Webcam across the office from PC (approx 5m)

[Bev]

The Head has a large TV in her office which she can share her PC screen too. She would like her webcam to be under the TV so that when she is in a video meeting she can look at the tv and be looking into the camera.

 

It's approx 5m from the PC to the TV (Long HDMI cable runs between them). Is there a webcam that will work over such a distance? Is there such a thing as a wireless one? She's not keen on using an iPad / AppleTV as she likes to share her screen from her PC.

[steveg]

An active usb extension cable should do it for most webcams, as long as it doesn't have loads of led's and a big current draw

[Bev]

"active"usb- is that one with additional power?

[steveg]

Something like this https://www.ebuyer.com/654904-startech-com-5m-usb-2-0-active-extension-cable-m-f-usb2aaext5m although the one i have is entirely powered by the usb port. If i get time later i'll see if i have a spare and can plug my webcam into it.

[paulkerton]

I'd certainly, at 5m distance - suggest one that is designed to be a conference room camera. I wouldn't be using a webcam that's designed to be mounted on top of a monitor at 5m distance.

something like a Logitech Connect maybe?

[steveg]

I've just plugged the asus webcam I have into 1 of these https://www.startech.com/en-us/cables/usb2faaext15 and it's working perfectly.

[Rob_D]

Something like the Logitech meetup is the first thing that springs to mind, but that might be overkill (or more than you want to spend on one person).

Do you need the camera to pick up audio as well as video? Or is she using a headset/desk mic? Would she be open to a headset/desk mic? Because anything other than a "room sized" solution is going to have real issues picking up audio form that far out.

 

We're in a not-too-dissimilar situation where the head liked to have her "zoom" meetings in the meeting room on the big display screen. We went through a bunch of cameras, including the Microsoft LifeCam Studio (nice unit, very good audio, I'd recommend it apart the rather wide lens angle), but wound up with some cheep thing off amazon because it had the narrowest field of view. And then paired it with a desktop microphone. All the cameras we tried seemed happy enough running on longer (in our case 3m) cables if we use a powered hub the other end, although over that distance you'd be better using a USB over CAT5/6 adapters.

 

The a room solution like the Logitech is ideal, but it's going to cost. Otherwise I'd go for USB over CAT5/6 and hunt down something with a good zoom.

[paulkerton]

Because anything other than a "room sized" solution is going to have real issues picking up audio form that far out.

Well not only that, but on a standard webcam from 5m away, you're going to be tiny on screen, even when full screen - so imagine how small you'd look on a 4 x 4 grid!

[Rob_D]

Well not only that, but on a standard webcam from 5m away, you're going to be tiny on screen, even when full screen - so imagine how small you'd look on a 4 x 4 grid!

If audio wasn't an issue, you could use something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Y1JNDP4/

[steveg]

Well not only that, but on a standard webcam from 5m away, you're going to be tiny on screen, even when full screen - so imagine how small you'd look on a 4 x 4 grid!

 

I'd assumed that the screen is 5m from the pc running it, but the person would be sat in front of the large screen, so not 5m from the webcam!

[paulkerton]

I'd assumed that the screen is 5m from the pc running it, but the person would be sat in front of the large screen, so not 5m from the webcam!

If they're using a TV, they're still going to be 3m or so away from the TV, so you're still going to be really quite small compared to a head and shoulders shot in front of the machine.

If you stand 3m away from a standard webcam and turn it on, you'll probably see your entire height with room to spare. You'd take up no more than about 10/15% of the shot.

[Rob_D]

If they're using a TV, they're still going to be 3m or so away from the TV, so you're still going to be really quite small compared to a head and shoulders shot in front of the machine.

If you stand 3m away from a standard webcam and turn it on, you'll probably see your entire height with room to spare. You'd take up no more than about 10/15% of the shot.

Agreed. In our meeting room, the TV is 2-3m from where the head sits for her to be able to see the screen comfortably and the biggest issue we had was finding a camera that didn't show too much of the room. Most webcams seem designed for people sat close so go for the wider angle lens.

 

EIDT: Also, she'd need be further back for the camera to not be obviously looking up her nose when she looks at the screen.

Edited May 7, 2021 by Rob_D

[SamanthaD]

It's a lot but the Logitech Meetup is a great product and for a Heads office. Optical zoom and actual movement of the lens (rather than cropping down on an wide image) with simple presets (desk and meeting table) and a good mic and decent soundbar. Dead easy to install too. We use them all over the place and they just work.

[Bev]

I'd assumed that the screen is 5m from the pc running it, but the person would be sat in front of the large screen, so not 5m from the webcam!

 

 

There is a table between the PC / Desk and the TV and she tends to sit at the table.

 

I've just looked at the Meetup on Amazon and it's about £600? I don't think we have the budget for that.

I have bought a cable, so we can try that, and if it's not good I will suggest a conference room camera and see if the budget appears...

 

It's probably about 3meter from the desk to the tv, but I am thinking I would want a 5m cable so that there is room to hide it away.

Edited May 7, 2021 by Bev

[SamanthaD]

There is a table between the PC / Desk and the TV and she tends to sit at the table.

 

I've just looked at the Meetup on Amazon and it's about £600? I don't think we have the budget for that.

I have bought a cable, so we can try that, and if it's not good I will suggest a conference room camera and see if the budget appears...

 

It's probably about 3meter from the desk to the tv, but I am thinking I would want a 5m cable so that there is room to hide it away.

 

£600 is pretty good for a Meetup. You do get what you pay for in this market!

[dhicks]

If audio wasn't an issue, you could use something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Y1JNDP4/

 

Ooh, handy link, thanks - those look like useful devices for specific setups, they even have a 4K version.