Lionel will be releasing a caboose equipped with a WiFi video camera that streams live video from the cupola. What additional components will I need to receive the video image from either my laptop or desktop computer as well as my television set? Thanks for the help.
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I got my caboose cam already check it out!
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...40#77734315992396540
H1000 posted:Lionel sure is fast. MY CABOOSE CAM ARRIVED TONIGHT!!!!! Check out the short video below:
The FPS is pretty low here and I think it has something to do with my tablet. I was able to get 25 FPS at 720p.
Interesting', but what equipment is required for viewing? I suspect it is WI-FI to Blue Tooth receivers,[ PC, Tablet, TV, Cell Phone] etc. Can you provide the particulars, Thanks'..
Go to your App Store and search for Lionel wireless camera and download the app to your phone.
Neal Jeter
Does the owner's manual provide instructions on how and what you need to view ?
The car will come with a user manual as well as a CD-ROM that has PC/MAC software on it for viewing the feed from a computer. Bluetooth is not involved with our camera, only WiFi. So your computer needs to have a WiFi card. Most do nowadays. And it needs to be a relatively newer computer; I would say made within the last 6 or 7 years at least. I have not tested the software on anything prior to Windows 7.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Okay Dave, thanks for the info. So the preferable way to view the camera is on a PC. Do you have any clips you can post. Just to get a better idea of the camera performs. I don't expect a Pixar presentation for $97.00. Just want to get a basic preview....
Dave, will it be able to go directly to a TV via WiFi then?
Quarter Gauger 48 posted:Okay Dave, thanks for the info. So the preferable way to view the camera is on a PC.
Actually it works better with the Apps on either Android or Apple. Well, it isn't that it works better, the Apps are just easier to use. There's a lot of setup involved with the PC software and can be challenging for someone who isn't very computer literate if that makes sense.
BobbyD posted:Dave, will it be able to go directly to a TV via WiFi then?
Not unless the TV is PC or MAC based and can have the software loaded.
Well, well, well. I had been planning to get one, but not now. I thought I had seen a reason to buy a new Lionel product, but I was wrong. I thought Lionel was a train company, not a phone company.
Ah, me, they won't miss my small change anyway.
Part of the submission to the FCC for approval, Lionel had to include the user manual. That manual details how to connect the camera via a pc or mac using the included software. You can download that manual HERE.
I assume the pc program used by camera won't be any different than many of the others that already exist. Here is one that looks exactly like the one shown in the above manual from BVCAM: SZBVCAM Just select Windows or Mac. You can also download the BVCAM app here which is a clone of the LionelCamera app.
I haven't run into an HDTV yet that does not include an HDMI port that can be interfaced with a PC / Mac / Laptop. Also Apple Air Play and Google Chromcast are alternatives to casting the image of your tablet/phone to an HDTV with one of these devices attached. Most of these HD TVs also include an old school VGA port (that have been around since the early 1990s) as a video input.
If you are looking for a direct to TV wireless HD camera image, it's not going to happen cheaply. Lionel is simply utilizing technology that already exists that should produce a decent image, which is dependent on the quality of their camera. The catalog shows a picture of the image but we're talking about live video here. IF A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, THE VIDEO IS WORTH A MILLION. A demo video of the actual product really needs to be uploaded for people to evaluate the performance of this product.
Well,well,well, some good points here. However, it will be difficult to operate my layout and watch TV at the same time if the program software/App is a pain in the neck to operate. A picture is worth a 100 words'. So, an accurate video is most definitely requested from Lionel. Currently, there is no way to evaluate the quality of the camera and the app to make a purchase decision. I'm not crazy about using the cell phone to view the camera. I already do that with my GO Pro Hero 4 action camera, which produces excellent videos, picture and sound'...
Here's a couple of quick samples'
Night Moves
@Dave Olson. Unless I missed something and If I did I apologize. But wouldn't the simple solution be to just mirror the image from you phone or tablet to a tv or monitor with something like the attached lighting to USB adapter image. Now I'm not sure how great the feed will look blown up to a much larger size but there's only one way to find out. I feel like a lot is being asked of this camera car at a pretty fair price point. If your looking for top notch video Id use a go pro. Racing cars and motorcycles for years with go pros. Can't go wrong. You get what u pay for.
