BWE's New Toy

[BWE]

We are pleased to announce, for your viewing pleasure, a (drum roll please)...

WEBCAM AT THE LAUNCH!

With unreserved support from our sponsor OEX (http://www.oeexpress.com/), Big Water's Edge is proud to bring you the webcam pointed directly at the boat/kayak launch at Avenida De La Playa. So if you're ditching work or "taking the kids to soccer practice", borrow somebody's truck. :)

Big THANK YOU goes out to the La Jolla Shores Hotel (http://www.ljshoreshotel.com/) for allowing us to install the camera on their property.

Webcam access will be available immediately for WCW 2007 Players and the press while we work out the remaining bugs. It will be open for the general public shortly.

The camera is equipped with an IR (infra-red) module for night vision.

We put the weather/conditions links on the webcam page so that all your pre-launch preparations can be found at one spot.

Please note:

In order to see the video, you will need to install Axis Active-X control. You will be prompted to install it the 1st time you access the webcam page.
Each session is limited to 30 seconds, then you need to re-fresh (re-load) the page. This is so that nobody leaves the window open, slowing it down for everyone else. ;)If experiencing problems viewing the video, please do let us know by posting here (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?t=2643). We'll do our best to help.

Thanks again to the OEX (http://www.oeexpress.com/), La Jolla Shores Hotel (http://www.ljshoreshotel.com/)and the man of the hour - Adi of Adi IT Works (http://www.adiiworks.com) for putting in a tremendous amount of time and energy to get this camera dialed in.

Please share your thoughts/impressions/ideas to help us fine tune the webcam page.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/index.php?page=lajollashoreswebcam

[Holy Mackerel]

Hey look it's the Madscientist in his old Blue boat! :p

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g287/cmfierro/misc/image.jpg

[dorado50]

No thats dorado50. I can recognize him anywhere! :eek:

[BWE]

To all the folks who sent email to admin via "Contact Us" link...

Please read below:


Webcam access will be available immediately for WCW 2007 Players and the press while we work out the remaining bugs. It will be open for the general public shortly.


We'll make an announcement when we enable Webcam access for everyone.

Thanks!

[dmr]

Very cool guys. Pretty fast frame rate should be good for high tide carnage shots. IR too. :you_rock:

[wavster]

Very nice. WTG BWE techies...

D50: looks like you went out this morning. What's the report???? More yellow?:D

[wavster]

Will we have zoom and pan controls? I'd like to be able to see what rigs
other guys are using...:D

Oh yea, and the eye candy, too...

[wavster]

How about working on a night vision scope for those early launches...lol

Just kidding - looks great!

[ratdog]

very cool, thanks

[lambadmin]

Glad to hear you guys like it.

I like it a lot too.

Dave, no zoom or tilt. You're already bored with the static video? :)

You see the ocean you see the waves, can get pretty good idea about the wind too. That's all that matters.

And all of you unfortunate souls that have a problem, very sorry but please take your moaning to the "Support" thread. The more details you provide, the better. We're test driving it, we'll figure it all out.

This is the LJ webcam parade thread. :D

The rest of you please hang'n in there. We're optimizing the video quality, bandwidth, throughput, all that. We started off with pretty ambitious video resolution size - we want to make sure the webcam server will be able to sustain the load...

[dorado50]

That's really cool stuff. Now I'll be able to see surf conditions 24/7. Now it will really be hard to get away from it all with this cam in ya face! So my boss don't see me I'll be the guy with the brown bag over my head and around the yak, oh wait .. I am the boss!!! And please none of this :reddy: while cam is running.

[BWE]

Webcam is now available for everyone.

If you have a problem viewing it, please check the Webcam Support (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?t=2643) thread.

If you still have a problem after going through the suggestions in the support thread, please report and include as much details as possible - what OS (XP, Vista, Win2000), what browser - type and version (Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2.0, etc.), specify if you're getting any error message... We'll try to help out.

Please let us know what you think.

[Handymansd]

Thanks OEX and BWE!:luxhello:

What a great tool and to think that you guys have provided it with the open source attitude! Good people, good class, good times!:cool:

Are you sure you have the right launch? There seems to be a river on this video!:rolleyes:lolhttp://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/500/river.jpg

[lamb]

:)

amazing what i lil' rain can do to that launch.

[One Rev]

Your right, I'll set here watchin the cam all day and daydream about launching. This is so cool. I love the internet.

