PLEASE DELETE

Based on the previous post from last year by Dave Olson, you will need an app on a phone / tablet, or it sounds like there is also a program for the PC that can be used to connect to the camera. This is the best guess I can give, I'll bet Dave & Ryan will give out better details later on.

You will have one of two operating methods.

1) Direct connection. Connect your phone / tablet to the camera using a WiFi hotspot created by the camera itself.

2) Home connection. Connect the camera to your home internet router and your phone / tablet can access the camera as long as it is also connected to your home internet router.

Either way you'll need the camera app to view the image. The advantage to option two, is that the camera app can run along side with the LCS iCab app without having to change wireless networks when you want to control your layout vs. view the camera.

As for displaying a live image on TV, that can get even more tricky but it's not impossible.  I'm sure it can be done with Apple's Air Play or a Google Chromecast, but you will still need a smart device and the app.

H1000 posted:

pittsburghrailfan posted:

 have yet to try the idea, however. With the GoPro app, one can stream video to a mobile device such as a tablet in HD 720p quality with about 3 seconds of transmission lag. 

I've tried the GoPro app but was never able to get 720 HD via WiFi, and if the signal diminished even the slightness bit, the lag increased greatly with a momentary screen freeze.

Is there a trick to getting the app to force 720 HD resolution?

720p was a guess on my part. I certainly thought it looked hi-res, but perhaps not. Below is a screenshot from a video taken today using the GoPro app. It may not be HD, as I thought, but it isn't bad. 

Greenline, very nice work on the video of your club's layout!  Yours may be the best model railroad video I've seen in all my born days.  So many things to observe in the 180-degree +/- perspective.  Watched the whole fifteen minutes and think my life was extended fifteen years in the process.  Expect to memorize the order of all the trackside scenes and trains watching all of your cab ride videos over and over.  Thanks for sharing!

H1000 posted:

Based on the previous post from last year by Dave Olson, you will need an app on a phone / tablet, or it sounds like there is also a program for the PC that can be used to connect to the camera. This is the best guess I can give, I'll bet Dave & Ryan will give out better details later on.

You will have one of two operating methods.

1) Direct connection. Connect your phone / tablet to the camera using a WiFi hotspot created by the camera itself.

2) Home connection. Connect the camera to your home internet router and your phone / tablet can access the camera as long as it is also connected to your home internet router.

Either way you'll need the camera app to view the image. The advantage to option two, is that the camera app can run along side with the LCS iCab app without having to change wireless networks when you want to control your layout vs. view the camera.

As for displaying a live image on TV, that can get even more tricky but it's not impossible.  I'm sure it can be done with Apple's Air Play or a Google Chromecast, but you will still need a smart device and the app.

 

I definitely second the airplay comment. Apple TV will stream whatever (Apps/Video) is on the screen to the TV its hooked up to, I haven't seen an app that appeared to be blocked from this functionality. 

*sigh* I have no desire to watch a video on my "device" because I don't have any &@#*%& device.

Will it be possible to send the video to my desktop via wifi, I wonder.

palallin posted:

*sigh* I have no desire to watch a video on my "device" because I don't have any &@#*%& device.

Will it be possible to send the video to my desktop via wifi, I wonder.

They did mention a PC app to be released along with the "device" apps

angrytoothbrush posted:

palallin posted:

*sigh* I have no desire to watch a video on my "device" because I don't have any &@#*%& device.

Will it be possible to send the video to my desktop via wifi, I wonder.

They did mention a PC app to be released along with the "device" apps

Thanks for that!

Based on the preorder buzz, sounds like these Cam Cabeese will be strong sellers.

Speaking of which, any Chessie experts out there want to comment on that Chessie caboose (in the new catalog) with orange sides /blue roof? Based on an actual livery?

Just curious...

we used to have a choo choo cam but they have gone out of business or can not be found.

we are looking for a replacement

I am going to purchase the Lionel Camera Caboose.  I do have a home made camera car that I have been using for years on my YT channel.  The standard thread for all cameras is 1/4 by 20.

The only question I have, will the Lionel Caboose Camera have a glass lens or plastic lens? 

This car will go through tunnels and over steel girder bridges.

This photo shot with an iPhone Plus: Gary

The app that you want to download to sync with the camera on the caboose is the “Lionel wireless” app.  I Just added it to my smart devices the other day thru the Apple App Store (App is free). I preordered the Norfolk Southern version of the caboose from my local train store, but verified with them what I would need to be able to use the camera.  I primarily run MTH using the DCS/Wi-Fi system, but do have the legacy base running a few Lionel engines.  Wasn’t sure if I would need additional Lionel hardware to access the camera.  The tech at said you just need the app.  

I like to see a B&O wagon top and PRR N5 version please.  

What is the signal range? 

Andrew

falconservice posted:

Thanks for the pic. Assume that was in response to my question up above.