Folks we should be clear on something here.
I believe the primary goal with these camera cars is providing a LIVE image. We've all seen some nice Go Pro videos on youtube but keep in mind that those are recorded locally to an onboard storage device and not transmitted live to a device and recorded on that device. The Live image coming from a GoPro wifi connection isn't all that great either. It stutters, has significant live image delay (latency), and the Frames Per Second (FPS) averages around 20 to 25. I have yet to see any WiFi camera that will output 30 FPS 1080P without significant latency (10 seconds or more) for an affordable price.
There are no shortcuts or cheap ways out when it comes to wireless LIVE HD to a phone or any device for that matter. The racing drone folks are light years ahead of what is being attempted here. While Wireless 1080P Live images are possible with low latency, you better get ready to spend some serious coin on a wireless transmitter & receiver.
I speculate that Lionel's Camera will accomplish 25 FPS with a good signal at around 2 to 5 seconds of latency.
I wonder what the easiest way to setup a server on your computer to stream your feed to the internet is. Screen sharing requires to much setup from the remote persons perspective.
Is there any reason a phone has to be involved at all? Why not just broadcast to the WiFi?
Done right - This should connect to your local network/router and act like any other wi-fi camera
The whole session should be live streamed - right to YouTube.
Then - you have platform independence, world wide access - and no extra app needed.
Streaming to a phone makes no sense at all - waste of HD - and probably smaller than real-life!!
why all the negativity???
everyone is broadcasting video these days and IMO Lionel is just trying to catch some of that!!
In our club layout when we push the camera car around it gets a lot of attention!!
palallin posted:Is there any reason a phone has to be involved at all? Why not just broadcast to the WiFi?
The WiFi of what? WiFi isn't this magical thing that can do whatever you are thinking about at that moment. You need software of some sort to locate the device and interpret the video stream to a screen.
Roving Sign posted:Done right - This should connect to your local network/router and act like any other wi-fi camera
The whole session should be live streamed - right to YouTube.
Then - you have platform independence, world wide access - and no extra app needed.
This sounds great in theory but doesn't work well in reality unless you have extremely good upload bandwidth from your Internet Service Provider. 1080P at 30FPS doesn't stream well on a 4Mbps upload to the internet.
Yes these cameras can connect directly to your existing home WiFi connection but to add the features like a NEST camera takes a service provided from someone else and more programming, and possibly a larger hardware package installed in the caboose. Not to mention, live streaming to You Tube is not without a configuration and setup procedure that Lionel would also be responsible to troubleshoot when the end user can't figure out how to do.
Here is what it boils down to when you are considering a live image wireless camera:
PICK TWO:
HD image Quality --- Affordable Price --- Low Latency --- Easy Configuration
H1000 posted:palallin posted:Is there any reason a phone has to be involved at all? Why not just broadcast to the WiFi?
The WiFi of what? WiFi isn't this magical thing that can do whatever you are thinking about at that moment. You need software of some sort to locate the device and interpret the video stream to a screen.
Here is what it boils down to when you are considering a live image wireless camera:
PICK TWO:
HD image Quality --- Affordable Price --- Low Latency --- Easy Configuration
Bypassing your sarcasm, the answer is the WiFi network at my house. Don't have, Don't need, Don't want a smart phone or other "device." I would like the camera to send the video to my computer (which is, I might add, in the same room). If there needs to be software on the computer to make that work, that's great AS LONG AS it's easy to install and set up. It would be nice to be able to save the video as a file for future reference, but I can certainly live without that feature. I'm a model railroader, not a computer geek.
If I have to choose two, I choose Affordable and Easy. I am not trying to become a movie producer.