Mike

[h2ofishfo]

freakin sweet but when i have all my crap loaded tghe night bfore rain or shine im rollin

[T-Rex]

Very cool...thanks.:luxhello: Now we just need an infared camera to see how conditions are at 3:00 a.m.!:rolleyes:

[nunyabizness1]

Very cool! Thanks to OEX, LJ Hotel and Adi for putting this together!

[madscientist]

I know Adi and OEX put a lot of work into this and the concept is a fine one. However, I must admit to being a little upset that the field of view is so focused on the launch area. It's kind of creepy knowing that you are potentially being watched every time you load/unload, and as we've already seen, people and vehicles are easily recognizable. I wonder if it would be possible to angle it out more, so that those that may not want to be on camera could easily avoid the field of view. Otherwise, it seems somewhat intrusive to force us all to be on what is essentially a worldwide live feed as we make use of a public access area. Several other people I know share this concern.

[nmbrinkman]

Finally figured out how to view the feed. Thanks guys for setting this up. I kinda like the field of view seeing as I don't catch enough fish to fear advertising them;) . On a more serious note, I find myself using the launch in the afternoons and I like the idea of being able to judge the crowds beforehand. Not to mention the tail and trainwrecks that it attracts..:D JMO though.

[MKNOTT]

I think the camera is great. I'm sure it will be used by many on a boring day at work, AND DEFINITLY for that last min looks before a PM. You could always launch at Bird Rock Brad :D. Seriously though, I highly dought anybody will use the camera for criminal intent. Maybe my X-Wife, I guess I'll have to walk along the fence if I think she is looking. MKNOTT

[Handymansd]

Brad, your concern is legit, but I think you just want to keep everyone from finding out that you bring all those :yt: , and WSB, and Halibut, and Threshers, and.... well you get the idea, with you!:rolleyes:lol;)

[Brian Sanner]

Very cool. I am planning on hitting up LJ in the november/December months and it is nice to be able to see the beach and surf conditions beforehand. The view is cool and like to see all those tourists on rented yaks wreck in the surf :D .

[Louis Clarke II]

It is and will be well appreciated…

Louis & Clarke

[wavster]

You can't stop the world from looking. Paparrazzi are everywhere....:D

Try bass fishing. No cameras there!

[OEX]

OEX came up with the idea to install the camera several months ago. After finding out that there was a desire from the local La Jolla community and several agencies to have them installed in the area, but the budget constraints wouldn't allow it at the moment. We thought that as long as they were going to be installed at some point anyway, we might as well foot the bill and install it in a manner that would benefit the kayak fishermen and fisherwomen as well as city services. It allows SD Lifeguards and Emergency First Responders to monitor the boat launch traffic. City Parks and Recreation are able to respond and witness the conditions of the launch after storms and severe high tides.

OEX is excited about the boat launch camera and we're glad to see that so many of you are as well. We think you'll find it to be both beneficial as a kayak fisherman and fun to have access to view the beach at any time.

While the angle of the camera is adequate to monitor conditions of both the ocean and boat launch, you'll notice that the entire launch is not visible, so if anyone feels like Big Brother is watching please just set up and launch closer to the pylons.

OEX

[T-Rex]

I'm really stoked to be able to check out the conditions before leaving my house at 3:00 a.m. Most surf cams are pretty worthless at night, but this one is a pleasant surprise...a good amount of detail is visible because of the lights. Big thanks OEX!
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/500/LJ_Night.jpg

[lambadmin]

A thing to note - the webcam has an IR, but it's not that great in the pitch darkness. It's OK when the lights on the hotel are on, and I'm hoping it will be somewhat OK with the moonlight. We're yet to see that.

But keep in mind - now that we have this webcam, we can always get more expensive camera and the webserver that can reeeeeally see in the dark... $$$ is the only problem, but if all of us pitch in a little?? I'd be willing ;)

I'm very happy to see the overwhelmingly positive response to the camera.

What it took was:

... a big pile of $$$ provided by OEX. THANK YOU!

... an awesome patronage from La Jolla Shores Hotel. Please remember this and cut down the noise and volume on your stereo when pulling in to launch at 4:00 AM :) . A ton of emails back and forth, multiple meetings. THANK YOU!

... 5 quotes from different Video Equipment Installation companies. Another ton of emails back and forth, hours on the phone and meetings explaining what's really important that this camera has. Big thanks to DVSS Video Security folks for delivering what we need. Great folks to deal with, professional and dependable. Big thank you to David Lugan - http://www.dvss.net/

... hours of configuring it all, days/weeks of test driving and fine tunning.

