I remember seeing this type of question/thread before the change but can't seem find responses. In any event, here's the situation.. Have a vital hidden staging yard that has one entry point protected by signal and the other that really can't be. So to give the RR operators the warm fuzzy - especially the one who needs to bring trains out of staging - I was thinking of retro-fitting in a small wireless video camera with small remote TV display. Given that it needs to operate in low light level and needs to be compact the question is what type of system might here?
I've seen baby monitors of various sorts that look possible, but not sure what would be best under the circumstances.
Open to thoughts.
thanks
Charles
Andy Sperandeo MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
I've got a train-cam mounted in the front of my subway. You can get these fairly cheap on-line or through eBay. They aren't really designed for low-light applications, though, so it would help if you can add some illumination in the staging area.
Another option might be a computer web-cam, if you can use a computer monitor (or a laptop, maybe?) to view the image. These aren't wireless, but you might be able to arrange a cable run for the USB hookup.
As for security? Well, I have enough trouble getting a good video signal from the train to the TV 15 feet away. Besides that, it's only transmitting when the layout is powered up, and even then, all anyone might see is the inside of a subway tunnel. Still, if you see Gomez Addams parked outside your house, you might check your trestles for minature sticks of dynamite before running any engines over them.
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Some video cameras have high intensity LED,s mounted around the lens for low level lighting. Never used one so I don't know what the range is.
If one end of the staging yard can be protected by a signal, why can't the other?
It *IS* possible to implement "automatic train stop" on model railroads through the use of a relay for each "block" (yard track perhaps?) and block detection / signalling. Signals would have to be absolute, with only a clear indication and a stop indication.
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Wanted to thank all for the thoughts on this problem. If I had addressed the issue earlier in contruction I may have gone the signalling route - but for a number of reasons chose not to. Retro fitting would be a bear - but not impossible. I've found some realtively inexpensive small, wireless color video monitoring systems with IR capability so I'm going to give that a try - easy to install at this point and I can watch the entire hidden yard. BTW, Andy thanks for the article reference I'll definitely be looking into that as well.
Once I get it installed thought I'd report back in the way of a short how to..
If you have a Fry's Electronics or a Brand Smart USA near you, stop in and check out all of the video surveillence stuff they have. Fry's has a black & white system for about $125 that has four cameras and a small monitor that does a 4-way split screen showing all four camera inputs at the same time. This system will be on my layout if (1) it is still available when I complete my staging area and (2) I ever complete my staging area. All of the stuff can be found online as well, but it was a big help to me to go in and actually look at the stuff. Jamie
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Once again the forum's text editor has reached out and bit me firmly on the good ol' tush! I composed a response; I previewed my response; I posted my response; and then my response disappeared out into the nether somewhere!
Anyway, here goes attempt #2!
I was touring an N-Scale home layout at Cincinnati in '05; this layout was being run as a club layout and there were multiple operators on duty and buried somewhere under the wilds of the benchwork was a dispatcher. Suddenly the squawk box on the wall proclaimed "Someone needs to come down and monitor the staging yard because that stupid camera has gone out again!"
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Hello everybody,
if you are trying to get a picture in a rather dimly lit area try some of the surveilance camera sites on the net. Some come with the proper wall wart transformer others you might have to purchase a serperate transformer. Some comeras come with 50 feet or more of wire for signal and power even so that you can plug them right into your TV monitor. Look up the manufacturer called SVAT, they have large assortment of cameras available some of which might serve your purpose.
Frank
"If you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."
Finally, a bit of follow up on this thread The included photos show the little video monitor I was able to hide in the benchwork that provides a view down the hidden staging yard. This is a LOREX 2.4GHZ Wireless Video Security System that I got off of ebay for less than $40. Its color with IR/night vision capability and is mounted in place with a dab of hot glue. The monitor is tiny as you can see, but is portable if desired with optional batteries and can also output to a larger external stationary monitor.
I've run a few trains using the monitor to watch the action in/out of the staging yard and it seem to fit the bill nicely. Thanks to all for your inputs.