All Sky Camera workshop Ed Mann 07802 350187

Introduction Assembly Software – iSpy and camera configuration Unpacking and check list Remove and store dome Remove camera module Fit cable gland to cable Fit housing ancillaries and cable Software – iSpy and camera configuration Introduction Installation Tutorial

Kit check list Base plate Dome + camera IMX291 module with 2.1mm lens Fisheye lens (1.7mm) Two blanking plates + tool 1 bag screws 1 bag nuts, bolts and washers Small Cable ties 1 Ethernet Lead Ethernet crossover 1 pair POE injector and splitter 1 cable gland + clear tubing 1 special Allen key + screws

Removing dome Carefully lift off dome Undo the screw holding dome earth cable Lift away and store dome carefully. (N B It now becomes a magnet for anything spilled, dropped or falling) Undo dome earth cable screw

Removing camera module Undo and remove 2 camera module mount screws Keep them in old camera module if you want Lift out and store camera module (It’s a 512 x 582 1/3” basic Super HAD CCD camera). Camera mount screws

Camera gland and cable Insert clear tube into gland Gently slide leads through clear plastic tube

Fit housing anciliaries and cable Fit cable gland to housing Fit base blanking plate and tighten with enclosed tool Connect wires to the camera board (see photo)

Fit IMX291 camera module Fit the IMX 291 module into the U-mount using the TOP hole using cable ties Tip – Bend the end of the cable tie before you try and insert it (see photo) Tighten cable gland to hold cable firmly (tools needed)

Lenses Two lens options 2.1mm 110 degree wide angle 1.7mm 180 degree fisheye – my preference

Dew Heater installation Carefully undo the two camera screen screws and discard the camera screen (DON’T scratch the dome) Slide the heater under the two flanges Tighten up enough to hold the heater but don’t overtighten After checking focus, connect heater connector to the spare power connector on camera lead. Hold the heater cable by the white plastic plug NOT by the wire

Next ….. Don’t fit the dome yet as you’ll need to adjust the focus (possibly) Network connection and software

Setting up network interface Either Click on Network symbol at bottom right corner of screen, then click Open Network and Sharing Centre Or Click Start – Control Panel – Network and Sharing Centre

Windows 7 Network and sharing centre

Network setup (Windows 7) Click on ‘Use the following IP address Add IP address 192.168.1.9 Add Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 Click OK

Software - iSpy Gives ability to:- Take timelapse movies Capture ‘meteor’ events through motion detection Connect multiple cameras and multiple tasks Remote access 10000 other things !!!

iSpy Main Screen Add new camera File Storage location *** Do this first ***

iSpy Main Settings Form Default is Website - Change it to iSpy

Add camera Add new camera – USB e.g. webcam or video grabber Add new camera – IP based

Add IMX291 camera – IP based Change this to rtsp://admin:@192.168.1.18:554/mpeg4

RTSP connection Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) rtsp://admin:@192.168.1.253:554/mpeg4 This needs to be changed to actual IP address. Default is 18

Main Camera Settings screen Motion detection settings Basic camera settings Advanced camera Settings (not IP) Recording Settings Keep this low to reduce CPU load

Motion detection setup Adjust Sensitivity to motion Detect colour change Highlight detected movement Only look for movement in certain areas

Recording and Timelapse Set recording mode Set up recording buffers

Recording buffers Mainly needed for Timelapse - Files much bigger Total recording time Calibrate Buffer Event Inactivity Time No event Event finishes. Wait N seconds In this example:- Calibration delay is ‘settling time’ Camera always has 5 seconds video in buffer Inactivity Record – Keep recording for N seconds after motion stops Once event happens, video is created of:- 5 second buffer + Event + N seconds of inactivity

Timelapse Enable/ Disable timelapse recording Save a frame every few seconds Not used for movies Set max file time Keep this low, maybe even 1frame/s

VLC Player Go to http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.en-GB.html Run the setup program and extract the files to c:\Program Files\iSpy\VLC64 Make sure that Playback setting is ‘iSpy’ in Main settings screen

Camera configuration Use any browser e.g. IE, Firefox, Safari Note . IE needs an ActiveX plugin that I’ve never managed to get working properly) Type in URL 192.168.1.18 (or actual IP address) Username is admin Password is admin

Main configuration screen Camera setup

Camera settings Most useful screen Adjust ‘white’ This screen Wideband Dynamic Range

Exposure settings 3 exposure modes 2 IR modes Scene – Auto exposure - Slow Shutter + AGC + Scene (Indoor/ Outdoor) Shutter – Auto exposure - AGC + shutter only Manual – full manual control of everything 2 IR modes Day - Colour with IR filter (can be disabled by removing IR filter wire. Possible external control) Night – B/W without IR filter