What would be required to display the video signal from a small camera on Amigas?

[Dandy]

The title already says it:
What would be required to display the video signal from a micro cam on Amiga systems (OS 3.9/4.x)?

[Dandy]

First test for the x1000?

I'm sorry when i saw the 4.x it's the first thing i thought of...

No - just trying to figure out what is required if I realise my project to build a steam operated H0 scale model of an steam locomotive.

I was thinking about placing a mini spy cam behind each window in driving direction (left and right hand side of the boiler) in the drivers cabinet to be able to see if the signals ahead are red or green, as well as to have a view on the track on the Monitor when remote controlling the locomotive.

Of course the X1000's XENA and its I/O capabilities might be a big help here when it comes to the processing of all the video & steering signals.

[Dandy]

I don't know anything about 3.9/4.x but couldn't classic Amiga's with busboards talk to PCI TV cards (ie, Hauppage)?   Alternatively you could strip down a couple of webcams ... assuming you have USB and 3.9/4.x has some basic webcam support ... which I admit may be wishful thinking

Shouldn't it just be a matter of video streaming?

If so, it doesn't necessarily have to be included in the OS - an app for that might be enough...

[Dandy]

That is cool. Promise us all you will show us photos + videos + blog when you get it all going

Phew, mate - that might take a while.

I had the idea after having bought an electrically driven H0 scale model of a BR 03 steam locomotive two years ago.

I thought that its a pity that I have to run this fine model with electricity instead of steam.
So I started to think about building one myself and how to do it.
Once I had the complete concept in mind I started to think what would be necessary to do the task (computer, software, CNC machines, ...).

And I realised that I'd better immediately start saving money for that in order to have everything together when I will be retirering in april 2022. Before that I'm afraid I won't have enough spare time to start such a project alone.

I work in Cologne and live roughly 80 km east of it - so I took a small appartment in Cologne (where I stay during the week) and go home just every second weekend.

That's certainly not enough time to build a model steam locomotive - so I'm afraid the project will have to wait until that changes with my retirement.

It would be way cool to be able to remotely operate my toy trainset from a seawolf submarine submerged 800 ft underwater :rolleyes:

 :lol:

I know it's off topic but in my opinion the idea of using the zena to run a train set is the coolest thing to use an Amiga for since the toaster first came out for the A2000. It's a definitely more interesting use of zena than what xcore/hyperion/aeon has suggested so far

Yeah - this way "gaming" could be taken to a new level.

Conventional gaming (like going out to fly an RC model aircraft, to drive an RC model racing car, to sail an RC model ship or even an RC model submarine) could be interwoven with computer gaming to a completely new gaming experience. It could be done in a way that one could think he'd be sitting in the cockpit of the model (e.g. video streaming from the track ahead).

With "interwoven" I mean that "missions" of computer games (like e.g. Interceptor FA-18)have to be completed not by flying a virtual jet in a virtual space inside a computer, but by flying a model in reality - outdoor.

It also could be big fun to fly a video Drone that way...

That's why I think the A1 X1k could really be an interesting machine to tinker with - if I only had enough time...

[Dandy]

I have been to cologne several times to work.  Love the city, found from talking to people that most people are like you in that they live no where near cologne but work there.

Well, I was born in Magdeburg (former GDR - aka East Germany) and my parents escaped with me from there back in 1959 when I was just two.
I grew up in Cologne and moved to Waldbröl when I married in 1990.
Since 1998 I have a job in Cologne and so I rented a small flat here to avoid daily commuting.

[Dandy]

Hey Dandy,

Are you planning to run the signal via the track or RF?

Hi bloodline,

I haven't decided this yet. What do you think would be better?

I notice that they have composite output so any device that can digitise a composit signal will be able to display the image...

That's good to know, thanks.

As for the Amiga, I doubt the Amiga has the bandwidth to do live video...

I think that might depend on the model.

Currently I have an Amiga4000D in Micronik BigTower with CyberstormPPC and Mediator busboard with Voodoo4, Terratec512i digital and 10/100 mBit NIC, as well as a DENEB in Zorro III slot.

My main system currently is OS 3.9/WarpOS 16.1 plus an experimental OS 4.0 classic setup.
I'm planning to add a ZORram 256, to get an OS 4.x supported NIC and OS 4.1 classic, after I've been told that I can use the DENEB in USB 2.0 highspeed mode with OS 4.x classic as well.

And  I'm really tempted to get an A1 X1k and as I already mentioned, it might come in very handy for the planned project.