The Bigg Bird Forum

[tallbirder]

My two b&w cameras have been destroyed by the cold winter (I'll take them in in future) although they survived several years before. Aldi are selling a box with colour camera from this Thursday, and I thought I would go along and look at the quality of the box.

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_12864.htm

Has anyone any thoughts about this?

Best wishes
Daphne

[Kit]

I'm not sure – it does sound good, doesn't it? I'd be more concerned about the quality of the camera than of the box, as that's what you're paying for. If the box is only illuminated during the day by those translucent panels on the side of the box, you may have trouble with picture quality (the Boxwatch one that I have has its own interior lighting).

I've only ever used the Boxwatch set-up, so I can't really comment on others – but I know some BBF members have been disappointed by the quality of the photos, and had trouble with light levels, in other boxes.

[tallbirder]

Thank you Kitty. I may just buy two more b&w cameras from Henry's like before. They worked well. One or both of the boxes has been used every year since 2003 except for last year, when neither box was occupied.

I'll post on the quality of the box tomorrow, but there's no way of judging the camera by sight, is there?

Best wishes
Daphne

[Strixaluco]

I would agree with everything Kit says. We also have used only BoxWatch (and Malcolm has added extra lighting inside).

My feeling is that "If something sounds too good to be true" - it probably is.

[Ambriel]

It does say in the advert that there are LEDs to illuminate the box at night. I'm guessing these are IR as it mentions not disturbing the nest.

[Strixaluco]

[tallbirder]

We bought the box:
It's a really substantial wood
It's made in the uk with good English instructions and promise of after-sales support with customer helpline
The camera is not one of the tiny Chinese ones and has infra-red lights
30 metres of cable to scart included

We got to Aldi just before 11 and had the last box. Coming out, I put it on the shelf to pack and a lady wanted it as she had missed out by coming too late Makes it even more desirable.

Best wishes
Daphne

[Ambriel]

Thanks for the update. I'll try and take a look in the Aldi in Tain at the weekend, in case they've still got any.

[Dani]

I bought two and have them both up. No difference in picture quality from the Handykam set up I have.
Picture quality is improved by changing the SCART from the bog standard one supplied to a gold one.
Kendal Aldi still have them

The other thing I would like to add is that it opens up nest viewing to lots of people who can't afford these expensive Boxwatch systems. And that must be a good thing.
I'm happy just being able to share in the life of a nesting bird and its nestlings and I'm not to fussed about technicolour

[tallbirder]

Hi Dani - Did you find some of the holes had not been drilled? Fortunately, my partner is very handy and has completed the box.

Haven't run the cable yet (bad weather) but thanks for the scart tip

Best wishes
Daphne

[GrahamBaines]

Hi,

I bought one at the weekend excellent build quality, I can't see any differerence between the Aldi and my HandyKam picture (both colour and IR) it came with all the leads and fittings (30m of green cable) and has only one connector to do the whole job, not 3, it also comes complete with a 3 year warranty, churlish to say no really, so I now have 3 cams.

I've also ordered the bits and pieces to allow me to hook it up to my PC (seperately as the company don't sell them) rather than my TV, at a total cost of £12, although I haven't tried wiring it up to my PC yet.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Graham

Oh... does anyone know of any reasonably priced Motion Detection Software, I've looked at I-Catcher and Zone Trigger but both get a little too expensive if you're looking for 4+ cams....

[GrahamBaines]

Hi,

I have now managed to connect my Aldi Nestbox Cam to my PC, simple to do and all for the princely sum of less than £15 I found all my bits on Amazon.

First thing I bought was a 1" Scart Adapter Switchable Plug to Socket (£3.07), then an

EasyCap USB 2.0 Video Capture Device DVR Card Adapter with Audio (£8.49)

then I needed a male to male phono lead (the same as you would use to connect e.g. a cd player to an amplifier), I already had one but you could probably get one for a couple of quid.

The Scart from the Nestcam goes into the Scart Adaptor Switch, the Phono lead connects the adaptor switch to the EasyCap and the EasyCap has a USB which plugs into your PC (you need to plug the power cable for the nestbox cam into a socket too, to give power to the cam).

You need to make sure that the white and yellow outputs from the adaptor switch connect to the white and yellow inputs to the EasyCap (as the colours on the phono lead might not be white and yellow, but so long as they connect the Adaptor / EasyCap white to white and yellow to yellow it's not important).

I use VLC to display and record images, it's free to download and use and very good, although it doesn't have motion detection. But you can use anything you like to display / record.

Graham

[Strixaluco]

Well done Graham!

It looks like you're well set up now - hope the birds co-operate!

[tallbirder]

Thank you Graham. Funnily enough, I was looking at the instructions today to see if I could connect to my pc but they are unable to advise.

I already have an Easycap device which I bought for something else which I think might do. I've ordered the cable and scart adaptor and hope to succeed.

No activity in my box yet but fingers crossed.

Best wishes
Daphne

[Peter]

ALDI all sold out where I live...