THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW ARE A BASIC GUIDE FOR INSTALLING OUR WEBCAMERA NESTBOXES FOR PC/LAPTOP
(NB: IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED A CCTV CAMERA NESTBOX (FOR USE WITH A TV)
PLEASE GO TO THE END OF THIS SECTION FOR SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS)
It is IMPORTANT TO SET UP AND TEST the camera in its nestbox on your laptop or pc and also check the cable length is sufficient for your requirements BEFORE hanging the nestbox outside!
Connect the usb lead to a usb port on your pc and check that it is working with your webcam software. (See links on our website or read below regarding free software). If you have been supplied with an extension cable test the camera with this attached.
Check camera position is correct. To adjust camera position unscrew the lid of the birdbox. Ensure the camera lens faces the centre of the floor area – it swivels horizontally and vertically. The lead may pull on the camera so test the finalposition with lid in place before refastening.
You should not need to adjust the camera focus as this was done before packing. Should it become necessary it is controlled by rotating the camera lens. The clearest focus should be a little way ABOVE the floor of the box – place a marked object such as coloured pen in the hole to test this.
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Finally disconnect the camera and hang the nestbox where desired. Keep exposed metal on cables covered or indoors when possible to protect from damp - use cableguard tube if appropriate (instructions on packet). If you intend to keep the extension cable permanently connected it may be better to cover the joint with plastic insulation tape and then cover the tape with waterproof mastic/pvc glue.
SOFTWARE: To use the webcam in your birdbox you will need a programme on your pc that includes capture software. Windows Live movie maker (Windows 7 operating system or later) can do this, but the capture window (used for viewing the camera in real time) is very small so, although its great if you are mostly interested in recording footage and editing you maywant to use a programme giving full-screen live footage and some great free software for this is available online. Examples are: NCH debut, VLC media player and Yawcam. We strongly recommend that you visit our customer support website’s instructions page where there is more information and help with using the VLC and NCH programmes. If you have MSN live messenger running on your pc you can, of course, make the camera in the box your default webcam on this programme so it is ready to share the action with friends and family online!
MAC users: For pc's using the OSX10 operating system all you need to do is connect the birdbox to the iMac, open the Photobooth app and under Camera in the Photobooth menu and select the USB 2 Camera. For other systems you may need the MACAM software to drive the camera (for information on downloading software and instructions on its use please refer to the INSTRUCTIONS PAGE on our support website, Birdboxview.com) as well as an Apple camera capture app. As well as Photobooth some of our customers have used the free programmes VLC for Macs or Dwayne Cam for Mac OSX 10.7 or later -
NESTING BOX: Basic instructions for using the nestboxes are on the label. We suggest that you put up nestboxes well before the nesting season to give birds time to “househunt!” Most birds will avoid south facing nestboxes as they do not like direct sunlight on the nest. They are likely to nest near a source of food and somewhere safe from predators. Species nest at different heights, sparrows and starlings will nest in colonies quite high up (3m – 4m) whereas bluetits like to be a little lower. When cleaning your nestbox at end of breeding season please unscrew bolt and remove the webcamera first, to protect the lens.
Happy watching!
LIGHTING: The camera LED lighting with the 10m webcamera will come on automatically when it is too dark in the nestbox to see without it. The LEDS on the basic 1.5m webcamera are controlled from the switch near the nestbox so it is best to set them at the level you will require in relatively low light conditions and then, assuming you will not wish to approach the nest area during the breeding season, cover the switch as tightly as possible with polythene to protect against damp damage. We have found that there is not much to see after dark as the birds nestle down and sleep – so please be kind and disconnect the camera from your pc in the evening so as not to disturb their rest cycle!
Occasionally you might wish to alter the webcamera capture settings on your pc to allow for different external light conditions. There is information to help do this with the VLC and NCH programmes on our instructions page (link below)
OTHER HELP AND ADVICE:
For further, detailed information and help using your webcamera nestbox you are encouraged to browse the FAQ and TROUBLESHOOTING pages at www.birdboxview.com
We hope you will get as much enjoyment from your nestbox camera as we get from our own. If you have any problems or queries not answered here or on our support website just write to us at support@birdboxview.com and we will be glad to assist you.
