Because Camera 3 needs a 300 degree field of vision as well as up and down movement, a different approach was needed. I headed to the local hardware store again, but this time went to the camping department. Fortunately for me, a battery-powered lantern was on sale that had a globe that was almost the right size and shape. A bit of creative work with some cut-up plastic food storage containers and a slight modification to the camera's mounting bracket, and the enclosure was born. Completed with the obligatory green paint and red dragon, this camera and enclosure is also ready to go! You can also see the antenna sitting in its little protective house.
Now it's time for the next step - actually mounting these outside and beaming the signal back to base camp! We decided to start with the easiest camera first. Camera 1 is located pretty much in camp and will point towards a clearing by McDame Creek frequented by moose, right behind camp. This camera can use camp power, and also just uses the small, built-in antenna to send its signal back to the wireless router.
Camera 1 is mounted on a 12 foot length of 4" plastic sewer pipe and is attached to the old power generator trailer. There's a blue plastic container screwed to the pipe about half-way up - this is where the camera's power brick plugs into a short extension cord. We put the connection inside the plastic box to protect it from the elements. We can aim this camera either back at camp or towards McDame Creek just by turning the pipe a bit.
To test the camera, we pointed it back towards camp and the picnic area. Once Scott's done a little "brushing" to provide a clear view of the moose's favourite spot, we'll point it towards that area. As Victoria the moose and her offspring are still hanging around camp, you should be able to catch a glimpse early in the morning.
Camera 2 is next. This camera will be located some 500 meters from camp so needs a couple of extras - a directional antenna pointed back at camp, and a power supply. Here are Scott and Ri just after we finished mounting the camera and weatherproof power box.
We mounted the antenna enclosure right to the mounting pole - you can see it clearly behind my head in this picture.
