phoenixr1

I have a Spectra IV 23X with day/night capability, and lately I've noticed that when the camera has been still for a while, it drifts out of focus. Not terribly, but enough to definitely be noticed. Sending it to a preset seems to remedy the issue, but I would like to diagnose this issue and fix it. Any input is greatly appreciated.

I have a Computar ZC-D5212 that is split between a small pelco analog monitor, and our main system, which implements Nextiva encoders. The camera picture intermittently exhibits thick black lines, strong picture fluctuation and other problems. I initially chalked this up to a splitter issue, and replaced the splitter. Then it seemed to be a cable issue, and eventually I replaced entire cable. When this did not fix the issue, I replaced the camera itself. Now, the new camera is beginning to exhibit these same symptoms, but the issue has ceased now that I removed the splitter altogether. I'm using a standard 2-to-1 or 1-to-2 BNC splitter. Anyone have any ideas why our main system seems to not like this splitter?

Thanks! I had already deduced that the signal didn't like being split, I just didnt know if i was using the wrong kind or ifor if there was another issue.

I have a Pelco Minispec installed in a small room, and it's recently come to my attention that the people working in that small room are acutely aware of when the PTZ is activated, because of the sound of the motor and because the ceiling is low enough that it can be seen. This is an issue, and I've thought of resolving it by replacing the MiniSpec with a motionless PTZ, namely an Axis 212 PTZ-V. Has anyone here had any experience with this or other VPTZ cameras, and if so, what can you tell me about their performance, pros, cons, better brand/models, etc? I'd rather not rely on the company's own reviews of their products. Thanks!

There are around 10 Axis 211 IP cameras installed in the system I operate. They were installed about 4 months ago by someone with minimal experience with IP cameras, and I'm afraid that would be the cause for the current predicament. Of those 10 cameras, some look absolutely amazing, with a crystal clear image and 22+ framerate. But some look just absolutely terrible, with either a slower framerate, or a very noisy image, or both. I hope someone here knows what I mean by "noisy". No matter how I adjust the low light behavior (or any of the other image settins), it elicits an undesirable result. I've even updated firmware for all the cameras. On one end of the spectrum, If I dial down the Max Exposure time, it helps get rid of the noise, but it GREATLY reduces the framerate. I have to keep the Max Exposure time to around 1/30 to maintain framerate, but there again, the noise in the image is frickin' rediculous. Is it possible that the physical lens setting is not where it should be?

Erm, probably not. I'd probably need something with at least ALMOST the same range of pan and tilt as the Minispec. Although, depending on where I put it, that could work.

It's a digital upconverted system.

Many of the PTZ cameras I operate exhibit a slight horizontal disturbance across the middle of the screen when I pan the camera. It's not a black or white line, but rather a transparent fluctuation in the picture. It's not anywhere near bad enough to make the camera useless, and you barely notice it after a while, but I'm just wondering if its something I can fix or if it's just the nature of the equipment? These are AD Speedomes and Pelco Spec 3's and 4s.

Nah I'm actually using the same type of stranded wire to control the PTZ as I use to power the camera. Wouldn't be my ideal choice for control wire, but nearly all of the currently installed cameras were run that way by the installing technician, and it seems to work. Plus, I have plenty of it on hand. I hesitate to think the stranded electical wire used to control the PTZ would be the cause for the image fluctuation. That would be a sucky situation, given that probably every PTZ in our system is run that way.

How did your framerate hold up after you changed your MG?

I use the same West-Penn connectors on the old Minicoax wire that was run years ago here whenever a connector needs to be replaced. For brand new runs I use standard size RG59. Coming from the DBS Installation industry, I'm much more familiar and trusting of the larger coax, personally.

I've got a few Spectra bearing assemblies that could be a little smoother than they are. Would a little bit of oil or WD-40 hurt?

Yeah they're ball bearings. I've got a PTZ that pans constantly and I recently rebuilt it with spare bearing assemblies I had because the existing ones were wearing out, but even the new ones are not as smooth as I want them to be, that's why I asked.

Being that these are gaming tables, I have some doubt that the issue is inadequate lighting, but I will say it's possible. I think the lenses might be more to blame. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think the lenses on the cameras were the standard DC lenses that came with them, which could very well be the problem, and examining these cameras is something that has to be arranged ahead of time. I don't have a means to measure the lux, so that's unfortunately not an option for me. I'll start with examining the lenses on the offending cameras, and then move from there to lighting levels, etc. in an effort to correct this. Thanks for the input!

Hi everyone. I'm a recently appointed technician for a large security system and I'm still learning the intricacies of the system. I just installed a Spectra IV and I'm getting the "configure Failed" error and Im not entirely sure why. It's possible I could have something hooked up wrong. My system is as follows: 271 Cameras Verint Nextiva 1708e Encoders Dell Poweredge 1950 Archivers Dell Powervault MD1000 Storage ProCurve 3500yl-24g Networking switches Genetech Omnicast 4.1 Software Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I've recently had two Pelco Spec 3's decide that their relative home position and all of their presets are either significantly higher or significantly lower than normal. The first one once covered a section about eye level, and it suddenly decided that Preset 1 is the floor, and presets 2-4 are different sections of the same floor, when they previously were on specific sections of the area. The second one was set on a moderately low level of a room, and panned back and forth constantly. It recently began resetting itself to the ceiling level, and began it's panning pattern there. I have to tilt it down to the floor and then hit it's home preset to get it to normalize, only to have it repeat this error 5-10 minutes later. The PTZ is # 6 in a daisy chain of roughly 10-12 cameras. Could this be the issue?

Noise in the data lines sounds about correct. All of the PTZ installations were done using the same multi-strand Red & Black wire for PTZ control as are used to power the camera, which means no drain wire. In any case, one of the cameras appears to have gone back to normal...for now. The other one still stares at the floor in all its presets. I'm probably just gonna have to re-do all the presets. Thanks for the input, guys. Z, I appreciate the software download. My Specs run 4800 baud on P protocol, though. Does the software have settings for that?

If so, how many cameras are running on it? IP or Encoders?

Thanks for the tips. As it turned out, the tilt motor is bad, and during its initial configuration, it tilts the camera through the full range of motion. It couldn't do that because the gears are bad, and so it sent up a red flag, basically saying "Something is not right". The camera still zooms and pans, but it won't tilt. I'll send it back to the company that procured it for us to get it repaired. I went with a Pelco Spec 3 we had on hand instead, which worked fine, but sometime during the afternoon, it just went out. So I go up and investigate, only to find that the metal contact plate on the bottom of the dome drive, as well as the backbox, were both very warm. I'm guessing the CPU fan in the dome drive either failed or didn't work to begin with,and it was just a matter of time before the unit heated up to the point of failure. It won't even attempt to boot up now when I plug it into a backbox. Totally fried. Oh well, the previous technician never alluded to the Spec 3's condition before he departed, and it was just sitting in my office, so it could have very well been a bad camera from the start. Thanks again!