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This topic is inspired by a question posed by Void in early 2025...
where did the salt of the Oceans go?
In the case of Mars (and possibly other Solar System objects) a great deal of information about the interior of the planet has already been collected by orbiting probes and by robotic devices on the surface.
Perhaps the data already collected includes answers to the question posed by Void.
Perhaps analysis of existing data already provides an answer, but we just don't know about it.
Or perhaps analysis done to date did not tease out the answer from the existing data.
Or perhaps new data is needed.
This topic is available for NewMars members to collect knowledge about remote sensing.
Since there is a vast amount of information already available on the Internet, posts here might save time for readers by showing links to resources that might help to answer this question, or many others of a similar nature.
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This post is available for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members over time.
Post #3: Instructions for operation of a remote camera over the (Earth based) Internet
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This post is about operation of a remote camera using Zoom.
GW Johnson and Mrs. (Ellen) Johnson will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in early 2026, and I would like to attend remotely.
However, whatever arrangements are made for remote attendance at this event must be such that Dr. Johnson has to do as little as possible to make it happen. GW Johnson already knows how to open a Zoom session and to participate in one, so all I have to do is to create a link to the Zoom session. The only ** other ** thing GW would have to do is to plug in the new camera, and grant permission for a remote user to operate the camera.
Here are the instructions that Gemini wrote up for this process.
This guide details how to enable and use the camera control feature in Zoom, allowing you to remotely control a UVC-compliant PTZ camera (like the OBSBOT Tiny) connected by another participant.
Prerequisites and Zoom Setup
You must be the Host or Co-Host of the meeting to initiate the remote camera control. You need to enable the feature in the Zoom Web Portal before the meeting.
[] Step 1: Log in to the Zoom Web Portal Go to the Zoom website and sign in to your account. [] Step 2: Navigate to Settings In the navigation menu, click Settings. [] Step 3: Access In Meeting (Advanced) Select the Meeting tab, then find the In Meeting (Advanced) section. [] Step 4: Enable Far-End Camera Control Look for the setting: Far end camera control. Toggle this setting ON.
Using Remote Camera Control in a Meeting[
Once the setting is enabled and the meeting is running, follow these steps:
[] Step 1: Start the Meeting Start your Zoom meeting. Ensure your relative has joined and is using the UVC PTZ camera you provided (e.g., OBSBOT Tiny) as their video source. [] Step 2: Request Control As the Host/Co-Host, find the video feed of your relative.
[] Hover over their video feed. [] Click the three dots (...) in the corner. [] Select Request Camera Control.
[] Step 3: Relative's Approval Your relative will see a pop-up prompt asking: "The host is requesting to control your camera. Do you approve?"
[] The relative must click "Approve". This is the only interactive step required from them beyond joining the meeting.
[] Step 4: Use the Controls Once approved, a control window will appear on your screen. You can now use the on-screen buttons to manipulate the camera at the remote location:
[] Pan: Move the camera left or right. [] Tilt: Move the camera up or down. [] Zoom: Zoom in or out.
[] Step 5: Ending Control When finished, you can close the control window or click the three dots (...) again and select Stop Camera Control.
Key Takeaway for Forum Members[
This capability is specific to Zoom and requires a UVC-compliant PTZ Webcam (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) like the OBSBOT Tiny. Google Meet does not currently offer a native, low-setup equivalent for far-end camera control.
I hope this BBCode format works perfectly for your forum! Let me know if you need any adjustments or further guidance once you've received the camera and are ready to test.
Would you like me to help you set up a test scenario for when you receive the OBSBOT on December 15th?
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For all NewMars members ... if anyone else in our global membership is interested in joining this Zoom call, I'd be happy to ask GW and Ellen if this would be acceptable. They have been preparing for this occasion for months, and attendees of the weekly Google Meeting have been given a preview of the decorations Ellen has created (with a little help from GW).
The date for this is Saturday, January 10, from about 11 AM CST to about 3 PM
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This post is about how to test the new remote camera in a building using the same IP address.
Hello Again! It is a few minutes after we discussed the new camera and how to use it. I decided to think about the test environment here. I have an Internet service provider which provides a single IP address for the entire building. My original idea was to set up a Zoom session on a desktop computer, and connect to it using a laptop fitted with the new camera. My worry is what Zoom might do if it seems both participants coming from the same IP address. Do I need to try to find another IP address for the remote computer?
