Zmodell RailVision – model train camera system
Aug 31, 2019 14:43:13 GMT -5
Rob Albritton, BAZman, and 5 more like this
Post by scanrail on Aug 31, 2019 14:43:13 GMT -5
Greetings to all,
Let me introduce you one of my latest and long-time developments. It is not a train model, but it is something dedicated to our scale – Zmodell RailVision – model train camera system. For a long time I explored this subject in order to find a comprehensive camera solution that will be suitable for Z scale. I tried to find existing devices that will match desired requirements and will be possibly free from the most drawbacks. After all, I concluded that actually almost nothing exists for Z scale in this area, even the best implementations are usually with a lot of visual or technical compromises. The most advanced cameras and recorders exist only for bigger scales – you can find everything in H0, and even N scale offers mass produced solutions (for example, Tomix 5594). The most common problem is that it is impossible to fit any of these cameras into Z scale. In addition, those tiny recorders that can be installed on Z scale chassis cannot be controlled externally, and you cannot review a recorded video immediately – first you should copy it from a MicroSD card to PC, and only after this you will be able to look at the results. There is also a number of other disadvantages of such devices, so I decided to develop something on my own.
The camera system consists of the following:
1. Train audio/video module: video camera connected to the 2.4GHz wireless A/V transmitter. A small voltage stabilizer with rectifier and low voltage drop powers the circuit. The input range is 5-12V AC/DC. It means that the module can be powered with any kind of source – battery, analog or digital track voltage even without following a correct polarity.
2. Wireless recorder module: a small 10x12x3 cm box made of black anodized aluminum can do everything:
– Receive wireless audio/video signal and record it to removable storage (SDHC/MicroSDHC up to 32GB, MPEG4/ASF format 720x576);
– Output audio/video to HDMI (1080p), A/V analog (SD) and USB (device is recognized by PC as a web camera).
– Wi-Fi functionality: real-time video can be viewed and recorded on any mobile device (such as smartphone or tablet) via dedicated application;
– Recorder is equipped with a backup battery, so nothing will be lost in case of accidental power loss.
– Built-in speaker that plays audio of real-time and recorded videos, and 3.5 mm jack for headphones.
– Two small 3 dB external antennas – for A/V receiver and Wi-Fi transmitter.
3. Monitor: A portable 5-inch (127 mm) 800x480 high-resolution screen is connected to the recorder module via dedicated 3.5 mm 4-pole jack. It is used to play real-time and already recorded videos, as well as to access to the menu and adjusting settings. The screen has brightness, contrast and saturation adjustments. Different languages and aspect ratio can also be set.
4. IR remote to control everything: play, record and adjust settings.
5. External 12V/1A power supply.
6. USB A-A cable.
Connection diagram:
Zmodell RailVision set:
Wireless recorder, front panel:
Wireless recorder, rear panel:
Wireless recorder, bottom side. Built-in speaker is visible:
Portable 5 inch monitor:
IR remote control:
RailVision is turned on, main menu on the screen:
Camera modules are available in different sizes – 4.5x4.5 mm, 5x5 mm, 6x6 mm, 8x8 mm. Resolution varies from 600 to 800 TVL (TV lines). Some cameras are equipped with microphone and able to record audio. Lens can be adjusted to get a desired focusing distance. There are also screw-in wide-angle adapters available for the most lenses, however I didn’t tested them yet. Such adapters can widen a field of view from the most common 45 degrees to 90-120.
Wireless transmitters are also differ by size and transmission power: 18x8 mm 100 mW and 27x10 mm 500 mW. Both kinds are suitable for Z scale by size, but bigger one heats up very strongly, and it cannot be used without a metal heat spreader.
Typical power consumption of the small transmitter together with camera is about 185 mA, the bigger transmitter consumes with camera about 390-400 mA.
I have developed a dedicated power supply PCBs for the both types of transmitters that match the sizes of them. The smaller power supply module can output max. 250 mA, the bigger one – 500 mA. I also placed tiny 2.4GHz SMD antennas on PCBs, so everything can be packed in a very compact size.
