Shopping list and tools needed
Ordering the correct components is the most important aspect of your camera build. Review the entire list and make sure you order the correct options. If you are not sure, posta question in the forums. You also should review the list of tools to identify what may be missing.
Parts and tools
Click the image to the right to see a larger version of the parts and tools.
- IMX291 sensor board (IMX307 sensor board if IMX291 sensor board is sold out)
- Lens with the lens holder - 4mm, 6mm are M16 mount as pictured, while other lenses might be CS which have a different holder
- 2x M2 screws, 6mm long - for mounting lens holder
- Camera housing
- Small cable gland (supplied with the housing)
- Large cable gland (supplied with the housing)
- Camera Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable (sometimes called a network cable by the sellers)
- Camera board holder (supplied with the housing)
- Holder metal plate (supplied with the housing)
- 4x M2 screws, 12 mm long for mounting camera module to bracket
- 1x M3-.50 screw, 6mm long for mounting camera module L-bracket to base plate
- Metal plate screws (supplied with the housing)
- Transparent weatherproof silicone
- Housing mounting bracket (supplied with the housing)
- Waterproof ethernet cable protector
- PoE injector to supply 48v to the camera (not shown)
- Raspberry Pi 5 (recommended) or Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GB (minimum) with official power supply (not shown)
- Raspberry Pi housing (not shown)
- 128 GB or greater microSD card (not shown)
- Self-amalgamating tape (not shown)
Purchasing parts
For consistency across the network and to facilitate collaborative support, it is best to use only the camera and lens listed below, instead of assembling alternatives only because they are conveniently available. The selected camera and lenses are proven and known to work well. Feel free to source other components from any convenient seller.
Many components, such as the Pi and microSD cards, are are available from many vendors. However, AliExpress (the Chinese equivalent of eBay) is the preferred online source for a lens, camera, and housing. AliExpress serves most of the globe and has been reliably suppling parts for a long time.
- NOTE: Links are to current sellers but inventory levels can vary. If a link is dead or the seller is out of stock, you should be able to find an equivalent from other sellers on AliExpress.
Sensor
The bare IP security camera selected for the RMS system features a Sony IMX291, available from many sellers on AliExpress. Of the options offered, choose With 48V POE cable and No lens.
If the IMX291 camera is sold out, a good alternative is a IMX307 sensor board. Of the options offered, choose With 48V POE cable and No lens.
Lens
- IMPORTANT: Buy a lens separately and select only from these options.
Most cameras available on AliExpress are sold with a choice of lenses. The preferred lens is a 4mm f/0.95 M16 lens, which provides a ~88x45° field of view (FOV). The lens also is available separately at this link.
Alternative lenses (4mm and 6 mm) are available here:
If you live in an area with heavy light pollution, other options are available. We recommend using only lenses from the following list. Other options may not be as sensitive or may have significant distortions. See this page for more lens options.
Housing
A security camera housing provides weather-tight protection without the distortion of a plastic dome. From the options offered, select Plate and Bracket. The plate holds a 38x38mm bare IP camera module on an L-shaped mounting bracket.
This combination also provides a pair of cable glands and some essential screws.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector, PoE switch (optional), and PoE replacement camera side cables (optional, but recommended)
This combination uses network cables to connect the Raspberry Pi and the camera sensor, and injects 48V DC into the network cable to power the camera. From the list, select a plug style that is appropriate for your location.
This is an example of plug styles available.
- NOTE: Over short cable lengths (up to about 5m), you also can use plain PoE connectors. These connectors feed 12V from a power supply into the ethernet and extract it at the other end. Over short distances, this configuration can supply the camera with adequate power without the need for 48V injectors.
If you operate several cameras, you can use a PoE switch instead of a PoE injector, and connect all the cameras to your network.
- NOTE: You must source a PoE switch locally.
- TEF1110P-8-63W 10-Port 10/100M Desktop Switch with 8-Port PoE
- GOOD PRACTICE: Maintain one or more spare PoE camera side cables.
- Poe cable - Select RJ45 or RJ45DC
Alternative cable
The picture shows only two connectors, but you will receive all connectors needed for the IMX291 board:
- 1 pcs 2pin port (2.0mm)
- 1 pcs 4pin port (1.25mm)
- 1 pcs 6pin port (1.25mm)
- 1 pcs 8pin port (1.25mm))
Cooled housing for Raspberry Pi
This housing completely fulfills our needs. It has a relatively quiet fan, it is sturdy, and it can fit the real time clock (RTC) with the addition of riser pins.
- IMPORTANT: Please buy this case! We have tried many others, but none are as good.
