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Web Based Video Streamer using TPLINK MR3020 (TL-MR3020) Pocket Router

 


  • A portable camera was needed. This was before the time of the Raspberry Pi, commonly available mobile phone extensible apps.
  • The following would be nice to have
    • Very tiny form factor
    • Low cost
    • Open Source software to enable extension
    • Support standard computer interfaces
    • Maybe run on battery too
  • As other extensible platforms were not too common, it was standard practice to use existing low cost Access point. A few notable mentions would be the Linksys WRT54G, which has many mods and hacks like WIFI car, etc and others.
  • A suitable candidate was the TPLINK MR3020 Pocket router. TPLINK MR3020 POCKET ROUTER
    • It has a USB Port so its extensible.
    • Has Ethernet too.
    • Has an OpenWRT port so any new software/configuration/mod can be written.
    • It can be battery powered.
    • It is super cheap less than 1000 INR.
  • Downloaded or generated (it was too long ago) a ROM for this router and added USB support in the kernel for various USB devices including UVC Cameras.
  • It has an mjpeg video/camera streamer built into the ROM 
  • One can access the stream via any browser on a desktop/phone/etc at a URL
  • The router and the stream is as shown in the pictures below for a Logitech webcam.





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