Can we connect a live video camera to a TV over WiFi?

Factual Questions
1

Let’s say I want to operate a portable video camera somewhere in or near a building and have the audio/video output show up on a TV screen somewhere else in the building or nearby.

Let’s also say that while a wired Ethernet network outlet is available in many rooms of the building, it is not available everywhere, and running a video cable between rooms is not an option. Also, mobility with a camera (like at a sporting event) would be an asset, so while direct, wired connections could be used some places, they could not be at all places.

Assume we are talking NTSC video and 2-channel stereo audio, just like a standard, USA consumer-grade TV.

A WiFi network is present in the building. I don’t anticipate a range problem, although some beefier signals and directional antennas could be used.

So what’s the best and cheapest way to accomplish this? Can we use Ethernet or WiFi in some fashion, and what would be the necessary equipment? Budgetary considerations are a major factor.

2

No.

3

Yes.

4

Okay, not NTSC video, but there are a number of security cameras commercially available that transmit over WiFi that will give you a decent image.

There are also many security cameras available that will broadcast over RF directly to a TV.

5

Maybe.

6

Crap.

Flex just broke up my cadence.

7

From here it looks like the maximum resolution will be about 480x440.

Of course, this is completely beyond my area of expertise.

8

If you’re not wedded to the idea of doing it over the network cable, there are several wireless devices that can do it for $100 or less.

Terk LF30S Leapfrog WaveMaster 2.4GHz Transmitter / Receiver

X-10 (VK54A) Wireless A/V Sender/Receiver (About half the price of the Terk.)

There may be others, but I found these pretty easily.

Terk (and probably other companies) also makes similar systems that send the signal over a telephone line, without affecting its use for the phone.

9

Those devices are not sending video over the internet.
WiFi systems right now don’t have near enough bandwidth to cover NTSC with stereo sound.
Add compression or shrink the screen size you’re getting somewhere, but for broadcasting to multiple viewers it’s not yet practical or reliable.
If using a wired connection, a simple Slingbox would work (among others, as well).

10

Actually, I’m doing it right now for a project I’m working on at work. We’re using an Axis Streamer Box (about 800 bucks for the 4 port version) to take NTSC analogue video from an NTCS source, and transmit it over WiFi to various computers. You can then use their web based applet or VLC to view the video on any decent computer. Using my standard 54 Mbps WiFi connection, decent quality, 30fps video is possible at full 640X480 resolution. You can tell it’s been compressed, of course, and high motion in particular tends to leave artifacts, but it’s not bad compared other crappy security camera footage. Lowering the frame rate to 15fps yields less compression artifacts, which could be an option, depending on your application. A computer with TV out could then show it on a TV screen. There are other boxes than the Axis box as well, like this one.

These boxes don’t handle audio, so this may not work for you without some way to transmit the audio too. The audio isn’t going to use a lot of bandwith, though, so you should still be able to go over WiFi.

Now, on the receiving side, you can build your own thin(ish) client with a TV out video card for not too much money. I’m sure there are also purpose built boxes you could buy to decode the video as well.

I’m not sure about is how to make the video camera completely portable. You could always connect it to a laptop with a video input instead of one of these boxes. Then, run VLC as a server on the laptop, compressing the video to MPEG-4 or something and stream it that way to other VLC clients around the building. That should also allow you to stream audo. Or maybe someone makes a battery powered streaming video box, but I haven’t seen any.

I hope this helps you.

11

I’m sorry but you are completely wrong in every single thing you just said. There is a company called I.D.X.. They mostly make batteries. They have just launched a new video transmitter system that is 100 % WiFi. It sends composite video and audio. There is a 15-frame lag because the system uses encoded video, with a transmitter and receiver matched.

And, the size of the image is irrelevant. I sent an image from this device, walking as far as 250 feet away, to a gargantual Plasma monitor ( 60 inch? 72 inch? ) that was back at the Demo Booth. The upside is that image is flawless. The downside is that it will not punch through steel or stone walls. Interior office walls? I couldn’t say, you would have to get one unit and try it out.

Anyway, it is real, it does exist, it costs $ 2, 795.00 for a set of Xmitter and Reciever. :slight_smile: Hmm. Upon Preview, I see their site isn’t even showing the WeVi yet. Well, trust me. It exists !!!

Cartooniverse, who just became a WeVi device dealer.

12

I got the distinct impression that the OP meant WiFi as in an existing, non-dedicated wireless internet connection.
By screen size I meant pixels, not inches (sorry for not being clear).
And a Slingbox would work with a wired connection, so I wasn’t completely wrong. :stuck_out_tongue:

13

OK, everybody, thanks for all the replies.

It is not an absolute requirement that WiFi be used as the transmission medium, just a thought that since WiFi stuff is ubiquitous and cheap, it might work (dedicated or Internet). And since I have seen WiFi Internet signals that can handle 1/2-mile distances or more, that looked good.

Basically, the idea is to get an audio/video signal with quality at least as good as a standard (not hi-def) US TV set from an existing, good-quality pro-consumer grade video cam that we already have to the input for a public access cable channel. The modulator for the channel wants standard NTSC plus 2-chan audio and the cable company will take it from there.

This will allow us to do live broadcast events, be they school events, meetings, classroom stuff, or sports events outside or in adjacent buildings where the local government meets. Presently, everything is taped and broadcast non-real-time, and if we could do it live, it would be worth spending just a few dollars.

A fixed connection would work for some rooms/occasions, but for some events we use a mobile cam, and a cable connection would be unworkable.

Cartooniverse, the 15-frame lag time is something I think we could live with. But $3000 is a bit steep if the range is only 250 ft and/or might have a problem with walls. I could justify the price if it went far enough.

Commasense, those consumer-grade video extenders look great for the price, but one has only a 100’ range, the other, 150’. We need something just a bit beefier, methinks.

So I guess we’ll just keep looking.

14

If you can control the wiring, you can use a thing called a balun - you can put sound and video through Cat5e. (it’s gotta be Cat5e or Cat6) For your uses, you’d probably want a pair of the PV-901s.

You’d need to make arrangements to have Network Jack A hard-patched to Network Jack B with no routers or hubs in the middle as these aren’t network devices

15

:smiley:

16

We use http://www.pelco.com/products/default.aspx?id=15 these folk’s security cameras & video to IP converters.

Quality stuff, heavy duty, but not really live TV quality. This might be of some use to you, or at least give you a link to something more apporopriate.

17

That Pelco line is interesting, but I didn’t spot anything in the wireless category.

Everytime I see a company whose main line is “security,” I don’t think broadcast quality, which is what we aspire to. We are more like a TV station than a police function.