K
J
ROUTER CONFIGURATION
If you’re only going to view the streaming
video from Yawcam from within your home
network, you’re done. But to access it remotely via the web, you must configure your router
or firewall to permit the Yawcam computer
to be seen. This usually involves setting Port
Forwarding so that the computer’s IP address
can be accessed from outside the firewall.
See portforward.com for detailed information
on how to do this with a great number of
different routers, likely including yours.
If your router dynamically assigns IP
addresses (most do) you will also need to
assign a static IP address for the computer
running Yawcam. See portforward.com/
networking/ static-xp.htm for instructions.
Most ISPs will change your local IP address
from time to time, which stops any URL
derived from it from working. To create a
URL that always works, I use the No-IP Free
Dynamic DNS ( noip.com). To use this free
service, you install a small program on your
home PC that automatically checks the local
M
L
IP address and redirects a web address you
specify to this address. This is why the URL
for my system is n3enm.hopto.org:8888.
I chose the prefix “n3enm,” my ham radio call,
at one of the No-IP’s domains, hopto.org.
CONCLUSION
I’ve had this system working for almost 2
years, and I rely on it throughout the day. It’s
really convenient to pull it up on my phone
and check the cars in the driveway to see
who’s home, or to make sure all is well around
the house when we’re on vacation. Others use
it, too; friends of mine who travel south for
the winter check it to see how much snow is
piling up back in Pittsburgh!
Meanwhile, I have experimented with X10
controllable pan-and-tilt mechanisms for
the cameras, which may become permanent additions to the system. I also used
EzCom2Web ( easyvitools.com/ezcom2web)
to add a web-based control page that lets you
pan, tilt, and switch the cameras.
I hope you find this system just as useful
as I have. Give it a try and let me know if I can
help ( dave@davebodnar.com). ;
See makeprojects.com/v/30 for code,
schematics, and programming instructions.
David Bodnar is an avid electronics tinkerer, woodworker,
programmer, model railroader, and cyclist whose electronic
projects tend to support one or more of his other hobbies.
Since he first began experimenting with BASIC Stamps over
15 years ago he has designed and built scores of Picaxe
and PIC-based gizmos and gadgets, many of which are
documented on his trainelectronics.com site.
49 Follow us @make
