Help..Game Camera interface

[lou]

I recently installed a portable battery operated game camera that uses a SIMM card for storage of the images. The camera is mounted  about 50 ft. from my house located near a shed that has 120v power.  Is there a device that I can replace the SIMM card to wireless or hardwire images to my computer ?  I have done some research on the net, but I'm not finding anything.

Thanks, Lou

[pablo2048]

I think, that You mean SD card (instead of SIMM) - so I suggest Eye-Fi, which is SD card with integrated Wifi...

[pickit2]

Eye-Fi would not have the range of 50'

[lou]

You are right it is a SD card (trying to think at 3AM)

The Eye-Fi type of device "concept" would be perfect, but as picket2 commented 50' range would be an issue.

How about an interface from the camera SD port to a powerline carrier such as http://www.asokatech.com/pluglink-page ( I have 2 of these from my previous net provider clearwire) ??

[pablo2048]

Eye-Fi would not have the range of 50'

I have Eye-Fi 4GB and D-Link WiFi router, 15meters in open space is ok...

[happylex]

I I were you I would use a Raspberry Pi, or even cheaper a PIC24FJ256GB106 board for example and use it as USB host for the mass storage device. This can then be connected to your network or wireless controller. Fun project :-)


Posted on: November 20, 2013, 05:19:57 17:19 - Automerged
For the USB host on a PIC see http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/AppNotes/01141a.pdf

[solutions]

I'm confused.

Are you running the wildlife cam off of AC or off of the battery? If the latter, you may need more than just the wifi converter card. It could eat your battery if you're planning on streaming

Since you have AC in the shed, you could set up a MIMO router as a hub so the EYE-Fi is useable, rangewise, to it first.

[pickit2]

I have Eye-Fi 4GB and D-Link WiFi router, 15meters in open space is ok...

15 meters = 49 feet 235⁄64 inches
In my camera the body limits range to about 6 metres, also my eye-fi had a habit of going into power down / sleep mode.
but I did not spend time on fixing the problem, I used a Wi-Fi camera, £300 cheaper than my camera.

How about an interface from the camera SD port to a powerline carrier such as http://www.asokatech.com/pluglink-page ( I have 2 of these from my previous net provider clearwire) ??

you could use D-Link or an old WiFi router at the shed end, and computer other end.

[lou]

happylex,
this is from the data sheet Microchip ANA114
ASSUMPTIONS
• Working knowledge of C programming language
• Familiarity with the USB 2.0 protocol
• Familiarity with the USB class or device to be
hosted.
• Familiarity with Microchip MPLAB® IDE

I have none of the above, so I think this would way over my head

solutions,
Yes the Game Cam is battery operated.  I said that I have 120V available to provide power for what ever needs. I failed to mention that I have a empty under ground conduit that could also be used, but as a last resort (additional distance and digging).

What is a MIMO router hub ?

Yes I would more than likely have to provide power to the cam in place of the batteries.

If I'm understanding your concept (not knowing what a MIMO is) I could use EYE-Fi to a router hub (this would be wireless), out of the router hub, with cat5 to my powerline carrier at the shed, out of the powerline carrier at the house into the computer via router and cat5. 

[h0nk]

I would recommend the same as pickit2 says: a Wi-Fi camera.

If You need a better picture quality You may use a modified Wi-Fi router with a USB-Port
together with a USB-Cam. For many models there is a small Linux-distribution called
OpenWRT available. This distribution include packages like "mjpegstreamer" for live streaming
or "motion" for motion-triggered capture and live streaming.
The installation may be a little bit awkward for the beginner, depending on the model of the router.
The regular setup is menu based via a web browser and easy to manage.

MIMO describes the usage of "M"ultiple antennas to create "M"ultiple channels of transmission
to enhance bandwidth and/or transmission range.

[mike_au]

Why go for a wifi camera? It would chew through batteries in no time flat, so then you are looking at having to run power through the conduit. Why not a PoE camera? One cable, and you get power and a reliable data link.

[h0nk]

Why go for a wifi camera? It would chew through batteries in no time flat, so then you are looking at having to run power through the conduit. Why not a PoE camera? One cable, and you get power and a reliable data link.

> The camera is mounted ... near a shed that has 120v power.

Ethernet might be an option if you use optical fiber outdoor.
Otherwise its gone after the next near storm.
I have used network copper cabling between buildings in the pre-optical era.
It is not reliable and PoE is expensive compared to the cost of a Wi-Fi cam.

Best Regards

[solutions]

I would recommend the same as pickit2 says: a Wi-Fi camera.

You guys didn't comprehend the problem.

It's a GAME camera.

That doesn't mean Mario Brothers, but a specialized camera that has a motion sensor that snaps pics when birds, deer, mountain lions, or whatever, are in the viewfinder.

Yeah, he could hook up an Alienware PC, get some image processing sofware, get an SD card, write some code, but.... maybe he has a life

[lou]

BINGO !!! soulutions, you hit it right on the head...

I do want to thank everyone for their help, and I did not know that there was such a thing as a "EYE-FI" SD card.  I did find a 2GB EYE-FI for $20 http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Fi-Wireless-Secure-Digital-EYE-FI-2HM/dp/B001AD0TGQ  At that price it is cost effective for messing around.

This all started from finding some mountain lion tracks in my front yard !

[solutions]

Seems like you are appreciative of nature vs wanting to kill it and stuff it. Wish there were more people like that.

Their territorial range is so huge, though, that it's questionable whether you'll ever see it again. If you set up a bait station, you'll probably get bear and who knows what else, though.

Seen this game camera finding?  http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2011/april/042511c.asp