Netflix has a MUCH larger client base and the ecconomies of scale means they are making a lot more money per user at that lower price than any small scale operation will make at the higher price.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
You pay your money for what you value.
Personally - I don't value Netflix or the Fostoria rail cam.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
First, to reply about Semper's comments...
"When the Roanoke Hotel cam was first coming on-line a couple of years ago, it had many technical problems and there were all kinds of comments about how people were willing to pay a small fee to get the cam running more reliably. Now this cam is available for a fee and nobody likes it."
-That seemed to be willingness to help pay initial startup costs to make a decent system, not paying a high monthly fee. I think the real issue lies with a seemingly too-high fee for a picture that isn't worth its price. If the fee were lower, or if the picture lived up to the initial fee, or both, there would be more willingness. Remember that at first the Roanoke cam was certainly regarded with curiosity, but then massively rejected by virtually all of us, the main reason being a lousy camera angle/trees blocking the tracks. Now, there's an outstanding angle. Add to that a live stream, and you've got one heck of a quality product.
"There were comments about how nice it would be if there were a chat feature for the Roanoke Hotel cam. The Fostoria cam has that feature and people are complaining about its use."
-From what I hear, the rules don't make sense, or are too strict. For a cam to even have such a feature of live chat, and to still be getting complaints, that alone should raise red flags all over.
"Why do you think there are the rules about the use of the chat feature..."
-I take it that the chat room shares a space under the live feed. True, it isn't necessary to state the obvious. "train" might not be necessary if it's right there, and indeed would be disruptive. I'd bet it would be allowable to use many of the so-called banned words if it's done so in some way that actually gives info, like "Train number X, origin Y, destination Z." Now on what somebody had said, it is stupid though to whine that somebody starts chatting when there's no activity, and then to kick the person. It sounds overall like the whole group present there has issues, including the moderator.
"Would the Roanoke Hotel want to call attention to all the actions/activities of their patrons? I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly."
-If bars would learn to start cutting off the ubbly for people who had too much, then maybe this wouldn't be such an issue. It sounds like this happens a lot here. Of course, each patron is mainly responsible. I doubt anybody is really pointing out anything that people actually at that location aren't noticing and thinking themselves.
"If you lived across the tracks from the camera would you like for people to make comments on a public forum about what you do? Public discussion of their activities, no matter how innocous they might be, could provoke action to have the camera removed!"
-True, but I don't know what's been mentioned, and what may be out of the ordinary. We see people all over the Roanoke cam, but don't report on most of them. Only those that stand out for some reason may be mentioned, such as NS crews, people waving to the cameras, or those involved with the railroad.
"There are those that interpret whole message typed in CAPS as shouting and equate it to anger... so the chat window rules say, Don't shout... either learn how to use the Caps Lock key on your keyboard or don't make comments in the Chat window."
-Just about anybody who uses the internet should know this by now. Not only is it yelling, but it is harder to read and makes you go slow. They should just rename Caps Lock the Billy Mays button.
"So what's all this brewhaha about? Its a RailCam... join, follow the rules and enjoy it, or don't join and ignore it."
-It's sounded as "brewhaha", but it's spelled "brouhaha". Just a note. I finally saw a double-stack train on the Cresson feed. Even that camera angle ain't anything to be excited about. I don't know how the other cams are, nor will I be spending $10 a month to find out. Those that wish to may certainly do so. I'll stick to my Roanoke cam, and take occasional glances at the Rochelle cam (remember that one?).
To funny zugmann.
IMHO Galesburg & Rochelle are just as good & are FREE!
Here is a link to a free webcam located in Alta CA which is few miles west of Truckee CA on the UPRR Overland Route
http://www.altafest.com/webcam.html
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
I'm checking out the alta railcam. What all usually runs through there, and how often?
Just witnessed a covered hopper train operating right to left across the screen.
kolechovski I'm checking out the alta railcam. What all usually runs through there, and how often?
CNWRacine No talking about the houses across the street, No user names in Caps, rules subject to change at anytime. Then they tell people don't say trains, gates, or lights when you hear or see a train, so what does everyone do? Yup that's right they all start typing HORN, LIGHTS, and Gates!!! Totally not worth the $10 a month sorry just my 2
No talking about the houses across the street, No user names in Caps, rules subject to change at anytime. Then they tell people don't say trains, gates, or lights when you hear or see a train, so what does everyone do? Yup that's right they all start typing HORN, LIGHTS, and Gates!!! Totally not worth the $10 a month sorry just my 2
Mods are not so tight t any more, and a certain mod, does not visit any more. If you say horn, lights, gate, what ever, some people get sick of it if the whole chat fills up with it, but if one or 2 do, it doesn't matter. The talking about the houses across the street came in after someone complained about 'bagging them'
and also - By the end of 2012, mike plans to have more than 7 cams, and keep the price at $10 per month, will you be happy then? 7 cams for $10 per month - if all goes well, for every so many members he can get a new location, so if he had over 500 members, he could have 10 cams running, that only $1 per cam, per month, to u think it would be worth it then?
spbed IMHO Galesburg & Rochelle are just as good & are FREE! Here is a link to a free webcam located in Alta CA which is few miles west of Truckee CA on the UPRR Overland Route http://www.altafest.com/webcam.html
issaaac and also - By the end of 2012, mike plans to have more than 7 cams, and keep the price at $10 per month, will you be happy then? 7 cams for $10 per month - if all goes well, for every so many members he can get a new location, so if he had over 500 members, he could have 10 cams running, that only $1 per cam, per month, to u think it would be worth it then?
