Target camera build

shepherm

shepherm

New member
I'm tired of looking through a cheap spotting scope when developing a load, so I'm building a target camera. Of coarse I have used the sharpie method, which works great, but the camera can also be used for other shooting.

Here is a list of items I started with:

Router: The important thing about the router is it must have removable antenna. I used the Linksys WRT54GL from ebay. $18
Router antenna : Yagi Wifi antenna $15
Router antenna adapter: RP-SMA to RP-TNC $2
Wireless network adapter: TP-LINK TL-WN7200ND $20
Camera : 1080P Mini IP Camera $50

Options:
Another camera (I've never tried this one but it should work)
Antenna for laptop side I've got this on order but have not tried it yet. Hopefully this will get pass the 1000+ yards

Other parts I already had: Laptop, small 12 volt battery, 2-wire, and one ethernet wire.

With the current setup I have about $100 in it and I tested it out to 750 yards. I'm going to try another antenna on the network adapter, cost about $15. With the new antenna I'm hoping to get pass 1,000 yards. So, the total cost should be about $120, but a person could use a 720p camera and save about $25 dollars.

Target 4' away zoomed out
Target%204ft%20zoomed%20out_zpsbwc3acjg.jpg


Target 4' zoomed in (Picture is much better full screen)
Target%204ft%20zoomed%20in_zpsito3k9wp.jpg


Target 10' zoomed in
Target%2010ft%20away%20zoomed%20in_zpsnuc0cp8f.jpg


Camera (target equipment)
Camera%20setup_zpsbqwtpwmz.jpg


Laptop side:
100_0647_zpsol1tyyjd.jpg
 
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my buddy in Oklahoma is trying to put something together that will allow him to see 3 long range targets at once on his monitor...is that possible
 
Originally Posted By: dan brothersmy buddy in Oklahoma is trying to put something together that will allow him to see 3 long range targets at once on his monitor...is that possible Will all the targets be at the same distance? If so, yes but you will need three cameras or zoom out.
 
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Originally Posted By: dan brothers800 900 1000 yds


he is okay with three cameras... but how to get them to all talk to the monitor

So I haven't done it but he should be able to but he is going to need more than just cameras. He is going to need a battery, router, and camera for each location. The routers at 900 yards and 1000 yards would need to be set to "repeater/bridge" mode. This means the router at 800 is the main router and everything else talks to it.
 
Originally Posted By: CharlieinCOWhat is the sharpie method?

I assume he is using colored sharpies to color the tips of the bullet back past the ogive. 1st shot red, 2nd shot blue, 3rd shot green, etc. I've used it on ladder loads for different powder weights. Using a target with a white background (white paper or drywall) helps the colors show up. If you can't tell what color it is, a Q-tip dipped in denatured alcohol swabbed around the bullet hole will make them show up even more.

[email:http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html]http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html[/email]
 
I thought about doing similar when I had a private range, but with public seemed like too big of a pain. A spotting scope adapter for your phone seems simpler, look at a 5" screen that isn't moving around by your face instead of staring through the optics. They run around $50, assuming you have a decent scope to start with. You could probably do the same with a 10" tablet instead.
 
Originally Posted By: NdIndyI thought about doing similar when I had a private range, but with public seemed like too big of a pain. A spotting scope adapter for your phone seems simpler, look at a 5" screen that isn't moving around by your face instead of staring through the optics. They run around $50, assuming you have a decent scope to start with. You could probably do the same with a 10" tablet instead.

There are many ways to skin the cat. In the hot summer temps I have a tough time seeing bullet holes at 500+ yards with a spotting scope. I'm also not a fan of trying to write down and record the hits. With this system I just hit the record button.

Originally Posted By: jetmanI use my Go pro and smart phone .
Works out to almost 300 yards

This also works pretty good, but if someone hits your go pro you lose a lot more than a $50 camera. Another problem is the distance, when I'm testing a new load I'm normally testing 300+ yards and I wont shoot my 338 lapua under 500 yards.
 
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