Homebuilt ROVs Forum

Hi all,
I am building a tethered submersible. It's fairly basic, just a camera, an LED, and a servo to pan left and right. Is using USB the way to go for connecting the camera to a laptop and if so, should I look into USB over fiber with transmitters to extend the distance?

Can anyone recommend a camera that has live view feature via laptop. Preferably with software that isn't terrible.

Thanks,
Jim

There's a limit to USB, i think 16 ft, before signal degredation.

With ethernet over Cat-anything its 100 meters, or 328 ft.

If you just need video you can run a composite video signal forever over twisted pair if you use 'video baluns'. Buy the cheapest unpowered ones you can find. This of course would require a regular camera not a webcam. Like an FPV camera. https://www.ebay.com/itm/132308000804

People keep trying to put 4k cameras on ROV's, but unless you are in an area with crystal-clear waters there is so much particulate matter hanging in front of the camera lens, IMHO you don't need HD. Better to get a camera capable of low-light.