camera from a distance and in inaccessible locations
See live viewfinder display on PC screen
See large high resolution previews of shots on the PC within seconds
Take better product shots for eBay and other online auctions/stores
Improve exposure control in tricky lighting conditions
Gain unrivalled control of camera settings in tethered operation
Create time lapse sequences over short or extended periods
Use motion detection to automatically take pictures for wildlife photography and security applications (requires Webcam Zone Trigger which must be purchased separately).
Use the large preview image to display:
Flashing highlights to indicate over-exposed areas
Grid overlay to assist accurate alignment
For CanonG1, G2, G3, G5, G6, G7, S30, S40, S45, S50, S60, S70, S80, S1 IS, S2 IS, S3 IS, SD100, SD110, S230, S400, S410, S500, A30, A40, A60, A70, A75, A80, A85, A95, A300, A310, A400, A510, A520, A620, A640
By Bella on Jan 8, 2007 | Reply
I use mine to watch my dog from work! Neato and thanks!!!
By Ed Ration on Jan 10, 2007 | Reply
Someone (first post) mentioned Logitech Imagestudio as having motion triggering which is true. Unfortunately (reading the Logitech forum) only some older models can run it. Imagestudio got incorporated into QuickCam after version 8.0
So after version QuickCam v7.6 (current version is QuickCam v10.5 ) they disabled the motion feature.
Cameras like the QuickCam Fusion, QuickCam Ultra Vision, QuickCam Orbit etc. can’t run it. If anyone knows a workaround for this please let me know.
By Dr. Macenstein on Jan 16, 2007 | Reply
“Coming soon: How to do the same thing, with a Mac.”
OK, HOW soon?
-The Doc
By s8n on Jan 19, 2007 | Reply
great tutorial,but why not instead of taping the light on your webcam,take advantage of it…like this:
replace the led-usually green- with an ir led (cant remember what they are called exactly but they luminate in the invisible to human eye ir spectrum),camera lenses should be sensitive to this light…haven’t tried it yet,the thoought just hit me…
By Hans on Jan 19, 2007 | Reply
Hi, thanks for your how-to. I have two questions though: 1. Can one lenthen the USB cable to say 25m and 2. is there a simple and cheap way of hooking up your PC via GPRS modem and being able to view the triggered pics on your WAP cel phone?
Thanks
By William on Jan 20, 2007 | Reply
I just have one question. My computer has audio and video ports just like a TV. Would my computer be able to use this software for a infared security camera that uses these ports?
By Ben lynch on Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
Hi i like your software its exactly what ive been looking for but can u tell me how to stop it everytime it takes a pic it overwrites the last one this is really annoying.
By Joe Hawkins on Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
Can a wireless modem work with this scheme? Would it be more expensive that a standard phone line? Is a computer required if wireless modem is used? Advantages and disadvantages…your thoughts please. I appreciate your efforts, thanks.
By dengudu on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
the site was very helful and they robbers were very fast and ………
By Lloyd on Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
Ben Lynch needs to review instruction step #11. Settings need to give digital images different file names for each capture - for this program or any other!
My question - can this be made to run in stealth mode??
By muthu on Feb 9, 2007 | Reply
how do take photo in webcam in send to e_maill id?
By muthu on Feb 9, 2007 | Reply
how to take photo in webcam?
By irishdude on Feb 12, 2007 | Reply
Great tutorial , works well!
By Nathan on Feb 13, 2007 | Reply
Now that I have my webcam ftp’g images to my server, is there a tutorial on how to create a webpage that will:
1) take my .jpg images (all of which have unique filenames) and allow me to view them in the browser, and maybe pan back and forth between the newest and oldest images
2) is there a way to set my ftp site to delete images older than 10 days old? Otherwise I’d have to constantly be in there deleting old images that I no longer need.
3) how do I set the ftp so that it ftp’s into a specific directory on my webspace? There doesnt appear to be a “Host Directory” setting in Dorgem. Otherwise, it will drop all these .jpg files onto the root of my site.
By John on Feb 16, 2007 | Reply
When I try to use this its says “couldnt capture to temporary BMP File. But I chose the jpeg file format
By susan on Feb 18, 2007 | Reply
can i use my web cam as home secruity and also as a web cam to chat online to friends do i need to change settings every time or buy 2 web cams ? how would this work?
thank 4 ur help
By VigilantVigilanty on Feb 18, 2007 | Reply
What is the best motion sensor activated webcam to buy. What cam do u have in the pics.
