Mobile IP cam network

[Farmcamguy]

I'm new here, so I hope this is the right place...

I farm, and we currently use a camera system called agcam to monitor farm equipment while it is in use. Basically, we sit in the tractor while it's doing work moving through the field, and we use the agcams to monitor operation such as how close we are tilling to the crop.

The problem is, agcams are stupidly expensive with garbage video quality. I don't believe they've updated sensors in 15 years. A single camera can cost over $300.

Ive been playing with a $40 revodata I704-2-P-HSV6 poe cam as a replacement. I have the cam hooked to a unifi usw-flex poe switch powered via a poe injector, which is then connected to a tplink ax1500 travel router.

This setup gives me a closed private network (I don't connect the router to the internet) that I can watch the camera via a tablet either thru wifi or cat6/usb-c adapter.

Overall, image quality is far better than the agcams, although it does stutter a bit if bit rate falls.

Problem is, the setup is a bit clunky. I'd love to find a router/switch combo that was suited for mobile use. Basically a ruggesized version of the unifi dream machine. Anything like that out there?

Requirements:

12v DC power (can use usb-c)
Wifi
3-5 poe ports
Router capabilities (android tablets don't seem to want to connect via ethernet unless you provide a dummy WAN setup via the router)

I think I'm probably going to end up with several devices to accomplish this, so if there isn't an all-in-one, looking for suggestions on the most compact/streamlined combo of devices.

Thanks!

 

[TonyR]

A few factoids:

• Network (IP) cams can have inherent delays that can be a consideration when using to navigate in real time; this is why automotive backup cameras are analog.
• Running the IP cams over Wi-Fi can increase those delays.
• If assigned unique, static IP's all in the same subnet, no router is required, just a switch.

 

[Farmcamguy]

A few factoids:

• Network (IP) cams can have inherent delays that can be a consideration when using to navigate in real time; this is why automotive backup cameras are analog.
• Running the IP cams over Wi-Fi can increase those delays.
• If assigned unique, static IP's all in the same subnet, no router is required, just a switch.

The lag was a concern I had but it has not been an issue at all. I have assigned static ip's, but the android tablet will not recognize and connect to the net without it thinking there is Wan access. I don't know why, but it will not.

Once I added the router and assigned a a dummy Wan, then the tablet would connect to the closed network. Seems to be a quirk of the samsung/android tablet I'm using.