This Question is for Bergie! (At Trains).

[Anonymous]

Why does the Web cam only shoot still photo's with NO train?
I like useing it let me know what is coming my way.
And all I see is.......nothing at times.
Thanks.

[Overmod]

Jumping in before Bergie does: Some of this may be explained on the 'cam' page. They note that the camera is triggered by vibration (possibly wind or an approaching out-of-frame train) but then takes a certain amount of time to reset for the next image.

This is also why you see pictures of the 'middle of trains' sometimes.

Personally, I can think of better ways to set up and control traincams -- but since I'm not paying the hefty $ for it, and since I admire Trains for providing the cam, I'm not going to open that subject up... except to note that I'd trade a 'multiple downloadable sequence' of captured images, buffered and transmitted 'offline', for realtime camera imaging.

[Anonymous]

Vibration.....I thought it was Motion.Guess not.

[Overmod]

You'll see the problem with 'motion' detection if you think about it a moment -- exactly WHAT do you propose to use as a 'motion' detector with adequate sensitivity to pick up a train, but not so much sensitivity that it triggers when it 'sees' its support pole moving slightly relative to the rest of the landscape when the wind blows.

You can't use the sensor in the camera to do motion sensing -- too much overhead, or too much cost for the onboard circuits and memory. You can't use an active sensor like IR laser or ultrasound, if for no other reason than getting range vs. beam focus is going to be impossible with reasonable-cost equipment. Especially considering what the acquisition time for one 'frame' with a Webcam might be, the normal types of 'motion detector' or proximity sensor (for example a faceted IR detector of the kind used in outdoor security lights) isn't going to give fast enough response, even if it can somehow be made not to 'false' during weather conditions or when the sun shines nearly directly into it...

[Anonymous]

Ahh I see your point now,thanks overmod.