By James on Feb 18, 2007 | Reply
Example of many webcams from around the world:
By Kayla Dahn Mitton on Feb 20, 2007 | Reply
Great advice and instructions they helped my mom out alot i did it by myself but she wanted to know how to do it and I couldn’t show her, so I showed her your site and now she is happier then a pig in shit. Now she caught someone stealing her smokes…. and her car. Thank you and keep up the supendes work.
By Paul Wilson on Feb 28, 2007 | Reply
Excellent tutorial - must have taken a while to write and compile all the screenshots
This will be helpful since my office has been broken into twice this week. Today I spent 7 hours repairing the skylight instead of finishing orders and making money. The outdated camera system we have is crap so as a temporary internal measure, a webcam & website should make life a bit easier
Thanks again, Paul Wilson, Uk
By me on Mar 3, 2007 | Reply
awesome thanks
By user1 on Mar 3, 2007 | Reply
I just got a Creative Live Cam notebook pro after reading this (cheap on craigslist). The included software will do all this stuff and you can adjust sensitivity with an easy slider.
It will upload to FTP and/or send you an email (with a snapshot if you like) when motion is detected. It can also stream the video through your Yahoo Messenger account (not sure how that works but you can do it).
By ben on Mar 4, 2007 | Reply
hi
thanks for the help it helped me catch a bergular geting in to my house and i got loads of l
pics thanks to you once again thank you
ben
By jim on Mar 5, 2007 | Reply
hi
do you know if and how you can use dorgem to record like a video camara
By Pat Webcams on Mar 13, 2007 | Reply
Another example of many webcams from around the world:
By Wayne Barrick on Mar 17, 2007 | Reply
I want to have one webcam installed in our park that will allow me to look at the park anytime over the winter months when we are in Florida? I currently have wireless X10 cameras installed in the park but these are not connected to the internet. Do I need a dedicated computer connected to the internet at all times for streaming video? What program is required for this. Your help would be appreciated.
By federico on Mar 24, 2007 | Reply
Hi, thanks for the Dorgem solution! It works great! With dorgem I could improve security using the oem camera of my laptop. I found the solution of sending e-mails with snapshot attached using Blat (free command line smtp client) and Dorgem command line. At the top of my (dorgem related) wish list there is the possibility to set a formatted pattern (like “patio…” in the tutorial) for the %s argument used in the command line: that is I’d like the attached file to have a “myname%G%g.jpg” pattern filename. Thank you again!
By wesley on Mar 30, 2007 | Reply
i am having problumes with this every time it takes a pic it just replaces the one that it has already taken so i would never know if someone has been here or not so can you please help
By usbobbie on Mar 31, 2007 | Reply
I am having the same problem as wesley. I only get one jpg. The video also replays in fast motion. I have fps set to 30. Shouldn’t it play back at normal speed? Also, is there a way to stop capture without having to exit the program? Thanks…
By LemonHead on Mar 31, 2007 | Reply
1. What wireless webcam camera do you reccomend, if I put the camera near an inside window and some approaches the outside part of the window would moat cameras get triggered ?
2. If I use Blat to auot send an email after the camera has been triggered what are the coomands I need to add ?
By federico on Mar 31, 2007 | Reply
Lemonhead,
I don’t know for question n.1, for n.2 i used for command:
“mybatchfile %s”
mybatchfile.bat contains:
c:\blat -install mysmtp mysender 3 mySMTPport - usr pwd
c:\blat mybodyfiletext -to myrecipient mysubj %1
hope this helps
By LemonHead on Mar 31, 2007 | Reply
If I already have a website is there a way to view my camera remotely ?
By David Jo on Apr 3, 2007 | Reply
hello guys,
can anyone of you tell me or give me direction on how to view live using this software. I do not want to store images, but instead I want to view what my webcam captures in live, real time.
Thankyou
By foxefire on Apr 6, 2007 | Reply
[quote]hello guys,
can anyone of you tell me or give me direction on how to view live using this software. I do not want to store images, but instead I want to view what my webcam captures in live, real time.
Thankyou[/quote]
Just open up the utility and click preview.
