my connected community (mc2)

Tips for Using a Webcam

You will need to create a webpage to view the webcam images. This webpage should incorporate the image, so you will need to know its location, i.e. where on the web the pictures are being sent e.g. mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/your_webspace_name/files/webcam.jpg.
If you are using the mc² Webpage Generator, you can include the following HTML code in the Content field, to display the webcam image: <IMG SRC=http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/your_webspace_name/files/webcam.jpg>
Ideally, the webpage will automatically refresh itself, to show the latest image. To do this, incorporate this HTML code into the <HEAD> section of your webpage: <META HTTP-EQUIV="Refresh" CONTENT="30">, where the content equals the number of seconds before the page reloads/refreshes. The page update period should match the image upload frequency, e.g. every 30 seconds the image updates and the page reloads to display it.
Sometimes, due to caching or proxies, the browser will not display the latest image, even if you click on . You will need to force it to refresh, by holding down the Ctrl and F5 keys simultaneously.
For the webcam to continue to work, you will need to ensure that the computer it is attached to remains ON at all times, with the webcam software running 24/7. If the machine powers down at any time, the webcam software may need to be manually restarted, before it will continue to send images.
To upload webcam images to your webspace, you will need to know the server name / address, as well as your login (username and password)

If you are uploading to mc² webspace, use these details:

FTP Server: mc2.vicnet.net.au

Remote File: public_html/files/webcam.jpg
This is where the file will be uploaded to, and what it will be called

Local File: specify a filename and location on your computer where local copies of images will be stored,
e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\username\webcam.jpg

Username: your mc² login [for Personal Webspace]
or the FTP login ( or group webspace name ) for Group Webspace
(see Group Settings: Advanced)

Password: your mc² login password [for Personal Webspace]
or the FTP password [for Group Webspace]
(see Group Settings: Advanced)

Update Period: 30 seconds (don't set the image to update too frequently)

New images being posted too frequently, e.g. every 10 seconds, will result in the image file being constantly overwritten before it can be completely downloaded. If viewers are using a modem to download the image, they will need at least 20 or 30 seconds between frames.
Note that with streaming video, e.g. a webcast, multiple frames per second are uploaded to the server, to give a "moving image" (video). Special software, or a browser plug-in are required to view video. E.g. to view .mov files, you need Quicktime, whilst Windows Media Player handles .avi and .mpeg. The Real Player can handle .rm and .ra files etc.
If you wish to deliver Streaming Audio and/or Video Files, contact us requesting permission to have a streaming account set up for you on the Vicnet Streaming Server. Please Note: We are only able to approve Victorian Community Groups, due to bandwidth limitations.
Be aware of issues of Privacy. If you are transmitting images of people across the Internet, then you need their permission. If you are showing artwork or images, then be aware that they could be protected by Copyright.

FTP Server:	mc2.vicnet.net.au
Remote File:	public_html/files/webcam.jpg This is where the file will be uploaded to, and what it will be called
Local File:	specify a filename and location on your computer where local copies of images will be stored, e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\username\webcam.jpg
Username:	your mc² login [for Personal Webspace] or the FTP login ( or group webspace name ) for Group Webspace (see Group Settings: Advanced)
Password:	your mc² login password [for Personal Webspace] or the FTP password [for Group Webspace] (see Group Settings: Advanced)
Update Period:	30 seconds (don't set the image to update too frequently)