TrainsMag.com Reader Poll – February 9, 2004

[Mickhall]

I'm actually all for keeping it as it is but if you do increase the frames you could also add a counter to notify potentiel viewers how many users are currently accessing the webcam and how many the bandwidth can accomodate. That way if a user couldn't get on immediately he or she could always check back later when less folks are on the webcam page.

[Anonymous]

I vote to leave it as is. The extra frame rate would not be worth half the
number of viewers. It might even cause shorter connect times since the # of folks waiting would be kicking viewers off almost constantly.
At off peak times I can stay connected for quite a while right now.

[Anonymous]

how about sound to go with it the webcam?

[Anonymous]

In lieu of changing refresh rate, increase picture size.

[Anonymous]

Please leave the camera the way it is.

As for improvements. Any chance of adding a webcam in Altoona, Pa (Horseshoe curve)?? Scanner traffic or signal aspects would be nice - but definitely would like to see more webcams.

Again, thanks for the web-cam.

John Coxey
Evansville, Indiana, USA

[Anonymous]

Keep it as it is. Sitting here in the newsroom of an east coast all-news radio station requires a break from time to time of all the horrible things we have to report. Watching trains go by, even if it's every three seconds, transport away to the land of "I would love to be there. Gary

[Anonymous]

I share the majority opinion: keep the webcam as it is. By the way, it was the Rochelle webcam that inspired me to visit Chicago and drive around Illinois in August 2000. I loved my day at Rochelle and hope to be back some day. John Hine, Birmingham, England

[Anonymous]

Enjoy watching the action and think it is fine how it is. But I WOULD like to see the UP approach from Proviso. What happened to MP245?
kparky
Victoria, Australia

[Anonymous]

How about night vision mode? Also more cams would be nice... how about a yard cam or another main line crossing hotspot?

[081440]

I'd like to see the trains real time, even if you get bumped. Every 1.5 seconds would be much better.

I agree with the others about scanner, signal, or other form of knowing how soon the next train will be rolling by.

Take a look at my web page, below. (Click the icon).

[Anonymous]

i like the web cam the way it is so i say leave it the way it is!how ever i like to see them put a web cam at gobal 3 that whould be cool to watch. thank you [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

It's great as is, so if it's not broke please don't mess with it, so what's 1.5 sec's more
out of life, enjoy the train that's why your here isn't it.?..

[d4fal]

Looks as if I am in the minority here. I say go for the improvement, and the drawbacks will only be temporary as systems are upgraded and improved to counter the drop-off and capacity issue. Aint technology great. Even that frame rate is considered slow in some circles and as more users upgrade to broadband, real-time cameras at television quality pictures and rates or even better will begin to come into play. We are not there yet, but we can dream.

[Anonymous]

half as many participants verses twice as many frames is not a good idea!

[dabhid07]

I'm interested in learning about the technology that you have implemented where it can always arrange to stop refreshing when the camera is pointing at empty track, and then when I press the Refresh button on my browser I've just missed some engines and I can look forward to ninety seconds of identical coal hoppers or doublestacks going by. (I'm sure that this technology is related to the one used by the sports networks, who arrange that when I turn on the hockey game I'll have just missed a goal seconds earlier.)

[eolafan]

Keep it at the same rate, but increase the screen size.

[Anonymous]

The web cam in FT.Madison allows you to view the image even when others have controll of the camera. Would it be possible to set up the same type of camers in Rochelle? Possibly it could be mounted to allow the viewing of approaching trians from either the UP or BNSF.

[Anonymous]

I think leaving it the way it is would be great for everybody. I watch it a lot and enjoy. I railfan a lot throught the US and feel that Rochelle is one of my favorites. The scanner would give a preview or you could pick up the sound of the speaker in the shelter with scanner and horn sounds. Fostoria , Ohio is a very busy spot and would make an excellent additional camera sight.

[Anonymous]

I think leaving it the way it is would be great for everybody. I watch it a lot and enjoy. I railfan a lot throught the US and feel that Rochelle is one of my favorites. The scanner would give a preview or you could pick up the sound of the speaker in the shelter with scanner and horn sounds. Fostoria , Ohio is a very busy spot and would make an excellent additional camera sight.

[trkerelvis]

Fear change. It's seldom for the better. (although scanner traffic or signal aspect would be cool)

[Anonymous]

the rochelle webcam is the best one i have seen so far but they seems to be a problem with it there are no pics i cant even get on for the last 3 days please fix it thanks

[Anonymous]

Leave it as it is. Never a problem of getting in or being bumped off at Rochelle. I do remember the problems with the Iowa cam. Give as many people as want the opportunity to participate.

[ltritt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

Here's your chance to give us some feedback on how we can improve your Rochelle Webcam viewing experience.

Today, the webcam serves live images at the rate of approximately one frame every three seconds. We can increase the stream rate to one frame every 1.5 seconds, but there's a tradeoff: Doing so will eat up more bandwidth, which means only half as many viewers could watch the live camera at any one time. This would mean viewers would get bumped off more quickly.

What do you prefer? Please vote then share your comments below.

Polls on Trains.com are not scientific and reflect only the opinions of the users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, the readers of our magazines, nor the public as a whole. Bottom line, our polls are meant for fun and to stimulate conversation amongst our forum users.

[oubliette]

Keep it as it is. Being here in the UK the webcam gives me an idea of the traffic flows for hopefully one day when I actually visit the site in person. I have been booted a few times and don't want the chances of that to increase.

An increase of 1.5 frames will not make that much difference. Next we will be asking for sound...mmmmmm :-)

Maybe one day when the technology develops even more, the speed can be increasesd, until then find one happy cutomer in the UK.

[Anonymous]

The 3 seconds for a new frame is ok! But, I didn't know there was a limit! If the limit gets smaller, I might get stuck out! And when you're on a strick schedule, that's SUPER bad!!![:(] If it stays like it is, MORE of us can watch it.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Change it, 1.5 is better than 3. Who cares if it cuts the number of viewers in half? The better quality is definitely worth it!!!! Whats wrong with you people who don't want to change it?!!!!

[Anonymous]

Leave it just the way it is. mlundy

[richardy]

Keep it as is. I have been bumped several times. The scanner traffic would be great!

[GaryH1]

It is fine the way it is now, so keep it that way, please!

[Anonymous]

keep it as it is. it sure would be nice to see another cam in fostoria ohio, also add a live radio feed into the system.