new pelco ptz black/white

[ayalas 0]

I have installed a new pelco ptz spectra 4 cam and the video image comes out black and white. When i re-set it it has color but once i move the joystick it goes black and white againg. I change the rg-59 cable and the connectors but no luck. I also called pelco service but no luck. I wanted to know if any of you guys have gonre throw this and what have you done to fix this problem?

[survtech 0]

Which model of Spectra IV and how low is the light level at the camera? If you have the Color/BW head (DD4CBW35), they come from the factory set to switch from color to B/W at "dusk". You can change that by getting into the menu:

 

Dome Settings > Camera > IR Cut Filter > Auto

- and-

Auto IR Level > Dark

 

By the way, you could get the same problem if the camera is not suitable for your TV system, ie: a PAL camera on an NTSC system.

[ayalas 0]

Thank you survtech. Yes, Much better that took care of the brightness. Now as i zoom in i see a lot of static or ants. Its not a big of a deal but i do not get a perfect clear picture. I was wondering why if when i check the ptz at its location using my field monitor and at the other end its perfectly clear. But when i connect the rg59 to the matrix about 150 feet i get this static. The cable is brand new and the bnc. Can it be this cable running throw a light ficture or something and the matrix is picking it up?

[survtech 0]

What size display is the field monitor? My guess is that its resolution is not sufficient to see the "grain" that results from low light levels. Many cameras, including Pelco PTZs, have an AGC circuit that increases video gain as the light gets dimmer. That AGC circuit also amplifies any noise in the picture. As the light signal gets weaker, the picture will get noisier.

 

The fact that your PTZ was switching to B/W tells me that the light level at the camera is weak so I would guess that you will either have to provide more light or live with the graininess. Other than that, you could go into CAMERA > and adjust the AGC Limit value (Default is 25, I believe), but your picture will probably get too dark.

 

A partial fix may be to use a clear bubble instead of a smoked one, which does block some light (about 1 f-stop).

 

That is the point of the color/bw cameras in the first place - as the light gets dim, they switch to black and white, which works better in low light.

[ayalas 0]

The size of the field monitor is 4 or 5 inch. survteck i havent mention that this ptz is installed inside of a casino facing a bunch of slot machines with blinking lights and its pretty well lighted. I played around with the agc it was on 25 but it did not do much of a diffrents.

It makes a lot of sence what you said about the dark dome when i work on it with the field monitor it was with out the dome attached. I will try againg tommorow i have to do this things when the casino is close or early when its not that full. I will also try to post a pic. so you can get a better idea of what im working with.