johnp

I'm doing an installation of several cameras with video and data being run down cat.5 UTP. I've been using individual baluns for each camera's video output. The home run end is very messy and "looks" fragile with all of the baluns and hanging cat.5 on the back of the DVMR. What I'm looking for is a video only, multi-channel balun unit to be used at the home run end. I expect to run all of the cat.5 into this unit with neat little coax cables from the unit to the DVMR. The other possibility is to make the device myself, but I don't know what the circuit design is for a balun.

Thanks for the previous help on finding the Pelco D protocol code. Now I'm doing a Samsung installation and Samsung seems to be ignoring me on my request for Samsung protocol code. Does any know the Samsung protocol or a source for the code? I hate to go through the trouble of reverse engineering the data bursts.

Thanks to all that responded to my quest for information. I built a PTZ controller using a 16F877 PIC microproessor. It was tested at the closet where the camera data lines are home runned and also at the receiver end of the transceiver pair through the fiber optic link. All worked well although it needed a few software changes to work better. Thanks again, John P

I'm involved in a project to install a series of Pelco Spectra III cameras with IFS transceivers to send video and PTZ control to a central site over fiber. Until we get the fiber backbone and system up and running I need a way to check PTZ functions through a mockup of the tranceiver arrangement. What I am looking for is some information on what to feed onto the data lines to perform basic PTZ movements. Does anyone have any insight into the makeup of the data stream used for PTZ positioning. We've already blown our budget by buying a Pelco Remote Monitoring Kit (RMK) only to find out that the "remote' function is actually "local" via a 2 foot cable. The RMK testing only runs on RS-232 through a special RJ45 port on the camera and in actual use the PTZ function runs via RS422 through different circuitry. I have some knowledge in PIC processors and am looking to building a rudimentary control device for temporary testing. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks to all of the responders to my request for PTZ signal info. I did find a an article describing PTZ programming that describes the data stream detail for all Pelco protocols. FYI the article is at http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/PelcoPDinC.asp I'd like to publically thank the author for sharing this informative article. John P.

SM: Hire a professional? You're right; you can't help me. Other replies: Thanks, I downloaded the PTZ control program from Pelco and hope I can use it, but there are two "Ifs". If #1) I have had marginal success trying to get one of the three USB ports (no serial ports) to work with a USB to Serial adapter. I have three adapters and they work with most devices but not serailly with my GPS and another special serial printer. I do have on order, to arrive Monday or Tuesday, a RS-232 to RS-422 adapter from B&B Electronics to allow me to try the software on my laptop. If #2) I hesitate dragging my laptop around the site and taking a chance on damage or theft. I just thought it might be easier to make a rudimentary device with a cheap PIC processor - I carry some with me. I will contact Pelco, again, and ask them for them for the protocol. I just assumed it was something they didn't wish to share. They can't fire me or shoot me, so I'll give it a try. Thanks for the positive replies and I'm still listening.