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Where to buy miniature cameras?

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:31 pm
by L in Ontario
Does anyone know where (online probably) I can purchase a miniature camera to install inside a finch nestbox?

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:33 pm
by Kiko
Oh I love to go google stuff!
This place has a miniature camera for $99
Concealed Cameras

This one has the same for only $229, yikes!
Spystore

Could you put a small hole in the nest box, with plexi over it, and a camera on a tripod outside? You could put a webcam, or any other camera there! If you had a webcam or camcorder you would be able to watch them from outside. You could put it on the top, looking down into the nest, it might show more?

Whatever you do, I can't wait to see babies in the nest!

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:57 pm
by atarasi
L in Ontario,
A friend of mine mentioned the same thing. It would be cool to be able to sign on to the internet while I was at work and see what's going on inside the nestbox. http://www.raidentech.com/mimiwipispyc.html

This one is wireless, tiny and inexpensive!

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:50 pm
by Kiko
Thats the same one that I found, but you found it for even less. $36 - can't beat that!

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:14 pm
by atarasi
I'm tempted to buy it and report back to how well it works, but I'm not all that computer savvy. :(

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:08 am
by Annabelle
Omg! That is exactly the type of thing I want! Im dying to see what is going on inside my RC Cordon Bleu nest but they are so nervy and touchy that I cant go near the nest. That sort of thing would be perfect! Im keeping that link and doing some more research. Love google! Hopefully I'll have something in time for thier next clutch since I couldnt install it now.

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:54 am
by L in Ontario
I'm not computer savvy either but when I "chatted" with the support online help at the last link provided above - I find out a DVR card is needed to connect it to a computer (otherwise it's viewed through the tv).

Okay so that's fine the DVR cards cost under $100 and they are currently O/S on those for 4 weeks. But they only seem to work with Windows 98 or XP - I have Vista. If you want a DVR card for Vista (which they don't sell, it seems those DVR cards cost close to $1,000! I can't go that route.

If anyone else wants to check around, that would be great. I'd love to hear other thoughts, findings and opinions.

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:50 pm
by Sally
That would be so wonderful to be able to see inside the nests of the species that won't tolerate nest checks, like the Cordons, Strawberries, all the waxbills. My big problem would be that all of these guys take a nest, whether it is plastic, wicker, whatever, and build their own nest inside, covering the ceiling and all the walls, leaving only a small entrance hole. No doubt, they would block out all viewing. All I would get to see is a bunch of coco fiber!

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:17 am
by kittani79
What you need to look for is a mini web cam -- get a USB extension and plug it into your PC. Something like this...

This

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:39 am
by FeatherHarp
This is a great thread...I am learning so much!

kittani79.....that is a good link....less expensive...less extra hardware. I might even consider getting one once I figure out what my Mac OS X will accept. :D

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:47 am
by L in Ontario
kittani79 wrote:What you need to look for is a mini web cam -- get a USB extension and plug it into your PC. Something like this...

This
That's just about it. Great that it works with both Windows and Vista! Now if we could just find a wireless one so I don't have to have the laptop plugged into it 3" from the nestbox. I'd love to be in another room and still viewing the activities in the nestbox.

I know, I'm asking for the world! :lol: But we are just about there!

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:26 pm
by Annabelle
This one I found is wireless and attached to a baby monitor. Im not sure if you could put the footage on the computer but you could at least keep an eye on them and not have your computer or TV running all the time.

http://www.spyville.com/wireless-night- ... nitor.html