Xcam2

[MechCD]

has anybody used any of the wireless video products from www.x10.com?

I am thinking of buying an X-Cam2 to put on top of my robot. I will be replacing the mickey mouse ear antena with a better one that is unidirectial.

[X-Calibur]

I have one, they work well.... but way overpriced if you ask me... plus they will spam your e-mail addy like crazy everyday....

Cheers

X'

[siggy]

I have it too, but have yet to set it up. But X is right about the emails. It really bad. :(

[Makatiel]

I like my camera.. It cost me a small fortune though and only takes 15 second movies.. But the picture quality is outstanding..

[MechCD]

One thing I don't like is that it has a CMOS camera. That would be horrible for my oudoor shots and the movement combined. I would probably switch the camera to a CCD type.

What kind of range do ya'll get?

As for the spam... thats what custom email filters are for :D:D:D:D

[MechCD]

Originally posted by siggy
I have it too, but have yet to set it up. But X is right about the emails. It really bad. :(

Could you let me know how it works when its set up? maybe hook it up at one end of your house and have the receiver at the other end? I just wnat to get an idea of how ell this is going to work.

The receiver will be inside the hosue, near the centeer. the robot will be moseying about outside around the house. It may be mroe than 100 feet at the farthest point. I have seen two rating for the same product on the same website, 100 ft and 300 ft... Another antenna on the transmitter and a better receiver antenna will probably increase the range a bit.

Now for antenna ideas.... Ercewee!!!!! What kind of antenna would I use for a 2.4ghz transmitter!?!?!

[siggy]

Well Mech, I have had it in the box since 6/10/01, I dont think it is going to get hooked up anytime soon. I think it came with a couple of cameras but only one receiver. Let me check. You just looking for the camera?

[MechCD]

Der...... I ordered one already, I was wondering what the range is, or even a mW rating. Did it come with a specifications sheet?

If yours did come with two cameras, i still might beinterested in one. I have a couple of ideas that could use two cameras.

[phil]

Originally posted by X-Calibur
plus they will spam your e-mail addy like crazy everyday....

Cheers

X'



Just forward their Emails back to them...they'll soon get the message :)

[MechCD]

Good one Phil!!! I cna set upa custom filter that does that :D :evil snicker:

:hic:

[X-Calibur]

Originally posted by phil




Just forward their Emails back to them...they'll soon get the message :)

Good idea... never thought about that...
...................................phil IS evil after all......................................

X'

[siggy]

Is that why when I send you emails they come right back? :D ;)

[Makatiel]

And we only thought he was ignoring us, now we know for sure that he is ;)

[MechCD]

Originally posted by siggy
Is that why when I send you emails they come right back? :D ;)

Huh wha? I'm confused :banghead:

I need a hug
:hugz:

[Ercewee]

Originally posted by MechCD

Now for antenna ideas.... Ercewee!!!!! What kind of antenna would I use for a 2.4ghz transmitter!?!?!

Hmmm, there are a few possibilities... I think that for your purpose an omni-directional antenne would be best... Although it would be fun to make a directional one that follows your robot :D

I once made a dual-dipole, for 1.3 GHz though... But the idea is the same.. only a bit smaller... Hmm I don't have a picture of it.

You could make a quad....

or a patch...

hmmm, maybe a slotted waveguide... but they tend to be slightly big on 2.4GHz

Here are some links for you:

http://www.danovitsch.dnsq.org/ham/homebrew/quadquad13/

That's a stacked (combine multiple antennas) quad

http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/antenne/13-double-quad.jpg

double quad with reflecter.... very easy... but not omni... You have to combine 2 for that... or remove the reflector. However then the characteristic of the antenna changes and you have to recalculate the dimensions.

http://www.wlan2.dabsol.co.uk/simple%20double%20quad.gif

another double quad

http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/antenne/sbfa_23-13-9.pdf

short backfire

http://user.online.be/~odb000909/bigwheel_beschrijving.htm

Big wheel... very easy too build.. However the description is in dutch.... If you're interested, I can translate.



I hope this is of some help.

[siggy]

Originally posted by MechCD


Huh wha? I'm confused :banghead:

I need a hug
:hugz:

:hugz: :hugz: :hugz: :hugz: :hugz:

[MechCD]

Originally posted by Ercewee


Hmmm, there are a few possibilities... I think that for your purpose an omni-directional antenne would be best... Although it would be fun to make a directional one that follows your robot :D

I once made a dual-dipole, for 1.3 GHz though... But the idea is the same.. only a bit smaller... Hmm I don't have a picture of it.

You could make a quad....

or a patch...

hmmm, maybe a slotted waveguide... but they tend to be slightly big on 2.4GHz

Here are some links for you:

http://www.danovitsch.dnsq.org/ham/homebrew/quadquad13/

That's a stacked (combine multiple antennas) quad

http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/antenne/13-double-quad.jpg

double quad with reflecter.... very easy... but not omni... You have to combine 2 for that... or remove the reflector. However then the characteristic of the antenna changes and you have to recalculate the dimensions.

http://www.wlan2.dabsol.co.uk/simple%20double%20quad.gif

another double quad

http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/antenne/sbfa_23-13-9.pdf

short backfire

http://user.online.be/~odb000909/bigwheel_beschrijving.htm

Big wheel... very easy too build.. However the description is in dutch.... If you're interested, I can translate.



I hope this is of some help.

those quads look decently easy to build, but i don't think i'm understanding all of their construction. Would these work for both the receiver and the transmitter?

The wheel one looks like it would be better, I would only have to make one, but I can't read dutch and it looks a bit harder than the others :/

[Ercewee]

Originally posted by MechCD


those queads look decently easy to build, would I needs 4 of them to make a sort of rectangle to get them to be omnidirectional? or just 2 back to back?

The wheel one looks like it would be better, I would only have to make one, but I can't read dutch and it looks a bit harder than the others :/

They are easy... 4 would be best, but I think 2 back to back will work fine. I can send you a schematic how to combine them.. without having problems with impedance.

The wheels are better omni-directional.... I can translate.....

[MechCD]

Would you like to meet in IRC soemtime so we can discuss this? I'm in there right now :D:D:D

[Ercewee]

IRC??? What is that??? Never heard of it.... :confused: ;) :D

After I posted yesterday I went to bed... no time do drop in on IRC. Maybe today....... hmmm, change that to: probably today :)

[MechCD]

Today would be fine (or anytime really) Just let me know when you'll be there

[Ercewee]

Originally posted by MechCD
Today would be fine (or anytime really) Just let me know when you'll be there

I'm there :D And so are you :D