Cheap "PC on a stick" for web viewing

stator

Hi All,

Anyone recommend a cheap HDMI "PC on a stick" device that can be used to stream a video via a webpage? It's a video stream from an 8 year old CCTV camera via a web interface, I think it may just be a JPEG stream, it certainly doesn't use flash or anything.
Could use a Raspberry Pi but it seems like a waste and there are cheaper devices out there, plus it would be nicer to have something that just plugs into an HDMI port at the back of the TV.

Looking on places like eBay or Amazon it can be quite hard to tell what the actual capabilities of any cheap device might be, so looking for anything someone has actually used....

kwikbreaks

What browser do you use to view the camera?
If it's IE only it may require an Active-X control.
Some use javascript to show repeated snapshot grabs.
Some use a java plugin.
Some use an mjpeg stream
Some use Flash (although I see you say yours doesn't)
View source of the webpage you view it through should confirm what technology is in use.
You need to ascertain that before you can start looking for something to show it.

If you have an android smartphone or tablet then the IP Cam Viewer app for one works with just about any camera and you may be better off using that. Add a chromecast device if you must have it on TV.

womble12345

I dont you will find anything cheaper than a Raspberry Pi zero

stator

kwikbreaks wrote: »

What browser do you use to view the camera?
If it's IE only it may require an Active-X control.
Some use javascript to show repeated snapshot grabs.
Some use a java plugin.
Some use an mjpeg stream
Some use Flash (although I see you say yours doesn't)
View source of the webpage you view it through should confirm what technology is in use.
You need to ascertain that before you can start looking for something to show it.

Good questions. It does have an IE only interface for controlling the camera but it also has an Image only basic mode, which is what I use. It works with Firefox and Chrome and uses some Javascript but the actual image stream is from a .cgi script which you can directly call and I believe it just sends you a bunch of images.

kwikbreaks wrote: »

If you have an android smartphone or tablet then the IP Cam Viewer app for one works with just about any camera and you may be better off using that. Add a chromecast device if you must have it on TV.

IP Cam Viewer actually doesn't work with it, but Chrome does work on my Android device.

Do Chromecast devices let you access any old website directly from the device?

stator

womble12345 wrote: »

I dont you will find anything cheaper than a Raspberry Pi zero

Well for the actual board perhaps, but the Zero doesn't have any way of connecting to the internet, so it would be Pi Zero + Case + Wifi Dongle + Power lead to somewhere + HDMI cable. Whereas an HDMI pc-on-a-stick should just plug in and go.

womble12345

Good point, if you dont have all those bits hanging round already then it will be expensive.
Maybe try a chinese android TV box?

grumbler

Don't know about the 'cheapest'. A few from HUKD:
Beelink Windows 10 Mini PC Quad Core, 2GB, 32GB £46.62 @ GearBest
Lenovo Stick PC £49.99 daily deal @ Amazon (expired)

kwikbreaks

stator wrote: »

Do Chromecast devices let you access any old website directly from the device?

If you install the chromecast app then you can cast anything the device screen is showing (I think). I have a chromecast but the side HDMI port on my TV has failed and the others are occupied so I don't use it much now.

Are you certain that IPcam viewer doesn't work with it - if it works with a browser then just entering the IP address you use for that into the setup should do it.