By foxefire on Apr 6, 2007 | Reply
****I am having the same problem as wesley. I only get one jpg. The video also replays in fast motion. I have fps set to 30. Shouldn’t it play back at normal speed? Also, is there a way to stop capture without having to exit the program? Thanks…****
I’m having the same problem.
If there is someone lurking outside my house that shouldn’t be the cam picks their face up. I have the picture but if a bird flys by there goes the intruders picture only to be replaced by a bird.
Why doesn’t this utility take individual pictures instead of replacing the same one each time?
Is this the way it is suppose to work or is there something I’m not doing correctly.
Thanks.
By silambarasan on Apr 11, 2007 | Reply
can u tell how to use a mobile cam as a webcam?is it possible to use a mobile cam like that
By David Augood on Apr 14, 2007 | Reply
can you use a PS2 eyetoy for this
By GigaGo on Apr 17, 2007 | Reply
Nice tutorial!
This is how you can play a beep sound with Dorgem if s.th. moves:
Storage type “External program” and command:
sndrec32 /play /close “C:\Windows\Media\ding.wav” -%s
By Jon L on Apr 24, 2007 | Reply
Is there any way of setting the sensitivity on my webcam through this software? Any help would be appreciated.
By Mark on Apr 30, 2007 | Reply
Any recommendations on webcam? Do i purchase a standard or motion detection webcam?
By Justine on May 4, 2007 | Reply
Thanks so much. I’m going to set some bait to see which of my roomies is stealing my money!
By ale on May 5, 2007 | Reply
Hello , i have install correctly , i think dorgem . But there is a problem. I can’t see an series of images but only one , the last , and the others are cancelled automatically . Can you help me ? thank
u
By suzi q on May 7, 2007 | Reply
well if i catch the thief then it worked if not i look elswhere
By eric on May 7, 2007 | Reply
what it the power was shut off or the PC re-start. how does it work again. or how will the software return again to its surveilance?
By Brad on May 10, 2007 | Reply
How to use your PC and Webcam as a motion-detecting and recording security camera
WOW this works perfectly, thanks sooo much. Now I can find out who’s entering our factory late at night.
Thanks again…
By Russell on May 24, 2007 | Reply
finally I will be able to find out how my basement mysteriously gets rearranged; is it the landlord or Sam Fisher?
By IKhan on Jun 1, 2007 | Reply
It a nice artical, I will try to implement it practicaly.
Industronics Engineering
By Anonymuos on Jun 2, 2007 | Reply
What if i just want to take a picture from my webacm remotely trough my pc? can this program work?
By Ross McKillop on Jun 2, 2007 | Reply
Anon (who asked “What if i just want to take a picture from my webacm remotely trough my pc? can this program work?”)
No, I don’t think so.
By Anonymuos on Jun 2, 2007 | Reply
can you suggest a program that would do? tnx a lot.
By Ross McKillop on Jun 2, 2007 | Reply
The first thing that comes to mind is to install the realvnc server on your home computer (the one with the webcam) and then use a vnc client to connect to your home PC. That will allow you to remotely control your home computer, including taking pictures through its webcam. RealVNC can be found at http://www.realvnc.com/.
Hope this helps.
By gate monhollen on Jun 2, 2007 | Reply
thanks i set this up as soon as i saw it works great the women a cross the street broke in my house so next time i got her fat crack @$$ thanks to my lil toy poodle save the nite she dont bite but she is a hell of a barker
By JAKE on Jun 5, 2007 | Reply
This tutorial was excellent. I work for a small shipping company and we rent out a space from another company and we have been worrying about the flow of people from the other company’s walking by our set up. This helped out a lot to help keep an eye out when we are gone for the day and weekend. thanks
By Saliya on Jun 5, 2007 | Reply
i want a moving detecting software to record videos capturing through a capture card. only the movements must be recorded.
By Nicholas Graham Hodder on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
Excellent guide.
Many thanks.
By sanders on Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
http://www.camseyes.com provides the possibility to forward you directly the pictures in your inbox.
By Ross McKillop on Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
sanders -
Can you provide some more info on that service? It seems a little suspicious - there’s no terms of service, no assurances that it’s not just an email harvesting spam “service” etc.
By sanders on Jun 21, 2007 | Reply
The site is under construction and is NOT harvesting emails for spam purpose. Terms of services will be added soon.
