Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Gadgets & Tech External camera on a Tablet.

On finding a camera to send down my drains is £150 a day to hire, I bought a waterproof USB endoscope (640 by 480) with a 10 metre cable from China for £9. I will tape this to my drain rods. My intention is to connect this to my Samsung Note tablet, and I have a USB adaptor to do this.

The problem is android based software to display the image. There doesn't seem to be any!

Any ideas / suggestions are very welcome.

My brain is a bit numb tonight but I seem to remember that usb power wont travel that far, maybe 12-16 foot. I may be wrong. Quite a few years ago I tried to run a usb webcam from upstairs to downstairs and it failed on 16 foot I think. Check it will work while looking for the software. Cheers

Don't know if this will help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3_VNzV-6r0

Free software..
Debut
http://www.nchsoftware.com/capture/

Sorry that's for windows only.

Ok, try this one
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.droidperception.dashcam&hl=en

Thanks Zipperclub. I will try this - when I can find my misplaced USB adapter!

Reading the reviews, it seems some people have difficulty with it, but it is worth a try. I can use a laptop if it doesn't work. It is just that a tablet is more convenient.

I know that USB is supposed to be limited to five metres or so, but the cam seems to work OK over the 10 metre cable. I guess they have beefed up the driver at the camera end to do this and/or used low loss cable.

Phone has to be rooted for this to work

What's New

IMPORTANT - Android 4.4 Users will require rooted devices

I am not quite sure what 'rooting' is, but I am alarmed at having to make significant (and maybe irreversible??) changes to my tablet.

One of the things I dislike about Android is the difficulty of knowing where everything is stored. Quite probably my fault, but with Windows I can find things. With Android I can't.

Don't know if this would be of any help.
One of the shops by me has a security camera in the shop and he can see whats going on via a tablet or laptop even when at home away from the shop.
Camera he said was £39 off ebayI thnk

Thanks Derekdwc. I know that's possible with a wireless camera, but I want to use it with a waterproof borescope which is USB powered and connected, unfortunately.

No problem, I shall use it with a laptop.

It is odd that android tablets do not allow this. I am half of a mind to set to and write an app. myself, there is sure to be a market for it, but I dislike writing software and only do it when there's no alternative.

Maybe the tablets do not have the power to do it. Most of the power would go to its own screen.