Interesting paint scheme. Have never seen that before.

falconservice posted:

What is the signal range? 

Andrew

It varies. WiFi in an outdoor setting with line of sight can go as far as 2000 feet with standard antennas. As a safe measure, I'd say that within a 100 to 150 feet you get good signal. Good signal will be key, once that starts to drop out, so will the quality and frame rate (FPS).

Have yet to see any posts from the folks at Lionel regarding the video specs for this car but rather just speculation from posters on this and other forums. I hope in this day and age the video resolution is nothing less than HD 1080p with a fast latency rate. Hopefully either Dave Olsen or someone else from Lionel will chime in with definitive information on this car's video specs.

I got the resolution from the Horse's Mouth, I asked Dave Olsen.  He said...

It'll go up to 1080P, but the frame rate drops to 15-20. The lower the res the faster the frame rate.
It isn't an amazing camera, but isn't half bad.

I probably can live with that, I suspect it'll have a pretty decent frame rate at 720P.

If you are a YouTube Creator, you must be in this range.

I use 1280 x 720. @ 30 frames per second. This way YT will promote my videos in their search engine.

Gary

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.

Pre-ordered the NS camera caboose and downloaded the Lionel App!   I think running the caboose behind and looking over the locomotive will give me some fun videos.  I have the NS SD-60M LC+ loco.   -Ken

So when will we see the camera in the locomotive?   There might be room in the SD60M LC+ locomotive.   

I was gone all weekend and finally had some more time to play with the camera today. Zoomed the image so that I would see less of the caboose roof top. Troubleshooted problems with frame rate and made a recording at 720p that maxed out at 25 FPS and bottomed out at 14 FPS. It seems that the camera likes light, the FPS would easily max out when the lighting conditions were brighter.  The latency of the live image is about 2 seconds, not too bad.

Here's another trip around the loop with the camera recording in the Lionel WiFi Camera app to the tablet.

 Edit: After posting this I realized that the live video displayed on my tablet was 720p, but when I used the recording function it would only record at 480p. Still the video looks pretty good considering the loss in resolution.

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.

So I have to ask... These are available already?  They were just cataloged. Or are you just using their interface?

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

Hi John & Marty E: I watched the above video, that is a very poor quality. I looked at my everyday YT camera and I am shooting at 1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 fps  It can be manually set for 720 at 59.94 fps

Canon T6i

Do you or anyone have a better demo on this camera in the caboose camera car?  Lionel needs to show us on the OGR forum a better demo.  

Gary

MartyE posted:

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.

So I have to ask... These are available already?  They were just cataloged. Or are you just using their interface?

Me, too. Totally confused.

These were all preorders for later delivery, right?

johnstrains posted:

MartyE posted:

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.

So I have to ask... These are available already?  They were just cataloged. Or are you just using their interface?

Me, too. Totally confused.

These were all preorders for later delivery, right?

I understood that the theatre cars that were the first to use the same camera technology are still a few months from arriving, so how can the caboose cams that were only announced a couple of weeks ago already be being demoed by forum members?

@Dave Olson ?

I suspect we are being bamboozled.  I do however thing that it's possible another camera could connect to the Lionel app or even the same type of camera Lionel is sourcing.

I think Marty's on to something...

Anytime the word "bamboozled" can be used, I'm in!

None of the camera cars have shipped. It is possible that there are other cameras on the market that could work with this APP. It is just a WiFi camera APP after-all.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

No sounds in our camera.

Dave Olson posted:

Anytime the word "bamboozled" can be used, I'm in!

None of the camera cars have shipped. It is possible that there are other cameras on the market that could work with this APP. It is just a WiFi camera APP after-all.

MartyE posted:

I suspect we are being bamboozled.  I do however thing that it's possible another camera could connect to the Lionel app or even the same type of camera Lionel is sourcing.

Presumably adding another WiFi camera using the UID. 

Dave Olson posted:

Anytime the word "bamboozled" can be used, I'm in!

None of the camera cars have shipped. It is possible that there are other cameras on the market that could work with this APP. It is just a WiFi camera APP after-all.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

No sounds in our camera.

Kinda figured that, but just wanted confirmation from Lionel. Thanks Dave!

Bamboozled!??!?  Kind of!

Lionel Builds trains, not apps, not cameras, not WiFi equipment. The App itself is nothing special. It is a label slapped clone app that has been used 100's if not 1000's of times before by tons of other budget camera makers and literally 100's of other developers use this exact same app for cheap WiFi cameras available on amazon and ebay. 