By Jim on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
For all the folks getting ‘just one pic’, see near the top of the page, ‘How?’, and instruction #11. Personally I use filename-%G-%g to make the date/time easier to read.
By Jim on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
For all the folks getting ‘continuous streams of pics,’ you probably have set filename%G%g, -and- have turned on the Auto Capture checkbox. At least that’s the effect I got.
By Shawn on Jul 6, 2007 | Reply
Here’s a interesting program that will help you out.
Go to Archive.org (Great place to find archived sites)
Search for a program called Catspy.
The only free version available is in the archive and best of all the program run’s stealth mode and takes practically any codec.
But hey you don’t have to take my word for it.. and yes it accepts frame rates and is not a memory hog like most programs.
By Murster on Jul 7, 2007 | Reply
question 118 above, asked about a window popup message that said “couln’t capture Temporary BMP FILE!”. I am getting the same message every time.
I setup the file store and I copied exactly like your instructions; C:\patio\patio-capture%G%g.jpg
When I check mark auto capture it happens repeatedly. What are we doing wrong??? please help us…aggh…
Thanks,
Murster
By Ed on Jul 14, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the tutorial. I had downloaded Dorgem before reading this, and gave up on it as it didn’t seem to come with enough info to be set up properly.
Need something to control several wireless cameras
that will trigger on motion, producing jpeg only files.
Perhaps this program will meet the need after all, but if anyone knows of other free programs that have great memory mgmt, and better UI It would be very nteresting to hear about them.
It’s time to make one those bad guys a movie star.
By Mike on Jul 22, 2007 | Reply
Hi, I love this program! I live in a townhouse complex and we have another townhouse complex behind us, but because the other townhouse complex is a little bit harder to get to, they take our parking spots and walk down a hill to get to their house. We’ve put notes on some cars but a lot still park here, so I’ve set up my web cam with this program. What I’d like to know is what is the best way to go about capturing images during the night time. Our parking lot has few lights, so I’m wondering how I could make it easier to see people coming up from the hill in front of out parking lot. If you think you can help me, email me at mjoyce91@gmail.com, and I can send you some pics so I can make it a little bit more clear for you.
By DAve on Jul 23, 2007 | Reply
I am designing a simple household light that would be able to sense the motion of a human hand over the lightbulb hood and turn it either on or off. Please what kind of sensor do i use.
By Keyoung Gill on Jul 27, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for this great download and super tutorial. This was exactly what I’ve been looking for to set up as a security camera as well. I bought a really, really inexpensive webcam some time for that purpose and never could get the software that came with it to work right. This is so easy and very doable. I want to check my yard when I’m away…wish I had this a couple of years ago.
Ok a couple of question: I finally was able toset this to capture to my ftp site. However, does it just give you one pic when you downloadd the file? Or am I missing something. I’d like to be able to get a “video” of what goes on when I capture this. Is this not a video capture or rather a still capture? And, by that, I think I may have just answered my other question.
But if you or anyone else gets to change to respond by sending an email, I would appreciate it. Thanks for this and for your great tutorial!
By Keyoung Gill on Jul 27, 2007 | Reply
Sorry for the typos lol
By NLP enthusiast on Jul 30, 2007 | Reply
I just set this system up and mounted the camera above the group workspace. Wow. No I can pinpoint the slackers from my bedroom!
Next step: installing a mic so I can tell if they’re talkin’ about me.
By KryptoTheDog on Jul 31, 2007 | Reply
Awesome Article. Will implement it this weekend. We have a dog and would love to see what he does during the day (he is only allowed to watch G rated shows on TV…lol)
Jokes apart, two interesting projects similar to this:
1) How nice would it be if we can remote into our computer (using a very secure method like only when macid = my office computer) and be able to change directions/zoom etc
2) Get a motion sensitive camera (the one that follows the object in focus) and somehow be able to steam this to a free hosting site like myspace etc etc.
By NZ on Aug 13, 2007 | Reply
hi.i want to do a project in my computer course.im plannin 2 use webcam instead of regular ‘mouse’ for detecting motion or ‘mouse clicks’ as we call…can anybody help me with it?
By Andrew on Aug 13, 2007 | Reply
I own 2 security camras that show on a TV srceen and i would like to know if there is a way to have them Show on mu Computer screen.
