Even when mounted indoors, a weather web-camera requires a fairly sturdy mount to keep the web-camera in registration. This way consecutive images will not seem to jump around when viewed in sequence. Indoors, a web-camera is likely to encounter human factors. Inquisitive persons or total idiots may be tempted to reposition, or even sabotage a web-camera in some way. On a commercial premises, paranoid employees may consider a web-camera pointing at the sky is really pointing at them, all of the time. In the home, family members may not share a passion for meteorology and be hostile towards having their home wired for global internet viewing. Inquisitive dogs, cats and babies may regard a web-camera as a chew toy!

A window sill mount can be fabricated using a short piece of board. On the top side of the board, mount the supplied monopod. Then, drill holes to take cable ties to hold down any cables that might otherwise snag on curtains and persons. Any other adapters or interfaces can be mounted on the board too. On the underside, rubberised pads hold the mount in place; so there is no need to drill holes in the painted woodwork. In some places though, it may be essential to screw the camera down. This type of flatpack approach can be extended so the web-camera is boxed into a hardened shell. Any enclosure should not impede ventilation.


A window sill mount made from an off-cut length of Conti-type board. Here, an IP web-camera is connected to a Power-over-Ethernet receiver box. Underneath, rubberised feet are sufficient to keep the assembly in registration without the need to screw down the board. The board can then be lifted away for easy servicing.

Some web-cameras have the ability to mirror and rotate their image. This makes it possible to mount a camera upside-down, side ways, or even with the image reflected off a mirror. If a mirror is used, this should be a surface silvered type, such as those used as the secondary mirror in astronomical telescopes. A conventional back silvered vanity mirror will cause a blurred image.

Most web-cameras are supplied with a simple plastic or metal monopod which, when mounted internally on a wall or above a door, is sufficient for the camera's primary surveillance role. When used outside, this mounting is unlikely to be robust enough as the mount, and the web-camera, will experience everything that Mother Nature can throw at it. Rain, sleet, freezing rain, snow, corrosive aerosols, and wide temperature fluctuations will all conspire against the mountings and camera. There are also biohazards such as moulds, insects and rodents to contend with. Therefore, an environmentally secure enclosure is essential.

Usually made from extruded aluminium or plastic, one end of an external enclosure has a window for the camera to see out of. At the other end, there are waterproof grommets to pass cables through. An enclosure will also have robust mounting points for attachment to a robust structure. A fixed camera should remain fixed, which means using stainless steel or galvanised fixings.

For external mounts, it is always best to invest in a fully IP rated external camera enclosure. In this case, IP does not mean Internet Protocol but Ingress Protection. This is a system of numbers that rates an enclosure's ability to withstand the ingress of substances like heavy rain. An IP65 rated enclosure is suitable for most inland and coastal weather conditions; whilst IP67 is virtually waterproof.  Some pricier external enclosures also have built in heaters to dry out condensation and keep the front glass clear. Beware, some external enclosures are for dummy surveillance cameras, which are likely to offer dummy ingress protection.

When mounting any electrical equipment out-of-doors, all connections should be fully insulated and protected from the weather. This means using sealants and self-amalgamating tape to keep even capillary action at bay. It would be a shame if an interesting weather event shut down the weather web-camera!

To gain a clear horizon, it may be necessary to raise a web-camera on a pole or mast. The camera is mounted inside a water-proof housing and is hoisted aloft using fittings suitable for television aerials. A cranked amateur radio aerial tower makes an ideal platform for raising a camera enclosure above the urban clutter. The anemometer mast of a home weather station is an ideal place for a web-camera provided, the added wind loading doesn't tear down the mast in anything more than a gentle breeze. When mounting a camera out-of-reach, the camera should still be easily accessible for cleaning and servicing, with no excessive risk to the person doing the servicing. Furthermore, a mast should avoid becoming a natural lightning conductor!

Pictured, pre-built weather-proof video cameras are available for most home CCTV systems. These robust, discrete and lightweight devices are ideal for external weather monitoring especially on tall and lightweight structures. Once connected to a video server, they become a stand alone internet weather web-camera.

• Anticipate human factors.
• Utilise existing structures.
• Use strong and robust mountings; better to over than under engineer.
• Use a web-camera's flip and mirror feature.
• Ensure that the web-camera is accessible at all times.
• Cover the front of the web-camera to avoid back reflections.
• Keep the weather out of the weather web-camera!