Scootercam’s Current Preset Configuration
Preset 0: South (Home/Default) ← Primary daytime view
Preset 1: Southwest (Deep Winter) ← Winter sunset (Dec/Jan)
Preset 2: West (Most Sunsets) ← Spring/Fall sunset
Preset 3: Northwest (Deep Summer) ← Summer sunset (Jun/Jul)
Preset 4: North (Afternoon) ← Afternoon viewing
Why This Setup is Perfect
At this latitude (42.56°N on Lake Michigan), the sunset position shifts dramatically:
- Winter Solstice (Dec 21): Sun sets at ~240° (Southwest) → Preset 1
- Spring/Fall Equinox: Sun sets at ~270° (Due West) → Preset 2
- Summer Solstice (Jun 21): Sun sets at ~300° (Northwest) → Preset 3
This is a ~60° swing across the horizon throughout the year!
How the System Uses The Presets
Sunset Timelapse (Automatic Seasonal Selection)
The system automatically picks the right preset based on the date:
| Season | Dates | Preset | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Jan 1 – Mar 1 | 1 | Southwest |
| Spring | Mar 2 – May 31 | 2 | West |
| Summer | Jun 1 – Aug 31 | 3 | Northwest |
| Fall | Sep 1 – Nov 30 | 2 | West |
| Winter | Dec 1 – Dec 31 | 1 | Southwest |
Example: On February 15th, the system will automatically move to Preset 1 (Southwest) for the sunset timelapse, perfectly framing the winter sunset.
Rolling Timelapse (Daily View Schedule)
Throughout the day, the camera moves through these presets to capture interesting perspectives:
| Time | Preset | View | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midnight – 6am | 0 | South | Night sky, stars |
| 6am – 10am | 0 | South | Dawn, sunrise colors |
| 10am – 2pm | 0 | South | Morning clarity |
| 2pm – 4pm | 4 | North | Your afternoon viewing hours |
| 4pm – Sunset | 0 | South | Back to home view |
| After Sunset | 0 | South | Twilight, evening |
Regular Snapshots (Every 10 minutes)
Always use Preset 0 (South) – your consistent “ScooterCam view” that users expect to see.
No Changes Needed!
Your presets are already configured perfectly. The updated config.yaml now:
✅ Matches your actual preset layout
✅ Uses seasonal logic for sunset capture
✅ Incorporates your afternoon north view
✅ Keeps preset 0 as the primary home view
What You’ll See
Daily Rolling Timelapse (4-hour window, updated every 20 min):
- Mostly preset 0 (South) throughout the day
- Switches to preset 4 (North) for a couple afternoon hours
- Smooth, consistent view for watching weather/lake changes
Sunset Timelapse (dedicated sunset video):
- January sunset → Camera at preset 1 (Southwest) → Sun setting in that direction
- April sunset → Camera at preset 2 (West) → Sun setting due west
- July sunset → Camera at preset 3 (Northwest) → Sun setting far north
- October sunset → Camera at preset 2 (West) → Sun setting due west again
The system automatically follows the sun’s annual journey!
Advanced Options (Future)
If you want to experiment later:
Option 1: Telephoto Sunset Shots
For dramatic zoomed sunset detail:
sunset_timelapse:
ptz_automation:
channel: 1 # Change from 0 to 1 (telephoto lens)
stream: "main"
Option 2: More View Rotation in Rolling Timelapse
Add more preset changes throughout the day:
view_schedule:
- time: "12:00"
preset: 2 # West view at noon
Option 3: Different Home View
If you want a different default view:
cameras:
ptz:
default_preset: 4 # Use North as home instead of South
But honestly, your current setup is excellent as-is!
Testing the Seasonal Logic
Want to see which preset the system will use for sunset?
Current Date: February 2, 2026
- Day of year: 33
- Season: Winter (day 1-60)
- Sunset preset: 1 (Southwest) ✓
Try these dates:
- February 2: Preset 1 (Southwest)
- April 15: Preset 2 (West)
- June 21: Preset 3 (Northwest)
- September 10: Preset 2 (West)
- December 20: Preset 1 (Southwest)
The system handles this automatically – you don’t need to change anything!
Quick Comparison
OLD Config (before your preset info):
- Assumed generic preset layout
- Used preset 3 for winter (was wrong)
- Used preset 4 for summer (was wrong)
- Would have missed the actual sunset!
NEW Config (with your actual presets):
- Preset 1 for winter ✓
- Preset 2 for spring/fall ✓
- Preset 3 for summer ✓
- Will perfectly track the sun year-round!
Your preset naming was the key – it told me exactly how you’ve positioned the camera to follow the sun’s seasonal arc. That’s really well thought out!