If so tell me at ltschultz@thewisp.net
By donCarlos on Aug 22, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for you very detailed tutorial.
Watch YouTube for the upcoming video “This is what your housekeeper steals from you while you’re at the office”.
By Brian on Aug 23, 2007 | Reply
Hi
I was wondering if this program supports night mode.
Thanks
By inktpatronen on Sep 6, 2007 | Reply
Thanks! This is just what I needed to find the one who is ruining my car!!
I am really grateful to this howto, Thanks again
By inktpatronen on Sep 6, 2007 | Reply
To Brian,
For Night Mode, you can use an IR camera, with IR leds.
It would only work in black and white however, but you can get a good image this way!
Cheers,
inktpatronen
By inktpatronen on Sep 6, 2007 | Reply
Hi Brian,
You can use an IR cam with IR leds to use this program in night mode. Works fine!
By david on Sep 19, 2007 | Reply
loved it will use it to watch my stock
By blink on Sep 20, 2007 | Reply
Absolutely brilliant tutorial, thank you!!!
By Andy Peele on Sep 21, 2007 | Reply
Have 2 cameras installed on my laptop and can get them both to operate as motion detecting devices but can’t get the Dorem program to capture and display their respective pictures at the same time on my desktop screen. The program will only let me capture and display one camera at a time. Please advise.
Tks,
Andy
By reaperview on Sep 22, 2007 | Reply
Is there any way to set this up to a portable hard drive without incorperating a bulky visible computer?
By installer on Sep 22, 2007 | Reply
why is it, when i tried to run dorgem it says “failed to connect to device?”
By Andy Peele on Sep 24, 2007 | Reply
I have 2 webcams(made by different companies and using different drivers) installed and want to install a 3rd, 4th and possibly more. Do I use the same procedure for multiple cameras but change the target address for the 3rd webcam from c:cam2 to c:cam3 and increments of 1 for each additional camera? Tried using c:cam3 for the 3rd camera and having problems capturing it. Are there any webcams you suggest to use that are easier to setup using this program than others? If I want to install multiple cameras on my laptop is there anyway that I can install several cameras of the same make/model that have the same driver configuration and be able to have them all display at the same time on my laptop screen?
Tks,
Andy
By kevin on Sep 30, 2007 | Reply
My car window screen was smashed in the early hours I was wondering would you have to have a light to detect when dark
By John on Oct 6, 2007 | Reply
my camera is alittle fuzzy so it like never stops…. any uh sensitivity control?
By Andy on Oct 12, 2007 | Reply
Finding this tutorial has helped me out immensely, thank you.
By Kristin on Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
We are trying to set up a mulit camera feed without using http://FTP. We followed your instructions to set up the fisrt camera but we are having problems setting up the other three. We are also trying to set up a laptop with a camera to feed into our system.
We’d appreciate your help.
By Dave on Nov 4, 2007 | Reply
This is great, I am setting the webcam for the first time and its wonderful. Now I can check who is stealing my cookies
.
By MIMO on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
Hello,
It’s a very nice and useful tutorial everything ok except one thing: my camera keep capturing photos! is there any way to reduce the motion capture sensibility?
Thank you.
By sepl on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
This post is very helpfull, thanks you
By felipe on Nov 24, 2007 | Reply
how can i install 2 web cam i follow already d step but cant work
By Blackmoon on Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
very nice but not really useful
By Lars on Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
very funny, i’ll test it
By hitendra on Nov 27, 2007 | Reply
hello sir,
i am existing user of nokia mobile i have nokia 6233 but i heard like dat cell can be work with webcam but i searhed all the site in google still not getting any software related to webcam so please help me how can i usee my handset as webcam …
thanks $ regards
hiten
By David on Nov 29, 2007 | Reply
Just installed this and it works really well…BUT, the camera just starts capturing images before there is any motion and just carries on. It’s as if the motion detection bit is not checked, but it is!
Can you help?
David (UK)
By Joe on Nov 29, 2007 | Reply
Sweet I just got it working. If anyone is having the problem where it seems like your camera is just taking timed pictures constantly, You really can’t just sit where you are and try and be still..It doesn’t work haha. I hooked everything up and I put the timer on 1 second, and counted the time in my head as I left the room and closed my door. If you wait 30 seconds outside your room and when you come back in and you have 30+ pictures, you have either some motion in your room or something is messed up. But everything worked for me! Great post!
