Okay, so I wanted to set up a webcam to keep an eye on things at my place, specifically focusing on Block Island. I’d heard about people doing this, so I figured, why not give it a shot? Here’s how it all went down.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed a camera. I didn’t want anything too fancy, just something reliable that could handle being outdoors. I already had a spare webcam lying around. Nothing special, but good enough to test this thing out.
Figuring Out the Location
Next up, location, location, location. I needed a good spot with a clear view towards Block Island. I live kinda near Block Island, and after messing around my yard and checking the angles for like an hour, I settled on this spot. Not ideal for a permanent setup, but good enough to get this experiment going.
Power and Connection
Then came the fun part – figuring out how to power this thing and get it connected. I got lucky – I had a power socket not too far, just required a bit of creative cable routing. I used an old extension cord to run power out to where I needed it.
Setting Up the Software
Software-wise, I didn’t want to get bogged down in anything complicated. I just needed something to grab the feed from the camera and make it accessible. I installed a generic webcam viewer and messed around with the setting.
Making it Viewable
So, the camera was working, the picture was okay. Now came the challenge – testing the view. I checked it from my phone, and it worked. The image was updating, and I could see… well, not much, because it was getting dark. It was a really blurry picture, but I could see the camera was working.
The End Result (For Now)
It wasn’t perfect. The view wasn’t amazing. But, hey, it was working! I had a live feed from my makeshift “Block Island Cam.” It was a bit of a hack job, a fun little project, and it definitely gave me a taste of what’s possible.
