StarDot NetCam MP - Sarasota Webcam

There’s so many webcam manufacturers it may seem impossible to find the right one. Most are plagued with buggy firmware or poor optics. After two years of continuous use, I happy to report that two StarDot NetCam MPs have performed flawlessly as Sarasota’s premier webcams. Here’s the view from Downtown Sarasota:

(click to enlarge)

This is only at 640×480 resolution. The NetCam MP can produce images at 1280 x 960 resolution (1.3MP). The optics are definitely a strong point for StarDot. That’s because they’ve been designing digital camera technology since 1993. In fact the NetCam MP was the first true webcam to offer image resolutions greater than 1 megapixel. It boasts a 1/2″ CCD sensor, not a CMOS sensor like most webcams.

The best part is that the high resolution webcam comes complete with a built-in webserver and software features that can be controlled remotely. The built-in webserver can serve live video to multiple users. However in the case, to preserve bandwidth, the NetCams were set to upload 640×480 images to an off-site webserver for high traffic access. Each NetCam was able to upload a new image about once every 4 seconds. This is possible because of the built-in ftp functions. Since the NetCams have a built-in web server, no computer is necessary to make these cameras work.

Other features include auto/manual exposure, auto/manual color balance, sharpening, contrast enhancement, gamma correction, customizable date/time/text overlay. Connections include an Ethernet port for connection to any LAN network, (2) serial ports for connection to a modem and/or accessory attachments, DC power jack, AUX and I/O ports for connection to alarm system and motorized zoom lens.

These NetCams have been used for over two years, and have never locked up or required a reset. Since 2006, StarDot has added additional webcams to their lineup, including the 3 megapixel NetCam XL. StarDot also offers DVR solutions for security monitoring, etc. For more information on StarDot NetCam products, please visit Stardot.

Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, the Sarasota webcams are no longer online. In the meantime, there are few other webcam providers in sarasota:

November 25, 2008 · Filed under Gadgets

Comments

1  

dk

November 26, 2008 @ 12:15 pm

will miss sarasota live cam

2  

Bev Adams

December 3, 2008 @ 4:18 am

So sad that funding is no longer available for this web cam. I live in England but have a condo in Longboat Key which we come out to 2 or 3 times a year and this web cam was a great daily link to see what was going on and what the weather was like. I could work at my computer and dream about being in Sarasota in the warm with those clear blus skies.

3  

Natalie

December 6, 2008 @ 2:09 pm

I can’t believe this webcam is gone! It was my personal portal every day to the place I wish I was. How very sad for everyone who enjoyed it so much- it really was the best Sarasota cam on the web.

4  

Don

December 6, 2008 @ 11:25 pm

This is a very sad loss. Sitting in Indiana and dreaming of being there during our cold winters was always a high point of my day

5  

sharon and ken

December 7, 2008 @ 12:33 pm

We’ll miss this webcam as well! On a cold, dreary day in the Northeast, we were always happy to check the bay view and see how peaceful and tranquil things were at our second home. Too bad :(

6  

s harris

December 7, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

I agree completely…it was nice to check the status of the weather and boating in beautiful Sarasota.

7  

anne

December 9, 2008 @ 4:56 pm

oh, gutted.
Like many others we checked daily, and felt part ot where we wanted to be.
We are from the uk..love it here..and love to see where we are coming to again to cheer us up.

Yu never know what you got til its gone !!!

8  

Bobby

December 9, 2008 @ 6:36 pm

We also will miss the web cam. It was great to check on the weather and wish we were there more than we are. It was the best web cam I have run across.

9  

Susanne

December 11, 2008 @ 9:20 am

Another disappointed Brit. So sad the best cam has gone, like others I checked it everyday at work (in chilly Edinburgh, to brighten up the day. Anybody else willing to pay the fees to get the cam back in operation? Can DEF EFX let me know how much this will cost?

10  

John G. Aronson

December 11, 2008 @ 11:22 am

What will it take to get this downtown webcam up and running again? SeaTruth USA LLC.

11  

Margo

December 14, 2008 @ 9:30 am

I can’t believe the live cam is gone from here - but you can still look at sarasota live cam feeds at http://www.wwsb.com, it’s our local ABC station that has live cams on Siesta Beach

12  

John

December 16, 2008 @ 1:17 pm

I grew up in Sarasota and have two brothers still in the Manatee/Sarasota area. I’ll miss looking in on the bay where I boated as a kid.

13  

BB

December 30, 2008 @ 2:03 pm

So, so sad. This webcam brought us lots of happiness throughout the workday. Like the rest of you, we would gaze at it from time to time as we remembered how much we want to move to Sarasota (to be near our family). It kept us sane in between visits. It was the BEST webcam and best location for viewing of all the webcams I’ve ever, ever viewed. Job well done on placement. Heartbreaking.

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