WEBCAMS can be used to stream video and audio content over the internet

OK so you have got images on your site using FTP and got your home security system set
up to email you if intruders are present............Whats this Streaming Video all about then?

Well video streaming is where a webcam or other camera connected to the internet sends
images very quickly one after the other giving you a live video feed. The more images you
send per second, the more like realtime the video stream appears. Usually there is a trade off
between the number of frames per second you want to send and the bandwidth of your
connection etc. The live Pictures section of this site are all sent via a 1meg broadband link
which is not at all fast by todays standards. There will also be a fall in performance as more
users connect to your video stream unless you use a proffessional video server service
provider which most of us wont do.

HTTP Server - the program runs HTTP server using say Active Webcam or Willing Webcam
on the computer with the cameras connected to it; viewers can connect to this computer
by TCP/IP using any internet browser and see web pages with camera's live feeds. The link
can be direct from your web site by clicking on an object or a button and you can select
the delivery method, e.g using a Java Applett or Direct X. Direct X provides a faster frame
rate but only works on windows PC's while java works on many platforms but not all
browsers support java......so you need to work out who your target audience is going to be.
Active Webcam gives you the option to create a web page that lets the viewer select the
delivery method.........which is a cool idea.

Stream To Webserver - The programs Active Webcam and Willing Webcam can send video
and audio to a commercial web server. Users connect to this web server and watch the
camera. This will give you very high frame rates with no drop in speed for multiple
viewers..........but you have to pay for it. Unless you really need this option i would always
suggest...do it yourself.....save money....have lots of fun...be in complete control.

Use An IP Camera - These are expensive but you dont need a PC. The camera will
connect direct to the internet link and has its own built in webserver. Cameras such as
AXIS are very easy to set up and use. However you dont have the flexibilty that you have
with say a capture device, with one of these you can change your camera any time you
like by just plugging in a new one and it uses the same hardware as the previous one.

When using methods 1,3 or 4 above you will have to make sure that you have your computer
and internet link set up correctly, ideally with a fixed or static IP address and that the correct
ports are forwarded/made available for your camera server software. You will also need to
make sure that your firewall and any anti-virus software is configured to let you gain access
to the video server software from the internet. Active Webcam and willin g webcam both have
excellent help files included to explain what you need to do and how to over come the
problem of having a dynamic IP if yours is not Fixed. Their Technical Support is also superb.

Broadcast To Windows Media Player - By Using PY Broadcaster you can really quickly
set up a streaming camera or cameras and make the broadcast available to anyone using
Windows Media Player. This is ideal for providing a quick and easy to set up webcast for a
club meeting or another venue.

Also BEWARE of virusus that attack video webservers and always keep your anti-virus
protection up to date. Configure your machine to allow connections on the appropriate ports
only. Virus protection is one of the most common problems you will encounter when trying to
get video feeds working as it blocks incoming traffic such as users trying to connect to your
camera's. How ever tempting it may be........Dont Switch It OFF. Work through it and
configure the access correctly and you will soon be broadcasting and be safe. I have found
that Norton Anti Virus is good as it tells you whats trying to connect and on which ports and
asks you if its "ok to let it in" so you try to connect......it dont work......you know its for
cameras.......click on the OK to permit button and your Done.

You can use your streaming video
webcam for your own fun web radio
station, let your kids sing tot their
grandparents and even produce your
own news webcast for local events.