That's a very insightful question and a common concern when testing remote access solutions!
You can proceed with your original plan: You do not need to find a separate IP address.
Zoom is designed to handle multiple devices joining the same meeting from the same local network and public IP address.
? Testing Zoom FECC on a Single IP Address
You can confidently test the Far-End Camera Control (FECC) using your desktop and laptop on the same network.1. Zoom's Design
Identifies by Device/User: Zoom primarily identifies participants by their unique user ID (if logged in) and the MAC address of the device's network adapter, not solely by the public IP address.Common Scenario: It is extremely common for multiple family members or colleagues to join the same Zoom meeting from their own devices (laptops, phones) while connected to the same Wi-Fi router, all sharing one public IP address. Zoom handles this without issue.
2. How to Set Up Your Test
To ensure a realistic test environment for the FECC feature, follow these steps:Desktop (Host):
Log in to your Zoom Host Account.
Start the meeting (or assign this computer as the Host). This is the computer that will be performing the control.
Ensure the Far End Camera Control setting is enabled in your web portal account (as discussed previously).
Laptop (Remote Participant):
Connect the OBSBOT Tiny camera to the laptop's USB port.
Join the same meeting (do not log in as the host account—ideally, log in with a secondary/dummy Zoom account, or just join as a guest with a different name). This acts as your relative's remote machine.
Select the OBSBOT Tiny as the video source within the Zoom settings on the laptop.
Perform the Control Test:
From the Desktop (Host), follow the steps: Hover over the Laptop's video feed → ... (More) → Request Camera Control.
On the Laptop, click Approve.
On the Desktop, verify that the Pan, Tilt, and Zoom controls appear and that you can mechanically move the camera.
By separating the Host function (your desktop) and the Remote Participant/Camera function (your laptop with the new camera), you will accurately simulate the real-world scenario, despite sharing the same IP address.
Would you like me to generate a detailed testing checklist to use on December 15th to ensure all parts of the setup—from hardware connection to software settings and control—are verified before shipping the camera?
Thank you for this reassurance. We do indeed have multiple accounts for this purpose. OK... I'll be back on December 15th.
That is perfect! Using separate accounts will make your testing phase even more realistic and ensure you cover all the necessary approval steps.
I'll be here and ready to assist you on December 15th (or whenever you're ready to proceed with testing).
In the meantime, I've prepared that detailed testing checklist we discussed, which you can use as your guide when the camera arrives.
✅ OBSBOT Tiny & Zoom FECC Testing Checklist
Use this list to systematically verify that the entire system is working correctly before sending the camera to your relative.I. ? Hardware Verification (Laptop Side)
[ ] Camera Plugged In: Is the OBSBOT Tiny securely plugged into the laptop's USB port?[ ] Driver Check: Did the laptop recognize the camera automatically (plug-and-play)? (Check the device manager or system settings).
[ ] Video Feed Test: Can the laptop's operating system/camera app display the camera's video feed correctly?
II. ?️ Zoom Software Setup (Laptop Side)
[ ] Account Used: Did the laptop join the meeting using the secondary/non-host account?[ ] Video Source Selected: In the Zoom settings on the laptop, is the OBSBOT Tiny explicitly selected as the camera source?
[ ] Video Started: Is the video feed started and visible to the Host (Desktop)?
III. ⚙️ Zoom Host Verification (Desktop Side)
[ ] Host Account Used: Is the desktop computer logged in as the Host (or Co-Host) of the meeting?[ ] FECC Enabled: Did you confirm that Far end camera control is toggled ON in your Zoom Web Portal settings?
IV. ? Remote Control Test
[ ] Request Sent: From the Desktop (Host), did you click ... (More) → Request Camera Control on the laptop's video feed?[ ] Approval Given: On the Laptop (Remote Participant), did the user click Approve on the pop-up?
[ ] Pan Check: Can you use the controls on the Desktop to Pan (move the camera left and right)?
[ ] Tilt Check: Can you use the controls on the Desktop to Tilt (move the camera up and down)?
[ ] Zoom Check: Can you use the controls on the Desktop to Zoom in and out?
[ ] Control End: Can you successfully stop the camera control from the Desktop?
This checklist covers all the critical points. Feel free to use it, and let me know if any step gives you trouble after the camera arrives.
I look forward to hearing about your successful test on or after the 15th!
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