Not really clear why live stream video is necessary in the first place. Now if you have a very large layout 20' X 20', or larger with plenty of tunnels and hidden track. Then yes, a great way to monitor performance in tricky spots along the way' . Makes sense. But for quality model photography, I think one would enjoy having a more sophisticated device. As I already stated, I would expect Imax quality for 100 bucks in today's world'... Lionel has a nice idea here. They need to provide a solid example though what the camera can produce'...
palallin posted:I would like the camera to send the video to my computer (which is, I might add, in the same room). If there needs to be software on the computer to make that work, that's great AS LONG AS it's easy to install and set up.
If I have to choose two, I choose Affordable and Easy. I am not trying to become a movie producer.
As I mentioned much earlier in this thread, Lionel has included the operators manual for the new caboose cam in their submission to the FCC. It can be downloaded and reviewed to see how to install & operate the required software on your computer for the image to be displayed on a PC or Mac.
In fact you can even download the same programs from a different developer that use the exact same cloned versions of the Lionel camera app. You don't have to wait for Lionel, you can put these programs on your computer today, Right now!
If you want affordable & easy, just go buy a Rail Scope or a K-Line TV car. They can be bought cheap and easily hooked up to just about any TV on the market and they have low latency to boot!. Or build your own camera car: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...35#72805549098596735
Quarter Gauger 48 posted:Not really clear why live stream video is necessary in the first place. Now if you have a very large layout 20' X 20', or larger with plenty of tunnels and hidden track. Then yes, a great way to monitor performance in tricky spots along the way' . Makes sense. But for quality model photography, I think one would enjoy having a more sophisticated device. As I already stated, I would expect Imax quality for 100 bucks in today's world'... Lionel has a nice idea here. They need to provide a solid example though what the camera can produce'...
Like Bigdodgetrain said earlier, live streams go over great at open houses and public shows. The camera car is almost more popular than the trains at moments.
Imax Quality for $100.00 inside an o-gauge caboose isn't going to happen. Add a couple more zeros to that number and you'll hit that target.
EDIT:
Quarter Gauger 48, based on your previous post, did you mean to say "I wouldn't expect Imax quality for 100 bucks in today's world"
And yes, Lionel needs to post video of this thing running in field conditions. Roaring down the track at High and low speeds, Going through tunnels to see how the camera reacts when going from one lighting extreme to another.
I am very much looking forward to the arrival of the new caboose later this year and expect to enjoy watching the train show on my iPad from across the room!
I'm already enjoying just the thought of it!
Thanks Lionel!
I suspect that this was designed much like the old rail scope, to give the ability to have a cupola view of your trains, at that price point it is not designed to be a hi fidelity video image, it is basically a neat toy from what i can tell (and that is not meant to be the least bit derisive). Even with fast home wi fi networks with the AC level of speed that on my airport extreme is 1.3 gigabits/second, it can overload the device reading it. The reason they designed it around wifi is speed and access (bluetooth has limitations, including lag between sent and received data), and it makes sense rather than going point to point like bluetooth. As far as sending it to phones and notepads that is what most people are using these days, and they are making inroads into replacing laptops if not desktops.
Wifi is kind of nice, because the caboose can be in your train room broadcasting on wifi, and you can have a laptop with an HDMI output or a DVI connected to a tv screen to display it (putting it on a big screen may not be great quality), or you could use something like chromecast. Wifi setups often cover a whole house (and there are gizmos to allow making sure the wifi network is accessible all through the house that aren't that expensive), and it gives a lot of flexibility. Looking for super high def at 100 bucks is stretching it for something that after all is not meant to be a professional device, it is simply getting to be a kid again
All I am looking for is an approximation of the experience of riding in the caboose cupola--I have ridden in real cabooses, and the idea of being able to do it on my pike is appealing. But it doesn't have to IMAX quality. (See approximation, above.)
What possible use is putting software on my computer until I have something to work with it? I repeat: I am a model railroader, not a computer geek. I derive no pleasure whatever from doing things to computers.
I am not stupid. I can use tech manuals for all my appliances, vehicles, and tractors (all written when English was till the primary language of the writers). Given a little time, I can read several languages, including Latin and Old Norse. But Modern Computer Techese is as opaque to me as a brick wall especially because there are so many gaps between what they say and what they mean. I refer to manuals from Lionel and ERR, and, when the techniques don't work, I am told, "Well, the thing you need to do isn't exactly like in the manual. Do this other thing."
