Capturing thermal camera video? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 11:23:05 am
content: I have bought one of the recently-advertised NOS Raytheon 2000AS imager cores, which outputs video in 'NTSC' format (actually monochrome, no colourburst is present) and this displays nicely using the composite video input of a monitor. However, I would like to capture it for analysis (motion detection) and recording, on an Apple Mac. I bought a Video-to-USB 2.0 converter advertised as doing the job, but unfortunately it suffers from a problem where the video freezes for a second or so every few seconds, before springing back to life. This effect doesn't occur when the video is displayed using the monitor.The converter advertises itself on USB as an Empia Technologies EM28284. I'm connecting it to a USB 3 port (as that's all I have) on a MacBook Pro running Mojave.Since it doesn't work I'm returning it for a refund. Does anyone have any suggestions for alternative products that are known to work?

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 01:00:13 pm
content: I use Hauppauge WinTV's as the most reliable, and OK for Win 10Some early Hauppague had motion detection programmes available, I have not kept up with what is about nowadays.I have also used 'EzCap' but these are all China copies that have variable internals (and so drivers) and so far mine are only OK to Win7I have no idea how any of those go in the 'Mac' universeregardsBill

author: Flukav
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 04:09:56 pm
content: Hi,I also used the EZCap cheap copy from eBay. Works like a charm with VLC Media Player. Ticking extra device setting in «video device» capture menu pops up a selection pane where you can choose framerate, compression system, resolution and buffer size.If your device works out of the box, you might have a look with VLC and squeeze some settings.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 05:45:03 pm
content: I went down the ARCHOS mini PVR route with their mobile entertainment platforms. They are cheap as chips these days and provide a combined composite video record and playback capability on the integrated screen. They used to be expensive, but not anymore if you look on eBay for a used unit.Fraser

author: IwuzBornanerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 09:55:25 pm
content: I have one of the Chinese EZCap units with a Syntek STK1160 chip which I used for a while about 4-6 years ago with several NTSC "security" cameras and the "motion" surveillance package on Debian Linux, so there is a chance it would work with a Mac. I don't recall any significant issues except that it did not work well when I first bought it about 10 years ago.I recommend checking recent user reviews to see if any of them talk about using the thing with a Mac.

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2020, 07:55:30 am
content: I have used similar devices (albeit on Windows systems) and it seems to be pot luck whether you get one with a good chipset - I think there are at least two sets of silicon out there and there's nothing on the outside to say what you're getting.I agree that VLC's extra options can let you get most of them working but it can be a bit hit-and-miss while you work out the right combinations. It's also worth knowing that video capture can take a while to start - ten seconds or more in some cases. I don't know why this is, because there isn't a corresponding lag in the capture.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2020, 09:20:42 am
content: One weird thing about the capture device I sent back: it did not appear as either a camera or a video USB device in System Report - only as a USB audio device. It required a manufacturer's 'driver' to be installed, but I gather that in fact the chip used should have been USB Video Class Device compliant, so the built-in macOS driver should have worked.Many similar devices on Amazon carry the warning 'does not work on MAC', or only up to macOS 10.13 - although I suspect this may be the editing/capture software, not the frame grabber itself. Theyneversay if they are UVC compliant, or what the chipset used is. It makes buying a total lottery.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2020, 05:18:14 pm
content: That is because the Amazon sellers are random re-sellers, not the manufacturers.

author: IwuzBornanerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2020, 08:37:59 am
content: Quote from: nfmax on June 26, 2020, 09:20:42 amThis is why I recommend searching reviews for reference to "Mac".HOWEVER... I did that. I chose several EZCap units with hundreds of reviews & got 10-20 references to Mac in each one. Most said they got it to work in Catalina,, but some did not.Interestingly, one reviewer for this one,https://www.amazon.com/REDGO-Video-Capture-Converter-Adapter/product-reviews/B01E5ITE2W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1&filterByKeyword=Mac&sortBy=recentsaid it showed up only as audio on Mojave.One more reason for looking at the reviews is that sometimes the reviewers will say what they found that worked better, and one reviewer on another EZCap said this unit worked on his Mac & the mfr says it works on Mac but is over 80USD:https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Video-Capture-Digitize-iPad/product-reviews/B0029U2YSA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1&filterByKeyword=Mac&sortBy=recent

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2020, 07:41:47 pm
content: I have solved the problem! I bought a Grandstream GXV3500 Video to IP Camera converter off Amazon - basically it's a video capture device that can stream video (using RTSP) over Ethernet. It handles the video from the Raytheon nicely, and even does motion detection: just what I want. It's intended for CCTV/security applications, and IP camera clients are readily available for MacOS as well as Windows & Linux.The CritterCam project is moving along!