Roasty
Junior Nomad
Posts: 68
Registered: 7-29-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Internet Surveillance
I have Star-band satellite internet that is powered by solar, and I leave it on when I am back in the States/away from the Casa. The reason is I
attached a "Sling-Box" directly to the modem, connected a $50 color video camera to it, and now have the ability to log-on and watch (sound also) free
real time video from my Casa. The next option for me is to get the latest 3 input sling-Box and add 2 more cameras so I can remotely switch between
camera locations. The single input (classic) sling boxes go for about $199, and the cameras are at Home depot (USA).
There is no on/off switch on the sling-box, so when I run out of power it justs stops working. When the batteries are re-charged the modem fires up
and the sling-box does its thing.
|
|
|
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
|
|
the question is....
have you used it while you were in baja???
there's something called "fair acess policy" (fap)
if you use too much bandwith from the SAT they "cut you off" or "slow you down"
does star band "cut you off" or "slow you down" for 24 hours when you download too much
have you watched tv from it from your home in the states as it advertises?
does that feature work?
interesting toy
|
|
|
edinnopolo
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 5-1-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: laid back
|
|
Here in Loreto it will just give them something else to steal. Even items that they have never seen and have no idea how to use aren't safe. They
stole my neighbor's digital video camera and left the battery charger, which was on the table next to it. Go figure.
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Roasty
I have Star-band satellite internet that is powered by solar, and I leave it on when I am back in the States/away from the Casa. The reason is I
attached a "Sling-Box" directly to the modem, connected a $50 color video camera to it, and now have the ability to log-on and watch (sound also) free
real time video from my Casa. The next option for me is to get the latest 3 input sling-Box and add 2 more cameras so I can remotely switch between
camera locations. The single input (classic) sling boxes go for about $199, and the cameras are at Home depot (USA).
There is no on/off switch on the sling-box, so when I run out of power it justs stops working. When the batteries are re-charged the modem fires up
and the sling-box does its thing. |
Jeez. Roasty! Your title plus my paranoia had me worried.
I guess I am now reasonably assured that you're not watching me.  
|
|
|
Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
The question for me would be - what do you do if you see thieves in the house?
|
|
|
bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
the question is....
have you used it while you were in baja???
there's something called "fair acess policy" (fap)
if you use too much bandwith from the SAT they "cut you off" or "slow you down"
does star band "cut you off" or "slow you down" for 24 hours when you download too much
have you watched tv from it from your home in the states as it advertises?
does that feature work?
interesting toy |
Starband will slow you down to dial-up speed, until your 7-day average falls below a certain threshhold. They won't cut you off. The 7-day allowance
for usage is 976MB, but after months of trying, I haven't been successful in getting them to define exactly what that is. If you do exceed the limit,
you can call them with a tearful story, and they'll probably give you a bye, at least once.
|
|
|
Roasty
Junior Nomad
Posts: 68
Registered: 7-29-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Useage while in mexico
We did use it once for TV while down in baja when I forgot to bring the remote for my canadian satellite box, and my wife was then able to watch her
Brit-soaps on the computer via the internet. Didn't use enough band-width though to get the cyber cops out ! (That only happened once when I left my
sirius antenna at home and listened for a week thru the computer).
But we really don't use it to watch TV that much when we are down there as we have Direct TV and Star choice dishes/boxes at the casa.
It just comes in handy when we are back in the states and I can log on and see how my boat-house/garage construction project is coming on or watch the
pangas go out into the bay - very relaxing. I've got the cameras hidden pretty good, and they are very small indeed.
I do use the sling boxes all the time in the states while I am travelling, and they let you control your home TV and the picture definition is great.
True to form though, when I told my boss about the camera, he said the first pictures you will see will be a close-up of a bandito with a philips
screwdriver in his hand disconnecting the camera !
|
|
|
Riom
Nomad
Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
Another approach (which I'm currently using to monitor a vacation home elsewhere) is to use network cameras. They plug into your router and are
remotely viewable across the internet on a (passworded) web page. No slingbox needed.
Examples are Panasonic BLC1A and BL-C10A. A little more expensive than a simple camera (and no sound on those models) but it's easy to add extra
cameras, have the images uploaded to a ftp server, etc.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
