Jay Christopherson
Not An Admin
Enough people have PM'd me based on a reply I made to another thread that I thought I would create this thread for people to reference. If anyone has ways to improve it, just build on the thread here.
The system, as I built it, has worked out to 1500 yards for me. Technically, it should be good longer than that, but the signal strength is pretty low. You could *easily* get farther than that by simply replacing the omni-directional antennas on the route with a Hi-Gain directional and point it back to your firing position. With a directional hi-gain on both ends, you should be able to really get some distance.
One additional note regarding the batteries- these are just cheap chinese deals, but they work well. You kind of have to dig around the Internet to find them for sale singly- they are mostly offered in bulk lots, but you should be able to find them. Here's one place that seems to be offering them. When I bought them, they shipped from Hong Kong.
http://securityworldnet.com/products.asp?id=77
...
Here is the parts list:
1 x Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router
1 x Canon VB-C300 2X Optical Zoom security camera
1 x Hawking Hi-Gain 14dBi Directional Antenna
1 x Hawking HWUN3 Hi-gain USB Wireless Adaptor
1 x laptop running Windows XP***
2 x 12V 4800mah rechargeable Li-ON CCTV batteries ()
2 x 6" lengths of CAT5E network cable
*** I am assuming you already have a laptop available to you and am not counting it as part of the cost since they are nearly ubiquitous now.
NOTES:
The WRT54G router is old, but you'll find that prices are surprisingly high on Ebay ($50+). The reason is that this router is extremely popular with the router modding crowd for being easily upgradable with DD-WRT, which adds all kinds of cool features. It also features external antennas- this is a *must* for this system. If you have trouble finding this router, any wireless router will do but it MUST HAVE external antennas.
The Canon VB-C300 camera is the most expensive part of this system and makes up probably 80% of the cost. You can use ANY security camera here, but it MUST HAVE *optical zoom* (digital won't cut it), a 12V input and have a network interface. I got this off Ebay. There are tons of security cameras listed, just keep an eye out for a good deal. $400 or so is about right. Make sure that when you purchase the camera, you are getting the software (or can download it online for free) as well. Lots of cameras are supported by remote control apps available for iPhone, iPad and Android. This is something I am aware of, but have not yet tested with this camera.
I am assuming you already have a laptop. Windows XP works best because it supports the camera software and the USB wireless adapter easily.
You need the USB wireless adapter because it has an external antenna- any usb wireless adapter will do as long as you have an external antenna.
SETUP (assumes you have all parts):
1. If you have the inclination and ability, install DD-WRT on your router. This gives you some features the default software does not, like increasing the radio output. If not, no big deal- it's not required, just neat.
2. Setup your router using simple defaults- don't bother with WEP or any type of encryption. We're using this at the range, so "riders" are not really a concern and you want the best possible throughput. I just used all the setup defaults.
3. Install the wireless USB stick on your laptop- just follow the setup CD here - and connect to your wireless router, getting a DHCP assigned address.
4. Install the camera software on your laptop, setup the camera, and get familiar with controlling the camera. For the Canon, you simply connect it to the wireless router using one of the CAT5E cables listed above and power it on. It will get an IP address (the default for Linksys is 192.168.0.X, but check your router setup). Then enter that IP address into the camera control software and hit "Connect".
Once you are connected, you just use your mouse to move it around and there are 2 sliders to control the zoom and night/day functions.
5. At this point, you should have a fully functioning system working in your house, but there are a few remaining things before you are ready for the range:
A. Connect the 14dBi Hi-gain antenna to the external antenna connector on the USB wireless stick that you installed in Step 3.
B. As you point the antenna, you should be seeing networks that you have never previously seen- the antenna is giving you some serious range at this point, but we just want to make sure you can still connect to your "range" router.
C. Connect the CCTV batteries to the camera and the router and make sure everything powers on. The CCTV batteries, fully charged, should give you several hours of use.
At this point, you have the entire kit working. At the range, I tape the two CCTV batteries together for easier management. I also tape cables together for the same reason. At the target end, I place the camera, router, and batteries in front of the target (but slightly behind the berm or at least, a little off to the side so that there is no chance someone will blow it up with a bad shot). Power it all up and make sure the network is being broadcast (you should see the SSID using a phone or your laptop before you walk all 600+ yards back to the firing line).
Back at the firing line, you should have your laptop with the USB wireless stick installed with the 14dBi Hi-Gain antenna attached. Power everything up and point the antenna downrange in the general direction of the wireless router- you should be seeing your network listed now. It's probably going to be the only network you see. Connect, fire up the camera control software, connect to the camera, and you are in business!
Let me know if you need clarification, help tracking down equipment (I got everything except the camera and router on Amazon), or whatever. I have no idea what your computer/engineering skills are so if I have oversimplified or undersimplified, please let me know. I can also take some pictures or do up a Visio for you if that would help.
The only remaining task for me is to figure out a good enclosure for use when it is raining- I am currently testing something that I think is going to work out well, but I haven't tested it extensively yet so I can't yet recommend it as a solution. It's cheap though so if it does work, it'll only add about $30 to the cost of the outfit.