By Cam on Dec 10, 2007 | Reply
I’m sure outside lighting must play a big part in the efficiency of the camera, but it’s still a great idea to say the least.
By Shadi on Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
Dear all,
Thax a lot for these informations but i need your help couse i wanna to build a “Dorgem” an application that can monitoring control for the IP camera via internet
please anybody have any idea or resources to help me contact me on my email : s_bedesh@hotmail.com
please i need your help and waiting you
bye
By Peter Ballam on Dec 19, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for a usefull tutorial. I have a need to
develop this to detect if my daughter has an epelectic fit during the night. Her Neuorologist is also very interested to know if this is possible as it seems a common problem with working out medication when fits are suspected at night.
I noticed one option for the output here is a
program. As my main TV has a RS232 control capability could I then use it with a simple
program to send the code via RS232 to switch over my TV to the PC monitor in if she moves
incase its a fit.
Thanks,
By Don Hansen on Dec 20, 2007 | Reply
This software is just what I need, and it worked perfectly first time, with none of the problems experienced by others. However when I point the webcam through the window the brightness of the daylight is too much for the camera and the image is bleached out totally to white. No details are visible at all. No-one else who has commented on your site seems to have mentioned this problem, so is it something I am doing wrong, and how do I fix it?
By Mike on Dec 26, 2007 | Reply
Note to self and others: Don’t have a clock in the picture if you’re using motion detection. It actually picked up that the seconds kept changing.
By dave c on Jan 2, 2008 | Reply
I know this may be callous to some people who really can’t afford it, but still… a lot of the questions and problems people have presented here could be answered by going out and spending $80 - $100 on an old P3 system. Put in a reasonably sized disc and network it. Any thief would look at it and laugh and then go onto something of value. All the while…
This can also help with another problem: are you doing your backups?
By milk on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
hey Ross,
can u send me some info about the source code in C language or C++ to compare two images? i’m doin something about motion detection same like yours article.thanks.
By SUSAN DONNACHIE on Feb 10, 2008 | Reply
Hi, sounds really good.
So is it possible
1)to take video’s
By Pedro Ribeiro on Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
Hi..my usage for this camera system is slightly different.. I want to (while I am at home) watch my cat’s movements on the kitchen (he as the nasty habit of stealing food)
How can i place the camera in the kitchen and be on another part of the house?
thanks and great work
By Ryan on Feb 19, 2008 | Reply
Hi,
I’ve got this up and running on XP, just wondering if anyone has tried it out on Vista yet. Thanks.
By MrsOI on Feb 20, 2008 | Reply
Thanks so much! I really needed to know how to do this, believe it or not, to see some birds for a biology course I’m doing.
By Devin on Feb 22, 2008 | Reply
I am using my camera to view who is coming in and out of my home. For some reason, even on motion detection, it takes pictures at the intervals I set it at.
Also, I would like to upload these pictures to my website, but when I type in the URL with a directory behind it, it tells me it can’t but when I put just the URL, it works fine, but I can’t access it from online.
1. How do I stop it from being so sensitive, as it just takes pictures at the interval I set it at.
2. How can I have it save the images to a directory on my website?
By Alfred M on Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
Thanks,but i have questions: First, if i want to connect multiple webcam from one location and view it through computer at another location is it possible?(long distance monitoring.example when im at home monitor the factory activities?)
If yes explan to me how.
Second:Which is the best camera for factory use regarding the above practise?
Urs
Alfred
By mian on Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
hi, im having a project titled as “computer laboratory surveillance scheme” to monitor every student who uses the lab and it needs multiple cameras. but i only use Microsoft WDM Image Capture(Win32) since it is the only one available in my camera selection drop-down list.im happy with the result using one cam.for it works right.then i tried to connect another cam and i followed the instructions to copy the dorgem on the desktop to make the dorgem(2)..click its properties..but when i change the target on dorgem(2) it displays: The name ‘”C:\Program FilesDorgemDorgem.exe”/c:cam2′ specified in the target box is not valid. Make sure the path and filename are correct.
i used the default location during the installation.and tried it many times…still got the same prob. please help me… email me in this add. Michellebeih25@yahoo.com
thanks.
