How to Put Your Location on the Internet to Watch from Any Computer

Many of the newest video surveillance systems now have built in capability for remote monitoring. This feature allows you to use either a proprietary program or a windows based web browser (such as Internet Explorer) to view real time events happening at your wash. Is this feature valuable to you? That's a question you'll have to answer yourself. If you run you washes as a fulltime venture and visit each site daily you probably don't. But if you own many locations and/or live far enough away where it is impractical to visit often I believe you can benefit from this feature.

Many video systems offer remote monitoring through a regular "dial up" connection. This is an economical way to monitor your site remotely by using the phone line that you're likely already paying for. By purchasing a line sharing device it may be possible to use your single existing phone line that you might be using for credit card verification for quick checks. However, you won't be able to view for an extended time without interfering with your automatic teller's ability to process credit cards. Another big problem with phone line communication is the frames rate (speed of images transmitted) is awfully slow. Depending on a variety of factors you may only see a new frame every few seconds. This can lead to considerable lag time, but can still be useful in many circumstances, such as vandalism or major problems.

At this wash, I opted to transmit my images via broadband connection. The improvement is remarkable. Operation of wash equipment and changer can be viewed in real time and is fast enough to determine subtle problems such as poor bill acceptance by the changer or glitches in the automatic. I don't mean to imply that these systems make it unnecessary for you to visit the site, but no one wants to be at their wash 24/7. I believe remote monitoring via a fast broadband connection can definitely be a valuable tool to help you manage your wash.

You're welcome to look at this wash via the internet. Although you can look at it through a dial up connection, maximum benefit will be obtained if you are logging in to the internet via broadband connection. Here's how to view my system:

To begin, click on this link: http://24.73.182.193

Click on MPEG4 selection and click on "submit" The system will ask permission to download some components from geovision. Allow the system to do this. If it does not prompt you try disabling any popup blockers.

The next screen will ask you what kind of connection you have. Select the appropriate connection. You can pick the number of windows you view. I usually pick the two or four window version.

Once the software loads up on your screen, click the "play" button in the window. At that point, it will prompt you for a user ID and password. In both spaces, enter "guest". Within a couple of seconds you should see real time pictures of the carwash!

Feel free to play with the software. Really, go ahead- you can't hurt it! You can change cameras, zoom in, and actually download video to your computer from mine. It's really neat!

If you think you could benefit from a system like this or if you want more information on video systems in general I recommend obtaining an article in the fall 2002 Issue of Self Serve Car Wash News. Back issues can be obtained here:

http://www.autocareforum.com/backissu.html

Here are the specifics on the system you're looking at on the net:

I built the computer myself about 18 months ago. It has a 2.4 GHZ processor, 512meg of Ram, and 2-120 gig hard drives for video file storage. Now it is common to see even faster chips and more storage space, along the lines of 400-500 gigabytes of storage space. The OS system is Windows XP Pro. The software/hardware that actually converts this computer to a video server is made by a company called geovision. This particular setup is 120 FPS, but faster frames rates of up to 480 FPS are available.

If you are computer literate and have the time to experiment you can build your own video server and save a little money. . If you don't feel comfortable opening up a computer case and installing hardware and software then a built to order system is probably your best bet. Also, there are a lot of little tricks that you must learn to maximize performance of this system. Fortunately, there are suppliers that will assemble this system and "tweak "it for maximum performance for a reasonable cost

Another option is a different type of dedicated video server that is not a modified PC. It does not use Windows, but its' own proprietary operating system. Many suppliers feel that they are built to serve only one purpose, they should be more reliable and virus proof (as opposed to the windows based systems). My personal experience with the windows based units have been positive. I have had nothing major go wrong with my unit in eighteen months All I have done is defrag the hard drive a few times. It has been very reliable and the remote feature has been available every time I have needed it.

The cameras used in the SS bays, equipment room, vending area, and the auto bay are medium resolution bullet cams. They require no external housing. The rear lot camera is also a bullet cam, but we actually installed it inside a housing so that the customer might notice it. Regular bullet cams don't often catch the customer's eye. Bullet cams alone cost about $100-140 each, plus the cost of wire

The changer cam, wash select cam, tag cam, vac cams, and front lot cam are high resolution housed cameras with vari-focal lenses. The lenses allow us to obtain the precise view we're after. These cameras are considerably more expensive than bullets. Name brand cameras (Toshiba, JVC, or Sony) with top of the line housings and vari-focal lenses cost about $500 each, off brand equipment can be purchased for about $350 each, wire excluded.

To purchase a system such as mine would probably cost you about $5000-$7000 right now. You could save quite a bit by using off brand cameras and housings, and prices on all video equipment are falling rapidly. But most comprehensive systems are still going to fall into the 4-8K range at this time.

At first, I found myself logging on and watching the video about twice per day. I would log on in the morning and check bill changer operation, auto operation, and make sure the attendant is doing his job. The system also gave me a good opportunity to see what is happening late at night, after I am long gone. One night I called the local PD around 10:30 when the place was becoming too much of a hangout. I still visit the wash in person daily, but this system has saved me a few trips after I had come home. Over the months though, I find I am looking at it less and less, to the point where I am considering disconnecting the system from the internet. I have an attendant there about 25 hours per week who notifies me of problems that need my attention. I am a fulltime "carwasher" and visit that facility almost every day anyway. At the end of the day the last thing I want to do is come home and look at my carwashes on the net. But occasionally it saves me an hour round trip to check on something. Again, if you live far away and can't visit your site daily you might find value in the ability to monitor your facility from a remote location.

In the eighteen months it has been running this system has been very reliable. I hope I'm not hexing myself, but the system is working great with little intervention from me. The only problem I have encountered with this system so far is a "haze" that builds up on the lens of the cameras in the automatic bays. It's tough to remove. I need to find a long term solution to that. I also find getting consistent reliable tag shots a little challenging. Due to the nature of my exit I probably only capture 50% of the tags. I believe the secret to a good tag shot would be to slow the customer down though way of a speed break, and force them to exit through a relatively narrow path- 15' or so in width. I may install a second camera at this location to help with the tags I am missing.

In the past I have thought of building a "wash status board" - I could mount a video camera focused on a little board that is monitoring system air pressure, water pressure, a car count on the auto, perhaps even the counters or status lights connected to the changers. Some systems have a relay board available that would allow you to control lights or doors remotely.

This system also has the capability of two way remote audio. Imagine sitting at your desk at your home or office and talking to a customer you can see at the wash! The possibilities are endless. If you have a wash chain, you could employ a centrally located "virtual customer service/security person" to monitor the washes at night for problems or bad behavior.

This system is connected to the Internet via broadband cable modem. Locally they offered the best value in speed/price. Unlike your typical broadband system, the video system is acting as a server of sorts and UPLOAD speed is more important than download speed. My particular system is supposed to be a 512K upload. I pay a monthly bill of about 79.00.

At this location I have a dynamic IP address. Let me translate that into English for some of you. All computers on the net are assigned a numerical address. The "dynamic" address listed above that you use to connect to the carwash webcam above is subject to change at the whim of my Internet Service Provider. Theoretically, they could change it as often as they like. If I don't know the current address I can't access my system. In practice though, my I.P. address has changed only once in over a year so I don't consider it a real problem. If my ISP changed the address frequently I have a couple of options. I could obtain an unchanging, "static" I.P. address from my ISP at an additional cost. Another option is to use a domain name service that tracks my I.P address changes and routes them automatically to an easy to remember text based address such as bllscarwash.com. I used this DNS service for one year, it only cost 24.95. But, I found that my numerical address had not changed over that time, so I have resumed using the numerical address. If your I.P address changes frequently you should consider a DNS service like TZO.com. Some other DNS services are even free another option is software built into your video server. Some systems have built in email features that will check and email the new IP address to you.

I hope you found this brief intro in video systems helpful, or at least interesting. If you think this technology is of benefit to you, take a look in the trade magazines or at the next trade show for suppliers.

Greg Pack