Camera spotters

[Semtav]

Are there any good cameras out there that can be tied in to a laptop so one can mount it close to the target and watch the screen for the hits from 1000 ft away?

[Don McDowell]

Hopefully Bob see's this and jumps in he had the general layout for such a thing all worked out.
There is also the electronic target system, that uses some sort of sensors and reports back to a "laptop" at the shooters position, and the NRA has approved those for match score.

[Rick Mulhern]

Go here:

http://www.6mmbr.com/targetcam.html

[Jim Kidwell]

Give this one a look see......................Jim
https://www.bullseyecamera.com/index.html

[Kurt]

There are so many ways to set up a pit cam for seeing hits for as far as your rifle is able to shoot.
I was building a transmitter and receiver for the Mile shoot and had most of it build before that shoot ended so it ended up in my junk box. All that was needed was a camcorder and a 12 volt tv set.
The the Ham bands I spend time on are several down converters one can get ready build for a lot less then those systems in your posted links that are the same set up then what is used here http://www.hamtv.com/ http://www.hamtv.com/pdffiles/VM-70Xappnote.pdf but on these you need a Ham licence to operate them. You can also use a wireless security system that could be used for the 1K with a outboard hygain beam antenna and maybe building a amp to boost the single but you have to watch that you stay in the guide lines of the FCC.
Those little hand held radios used behind the targets at the Q can be used as transmitters from the pit to the line.

[Bob McDowell]

In my past life I did a lot of work with motion detecting DVRs (video security). I found that those concepts apply well to this application, too. The bullet marks were typically enough to trigger the motion capture, and grab a still of the now-changed target. (If you manage to hit it, that is...)

The problem I had wasn't the camera. A typical USB job had more than enough pixels to detect and record the change.

My issue was with the optics. Getting that kind of clarity out of a machine at, say 800 yards wasn't going to be cheap. Turns out your eyes do a lot of the work, even through a scope.

Now the idea of staging something small near the target is pretty cool. I imagine you could use something so simple as an old android phone. Maybe $50. Then you can add wireless for the data, either cellular or wifi. Though if wifi you're going to want a cantenna. Not sure which phones might be good for that, with the antenna ports and the like.

Interesting thought though.

[Bob McDowell]

Come to think of it, a person might get away with putting the whole phone in the can. Just line the camera up with a hole in the bottom. I would recommend an external power supply, too.

[Bob McDowell]

Well... now that I try to picture it, I am not sure you can angle the open end of the can back at the shooter while keeping the camera on the target... So maybe scratch that idea...

[Old Jim]

The product I have seen operating, required two guys to properly set it up; one at 600 yard target, one at the bench. It was like the model Kidwell spoke of. It work'd well after the set-up and would be ok for paper targets.

[Don McDowell]

In my past life I did a lot of work with motion detecting DVRs (video security). I found that those concepts apply well to this application, too. The bullet marks were typically enough to trigger the motion capture, and grab a still of the now-changed target. (If you manage to hit it, that is...)

The problem I had wasn't the camera. A typical USB job had more than enough pixels to detect and record the change.

My issue was with the optics. Getting that kind of clarity out of a machine at, say 800 yards wasn't going to be cheap. Turns out your eyes do a lot of the work, even through a scope.

Now the idea of staging something small near the target is pretty cool. I imagine you could use something so simple as an old android phone. Maybe $50. Then you can add wireless for the data, either cellular or wifi. Though if wifi you're going to want a cantenna. Not sure which phones might be good for that, with the antenna ports and the like.

Interesting thought though.

Well lets see what the IT guru can come up with... I know a feller that'll test it for ya