[Gllug] adsl/web cams

[Richard Jones]

On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 04:44:07PM +0100, t.clarke wrote:
> Hi
> 
> I am thinking of installing an ADSL connection at home, preferably on a linux
> box.  I hear that PlusNet offer a generally good service with the possibility
> to use an ethernet connection to the PC and a fixed IP address. Has anyone used
> them and if so what experience ??

Plusnet are sort of OK. I'm using force9 which was taken over by
plusnet. I have a single static IP. Probably if I were to move I'd
look into Griffin, who give you 5 static IPs.

> One of the reasons for installing ADSL is that I currently have to look after my
> elderly mother, who is housebound during the day and requires use of a zimmer
> frame to move around the ground floor (downstairs cloakroom, etc).  Whilst she
> has one of the 'personal alarm' contraptions hung from her neck, it occurred to
> me that a web cam or two suitably placed would enable me, in the event of not
> being able to make contact by telephone, to see what the situation is at home
> from a PC in the office.
> 
> Has anyone any experience of using webcams with linux and can offer advice on
> how to set up ??

I've used USB cams before. The trick is to make sure that the chipset
is compatible with Linux before purchasing. I got two very cheap
webcams and they both worked (CPIA-based and OV511-based). However
I've never been able to make them work at the same time on the same
machine.

There are plenty of HOWTOs online which will help you with
configuration, and with setting it up as a webcam.

There is a ethernet-based self-contained webcam available which may be
more up your street. John Hearns brought it along to a Lonix meet
IIRC, and Red Hat used to have one in their offices. Can't remember
the make or model right now.

Rich.

-- 
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