If you have a Raspberry Pi 4, select the option for Pi 4. If you have a Raspbery Pi 3B+, select the option for Pi 3B Plus.
- IMPORTANT: There is a case variation that is fully enclosed and has no fans. Do not select this option!
- Raspberry Pi Aluminium Enclosure with fans
Real time clock (RTC) for Raspberry Pi
Precise timing is essential for processing meteor data, and an RTC module assures that Raspberry Pi always has the precise time, even when power or internet is unreliable. AliExpress sells a pack of 10 but they are inexpensive, so you may want to share extras among other camera constructors in your area.
The AliExpress store lists two RTC modules - one labelled DS3231 module and another labelled mini DS3231 module. Select the mini DS3231 module option, which is designed for the Raspberry Pi. (It has 5 pins and includes a battery.)
After you plug the RTC into the Pi (see image on the right), verify that the current time is correct on the Pi, then open the terminal and run:
sudo hwclock -w
This command sets the current computer time to the RTC. When the Pi boots up, it reads the correct time from the RTC.
Pin Headers
Required to raise the height of the Raspberry GPIO bins to allow the RTC to sit proud of the Raspberry Pi case. You only need 1 but the pack of 20 is available for only a dollar or so.
Network cabling
You will need two lengths of network cabling, one (probably quite short) between the Raspberry Pi and the PoE injector and the other between the PoE injector and the camera. You can purchase suitable lengths locally or on AliExpress. Some people have found the following thin flat network cable to be useful for sneaking the wire through a window or door to avoid drilling holes in walls or eaves, although it will require some extra attention to seal the cable at the camera's PoE connector:
Waterproof Cable Connector
One end of the network cable will be outside, connected into the PoE cable from the camera. This is not only carrying data but 48V DC power and needs to be kept sealed. This waterproof connector is fitted over the end of the network cable connector then after the network cable is plugged into the camera's PoE cable, the connector is locked into the end of the PoE cable. For extra weatherproofing, wrap in self-amalgamating tape.
128GB Micro SD Card or 256GB USB flash disk
You may choose between an SD card and a USB flash disk, no need to have both.
You need at least a 64GB card but a 128GB is recommended as 20+ GB of data is collected every night. Make sure it is a fast card eg Class 10 UHS-1 or better. A card can either be purchased locally or from AliExpress. Be warned that there is an ongoing problem with the production and sale of fraudulent memory cards misreporting the available storage and even supplies from a reputable outlet can be affected - test the card you purchase. The AliExpress link has been used successfully to obtain suitable micro SD cards. If you live in North America, buy your SD cards at Costco.
If you want to go for a USB flash disk, this one is verified to work well Kingston DataTraveler Kyson 256 GB. We recommend you source it locally, for the reference the link to get it on amazon.com
Raspberry Pi 4 or 5
These are likely to be available to be purchased locally or from a domestic online source. You need at least a 2GB RAM model. The Raspberry Pi Model 4B is now the minimum spec. Previously, a Raspberry Pi Model 3B+ was considered the minimum but these do not have the performance or memory to handle busy meteor showers. Also, the Pi3 is stuck on Python 2 for which we will drop support on July 1, 2025.
Purchase the official 5.1V 3A 15.3W power supply to go with your Pi - most problems with Raspberry Pi units are due to inadequate power supplies being used instead of purchasing the official power pack. Note: to connect a RPi 4B to a monitor you will also need a micro-HDMI cable, so that might be necessary to add to the shopping cart also.
Additional items and tools
- Source suitable M2 and M3 screws. It might be possible to find these locally but in some places they are just odd enough to be quite hard to find. You could order some hardware from the ScrewHome Store on AliExpress. Each packet of 50 M2x6mm, M2x12mm, and M3x6mm machine screws will cost only a few dollars.
- A tube of silicone sealant is used to seal the glass window for the housing and the front screws in the housing.
- Self-amalgamating tape can be used to wrap and seal the cable connector(s) to ensure they remain weathertight in all conditions.
- Tools such as small wire cutters or a sharp knife, various sized screwdrivers, a drill and screws to mount the camera bracket will be required.
- RJ45 crimper tool to finish the ethernet cable will be needed.
Some cameras come with a slightly different cable with a separate 12V socket for power input as shown here. If the power input port has a small cap, then you can just cover it and use the PoE on the ethernet port. If it's open, then you will need a pair of PoE adapters (seen in that picture in the background).
To test and focus the camera you will need VLC. This software is preinstalled on the Pi but is also available for Mac, Windows or Linux from here.
You are now done with this section or you are waiting for the parts. Anyway, you may proceed to have a look at the build of the camera itself or to start actually building it. Have fun! Back to the signpost page.