Video output to monitor, HDMI and A/V analog contains overlay (memory card remaining time, menu, settings etc.), but output to USB and Wi-Fi is clear in order to take advantage of video recording on the destination device (computer, tablet or smartphone).
Train camera module is still in development – I still have to develop a case for camera, transmitter and power supply, and test it for heat dissipation issues.
The smallest 4.5x4.5 and 5x5 mm cameras offer 600 TVL and give quite a mediocre image quality in low light conditions, but at least acceptable, assuming the limitations of Z scale. The main advantage of such small cameras is that they can be installed inside a cabin of Z scale locomotive without any significant modifications to the loco.
Mid-size 6x6 mm camera has 700 TVL and works a little better than the smallest ones. Bigger 8x8 mm cameras provide the best quality and have 800 TV lines – not bad for still such a small size. Furthermore, they work better in low light conditions (and much better than smallest 5x5 mm cameras). According to my tests, 8x8 mm camera with microphone showed the best quality against all other cameras I tested.
There are also bigger cameras available on the market. They are about 12.5x12.5 mm size, which is still acceptable for Z scale. Such cameras have a higher resolution 720p or 1080p, however I did not tested them yet. I have also found 1080p camera modules made by Sony. Sellers claim that these cameras have a very good sensitivity in low light conditions, but no surprise they are noticeably more expensive.
Mobile application is available for smartphones and tablets with Android OS. The app is not available in Google Play; it should be downloaded here: www.pgyer.com/2MWP. Don’t worry, it is safe. The application allows to view, record and play video in different resolutions. It also allows making pictures from the real-time video, as well as adjusting settings for the Wi-Fi transmitter device (change channels).
Some camera modules that are suitable for Z scale and compatible with RailVision (from the left to the right): 5x5 mm, 6x6 mm, 8x8 mm, 8x8 mm with microphone. I added German BR 151 electric locomotive for size comparison:
Two models of suitable wireless A/V transmitters - 18x8 mm/100 mW and 27x10 mm/500 mW together with corresponding rectifier/voltage stabilizer modules:
Screenshots of Wi-Fi Camera app for Android (Note: picture in the second screenshot is not native, I added it just for reference):
Regards,
Alex
Let me introduce you one of my latest and long-time developments. It is not a train model, but it is something dedicated to our scale – Zmodell RailVision – model train camera system. For a long time I explored this subject in order to find a comprehensive camera solution that will be suitable for Z scale. I tried to find existing devices that will match desired requirements and will be possibly free from the most drawbacks. After all, I concluded that actually almost nothing exists for Z scale in this area, even the best implementations are usually with a lot of visual or technical compromises. The most advanced cameras and recorders exist only for bigger scales – you can find everything in H0, and even N scale offers mass produced solutions (for example, Tomix 5594). The most common problem is that it is impossible to fit any of these cameras into Z scale. In addition, those tiny recorders that can be installed on Z scale chassis cannot be controlled externally, and you cannot review a recorded video immediately – first you should copy it from a MicroSD card to PC, and only after this you will be able to look at the results. There is also a number of other disadvantages of such devices, so I decided to develop something on my own.
The camera system consists of the following:
1. Train audio/video module: video camera connected to the 2.4GHz wireless A/V transmitter. A small voltage stabilizer with rectifier and low voltage drop powers the circuit. The input range is 5-12V AC/DC. It means that the module can be powered with any kind of source – battery, analog or digital track voltage even without following a correct polarity.
2. Wireless recorder module: a small 10x12x3 cm box made of black anodized aluminum can do everything:
– Receive wireless audio/video signal and record it to removable storage (SDHC/MicroSDHC up to 32GB, MPEG4/ASF format 720x576);
– Output audio/video to HDMI (1080p), A/V analog (SD) and USB (device is recognized by PC as a web camera).
– Wi-Fi functionality: real-time video can be viewed and recorded on any mobile device (such as smartphone or tablet) via dedicated application;
– Recorder is equipped with a backup battery, so nothing will be lost in case of accidental power loss.
– Built-in speaker that plays audio of real-time and recorded videos, and 3.5 mm jack for headphones.