By craig on Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
ive set it up like u have shown but wen i go to c wat pictures it has saved it just over writeing the same pik not savin all of them just 1
By mian on Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
hi craig, just double check the filename. u should put %G%g at the end of it.ok? hope this could help.
By Marcel on Mar 23, 2008 | Reply
Hello, Ross,
Thanks for your great tutorial. I tried it on my Logitech webcam (Quickcam Communicate Deluxe), but, apparently, its motion sensor is disabled, because it starts immediately taking pictures, even if there is no motion, and then never stops doing so. I presume, I will have to buy another webcam instead. Can you tell me which one(s) has(ve) the best motion sensor ? Thank you.
Marcel
By Robert on Mar 23, 2008 | Reply
Hey this is brilliant, Just one question, the camera is constantly taking photos even though there is nothing moving in the room. Also I read a question asking if the eyetoy works and it does, you have to download this program though.
http://www.iplayplaystation.com/eyetoy-as-webcam/
By justin on Mar 25, 2008 | Reply
Not sure if you’ll get to read this bout found your guide extrmely helpful and very easy to follow. It now works fine and i now have an amazing security camera from a cheap web-cam so thank you. And thank you again!!! Your brilliant for posting this!!! From Justin
By Wamberto on Mar 25, 2008 | Reply
Hi,
Great software! Very impressive
Is it possible to create a new file for each capture? Rather than replacing the existing file, it would be excellent if it could make a new file with each capture.
Thanks!
By Gretchen on Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
You guys need to read the directions. Adding the variables %G%g to the filename puts a date/timestamp to each new file - that way they won’t overwrite eachother.
By nana on Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
Wow cool tnks for ur help !
By Howard on Apr 16, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for this software.
Have problem with the second cam.
The Dorgem kept saving images even with no activity. I covered the lens, so that the image is always black. THat way I can verify whether the software is saving even if the image has not changed. But Dorgem kept saving images every second, the interval used.
Hope you can fix this.
By danno on Apr 18, 2008 | Reply
Hello, have the same problem as someone else but don’t see an answer. I have it set on motion detection but it just keeps taking pics at whatever interval I set it at. Did everything including reinstall. and read everything I could find five times over.
Thank You Danno
By Howard on Apr 18, 2008 | Reply
Check the contents of the image.
Does the webcam see a clock ?
Is the second hand moving on the clock ?
My webcam faces a neighbor’s front door
and a flag.
When the wind moves the flag, the webcam
takes a picture.
By rhea on Apr 18, 2008 | Reply
for some reason in dorgem i cant adjust automatic gain control. I uncheck it and it rechecks itself. Any help?
By Janet on Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
Thanks!
By amy sharp on Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
I would like to use this to catch my filthy sneaky roommate. Does my computer need to be on or can it be in hibernation/sleep mode?
Thanks.
By DD on Apr 27, 2008 | Reply
one can remove the lens that came with the webcam, revealing the sensor, (there will be a reddish glass thingey in there its the infrared filter — if you remove this the cam will be IR - nightvision-ish)
then you just need to make a new enclosure, and use a zoom lens from a normal(SLR)film camera (like a 28-55 mm zoom) and position the back part of the lens the same distance from the sensor as it would have been from the film in a camera (you need to measure this distance on the camera who’s lens you use)
and you’ve got a manual zoom on your webcam..
By Ares on Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
Im getting an error that reads “error saving image”….any sugestions?
By Pebbles on May 3, 2008 | Reply
Any update on the AVI feature? I can’t get it working.
By John C on May 5, 2008 | Reply
Gay. Only saves one pic and next motion detention deletes the last pic and saves the new one. Useless piece of software. You own me 15 minutes of my time. Thank you.
By Pebbles on May 7, 2008 | Reply
John C - Use the variable %g in the file name to change the name of the picture with each new image. Maybe if you were a little more intelligent or knew how to read you’d stop being such a douche bag and be able to use a simple piece of open-source software, and you’d appreciate the time and effort that went into it and this guide. Next time you want to bitch over nothing; don’t. Also, you shouldn’t use “gay” to label something as bad. Thank you :-).
By Saneem on May 9, 2008 | Reply
This tutorial is appreciatable.
Thanks to Dorgem.
But what i need is a program in which you can use masks.
That is, Detect motion in a selected area only..
If anybody got any ideas, post it…
Thanks to Ross.