wireless cameras

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I told my wife I would like to have a wireless camera to mount on my model railroad, as a Christmas gift. There is one on sale in the latest Walthers catalogue on page 79. I was wondering if anyone has purchased this camera system and how good are they ? Thanks for any response. Joe Voisin Sr

2

If it is the same one available from MicroMark, it’s very good. I’ve got mine mounted to a flatcar and enjoy watching the layout from the engineer’s point of view (or the conductor’s if pulled behind a train).

Kevin

http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html

3

It should be pointed out that these are wireless video cameras, not still cameras. I have one of the wireless models, but have only used it a little bit when my modules were set up. It worked pretty good. Do a search on eBay before you go much further, there used to be quite a few of them going for a lot less money that those offered at retail prices.

4

Railphotog is right. I would not buy mine from Walthers at thier price. In fact they have the small one at Walmart for less than $75 but the same one on ebay is approximately $15 plus they get you on shipping at $15-20 so a total $30-35

5

I bought my camera from an ad in MR. It is color and has sound pick up. You my not think sound is important but the microphone in the cam picks up all those little noises the wheels make, that sounds like the prototype wheel noise.

Here is how i mounted my camera.
http://www.geocities.com/oldlahistory/tvcam.html

6

Joe,

I have used on-board video cameras for about 6 years now. I am on my 3rd video camera which I bought from Tony’s Trains. It is a very sweet device which operates off of a 9 volt battery and easily fits into HO scale rolling stock and engines. I have even mounted it on the side of a shay boiler to give a convincing engineer’s view of the track ahead. Lots of fun and a big hit at our Open House Shows.

7

I mounted mine on a pair of articulated container cars with a linkage that turns the camera as the car enters a curve.

8

I plan to use several of these to control stopping points on hidden staging yards as well as to monitor progress of trains in hidden portions of the railroad. Several questions:

Can I use any TV?

How does the signal get picked up by the TV…is there a specific channel the TV is tuned to?

How do I split the TV picture to monitor seveal places simutaneously?

9

Some use the “Line In” and some use the “RF” and you have to use channel 3 or 4 just like a cable box.