Lionel did a good job on the iTunes store of showing off the camera pictures and added a nice description. However, on the Google Play side, they dropped the ball big time. We have generic looking pictures (a fish tank?) with a description that is identical to the other 100's of apps that are identical.  The app looks to be developed by a company named FTY. FTY makes only two apps, the Lionel WiFi Camera app and DREYCAM. These app are identical, check em out on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=FTY

I discoverer another app developer that offers this exact app (actually a newer version than Lionel) that looks and functions identically. it even features the same description and preview pictures of the fish tank from a different angle: https://play.google.com/store/...eloper?id=gang.zhang

This leaves the camera hardware:

Now this is where bamboozling occurs (sorry everyone). No this is not the camera used used by Lionel. This camera much like the millions of others out there are compatible with the Lionel Camera app (and the 100"s of other clones). I did use a postwar Lionel caboose from 1947 that fit the camera perfectly (Lionel was planning this 70 years ago!)

I bought a $25 camera on Amazon (i Picked the $25 range for a reason) that uses the BVCAM app: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I picked this range to show that Lionel's $25 charge for their camera system is great value compared to other system out there.  I could have bought a 1080p camera for $40 to $50 that would probable be on par with what Lionel will offer. 

I would however implore Dave to upload videos of camera with a prototype that is of the same or nearly the same specs that will be sold.  Everyone is seeing 1080p advertised and thinking this will play with the same quality & clarity of a 1080p BlueRay movie. A $50 WiFi camera will never perform to that standard, it may be able to record on board to an SD card with great quality but the live image will not even be close (as would if the app was recording directly to your smart device). A few still images in no way demonstrate how well this thing will perform.  I would like to see videos of the Lionel camera going through tunnels (transition from light to dark and back again), different speeds and rough tracks to truly judge the performance of this device. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the video would be worth a million.

The Pros of buying the Lionel Caboose cam:
1) better QC as they deal directly with their camera vendor
2) The camera runs from track power (mine is running on a 3.6v lipo battery)
3) No assembly, it arrives ready to operate
4) VALUE!!! - A 1080p camera for $25, Amazon and eBay offer a similar camera for $40 to $50 and the quality may still be questionable.

The Cons (if you can call them that):
1) limited road names available (for now)
2) I have wait for it
3) Lack of on board SD Card for local recording allowing for excellent HD video.

The Amazon and eBay camera are great for DIYers who don't want to wait and are considering putting a camera in cabooses with a different road name or something else entirely (RAILSCOPE!).

BTW, I have already per-ordered my caboose cam in SF.

H1000 posted:

Bamboozled!??!?  Kind of!

You should post your phone number so the dealers can forward all the calls asking where their cabooses are.  LOL!

trainroomgary posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

Hi John & Marty E: I watched the above video, that is a very poor quality. I looked at my everyday YT camera and I am shooting at 1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 fps  It can be manually set for 720 at 59.94 fps

Canon T6i

Do you or anyone have a better demo on this camera in the caboose camera car?  Lionel needs to show us on the OGR forum a better demo.  

Gary

I’d love to see you stuff your T6i in a caboose!! 😀

trainroomgary posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

Hi John & Marty E: I watched the above video, that is a very poor quality. I looked at my everyday YT camera and I am shooting at 1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 fps  It can be manually set for 720 at 59.94 fps

Canon T6i

Do you or anyone have a better demo on this camera in the caboose camera car?  Lionel needs to show us on the OGR forum a better demo.  

Gary

Keep in mind Gary that you are recording locally not over a wireless connection. My video was reduced to 480p by the app. The live image was sent to my device at 720 on a camera about half the size of dime.  My camera does have the ability to record locally with an sd card, I haven't tried it yet but will upload results when I shoot one.

Actually 1080p is getting kinda mediocre anymore, you want to impress me, go 4k: https://www.amazon.com/Campark...p;keywords=4k+camera

If you want 1080p at 30 fps on a live WiFi connection you are going to pay for it with LOTS of latency.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Sadly, at least in my iPad, it doesn't look all that high resolution.  I'd expect more clarity if it were HD.  I hope I'm wrong, I'd love to have one of these.

Using an iphone and this app can you save the video to your camera role?

Dave Olson posted:

Anytime the word "bamboozled" can be used, I'm in!

None of the camera cars have shipped. It is possible that there are other cameras on the market that could work with this APP. It is just a WiFi camera APP after-all.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

No sounds in our camera.

Question for you Dave.  why can't this app and the other apps lionel is offering be made to have the ability to be moved to an external storage?

phones storage fills up fast.

bigdodgetrain posted:

Dave Olson posted:

Anytime the word "bamboozled" can be used, I'm in!

None of the camera cars have shipped. It is possible that there are other cameras on the market that could work with this APP. It is just a WiFi camera APP after-all.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was under the impression that it would have sound from the locomotive, was I mistaken?

No sounds in our camera.

Question for you Dave.  why can't this app and the other apps lionel is offering be made to have the ability to be moved to an external storage?

phones storage fills up fast.

I'm sure Dave will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the camera/app pair will stream video to the device (phone, tablet, etc) but will not save it.