Model Railroading > Locomotive Camera

I need to find out if there is an off-the-shelf locomotive camera product currently available and any experiences good or bad. Searching the ol' net is not working well for me in this venture.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

Check Micro Mark. They have one.

If you want fancy
http://www.dcctrain.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1793
Not so fancy? Larger scale?
http://www.minutemanscalemodels.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=410

Posted from iPhone

Someone made those I-phone cars in HO scale as well. I've also seen plenty of low cost "keychain cameras" that can record 1080i HD video to a Micro SD card. Those can be mounted to a flatcar to make youtube videos. I guess the real question is if you need a wireless system to send signals in real time to a TV monitor, or if you need to record to a card to make videos to share online?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/14 18:09 by funnelfan.

Thanks for the replies. I should have been more specific.

First, HO scale.

Second, wireless broadcast to be viewed on some sort of display, preferably a moderate sized LED display.

Checked out Micro-Mark, and looks like it would work, but they it's broadcast only, no receiver included. Looking for receivers and most come with a camera that looks similar to Micr-Mark's for much less money.

Last hurdle to clear is getting the composite (RCA) video output of these receivers converted to a format supported by more modern displays. I.e. HDMI, DVI, SVGA, Component, without costing more than the camera and receiver.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

Look at baby monitors.

I do believe GoPro's can broadcast as well.

HB90MACH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I do believe GoPro's can broadcast as well.


Yes they can, Hero3 and 4 models are wifi hotspots and can transmit to a monitor or smart phone. They also record great HD video. Not that cheap though...

See link for video samples...
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2983102


Mr. MRL

---

Yeah... actually looking for something to go in a locomotive.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/attachments/video_download/21c1ce938d7142a577c132a1a16f24df/549304d1/387000/387630.mp4

Here is a link to a video I scent to TO 12 years ago or so. The quality is not the best because it went from analog to disc ti computer for editing. If I hat the time I might try to re do them.
The cameras, I have two, are mounted in old HI-Level cars. The view from the front of a train looks the same wether it is in a loco or not. So I had them put in the passenger cars.

The cameras transmit to a receiver with two antennas. This reduces the multi-pathing that happens when transmitting. This causes blanking and flicker. NASCAR uses a helicopter to receive the cars video directly to the receiver then to the video truck.

During my open houses I have the waiting folks, 5 or 5 at time in the room, watch a live view.

I JUST SAW THE THIS IS "NO LONGER VALID" HERE. I did a search for on board video and santafedan as the author and all dates to find it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/14 09:00 by santafedan.

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I just picked up a Composite to Hdmi converter for under $30 on Amazon. Such a thing didn't exist not too long ago

Posted from Android

You should look for "wireless cameras" on ebay, then refine the search with terms such as mini or micro.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

MrMRL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HB90MACH Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I do believe GoPro's can broadcast as well.
>
>
> Yes they can, Hero3 and 4 models are wifi hotspots
> and can transmit to a monitor or smart phone. They
> also record great HD video. Not that cheap
> though...
>
> See link for video samples...
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2
> 983102
>
>
> Mr. MRL

I assume the clearance board had to check the route before movement of that high/wide load to avoid any problems? ;) LOL

Those micro-mark systems are all over E-bay for cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Wireless-TV-System-Nanny-Micro-Camera-Transmitter-Wifi-Receiver-Full-Kit-/271711155207?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those micro-mark systems are all over E-bay for
> cheap.
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Wireless-TV-System-Na
> nny-Micro-Camera-Transmitter-Wifi-Receiver-Full-Ki
> t-/271711155207?


Don't look the same as Micro Mark ones wonder about the quality of those.

DelMonteX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the replies. I should have been more
> specific.
>
> First, HO scale.
>
> Second, wireless broadcast to be viewed on some
> sort of display, preferably a moderate sized LED
> display.
>
> Checked out Micro-Mark, and looks like it would
> work, but they it's broadcast only, no receiver
> included. Looking for receivers and most come
> with a camera that looks similar to Micr-Mark's
> for much less money.
>
> Last hurdle to clear is getting the composite
> (RCA) video output of these receivers converted to
> a format supported by more modern displays. I.e.
> HDMI, DVI, SVGA, Component, without costing more
> than the camera and receiver.

I got the Micro-Mark camera last Christmas and am pleased with it's performance. It does have a wireless receiver with RCA output jacks that I connected to an old TV. I also have hooked it up to a digital video camera with RCA inputs.

Mike

Thanks again for all the input. I started way too late for this years Train Festival. Maybe next year.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

i would look on you tube, try a search for FPV!! these cameras will work for what you want. you dont have to do the fpv persay, just use the camera and transmitter. this stuff is getting way small and they make some dang good videos..