I'd like to thank to all the folks that helped out with the initial feedback, before it was announced on the board.

I'd also like to thank the WCW gang for being the Guinea pigs once we released it. :) Muchos gracias.

Brad's concern is a legit but I'd say very very remote.

We initially had the camera pointed more West along those wooden pilings...

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/adi/camera-josh.jpg

Then we decided to move it up and more North, to cover more of the beach and the waterline. Keep in mind that the breaking swell will be moving further and closer to the webcam depending on the tides. We tried to have it pointed so it covers all the tide extremes.

For people that have a problem being on camera when launching and landing - as OEX said, there's a plenty of space closer to wooden pilings that is out of the webcam range. A second or two you'd be on the camera while passing should not be enough time for someone to actually recognize and ID your car, especially in the dark when we're launching most of the time. Be rest assured the camera was not put out there so we can see you - we're interested in swell, waves, wind and the general conditions at the launch. BWE and OEX believe that information is what will be helpful to the kayak fishing community, and that the benefits heavily outweigh the remotely possible bad things.

Personally, I doubt the thieves will be excited that they can now use the webcam to recognize the cars. I can't imagine them being all high tech, getting up at 4:00 AM to sit in front of their computer and "mark" the cars they're going to rob. :rolleyes: If they're up for the dirty business, I would think they'd be much more inclined to actually be there at the ramp and see us launching - something we can't prevent anyways.

[madscientist]

Who said anything about thieves? But a non-trivial concern none the less.

It is not always possible to hug the pylons, depending on crowd or tide.

I think the original positioning was better, as people could just head north if they wanted to avoid the camera.

I was initially taken aback as the very first images I was shown clearly showed a fellow WCWer at the launch, with the surf barely visible. Perhaps that made me focus on the "spycam" aspect.

If looking at blurry tourist tail on that camera is your thing, there are much better websites out there that cater to that kink (and all the others)lol.

The dirty little secret is that there is almost never surf at LJ. Seriously, in almost 3 years and over 500 launches at LJ I have never turned back or even doubted if I could get out/back through the surf. Developing the skills and confidence to deal with surf is part of the challenge and part of the unique thrill of kayak fishing for ocean big game. As Andy has pointed out, if it gets too easy it loses some of its allure (I'm paraphrasing).

The technical accomplishment is superb. Well done Adi!

[Corey]

:boring:

[Aaron&Julie]

:luxhello: Outstanding work:you_rock:

We love it. Just wish we could get out and use it's benefits.

Thanks.

[lambadmin]

MS and WS,

You guys really like each other... :rolleyes:

This is the camera parade thread, please. :)

[wavster]

:)

[FISHIONADO]

The camera is very cool. thanks! :luxhello:

[Slay Rider]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/EE-john/imagewebcam.jpg

I just noticed this thread. Now at 3:00 is when I would typically be checking the surf conditions. Not much help today but it could get me on the water more in the evenings. Checking it from work and seeing glassy conditions would do the trick - especially if there were kayaks landing with fish on deck. Will there be any way to rewind so as to do a quick scan for incoming fish counts?

You guys must have gone to a huge amount of work and expense to get this feet accomplished -thank you all for the effort.

There is wisdom in Brad’s argument as well and especially for those who are new and entering into their first winter season.

Launch cam - so what’s next live satellite feed capable of monitoring the whole area? Or my personal favorite, schooling fish with tracking devises.
Thanks again - you make us all proud.

SR

[fishfinder]

Guess no more bong hits in the car :the_finger::the_finger::the_finger::the_finger::t he_finger::the_finger:

[dorado50]

I went out this morning and found myself hugging the pilings so as to not be on cam. Don't no why but I did feel as though I was being "watched". I for sure did'nt want to be seen "crashing" going out or coming in!! Paranoia in the early stage.Maybe if I bring in a decent fish I'll feel different, we'll see...........

[DBITE]

Nice!! I had been using the beach club's web cam but it's focused a bit south of the launch. This is much better.

[lamb]

Cool, I didn't have a clue about their webcam. Good to know.

I haven't had much luck with it's video since yesterday morning. It is probably just down temporarily:

http://www.ljbtc.com/default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=228655

[theyorkieterror]

From way over here it looks like a great place. I had to go to rocky top to catch a view. :)

[TomTurtle]

thanks a lot guys- now i have another reason i can't get anything done at work:you_rock: