Help with Capture PTZ Camera

[DigAlarms 0]

Hi Guys,

 

I am new to the forum and relatively new to security camera installs so please bear with me

 

We recently purchased some "Capture" SDR-401 DVRs and some new model Capture FTD450 PTZ cameras for a client.

 

The DVR has a RS232 port for PTZ control so I am using a Startech IC485 RS232-RS485 adaptor to connect to the cameras. This converter has a fair bit of options (DCE, DTE, mode) but I beleive I have set it up right, DCE and for half duplex (as it is a one way communications).

 

I have gone through DVR menu and set the RS232 port to PTZ use, 9600baud, 8 bit/1stop bit, no parity and the camera DVR option to Fastrax-2. On the camera end, this is where the newbie factor comes in, I didnt get a controller keyboard so all I can do is play with the dip switches. On those I setup Fastrax-2, 9600 baud and id to 1 (same on DVR).

 

I can not seem to get the DVR to provide TPZ control to the camera. I have one setup on the bench and the other at the client location (via ferry, pain) so I am sure it is not faulty equipment. I also tried a TPZ controller on my PC and that didnt work. I have tried different baud rates and protocals with no difference.

 

I suspect that either there is an option on the camera that I cant access without the keyboard, it wont work without a keyboard (unlikley) or there is an issue with my DB9 to DB25 cable/RS232-RS485 converter setup.

 

Any ideas where I can look next or trouble shoot? I might take the whole thing back to the dealer and tell them to make it work for me but thats a bit hard with half the equipment a ferry away haha.

 

Johnny

[zmxtech 0]

make sure the 485 leads are the right polarity

[DigAlarms 0]

I did check that, I swapped them just to try it but it made no difference. I dont have access to a scope but maybe I need to check to see if I am getting a signal out of the DVR and then from the converter.

[zmxtech 0]

about 5v