Lastly, if in setting up and using your birdbox camera you discover any useful tips you would like to share with others or want to share your footage and photos we would love to hear from you!INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING A CCTV CAMERA NESTBOX
Please test indoors before hanging your nestbox outside!
We fit cameras in 2 types of nestbox, for which the instructions are slightly different, please scroll down further if you have the green-roofed Birdboxview model (BBV/CCTV)
A. FOR BIRDBOXVIEW WITH V-SHAPED ROOF AND FOR GARDMAN MULTI NESTBOXES
The wires from the camera are in the plastic cable trunking down the side of the nestbox. The trunking has a cover that clips off and on. Remove this cover and connect the cables from the camera to the matching coloured leads on the extension cable. Clip trunking back securely to protect the cable joints!
Now connect the white and yellow jackplugs into the matching sockets AV sockets on your TV. The audio on the camera is very sensitive and the nestbox creates an “echo chamber”, so you will probably want to keep the TV volume low until you find a comfortable level for you to hear nestbox activity. Also please place the nestbox at a reasonable distance from the TV before powering up the camera to avoid unpleasant feedback from the TV speakers when testing!
- Plug the power adaptor into your electric power socket (the power socket should be turned off at the wall at this point) then plug the red cable into the adapter. You may find the diagram at the end of this page helpful with this.
- Turn on the wall socket and you should see the inside of the nestbox on your TV. If not then you are probably not tuned to the correct (AV) channel on your TV so try changing channels.
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If the camera is not in focus or is not facing square
towards the base of the nestbox unscrew the 2 or 4 screws in the lid, lift off the
lid. Adjust the focus by gently turning the lens on the
front of the camera whilst watching the TV screen until best clarity is obtained. Adjust camera position by
very gently tilting on the bracket until correct.
Carefully replace the lid once done.6. Finally disconnect the leads from
the TV and hang the nestbox where desired.
Keep exposed cable ends tucked carefully in the plastic housing until
birds move in to protect
from weather damage.
B. FOR BIRDBOXVIEW MODEL (GREEN SLOPING ROOF) - First
connect the white and yellow jackplugs into the matching sockets AV sockets on
your TV. The audio on the camera is very
sensitive and the nestbox creates an “echo chamber”, so you will probably want to keep the TV volume low
until you find a comfortable level for you to hear nestbox activity. Also please place the nestbox at a reasonable
distance from the TV before powering up the camera to avoid unpleasant feedback
from the TV speakers when testing!
- Plug the power adaptor into your electric power socket (the power socket should be turned off at the wall at this point) then plug the red cable into the adapter. You may find the diagram at the end of this page helpful with this.
- Turn on the wall socket and you should see the inside of the nestbox on your TV. If not then you are probably not tuned to the correct (AV) channel on your TV so try changing channels.
- Now unscrew the nestbox lid in order to secure the cables in the cable guard tubing provided and improve focus or position of the camera if necessary.
- If the camera is not in focus or is not facing square towards the base of the djust focus whilst watching the TV screen by gently turning the lens on the front of the camera. Adjust position by very gently tilting the camera until correct.
- Disconnect the camera jack plugs from the extension cables and push the plastic cable sheath over the connector point and up under the lid of the nestbox. Carefully replace the lid once all is in place and screw down again. When you wish to watch the nest you will need to push to end of the extension cable into the plastic sheath and join up the jack plugs.
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Meanwhile please use a wire tie to secure off the end of
the sheath and keep the plugs protected from damp conditions outdoors. Finally hang the nestbox where birds
are likely to nest!
- LIGHTING for the CCTV camera:
- The camera will work in any kind of light but will default to black and white automatically when it is too dark for colour vision. To get better colour vision we have added an opaque plastic “window” in the side of the nestbox . Too big or clear a window could discourage birds from taking up residence in the box as they will see it as exposed to predators, we have made it a reasonable size and opacitywith this in mind!
BIRDBOX CARE:
Basic instructions for using your nestbox are included on the label. Don’t forget to give it a clean at the end of
the breeding season (end of August is earliest legal time to do this). We suggest that you put up new nestboxes in
Autumn/Winter when possible - this gives birds time to “househunt!” You will find further information about wild
bird care on our customer information website, www.birdboxview.com
If you have any problems or queries that are
not dealt with here just send us an email at support@birdboxview.com or give us a ring on 01503 263316 and we
will be glad to assist you. Happy
watching! Keith & Rachel
