Best way to live feed from camera to a TV? No recording....

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JLiRD808

JLiRD808

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Family has a restaurant with with an extra dining room that cannot SEE our live music being performed in the main dining room.

They want to put an LCD display on the wall, point a camera at the bands, and have it display on the TV so that diners can watch.

What is the best way to do this without dedicating an entire computer? I thought I could plug a regular USB webcam into the USB port of the LCD, but my initial research tells me that that won't work, since the USB port is usually just for accessing media (photos/videos).

Audio would be nice but not necessary, as the music can still be heard in the room.

We haven't bought the TV or camera yet. What should we be looking for?

THANKS!!
 
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leeb2013

leeb2013

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I presume you are using a USB webcam, so that won't work, you need a camera with a video output not USB, otherwise you'll need some sort of device (computer/tablet) to convert from USB to video (HDMI, composite etc). Or get a $50 android TV stick which the webcam will work with (trial and error). Best bet is a cheap composite video camera for <$50.
 
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JLiRD808

JLiRD808

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Ahh...forgot about just going composite.

How would a webcam and Android stick work together??

Thanks!

 
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JLiRD808

JLiRD808

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It is helpful...thanks! I don't think we even need to go wireless though. The camera will probably be within 6-7 feet of the TV--there's just one obnoxious wall blocking the view, and the camera would be around it.

Why are more people recommending component/rca over HDMI? I was thinking HDMI also, but ur the first to mention it.

I did come across some complicated tech jargon that the resolution/fps(?) of the camera's HDMI output might not match the TV's input, and live feeding MAY NOT WORK....or something along those lines. Is there weight to that? Will most cameras with an HDMI output successfully live feed to a TV's HDMI input?

THANKS AGAIN!!! :D
 
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Solandri

Solandri

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It's a lot easier to string up cable for component (coax or you can even use ethernet cable with some adapters). HDMI has a bunch of wires so it gets expensive rather quickly as you get to longer lengths.

But if you're going to hook it up to the TV with a 6-10 ft HDMI cable, get a 1080p Umi. It's a teleconferencing service Cisco tried a few years ago and shut down last year. Basically Skype, except with a huge price tag. I'm seeing the entire units for about $60 on Amazon, and the 1080p cameras for $20-$60 on eBay.

I have one (my sister worked at Cisco and got one for our parents, which I inherited as random broken tech gear when Cisco shut the service down). The camera uses a USB B port for power and puts out an HDMI signal. There's a DC power input socket as well inside the casing, but I'm not sure what voltage it takes. I just tried plugging the HDMI straight into my TV and it works (even the microphone works if you wanted sound).

The camera ranges from pretty good to decent. So-so in low light (I'm seeing some motion blurring). I believe it also has zoom and pan capability, though I'm not sure how to access it without the remote (I'm not sure where I put it). There's a retracting shield which covers the camera when not in use. You have to take apart the case (7 screws, two under rubber feet, snaps apart), move the shield manually, and unplug its motor so it doesn't slide back. But after that it'll work fine as a (somewhat bulky) 1080p camera. The mount is designed to perch atop a flatscreen TV, so you could probably nail a 2x4 spaced about 6 inches away from the wall up near the ceiling and mount the camera on that.
 
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JLiRD808

JLiRD808

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Hey thanks for the updates....been working on other things the last few days.

Is this adequate as well then, an HDMI HDTV camera? Looks like its made for webcam stuff...like Skype without the computer, just an HDTV and a camera.
http://www.mybluetoothheadset.com/logitech-tv-cam-revue-w-google-tv-hd-webcam-video-camera/?gclid=CNHa-M2q97wCFSHNOgod5lsAig

And I found this Solandri:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-Systems-Umi-Model-HTA101-Telepresence-Digital-Video-Conferencing-Camera-1-/370935760191?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

The shape is a bit odd, and the seller indicates that he has no remote either.

Can I expect better video quality with either of these though, better than a Hi8 camcorder?

THANKS AGAIN!! :)
 
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Solandri

Solandri

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Can't help you with the Logitech Revue as I've never seen the output from one.

The Umi you've linked is the correct camera, but is missing part of the mounting bracket. It's got a horizontal bracket extending behind the camera which lets it sit flat on top of the TV, and a vertical bracket underneath the horizontal one which slides against the back of the TV to keep it from tipping. Here's the best picture of the camera that shows this I could find online:
http://www.whipsaw.com/work/projects/cisco-umi-telepresence/

Hi8 is basically 400p analog (400 vertical lines). So yeah video quality will be better with a 1080p camera.
 
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