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HOWTO use the Focus Assistant on Axis IP Cameras
A useful, but often overlooked feature on Axis model network cameras P1311/P1343/P1344/P1346/P1347 is the Focus Assistant. Focusing security cameras via the lens levers can be a tricky business and any installer welcomes a neat trick or device that makes this vital step of the installation process easier and more accurate.
Using this tool it is possible to focus the camera accurately without looking at the video image output from the camera, but to adjust the focus and get visual feedback from the camera itself when the view is nearing and has hit that focus sweet spot.
HOWTO set azimuth on a Sony SNC-EP550
A useful and unique feature on Sony’s keenly priced HD PTZ dome the SNC-EP550 is its azimuth, or ‘compass point’ setting. This howto also applies to other PTZ cameras in Sony’s latest range.
Calibrating the camera’s azimuth allows you to display the camera’s compass point orientation on the on-screen display (OSD) via the camera’s ‘superimpose’ setting. This can be especially handy for anyone orienting the view against a map or a set of site drawings.
The process to set azimuth is very simple:
Top 5 most frequently asked technical questions about network cameras
Our technical team get asked the same questions a lot and so we’ve let one of them loose on this blog to tell us which ones. Over to Raymond…
We receive many queries on the technical support line here at NW, and of course they do vary widely, from customers looking for advice or technical help, right through to providing support for full security systems installations and integrations.
We do, however, answer certain questions more often than others. In fact, I would say that the majority of technical support questions would fall into a handful of issues.
In this blog I will outline five of the issues we most commonly see and provide a link or a brief guide on each so we here on technical support can spend more time discussing Star Trek!
HOWTO: Install Axis Media Control / ActiveX in Internet Explorer
As development in IP camera technology progresses most camera manufacturers look to support both a wide range of integration and recording platforms and, in most cases, a wide range of web browsers in order that their cameras can be set up, configured and viewed over the network.
In the case of browsers, inherent limitations still mean that certain functions must be accessible or controlled through a browser add-on – a small plugin, usually downloaded from the camera itself, which extends the capabilities of the browser. Some manufacturers have done away with this in order that their products are supported similarly in all browsers. Some have no full cross-browser support of any kind (products from Taiwanese manufacturer ACTi for instance) and require the use of Internet Explorer and an ActiveX plugin.
Evaluation: Axis P3384-V with Wide Dynamic Range and Lightfinder
Until recently, Axis Lightfinder technology was available in the Axis top end Q series of cameras only. Now this technology has made its way into the more affordable P range of Axis cameras. Here we take a look at the Axis P3384 IP camera, which is currently the only camera in the Axis P series that features both Lightfinder technology and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) with Dynamic Capture. As this looks interesting on paper, we were interested to see how it performs in real life. We placed the P3384 in various lighting conditions to find out.
Evaluation: Panasonic i-Pro WV-SW175
Panasonic’s now end-of-line BB-HCM735 was one of the best-selling network cameras in their home/office range, offering very decent VGA resolution footage in an outdoor-ready casing with pan/tilt movement and 2-way audio, while still being very cost-effective. Now that this camera has been discontinued, we’ve taken a look at its replacement; the Panasonic i-Pro WV-SW175. Does this camera still offer the same good value as its predecessor?
First things first, let’s see some sample footage from the camera.
HOWTO: Offline licensing of cameras in Milestone XProtect
In another of our Milestone XProtect series of HOWTO blogs, I’ll take you through how to license new cameras whilst not connected to the Internet.
Why might you want to licence a camera offline?
Any manager of a security system needs to make decisions about how that system is connected to the network. We encounter XProtect-based security systems of all sizes and configurations. Some are connected to the Internet and some are not. XProtect’s mobile server capability would require an online connection, but if you have no need for this feature or tie your network down tightly your XProtect server may be operating offline, and in this case you’ll be licensing cameras offline.
HOWTO: Install Milestone XProtect Essential
In this HOWTO, I’ll walk you through each step when installing Milestone XProtect Essential; from the initial email provided by our sales team which contains your Software Licence Code (SLC) and .lic license files, applying the license file, through to the point where you have your first camera installed, licensed, online and ready to go.
The process of installation is a bit long-winded (which I’m guessing is the reason you’re reading this in the first place), but you end up with a robust and feature-packed software installation. Put aside half an hour, grab a cuppa, settle in and let’s get started.
The home users guide to setting up and using the single channel version of the Panasonic Network Camera Recorder (BB-HNP11)
Those of you who have purchased a camera from Panasonic’s BB or BL range, Panasonic include a single camera license for their Network Camera Recorder software. This software allows a Panasonic camera to be recorded and used as part of an IP CCTV recording solution.
HOWTO: Factory Reset your Panasonic BL-C1/20
This is a small HOWTO: guide which will help you reset your Panasonic BL-C1 or BL-C20 IP camera should you forget the password and find yourself unable to connect.
This guide will be suitable for the following cameras:
