I did it, I spent the Euros on a second quality webcam for my site. Now all of you who tell me to change the camera view once imn a while to get a view of the action on the other side of the Plaza can just shut up already

I added a new link below the PlazaCam on my homepage that reads "WebCam #2" and that opens a new mini page with the new second webcam view of, yes... you guessed it... the South side of the Plaza Mayor

The direct link to the PlazaCam #2 page is below...
http://www.multimadrid.com/jerlive/index.html

... and there are 2 versions, one with java and one without for you people still using browser versions from the dawn of internet that do not support java.

Now multimadrid is Double the fun

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. I would like to say that I tried to get the second webcam to cover the views from my kitchen balcony...

view right

view left

...overlooking the Cava de San Miguel and Mercado de San Miguel (St. Michael's Market) but it required an expensive setup to run the webcam that far from my PC. I need a ssuper long USB cable and an amplifiar so the signal reaches the PC. Maybe in the future I will set up WebCam #3

Is it just me or is my apartment beginning to look like the house of "Big Brother"

Hey buddy! Good work!!!

I finally made the people at SUN happy and downloaded my Java plugin. (very easy to do, I must say to motivate those of you who may be scared of such things...) I'm glad I did!

That's rockin' to be able to see the Plaza Mayor, etc. whenever I want to. Good work. You're helping people from all over the world come together, connect, share a cultural experience. We need to start referring to you the 'Kofi Annan of the Plaza Mayor.'

Hey Jer,

Webcam # 2 is chevere! I'm enjoying watching the folks go back and forth between the 2 screens, !

Don't feel bad about the cables all over the place, we've got a 100 foot (40+ meter) phone line from another room going into this computer's modem, I can just imagine what your place must be like with computer cables. At least you're not on dial-up, I hope!

Thanks for improving an already great site!
Pearl

Thanks everyone, glad I could help fill that gap in your lives created by only having half the Plaza to look at

tony, ya aint nothin these days without dat java stuff, although I do offer non-java versions of both cams on my site for the java impaired

Hey beadbird, how's this for an under the desk octapus...



...

That shot was taken from my "about multimadrid headquarters" page at www.multimadrid.com/mm_info/insider/mm_tools.htm in case anyone is interested in seeing the inner workings (or inner putzing arounds) of multimadrid

Any self-respecting computer genious has a decent wirey mess under his/her desk. The key is to keep it on the verge of fire hazzard without going too far... you know... pushing the envelope so to speak.

Saludos,
jer...

LONG LIVE THE GENIUS WIREY MESSES!!!

Ah.....the true sign of an expat.....a voltage converter on the floor. (See Jer's wirey mess pic) I love it!!!

I agree with you about the Java support my man. The only problem is that we have to campaign and promote it more to the non-IT inclined folks who don't know what it it, etc.

We also have to campaign against actions like to supposed one of Microsoft saying that Internet Explorer Browser releases posterior to IE-6 will NOT support JAVA. It's another salvo in the long and exhausting saga known as the Sun-Microsoft wars.

In the future that will mean that: 1) people should use Netscape if they want Java supporting browsers or 2) they'll have to download a plugin in order for their IE browser to be JRE (Java Runtime Environment) compatible. Don't worry just yet, because Mr. Gates has planned this for probably IE-7 and after. I understand from pretty good sources though that it's definately going to happen.
Sorry for the IT geek-speak lesson here, but I feel obligated to support Java, as it's the only OOP option that adecuately supports remote communication needs that are going to be necessary in the future as well as make this public service announcement for those who may actually care.

For some of you, if you make it this far in my post, you'll now realize that you should have stopped reading 4 paragraphs ago.

Hi Jer and Tony and all,

Jer! I see (what I think is) a surge protector, but you don't have a battery back-up on this mess on the floor?! Here in FL, we're in the Lightning Capital of the Western Hemisphere--and although we're pretty good about remembering to unplug modem line/computer line/printer, etc. and all the fun wires before leaving the house and/or t-storms, there's always a chance of super-surges and power losses--always so much fun when you're working on a term paper or other sundry item and lose all that hard work (no) thanks to the Elec. Co.

Do they use uninterrupted power supply thingies on the computers now in Spain? Are they very expensive there?

Tony, I hear ya, Bill Gates has enough dough in his cookie jar to not worry about Java--be it decaf or regular (forgive the lousy pun!) What do you folks think about the fact that Win XP and the New Media Player (what is it, version 8?) the latest one) are keeping tabs on everyone's surfing? Gee, wouldn't it be funny to see him posting here because we all get him hooked on Multimadrid, too?!

