Another request to access the combined knowledge of everyone as I look to plan the basics of my emerging layout. I have a 'round the shed' layout with a fiddle yard along one side. I am contemplating adding a terminus station above the fiddle yard and while it would be hinged to allow access if needed in emergencies to the fiddle yard I would like to use some kind of small camera(s) which could be linked to my laptop screen to see what is happening in there just in case of any issues.

This may be more complex that I hope and so this is only at planning stage, but does anyone use such a system and if so what cameras and kit do you use?

At the moment my branch line is very short and so I am hoping to extend a lot further by using the space above the fiddle yard, but if it is too complex then I may have to be content with what I have!

Thanks for any advice

Acrylic mirrors are cheaper, and simpler 

I use ones set above the yard at roughly 45 degrees so I can see directly down to where my uncoupling locations are. If I also wanted to just see which lines are occupied I'd bung some on the ends, suitably angled so I can see the full yard from my control position.

There are plenty of small 'spy' cameras available on Amazon, (and elsewhere), that are ideal for mounting on flat trucks for a drivers eye view of the layout. Plenty of members, including me, have posted such videos. I am not sure how suitable the cameras would be for your purposes, but there will be someone who has done it, so there should be more replies along shortly. 

Quote from: chrism on February 23, 2022, 11:06:07 AM
Acrylic mirrors are cheaper, and simpler 

I use ones set above the yard at roughly 45 degrees so I can see directly down to where my uncoupling locations are. If I also wanted to just see which lines are occupied I'd bung some on the ends, suitably angled so I can see the full yard from my control position.

I use that system as well. The problem ChipperUK has is his fiddle yard will be covered over so really some form of camera to phone/laptop would be much better. There was someone on the forum who had hidden lines at the rear of his layout with cameras built into the retaining walls but I'm damned if I can remember who it was

Bob tidbury. Where did your cameras on the branch come from please mate? @Bob Tidbury

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 23, 2022, 12:30:53 PM

I use that system as well. The problem ChipperUK has is his fiddle yard will be covered over so really some form of camera to phone/laptop would be much better. There was someone on the forum who had hidden lines at the rear of his layout with cameras built into the retaining walls but I'm damned if I can remember who it was

Thanks and yes, the fiddle yard will be largely covered or at least that is the plan. Space is limited which is why I was thinking this could be a solution.

We use both mirrors and cameras on James St, partly to cover 'blind' areas, and partly to give operators a view of the train they are driving when its 20' away on a bend...

If needed, I'll try and find out which cameras Steve uses, but I have answered this question on the Forum before.

The following was the situation a year ago, he may have changed his mind on what cameras he actually bought;

"The original camera system that you saw at Canterbury were spyhole or pinhole cameras linked to a TF(?) screen. These all came from eBay; the cameras were about £12, and they are about 1/2" square. Steve is not sure of the initials used to describe the viewing screens, but he thinks it is TF; they are small LED type. Drawback to this system is need for power cables and cable from camera to screen.

As Dave/southerngooner has said, Steve has now seen a different style of cameras. These are Wi-Fi camera cubes, about 1" square, again from eBay, and also about £12. As they are Wi-Fi, after loading the operating app, they can be read on a tablet or mobile phone screen, anything that is also Wi-Fi. He thinks that if you have multiple cameras, you can create split screens to choose and observe whichever one you want, as each camera has its own i.d. code. Though each self-contained battery lasts approx. 4 hours, there is a USB socket on the camera to which you can connect a mobile phone recharging type of power/battery pack which will extend the life of the unit.

If you only want one camera/display, they can be directly connected by USB cables, and even connected to a small TV.

I think that's right........."




Martyn

The three cameras on my layout came from Ebay but it was some one else who ordered them and he fixed it all up for me as well , I just paid him for them .So no idea what site they were on .But I think they are readily available .
Bob Tidbury

A cheap mirror as Chris has used here https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php? topic=43692.435  or mick here on Kimbolted  https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6094.450   may work well

It is more than possible and I did it here. as seen in reply #274.

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=26446.270

Basically any camera will do (Wired or WiFi) depending on what you wish to display it on a TV or PC.

Do not forget that as it is a covered fiddle so make sure that it has LED illumination and a permanent DC supply.

Quote from: crewearpley40 on February 23, 2022, 01:44:59 PM
A cheap mirror as Chris has used here https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php? topic=43692.435  or mick here on Kimbolted  https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6094.450   may work well

My fiddle yard is open to view, not covered over

Quote from: colpatben on February 23, 2022, 02:15:17 PM
It is more than possible and I did it here. as seen in reply #274.

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=26446.270

Basically any camera will do (Wired or WiFi) depending on what you wish to display it on a TV or PC.

Do not forget that as it is a covered fiddle so make sure that it has LED illumination and a permanent DC supply.

That is really helpful and the views from your layout are what I am hoping to achieve.

I just now need to find a camera that works best from all of the options on Ebay. I have just realised that as the house wifi does not reach to my railway workshop at the end of the garden I will need a wired option and so maybe what is probably these days a simple (technologically) solution of CCTV cameras to a screen is what I need. Probably looking for one camera at each end.