Note that both motion and zoneminder do not record sound (dont know if you care about that).

I think the best option is ustream.tv, as it is completely free service, and you can even record (on the ustream server side) very long broadcasts and they do not charge you either. This negates the need for disk space to store the video.

Most USB webcams work just fine with linux, and the ustream recorder is Flash-based, so no software to install.  As for bandwidth I would guess you dont need much maybe 1Mb/s, any wifi connection will definitely do but not sure if you use 3G or some gsm-based card will be enough.

Bob Elzer wrote:

For software I like the following

 

Motion  http://www.lavrsen.dk/foswiki/bin/view/Motion/WebHome

 

Zoneminder http://www.zoneminder.com/

 

Both will stream from the laptop itself.

 

And both can record to file for playback later.

 

My thought is, if you are going to record, then get a better video camera and then transfer video to the computer.

 

Video Cameras will produce a much better video than a webcam.

 

 

---

From: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of Mark Phillips
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:12 AM
To: Phoenix Linux Users
Subject: Looking For Advice on Web Cams and Streaming Video

I was sitting at my daughter's varsity softball game texting the play by play to my wife who was on a business trip to LA. I began to wonder if there were an inexpensive and easy way to setup a web cam at the game and broadcast the game to her computer (or better yet, her Blackberry...now that would be cool) in LA, as well as the parents who had to stay at work. I have no experience with web cams or streaming video. I don't think the field has WiFi, but there are some private residences about 1000' from home plate. Perhaps I could talk one of them into letting me use their cable connection to get access to the Internet.

Any suggestions on inexpensive web cams with a fairly wide field of view? 

What software will I need for my Debian testing laptop? Do I need a video steaming server somewhere on the net?

How do I get the signal to the houses 1000' feet away....or is there a better way?

How many laws am I breaking by doing this? :-)

Anyone have a better solution besides don't go to LA during a game?

Thanks!

Mark

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