The core part of the TWISTER system is a Foscam High Definition (HD) video camera.

Foscam cameras are the most popular High Definition (HD) remote control IP video streaming cameras in Australia. A wireless microphone combined with the ability to pan, tilt and zoom the camera makes for a very flexible live streaming/recording system. The camera is also sensitive to infrared, meaning it can record in very dim lighting conditions.

The best way to connect the camera and PC to the network, is to have a small 5 or 8 port 100M switch as part of the camera and wireless microphone kit.

1. Plug the 5/8 port network switch into the wall socket that your desktop is usually connected to. Plug the desktop and the camera network cables into the switch:
2. Connect the lapel microphone receiver to the In socket at rear of the camera.

To record live audio and videofrom a DoE desktop computer, open MSWindows Internet Explorer and enter the following URI:

• TWISTER00 http://10.206.33.15:88/

When visiting the above URI for the first time on any workstation, the browser should prompt you to download/install a plugin - the plugin should be installed automatically. You only need to install the plugin on first visit but may need to refresh the page after the plugin is first installed.

When viewing the video, there are two record buttons on the menu bar at at the bottom left of the video display screen: You need to click both sound and video buttons - clicking video only will not record sound.

1. The video will be stored in a folder on your C:\ drive (in the C:\TWISTER folder).
2. To playback video look in the C:\TWISTER folder and choose a file to play back

The following information is for the Foscam model FI9826W and F19826P IPC RTSP HD IP Cameras used in the WPS TWISTER system.

• Foscam Pan/Tilt IP Camera F19826W User Manual

There are three formats of video & audio streams.

1. videoMain —–means main streaming (best on LAN or fast links);
2. videoSub —–means sub streaming (best on slow links);
3. audio —–means audio stream, no video stream (audio only);

The camera fully supports connection via Videolan (VLC) software, the supplied Foscam software and/or via most modern web browsers and for use in DoE, you will probably find that Internet Explorer is the most responsive interface

The DoE supplied (freeware) Videolan (VLC) software (or any other RTSP compatible browser) RTSP url format is:

FLIPSTER00:
  1. rtsp://username:password@10.206.33.15/videoMain
  2. rtsp://username:password@10.206.33.15/videoSub
  3. rtsp://username:password@10.206.33.15/audio
 
FLIPSTER01:
  1. rtsp://username:password@10.206.33.16/videoMain
  2. rtsp://username:password@10.206.33.16/videoSub
  3. rtsp://username:password@10.206.33.16/audio

Current HD cameras support three H.264 (high quality) streams: Mainstream, Substream and audio. There is additional, full support for MJPEG streaming (best for Internet and web browser access).

To provide simultaneous streaming of both high quality LAN and lower bandwidth streaming for Internet, set one of the streams to an MJPEG stream and access using any web browser via a standard HTTP URI.

Free FOSCAM apps are also available for Android, Apple smartphones and tablet devices but video performance and quality will not be as good as when controlling, editing or viewing the video via a desktop computer.

For maximum control, speed and professional results, the software is best run from an MSWindows desktop machine with good memory and resources.

There are three levels of access to the camera settings:

1. Administrator (Admin) user Id levels can view, control and configure the camera(s)
2. Operator user(s) can only control the camera(s).
3. Visitor user(s) may login ans view the camera(s), but NOT control or configure it/them

NOTE: Clearing browser cache is (“Hyper Critical”) depending on what browser you are using. I can assure you that your issue will magically go away when you do this. A user may gain admin acces if an authorised Admin has logged in and the credentials of that user have not been cleared from the browser cache.

Recordings can be stored in three ways:

1. Local MicroSD card installed in camera (MAX size 32G)
2. Saving to a local or remote server (unlimited file size automatically stored via FTP)
3. Saving to the hard disk of any MSWindows workstation
4. Saving to an Internet Cloud server using free Android or iOS app.

For MicroSD Card recording, the MicroSD card must be under 32G. Old files on card will be automatically deleted when the available space falls below 256M. To avoid loss, it is best to configure the camera to automatically save to a server or to manually record and save the video file onto a hard disk on a desktop workstation (see user manual).

The camera includes an internal microphone and speaker with optional connection of external microphone/speaker via 3.5mm jack. This supports optional connection of most microphones (including wireless lapel microphones) and/or external audio/PA systems.

The camera includes support for two-way audio streaming (real-time discussion between local and remote user(s)).

Recordings can be activated at any time by:

1. Manual recording with file(s) saved into a local folder (default is: C:\TWISTER or C:\FOSCAM) on local hard disk (when recording from MSWindows desktop/workstations)
2. Automatic recording with files saved in designated folder on a remote server.
   1. Can be set to automatically record whenever turned on (file(s) automatically saved to folder on remote server or on MicroSD card)
   2. Camera always 'on' and automatically record and save file to a folder on designated server at scheduled time(s)
3. Automatic recording when motion/audio is detected - Saved to MicroSD card

The manual recording option is always available. The automated options will depend on how the camera has been configured and installed on your site.

It is possible to record and store files and operate most features of the camera using mobile apps but this is unreliable due to DoE network limitations.

Here is an example URL on how to set one stream (the subStream) to an MJPEG stream format:

• http://10.206.33.15:88//cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?usr=admin&pwd=password&cmd=setSubStreamFormat&format=1

Here is an example URL to set subStream to H.264 stream format:

• http://10.206.33.15:88//cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?usr=admin&pwd=password&cmd=setSubStreamFormat&format=0

Here “1” sets an MJPEG stream, if we don't want to set the MJPEG stream, we would set the number to “0”, “0” sets an H.264 stream.

See: SDK for camera setup

Source: Foscam CGI mjpeg snapshots and streaming howto

Write batch file for recording jiggery pokery: http://wrice.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/recording-surveillance-video-from.html

1. Stream using OBS: http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/live-stream-your-pets-linux-and-youtube?page=0,1

Alternately try the closest match to your model - or source the motion jpeg / H.264 URL/URI used by your IP camera or video server, then pick a model with the identical URL.

Downloads:

• List of cameras and access URI's
• Foscam Drivers & Firmware download
• Foscam F19826W User Manual F19826W User Manual
• Foscam User Guide and CGI codes: F19826W CGI Manual
• Foscam URL's for VLC and HTTP access

How To Add RTSP Stream Support To Firefox Web Browser:

1. Launch Firefox and open this address: about:config
2. Right-click on any location on the page and select New > Boolean.
3. In the pop up window, submit network.protocol-handler.expose.rtsp and click OK.
4. In the next pop up window, select false and click OK.
5. When clicking an RTSP link, Firefox will will prompt to select a media player
6. Browser: http://www.spotht.com/2011/08/add-rtsp-stream-support-to-your-firefox.html
7. VLC client:

 cvlc rtsp://admin:password@10.206.33.15:88/videoMain
 rtsp://admin:password@10.206.33.15:88/videoMain

RTSP uses IPC’s http port, it does not need to set other special configuration port:

• http://foscam.us/forum/how-to-use-rtsp-and-https-for-hd-cameras-t4926.html