Good luck!
The system, as I built it, has worked out to 1500 yards for me. Technically, it should be good longer than that, but the signal strength is pretty low. You could *easily* get farther than that by simply replacing the omni-directional antennas on the route with a Hi-Gain directional and point it back to your firing position. With a directional hi-gain on both ends, you should be able to really get some distance.
One additional note regarding the batteries- these are just cheap chinese deals, but they work well. You kind of have to dig around the Internet to find them for sale singly- they are mostly offered in bulk lots, but you should be able to find them. Here's one place that seems to be offering them. When I bought them, they shipped from Hong Kong.
http://securityworldnet.com/products.asp?id=77
...
Here is the parts list:
1 x Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router
1 x Canon VB-C300 2X Optical Zoom security camera
1 x Hawking Hi-Gain 14dBi Directional Antenna
1 x Hawking HWUN3 Hi-gain USB Wireless Adaptor
1 x laptop running Windows XP***
2 x 12V 4800mah rechargeable Li-ON CCTV batteries ()
2 x 6" lengths of CAT5E network cable
*** I am assuming you already have a laptop available to you and am not counting it as part of the cost since they are nearly ubiquitous now.
NOTES:
The WRT54G router is old, but you'll find that prices are surprisingly high on Ebay ($50+). The reason is that this router is extremely popular with the router modding crowd for being easily upgradable with DD-WRT, which adds all kinds of cool features. It also features external antennas- this is a *must* for this system. If you have trouble finding this router, any wireless router will do but it MUST HAVE external antennas.
The Canon VB-C300 camera is the most expensive part of this system and makes up probably 80% of the cost. You can use ANY security camera here, but it MUST HAVE *optical zoom* (digital won't cut it), a 12V input and have a network interface. I got this off Ebay. There are tons of security cameras listed, just keep an eye out for a good deal. $400 or so is about right. Make sure that when you purchase the camera, you are getting the software (or can download it online for free) as well. Lots of cameras are supported by remote control apps available for iPhone, iPad and Android. This is something I am aware of, but have not yet tested with this camera.
I am assuming you already have a laptop. Windows XP works best because it supports the camera software and the USB wireless adapter easily.
You need the USB wireless adapter because it has an external antenna- any usb wireless adapter will do as long as you have an external antenna.
SETUP (assumes you have all parts):
1. If you have the inclination and ability, install DD-WRT on your router. This gives you some features the default software does not, like increasing the radio output. If not, no big deal- it's not required, just neat.
2. Setup your router using simple defaults- don't bother with WEP or any type of encryption. We're using this at the range, so "riders" are not really a concern and you want the best possible throughput. I just used all the setup defaults.
3. Install the wireless USB stick on your laptop- just follow the setup CD here - and connect to your wireless router, getting a DHCP assigned address.
4. Install the camera software on your laptop, setup the camera, and get familiar with controlling the camera. For the Canon, you simply connect it to the wireless router using one of the CAT5E cables listed above and power it on. It will get an IP address (the default for Linksys is 192.168.0.X, but check your router setup). Then enter that IP address into the camera control software and hit "Connect".
Once you are connected, you just use your mouse to move it around and there are 2 sliders to control the zoom and night/day functions.
5. At this point, you should have a fully functioning system working in your house, but there are a few remaining things before you are ready for the range:
A. Connect the 14dBi Hi-gain antenna to the external antenna connector on the USB wireless stick that you installed in Step 3.
B. As you point the antenna, you should be seeing networks that you have never previously seen- the antenna is giving you some serious range at this point, but we just want to make sure you can still connect to your "range" router.
C. Connect the CCTV batteries to the camera and the router and make sure everything powers on. The CCTV batteries, fully charged, should give you several hours of use.
At this point, you have the entire kit working. At the range, I tape the two CCTV batteries together for easier management. I also tape cables together for the same reason. At the target end, I place the camera, router, and batteries in front of the target (but slightly behind the berm or at least, a little off to the side so that there is no chance someone will blow it up with a bad shot). Power it all up and make sure the network is being broadcast (you should see the SSID using a phone or your laptop before you walk all 600+ yards back to the firing line).
Back at the firing line, you should have your laptop with the USB wireless stick installed with the 14dBi Hi-Gain antenna attached. Power everything up and point the antenna downrange in the general direction of the wireless router- you should be seeing your network listed now. It's probably going to be the only network you see. Connect, fire up the camera control software, connect to the camera, and you are in business!
Let me know if you need clarification, help tracking down equipment (I got everything except the camera and router on Amazon), or whatever. I have no idea what your computer/engineering skills are so if I have oversimplified or undersimplified, please let me know. I can also take some pictures or do up a Visio for you if that would help.
The only remaining task for me is to figure out a good enclosure for use when it is raining- I am currently testing something that I think is going to work out well, but I haven't tested it extensively yet so I can't yet recommend it as a solution. It's cheap though so if it does work, it'll only add about $30 to the cost of the outfit.
Good luck!
