For all of you wanting cameras for your 'bots...

Tom Walker

Computer Geeks has these wireless cams (with audio) back in stock.· They are small and work just fine on my bots.· The receiver can be adjusted for slight "out of spec" and "environmental" frequency shifts and output NTSC video.· And for $28.00 for the system, you can't go too far wrong.· My only complaint is that they are all on the same frequency, so I can only use one at a time, unless I want to do some really "small" work and annoy the FCC).· I've used them out in excess of 50 ft with brick wall intervening.

Anyhow...

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=203C-50MW-N&cm_mmc=geekmail-_-daily_html-_-19apr06_GEEKBIS4main

Use code GEEKBIS4 in the red promo box at checkout to get the discount.· Offer expires 4/30/06.

If anybody comes up with a good bracket design to mount one on a BOE-BOT, I want one.

Have fun!


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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...

Post Edited (Tom Walker) : 4/20/2006 3:28:43 PM GMT

Bean

Tom,
Thanks for the info (I just order 2 of them). And thanks for the discount code.
Bean.

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"SX-Video·Module"·available from Parallax for only $28.95 http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012


"SX-Video OSD module"·available·for only·$49.95·www.sxvm.com
Available now! Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com

"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
·

Steel

I have seen a few of these cameras in other places:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=616

I am looking into getting one·quite soon.· It looks like they are an OEM product that companies have been putting different cases on.

I am curious as to if the imagers can pick up infrared like other CCD cameras.

If anybody gets one of these, could you post a 'review'?

Shaun

Tom Walker

Bean,
Happy to help (and I'm honestly going to apply your PWM chip to RGB LEDs...just looking for time [noparse]:)[/noparse])

Steel,
I haven't had occasion to test their IR response, but since I'm pretty sure that they're using "off the shelf" CCDs, I would think that they should have no problem in the IR range (probably not as good as a B/W pickup, though). I'll check that out....right after I drive the RGB LEDs [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...

David B

That looks cool, Tom, thanks! I just ordered one. I've always wanted a cheap camera to hack around with, and this looks like a good one.

kjennejohn

If you like that, you'll love this:
cgi.ebay.com/Pinhole-Wireless-mini-Color-Security-Camera-Video-Audio_W0QQitemZ9715504662QQcategoryZ294QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

sorry about the extra long URL here.
This one is $22, buy-it-now on Ebay. But, it costs approx. $23 to ship. These come up on Ebay all the time for less. Look around.
I purchased two of these and mounted them on a 1:10 scale Hummer RC truck. I ran these around the halls at work. One had infrared assist for dark places. The cool thing was how their frequencies were far enough apart to allow me to use the same receiver for both cameras. I just tuned back and forth between them depending on the job at hand. This one doesn't have infrared capability, although it does appear to have LEDs to either side of the lens. Another useful Ebay purchase for this project was a 5" LCD display designed to let kids play their video games in the car's back seat. Ran off the adapter or cigarete lighter. Seems to me this was around $50. Plugged it into a 12V GelCell and walked around behind the truck for initial testing, then just sat in a room in the middle of the building. Worked like a charm. Gotta love that Ebay.
Ebay occasionally has a spate of night-vision (AKA low light) cameras too, usually for only a few dollars more.

Hope this interested you,
kenjj

Steve Joblin

Wow!· Great find!!!!· I have been searching for one for months on eBay, but with the shipping, they are always in the $40 / $50 range....

Again, thanks so much!

kjennejohn

De nada.

Ebay is also good to find inexpensive test equipment. Companies are constantly offering their latest product so as to get exposure. These usually go for considerably less than retail. I picked up a top of the line device programmer for less than $800. I found a 4-channel 200MHz scope with both digital and analog capability for $2000. I actually found a decent DMM offered for $5.12, which includes shipping! For this price you can buy one for every bench, every member of the family, and one for the dog!
The same goes for microntrollers, programmers, complete development systems, and the components to stuff in them. And the soldering and rework equiptment to fix it and take it apart. The list just goes on and on...

kenjj

kjennejohn

Oops! Spoke too soon. Thats $22 for the camera, PLUS $23 for the shipping! That's still in the range you mentioned.

Poo. I thought I done somethin' good.

kenjj

Forrest

Tom's link at Computer Geeks is still the best deal - $28.00 (after you apply the instant coupon code) plus $8 Ground shipping.

Bean

Now the one from geeks are on sale for $24.95 !!! Unbelievable....
Bean.

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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com


COMING SOON "SD DATA LOGGER" www.sddatalogger.com

"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
·

Sterling

I bought a couple of these. It doesn't look like you can use more than one at once. I see a pot inside the camera and crystal... so maybe there would be a way to run more than one at once? Any ideas?

kjennejohn

As I mentioned above, it might be possible that their frequencies are far enough apart to receive both on the same receiver just by turning the adjustment knob 1/4 turn one way or the other.

Enjoy!
kenjj

Steel

One thing you can do to 'Hack' it, is to remove the radio chip (glued to back of transmitter) and put in a real transmitter chip in. there is a 5V Regulator.