As I said: Affordable and Easy.
If Lionel wants my business, that is what they will provide. If they don't care (which I suspect is the case), I will keep my money. But I really wonder how many others will, too.
H1000 posted:Part of the submission to the FCC for approval, Lionel had to include the user manual. That manual details how to connect the camera via a pc or mac using the included software. You can download that manual HERE.
You can download the manual and read it from the link he provided a lot earlier.
Doug
palallin posted:All I am looking for is an approximation of the experience of riding in the caboose cupola
That has already been done: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...87#77734316024003687
Here is the camera used in the video above that you can buy today (cheaply) and experience what Lionel is selling without the wait. This camera is compatible with the PC software in question.
The above video should give you the approximation view experience, that actually quality of the production camera they will sell is something Lionel will need to post.
H1000 posted:Quarter Gauger 48 posted:Not really clear why live stream video is necessary in the first place. Now if you have a very large layout 20' X 20', or larger with plenty of tunnels and hidden track. Then yes, a great way to monitor performance in tricky spots along the way' . Makes sense. But for quality model photography, I think one would enjoy having a more sophisticated device. As I already stated, I would expect Imax quality for 100 bucks in today's world'... Lionel has a nice idea here. They need to provide a solid example though what the camera can produce'...
Like Bigdodgetrain said earlier, live streams go over great at open houses and public shows. The camera car is almost more popular than the trains at moments.
Imax Quality for $100.00 inside an o-gauge caboose isn't going to happen. Add a couple more zeros to that number and you'll hit that target.
EDIT:
Quarter Gauger 48, based on your previous post, did you mean to say "I wouldn't expect Imax quality for 100 bucks in today's world"
And yes, Lionel needs to post video of this thing running in field conditions. Roaring down the track at High and low speeds, Going through tunnels to see how the camera reacts when going from one lighting extreme to another.
Yes Sir, I meant to say, wouldn't. Typing on these darn tablets I hit the wrong keys.........
After viewing the provided video and seeing the example camera on Amazon, and discovering it does not produce sound. I fully understand the $97.00 dollars at Trainworld. It is inside a nice caboose. But for less than $20.00 you can buy the same camera and install it yourself if so inclined. For me it is about the photography. I can't do that with device. But if you want another toy for your layout to have fun with', then this is ideal'...
Dave Olson posted:Quarter Gauger 48 posted:Okay Dave, thanks for the info. So the preferable way to view the camera is on a PC.
Actually it works better with the Apps on either Android or Apple. Well, it isn't that it works better, the Apps are just easier to use. There's a lot of setup involved with the PC software and can be challenging for someone who isn't very computer literate if that makes sense.
BobbyD posted:Dave, will it be able to go directly to a TV via WiFi then?
Not unless the TV is PC or MAC based and can have the software loaded.
Dave, could the apple iOS app be made available for Apple TV? it seems apple makes it "easy" to move apps between platforms. It seems a bit of a miss in the lineup. iPad for layout control, iPhone for train control, Apple TV to view cameras.
jrmertz posted:Dave Olson posted:Quarter Gauger 48 posted:Okay Dave, thanks for the info. So the preferable way to view the camera is on a PC.
Actually it works better with the Apps on either Android or Apple. Well, it isn't that it works better, the Apps are just easier to use. There's a lot of setup involved with the PC software and can be challenging for someone who isn't very computer literate if that makes sense.
BobbyD posted:Dave, will it be able to go directly to a TV via WiFi then?
Not unless the TV is PC or MAC based and can have the software loaded.
Dave, could the apple iOS app be made available for Apple TV? it seems apple makes it "easy" to move apps between platforms. It seems a bit of a miss in the lineup. iPad for layout control, iPhone for train control, Apple TV to view cameras.
Beautiful cabooses, friends are not using the cameras because they thought you'd just stream to a TV.
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