Jer, when it's feasible, that view from your kitchen window would be very interesting too. Have a great weekend, y'all, we're getting some t-storms later so I'm outta here!
Pearl

Hey tonytorero and beadbird.

Too clear up my power situation:

tony, all of my PC stuff (computers and other hardware) was bought here in Spain and is either dual voltage or 240 for Spain. Those 2 white power strips are just splitters to get 5 or 6 appliances into one socket, no voltage adapter needed here

I do have a voltage adaptor but it is in my closet somewhere and I have not used it for years.

beadbirdy , here in the center of Madrid we get more than our share of power outages in summertime when usage goes way up but they are usually just thes annoying off and then right back on ones and never last more than 5 minutes or so. About 5 months ago I got tired of waking up in the morning ands finding the webcam was off since the lights went at night and the PC crashed. I also lost a motherboard due to a surge once and had no PC for 4 days The camn was down and there is a loooong thread on it all at www.multimadrid.com/cgi-bin/jersbbucgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=19&t=000014

Anyway, on the advice of member DavidB, I ordered a UPS (uninterupted power supply) from APC (www.apc.com) and since then it has been smoothe sailing Pearl, here the UPS cost me about $80 when I ordered it with my new DELL PC and it is AMAZING!

I have also since cleaned up that mess under my desk a bit but it is still a respectable octapus.

So, I have 3 PCs, one for the webcam alone, a second monster DELL machine for my design work and a sweeeeeet laptop worth like $2,000 that I bought one month used for $700. I have finally got this under control! I never lose juice to the PCs now with the UPS and when there is an outage, it never lasts long enough to matter nor to shut down the computers.

Pearl, RE your earlier question about my connection, I used to have the webcam on only from 6pm till 8am Madrid time since I was on a dialup and the Plaza image was only on a 60 second refresh. 8 months ago I had my ADSL put in and it is a joy, hence the 20 second refresh and 24/7 online webcam schedule Flying high!

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. Yeah tony, I hear ya, the other day I had to download Java for a client running XP, good grief!

Pearl, the kitchen view webcam will have to waut a while.

Woo-hoo!!!! I'm gone a couple of days and you double my pleasure coming back! What I nice break from doing the (back) taxes of my lame-o brother. And speaking of taxes: how does the Spanish system work(Yeah, I should find a better spot to put this question...)

I am nuts about Spanish markets and will surely visit and see the inside of San Miguel. Good job as always, Jer!!!

No applause please... just throw money (the kind that folds)

But seriously tis my pleasure bringing you into Madrid every day & night!

Here is the view on the second webcam by the way...



(that is the last shot taken before this page loaded)

Saludos,
jer...

Jer,
two thumbs up amigo! I go to New Jersey for two days and everything is changed when I come back!

By the way, I just bought a 16 foot active USB cable for $21.64 at www.thenerds.net

They can be daisychained.
Here is the info:

U006-016-R TRIPPLITE $21.64 x 1 $21.64

Catalog page

Hey jaimemiguel, 2 days is an eternity in multimadridland

HEy, I am going to look into that site but I bought a USB extension 5 meters long (about 15 feet) and the signal from the webcam would not reach the PC so it was too long and I would need a USB amplifyer to make it happen. I was told that teh max length without having to use an amplifyer is 1.8 metrs and that is the one I am using now for the second webcam.

Saludos,
jer...

Saludos,
jer...

Amigo,
I was told that 15 feet was 'on the hairy edge'. That is why I went for an active extension cable - it has a repeater built into it. Supposedly you can daisy-chain a bunch of these together.

My 16 footer added onto the camera's 2 footer works great.

Maybe I will try that chaining in the future.

Problem is that to bring you all the view of the San Miguel Market and street from my kitchen balcony I need like 40 or 50 feet

One hell of a daisy chain!

Saludos,
jer...

Hey jer,
I just noticed this (03:52 a.m. Thursday morning) and I see it in your sample picture taken on WebCam#2. Just over the top of the plaza buildings the sky appears to be red at about 4:00 a.m. Is that the sun coming up already or is it 'light pollution' from all the city lights?

Not sure why but I was up around 2am and saw exactly what you noticed on the WebCam #2. That red glow was over teh Plaza in real life as well as on the Webcam but I do not know what causes it, maybe it is the city lights and the fact that it was partly cloudy.

You will also notice that the webcams have different color qualities, the second cam is also a philips like the first but a newer model and I am playing around with the 2 to see which I like best. I am leaning towards the new Cam for it has more vivid colors and I may buy another one of the same model to replace the older one so the colors and such are the same on both views.

Saludos,
jer...