Internet Microphone?

Can't think of anything cheaper than a $29 webcam with microphone and software to do the whole thing. The video could show some gauges too.

Tony

Where do you get $29 webcam with a built-in web server, so he does not need to run it off a PC?

He would need to run it off a PC. Everybody has an old PC around. It would take one to run the software anyway.

I doubt he would want to pay for a fixed IP address just to listen to his machine occasionally even if you could find an IP smart (webserver) microphone.

The webcams usually come with instructions for access and space on their supporting websites for small fees to observe them remotely.

Just to be clear, the machine is a 4 liter/litre LPG/Propane engine coupled to a 40kW generator in a shed-size cabinet on concrete pad out in the yard. The property is in a hurricane-prone region with unreliable utility supplied electric service. The router etc. all run on UPS to bridge the 20 seconds it takes for the generator to kick in after the utility power has gone down.

I'm sure I could stuff an IP webcam somewhere in there, especially if running via PoE, but I don't think a PC would fit nor be happy out there. No, an IP webcam does not need a PC to run any software - one just needs to open up a TCP/IP port in the router to allow for external access.

Okay, if a webcam is the only known canned solution then a webcam it must be.

I don't suppose anyone has a broken one that went blind?

Thanks to all,

T> He would need to run it off a PC. Everybody has an old PC around. It would

If you are going to supply a permanent phone line out there anyway there are probably more ideas to accomplish this. You will need a clean area for the camera and modem.

Need some circuitry to cause a phone to dial you up each time the testing starts. Perhaps a cell phone woul work and no copperlines would be needed. Either way you will be paying a monthly bill for the communications.

I have attempted something like this years ago and it' not the same listening to devices over an audio communications device. The subtlities cannot be heard without the full range of frequencies.

How far away is your monitoring place?

I'm sure I could stuff an IP webcam somewhere in there, especially if running via PoE, but I don't think a PC would fit nor be happy out there. No, an IP webcam does not need a PC to run any software - one just needs to open up a TCP/IP port in the router to allow for external access.

Okay, if a webcam is the only known canned solution then a webcam it must be.

I don't suppose anyone has a broken one that went blind?

Thanks to all,

T> He would need to run it off a PC. Everybody has an old PC around. It would

Thanks for the comments but, just to be clearer, this is a real seasonal home served by dual WAN IP service (DSL and Cable) and I have no need for anything to dial out. I just want to be able listen-in at the time of the generator's automatic weekly 12 minute "exercise" (from around 1:55pm until 2:07pm EDT each Friday) to be reassured that the device is in good order and so will be able to kick itself into service if and when the utility power fails. If I found that the generator did not run on its schedule then I would be able to call the local service technician to visit the site and investigate.

My likely monitoring place is around 4,000 miles away, as the bytes fly.

T> If you are going to supply a permanent phone line out there anyway there are

What came to mind was the people with homes in the states that get freezing weather.

Sitting around the pool in Mexico one explained it to me. A simple thermostat with a resistor hooked across the phone line. Thermostat set about 50F degrees. Every few days they call home and the phone rings and nobody answers. The thermostat contact is still open. No callcost. If the line is busy the thermostat is chatting and they know to call a neighbour to investigate. Contact closed... jouse below 50F.

It's simple and the concept should be able to work, somehow for your situation. Possibly a 120vac relay with a N.C. contact and resistor on the phone line. No ISP charges required. You dial it from time to time (possible computer modem auto?) and if the phone rings you have AC power, no long distance fees.

This doesn't give the the sound but you know there is power and much cheaper than a dial up or constant IP address charge for ISP Internet charges into your generator all year long. Not to mention the IP webcam costs.

My likely monitoring place is around 4,000 miles away, as the bytes fly.

T> If you are going to supply a permanent phone line out there anyway there > are

Thanks, but I think you've totally missed the point. I don't want to know if there's no power - I only want to know whether my generator started on schedule to run its weekly automatic exercise. And as I have dual-WAN Internet connections, why would I even consider using a telephone call?

Thanks for your interest.

T> What came to mind was the people with homes in the states that get freezing > weather.

Connect a N.O. relay to the generator output _before_ the transfer switch. If the phone rings, the generator is not running. The line should be busy durning the generator test period. As for considering a telephone call, it incurs no charges and requires nothing more than a [cell] phone [with available service].

Thanks.

Even if I could do this within 47 CFR Part 68 standards, the result would be that the phone line (along with the property intrusion/fire alarm system) would be disabled during all power outages. And, as you might guess from the significant investment in the generator, those are frequent in that location.

I really just want an IP connected microphone. Any advance on an IP webcam?

Tony

Running a PC from such a distance is in itself a weak link.

There are free dynamic DNS servers available, such as dyndns.com that I use for my own IP camera at my house.

You could use a cheap video server with an audio input and use the audio input to plug a microphone in, I'm not sure if would be cheaper than a webcam. A quick google came up with this for about $85.00

you could probably find a cheaper video server with audio if you searched google in more depth

Doug

| Thanks, but I think you've totally missed the point. I don't want to know if | there's no power - I only want to know whether my generator started on | schedule to run its weekly automatic exercise. And as I have dual-WAN | Internet connections, why would I even consider using a telephone call?

There are, as I'm sure you've seen, dedicated boxes that let you call in and listen to your house remotely. (Even some answering machines include this feature.) The dedicated ones also often have temperature sensors and other options. I could have sworn I saw such a device that was IP-based and I will look for it, but even if it doesn't exist you might consider one of the phone-based devices plugged into a VoIP adapter. Even just a VoIP adapter with some sort of auto-answer speaker phone might do what you want.

Dan Lanciani ddl@danlan.*com

Phones are not usually disabled power outages. If the power is truly out, the generator is not running.

If an IP connected microphone is what you want, nothing else will satisfy.

If you want to know if your generator's test procedure is executing, you've been given alternatives which are, I believe, an advancement on an IP webcam.

Bye.

Right, if you assume that the generator won't be running during a utility outage and so keep that relay closed, then why even bother about the testing?

Your suggestion could have been an advancement except for the problem that it does not work. But yes, I am only looking for an IP connected microphone and I had hoped my choice of subject for the thread might have made that clear.

Tony

I don't know of any IP microphone-only devices.

Axis seems to be the gold standard for IP webcams, and has some with mics, but they are not cheap. But then you also can have visual monitoring of the site, so it (say) a tree has fallen across the generator, you might be able to see that.

There are cell-phone based remote monitoring systems available, which might be a good idea given the possibility of total landline comms failure, if your power, phone, and cable all on the same poles.

Steve

Thanks Steve. I assumed that any mic or webcam would be tucked inside the dark cabinet and so be blind. Finding one in a weather-proof enclosure for outside mounting would be an added extravagance.

Tony

Yup. It's a hard-ish problem. You could use a stock PC in a suitable enclosure, with a cheap USB webcam/microphone. There's also something like the Sensaphone, which allows you to dial in and listen to the ambient sound.

I also see this: It's mainly intended as a speaker, but it claims to have a mic and an outdoor version.

Steve

Ah. Here's something that's not cheap, but does what you want--takes audio in (including line level) and streams it out over IP.

Steve