No. I have no use for railcams, period.
PS.. GATES!!!!!
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann issaaac: and also - By the end of 2012, mike plans to have more than 7 cams, and keep the price at $10 per month, will you be happy then? 7 cams for $10 per month - if all goes well, for every so many members he can get a new location, so if he had over 500 members, he could have 10 cams running, that only $1 per cam, per month, to u think it would be worth it then? No. I have no use for railcams, period. PS.. GATES!!!!!
issaaac: and also - By the end of 2012, mike plans to have more than 7 cams, and keep the price at $10 per month, will you be happy then? 7 cams for $10 per month - if all goes well, for every so many members he can get a new location, so if he had over 500 members, he could have 10 cams running, that only $1 per cam, per month, to u think it would be worth it then?
Well, it sounds like your are a person who don't really like railcams, thats fine, but why come here and say 'its not worth it' when even if it was, you would have no intent of joining any way?
Because I wanted to.
Considering your lack of posts and 2009 join date, can I assume you have some interest in the cameras?
Yes, i do, and i am also helping a freind set up a cam, here in Australia, for Railstream. Also, my only just subscribed to trains mag, so thats why i post here now, and yes i am a member of railstream
Because I wanted to?? What because you wanted to bag something? when you don't even really have no interest in the subject?
Its like coming in here and saying ' oh, well i dont like trains so trains mag is a waste of money.
I just thought that some potential customers of the railstream site should be presented with my personal experiences.
I'm sorry if it isn't a glowing review.
Actually, I'm not sorry.
Well - if your not sorry, why say I'm sorry and then say your not? - its not a live chat- theres a backspace button!! LOL!!
issaaac Well - if your not sorry, why say I'm sorry if it isn't a glowing review - its not a live chat- theres a backspace button!! LOL!!
Well - if your not sorry, why say I'm sorry if it isn't a glowing review - its not a live chat- theres a backspace button!! LOL!!
Huh?
Don't worry - u can understand simple english, so there's no point explaining it!
End of Conversation!
issaaac Don't worry - u can understand simple english, so there's no point explaining it! End of Conversation!
Words fail me here. Failed you, too.
Semper Vaporo Interesting comments, but... Well... I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly. Just my about this thread.
Interesting comments, but... Well...
I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly.
Just my about this thread.
If you are the owner of an establishment, you are a neighbor like it or not. And what your patrons do, is subject to the general public to observe, and comment upon, camera or no camera. You don't like it, move to a corn field. If your my neighbor, and I see that kind of crap, I will put up a web cam, and let everyone see for themselves what YOUR patrons do. How long do you think you would exist?
Plus, I bet the police would just love watching it, and nabbing your patrons as they try to drive away having barely the ability to walk a straight line. It levels the playing field.
As for the chat, it was as Zugman said, boring as heck. When someone did try and have a conversation and have fun, it was quickly quashed. Silenced. And sometimes, a person having too much fun, was banned. Such heavy handed behavior was uncalled for.
RRKen Semper Vaporo: Interesting comments, but... Well... I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly. Just my about this thread. If you are the owner of an establishment, you are a neighbor like it or not. And what your patrons do, is subject to the general public to observe, and comment upon, camera or no camera. You don't like it, move to a corn field. If your my neighbor, and I see that kind of crap, I will put up a web cam, and let everyone see for themselves what YOUR patrons do. How long do you think you would exist? Plus, I bet the police would just love watching it, and nabbing your patrons as they try to drive away having barely the ability to walk a straight line. It levels the playing field. As for the chat, it was as Zugman said, boring as heck. When someone did try and have a conversation and have fun, it was quickly quashed. Silenced. And sometimes, a person having too much fun, was banned. Such heavy handed behavior was uncalled for.
Semper Vaporo: Interesting comments, but... Well... I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly. Just my about this thread.
I pretty much agree with all you said, but I think you missed the point of my comment...
If YOU put up a camera, or allowed someone to use YOUR property/business to do so, would you want people making disparaging comments about YOU or your business on that camera/chat? And if YOU were being presented such, would YOU allow the camera/chat to continue to operate on YOUR premises? Or would try to quash the bad presentation/comments?
I do not know the relationship of the camera owner and the business owner (where the camera is physically mounted), but I suspect they may be one-and-the-same person ,or at least have a relationship that is closer than just one telephoned the other and asked to mount the camera on the building. Again, if there is cash flow from one to the other how much would YOU as the business owner charge to have a camera mounted on YOUR building if that camera presented YOUR business in a bad light?
