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How to Set Up a Web Camera

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(25 Ratings)

Web cams are hardware/software combinations that stream live video or transmit frequently changing still images to a Web page. These instructions assume you already have a Web site up and running.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Evaluate the speed of your current computer and modem - sending video images takes a lot of bandwidth and processing power. Get a server computer and a digital modem if you plan to stream live video.

  2. Step 2

    Get a videoconferencing camera, digital still camera or digital camcorder to use as your Web cam. (See the Related eHow "How to Choose a Web Camera.")

  3. Step 3

    Buy a video digitizing card if you plan to use a camcorder.

  4. Step 4

    Select an inexpensive Web cam program or download a shareware program; various Web sites recommend WebCam32, I-Spy, WebCamToo and SpyCam.

  5. Step 5

    Connect your Web camera to the computer.

  6. Step 6

    Install the Web cam software.

  7. Step 7

    Install server software if you plan to transmit images in real time.

  8. Step 8

    Connect to your Internet service provider (ISP).

  9. Step 9

    Follow the instructions in the Web cam software to begin transmitting images.

Tips & Warnings
  • For convenience, use a camera that does not require a connection to the computer's serial port if possible.

Comments  

cyn777 said

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on 10/27/2007 How do you save snapshots with a built in webcam as jpegs? I can't find a save option on my Toshiba webcam in options/settings/properties.

manikb said

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on 4/13/2007 I have installed web camera (e-CAM (100K) JIL-2209) of frontech. Once it worked but after reistalling it again it did not work. I even tried with the downloaded driver but the device could not be located. I tried the camera to another computer and it worked but not at my machine. Please let me know the steps to enable my web camera.

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