– Two small 3 dB external antennas – for A/V receiver and Wi-Fi transmitter.
3. Monitor: A portable 5-inch (127 mm) 800x480 high-resolution screen is connected to the recorder module via dedicated 3.5 mm 4-pole jack. It is used to play real-time and already recorded videos, as well as to access to the menu and adjusting settings. The screen has brightness, contrast and saturation adjustments. Different languages and aspect ratio can also be set.
4. IR remote to control everything: play, record and adjust settings.
5. External 12V/1A power supply.
6. USB A-A cable.
Connection diagram:
Zmodell RailVision set:
Wireless recorder, front panel:
Wireless recorder, rear panel:
Wireless recorder, bottom side. Built-in speaker is visible:
Portable 5 inch monitor:
IR remote control:
RailVision is turned on, main menu on the screen:
Camera modules are available in different sizes – 4.5x4.5 mm, 5x5 mm, 6x6 mm, 8x8 mm. Resolution varies from 600 to 800 TVL (TV lines). Some cameras are equipped with microphone and able to record audio. Lens can be adjusted to get a desired focusing distance. There are also screw-in wide-angle adapters available for the most lenses, however I didn’t tested them yet. Such adapters can widen a field of view from the most common 45 degrees to 90-120.
Wireless transmitters are also differ by size and transmission power: 18x8 mm 100 mW and 27x10 mm 500 mW. Both kinds are suitable for Z scale by size, but bigger one heats up very strongly, and it cannot be used without a metal heat spreader.
Typical power consumption of the small transmitter together with camera is about 185 mA, the bigger transmitter consumes with camera about 390-400 mA.
I have developed a dedicated power supply PCBs for the both types of transmitters that match the sizes of them. The smaller power supply module can output max. 250 mA, the bigger one – 500 mA. I also placed tiny 2.4GHz SMD antennas on PCBs, so everything can be packed in a very compact size.
Video output to monitor, HDMI and A/V analog contains overlay (memory card remaining time, menu, settings etc.), but output to USB and Wi-Fi is clear in order to take advantage of video recording on the destination device (computer, tablet or smartphone).
Train camera module is still in development – I still have to develop a case for camera, transmitter and power supply, and test it for heat dissipation issues.
The smallest 4.5x4.5 and 5x5 mm cameras offer 600 TVL and give quite a mediocre image quality in low light conditions, but at least acceptable, assuming the limitations of Z scale. The main advantage of such small cameras is that they can be installed inside a cabin of Z scale locomotive without any significant modifications to the loco.
Mid-size 6x6 mm camera has 700 TVL and works a little better than the smallest ones. Bigger 8x8 mm cameras provide the best quality and have 800 TV lines – not bad for still such a small size. Furthermore, they work better in low light conditions (and much better than smallest 5x5 mm cameras). According to my tests, 8x8 mm camera with microphone showed the best quality against all other cameras I tested.
There are also bigger cameras available on the market. They are about 12.5x12.5 mm size, which is still acceptable for Z scale. Such cameras have a higher resolution 720p or 1080p, however I did not tested them yet. I have also found 1080p camera modules made by Sony. Sellers claim that these cameras have a very good sensitivity in low light conditions, but no surprise they are noticeably more expensive.
Mobile application is available for smartphones and tablets with Android OS. The app is not available in Google Play; it should be downloaded here: www.pgyer.com/2MWP. Don’t worry, it is safe. The application allows to view, record and play video in different resolutions. It also allows making pictures from the real-time video, as well as adjusting settings for the Wi-Fi transmitter device (change channels).
Some camera modules that are suitable for Z scale and compatible with RailVision (from the left to the right): 5x5 mm, 6x6 mm, 8x8 mm, 8x8 mm with microphone. I added German BR 151 electric locomotive for size comparison:
Two models of suitable wireless A/V transmitters - 18x8 mm/100 mW and 27x10 mm/500 mW together with corresponding rectifier/voltage stabilizer modules:
Screenshots of Wi-Fi Camera app for Android (Note: picture in the second screenshot is not native, I added it just for reference):
Regards,
Alex