Semper Vaporo RRKen: Semper Vaporo: Interesting comments, but... Well... I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly. Just my about this thread. If you are the owner of an establishment, you are a neighbor like it or not. And what your patrons do, is subject to the general public to observe, and comment upon, camera or no camera. You don't like it, move to a corn field. If your my neighbor, and I see that kind of crap, I will put up a web cam, and let everyone see for themselves what YOUR patrons do. How long do you think you would exist? Plus, I bet the police would just love watching it, and nabbing your patrons as they try to drive away having barely the ability to walk a straight line. It levels the playing field. As for the chat, it was as Zugman said, boring as heck. When someone did try and have a conversation and have fun, it was quickly quashed. Silenced. And sometimes, a person having too much fun, was banned. Such heavy handed behavior was uncalled for. I pretty much agree with all you said, but I think you missed the point of my comment... If YOU put up a camera, or allowed someone to use YOUR property/business to do so, would you want people making disparaging comments about YOU or your business on that camera/chat? And if YOU were being presented such, would YOU allow the camera/chat to continue to operate on YOUR premises? Or would try to quash the bad presentation/comments? I do not know the relationship of the camera owner and the business owner (where the camera is physically mounted), but I suspect they may be one-and-the-same person ,or at least have a relationship that is closer than just one telephoned the other and asked to mount the camera on the building. Again, if there is cash flow from one to the other how much would YOU as the business owner charge to have a camera mounted on YOUR building if that camera presented YOUR business in a bad light?
RRKen: Semper Vaporo: Interesting comments, but... Well... I doubt that the bar that is HOSTING the physical location of the camera really appreciates what the patrons do when they leave but really don't want those things pointed out constantly. Just my about this thread. If you are the owner of an establishment, you are a neighbor like it or not. And what your patrons do, is subject to the general public to observe, and comment upon, camera or no camera. You don't like it, move to a corn field. If your my neighbor, and I see that kind of crap, I will put up a web cam, and let everyone see for themselves what YOUR patrons do. How long do you think you would exist? Plus, I bet the police would just love watching it, and nabbing your patrons as they try to drive away having barely the ability to walk a straight line. It levels the playing field. As for the chat, it was as Zugman said, boring as heck. When someone did try and have a conversation and have fun, it was quickly quashed. Silenced. And sometimes, a person having too much fun, was banned. Such heavy handed behavior was uncalled for.
Hey,
Just thought i would let you know the new camera is installed at the former Davis & Newcomer building now owned by Fostoria Rail Preservation Society,
I don't know how things turned so ugly between isaac and zugman, and I'd bet it had started from before somewhere. Anyhow, when it comes to bad comments, no, but constructive criticism is well deserved, even if it sounds negative. It sounds like conditions among that community there had been so bad that such likely "criticism" seemed harsh when it may have been well-deserved. I have no idea what went on there, so I don't know. As for defining a "bad railcam", many things could be behind it. Camera angles, quality of picture, reliability of video feed, sunlight, other interferences, amount and types of traffic, and so on. Lousy conditions in even a few of these areas could make a railcam "bad". It's not so much an insult as it is a generalized observation of the flaws. Likewise, it doesn't mean flaws can't be overcome.
Rochelle was an okay camera until the refresh rate was greatly increased, and it didn't keep stopping so soon after each refresh. The cam has always been plagued by the evil sun. Further, changes in railroading now mean there's little more than doublestacks and coal trains going by there, and mostly the same widecabs we've all seen, but back in the earlier days, it was very worth watching. The Roanoke cam was basically agreed to be a "bad" camera at its start, solely based on the location it was placed. With that simple fix, look at the great success it is now! As I have not yet seen any of these other cams, I don't know what issues may affect them, or what damage has been done within the user community. I don't know if such issues can be addressed and fixed or not.
BTW, thanks for elaborating that a $10-a-month fee gives access to all available cams. It may or may not be worth it to each individual who assesses it-that will be to each to decide him/herself. I am curious to what extent the empty tracks last versus actual activity. Perhaps there would be ways for the person operating these cams to save on bandwidth through more efficient methods, but as I can't view anything, I can't check this stuff out beforehand. I doubt it'd matter, anyhow. The Rochelle cam could become more than it is, but any further effort on doing so has long been ended. Oh well.
I get to wondering...are there any webcams for Erie, PA? I'd sure love to see that. I can remember at the All Aboard Diner, watching them go by, bending the rails down good as they passed. That was a good, straight stretch of mainline, and you could see them in either direction for a good ways as they approached. Inside the restaurant wasn't so good to see them coming, except a part of the smoking section that stuck out that let you see both ways. Yeah, you'd have to put of with smokers, but you'd see the rail action good if you got one of the 2 booths next to the side window there.
This promo shows the different cams in Fostoria please watch in 720P to see the quality of the cams
watch?v=LemOc5wbKc0
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