Colorado Video Observer IV User Manual Download Page 1

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Revised 9/15/2006

Observer IV

Wireless Internet Camera System

User’s Guide

Colorado Video, Inc.

Boulder, CO

Summary of Contents for Observer IV

Page 1: ...Revised 9 15 2006 Observer IV Wireless Internet Camera System User s Guide Colorado Video Inc Boulder CO ...

Page 2: ... Regulations and Safety Concerns 28 Appendix B Specifications 30 Appendix C Power Supply Considerations and Power Switch Settings 31 Appendix D Establishing Communications with Different Operating Systems 33 Appendix E Test and Troubleshoot 37 Appendix F Network Services and Cell Phone Access 41 Appendix G Using the InstallObserver Utility 43 Appendix H GSM SIM PIN and the Observer Camera 45 Appen...

Page 3: ... providers in the US and their coverage includes most metropolitan and urban areas as well as Interstate corridors With the proper GSM service plan the Observer IV can deliver pictures from covered areas on a user defined schedule or in response to an external trigger Options allow the camera to supply images as well as real time notification of activity at the remote site This camera provides an ...

Page 4: ...ges from multiple cameras can be collected on a single server Web pages with links to these images are easily constructed allowing them to be accessed by anyone Many Internet service provides including AOL and Earthlink provide FTP access to storage space on their servers as part of the basic service This space may be used as a destination for Observer images A special desktop application is avail...

Page 5: ...the image will be delivered and notification sent Images will also be sent at the scheduled times without notification Continuous mode The camera can be operated in a continuous mode delivering a continual stream of images The interval between images can range from 1 to 99 minutes The user will need to access their email account or the FTPJPG application to view the incoming images Continuous mode...

Page 6: ...can be switched in and out of continuous mode via a text message from a cell phone The AUTO position activated by sliding the switch to the right allows the camera to automatically turn itself on and off The camera will turn on based on the user s schedule or in response to an external trigger signal Image acquisition and delivery will occur along with user notification The camera will then turn o...

Page 7: ...ol have been installed in the desktop PC the Observer can be connected Connect a straight thru 9 pin serial cable to the 9 pin connector on the back of the Observer and connect the other end to the COM port on the PC that you selected while installing the modem driver Make sure the camera is plugged into the correct COM port Place switch 1 on the back panel down OFF and switches 2 and 3 up ON Turn...

Page 8: ...bleshoot Take a Picture Colorado video com Version 1 39 ________________________________________________________________________ The initial home page for the camera is shown above Clicking on the underlined links will bring up the corresponding page The first four links Camera Settings System Settings Operating Mode and Network Settings allow the camera to be configured for specific applications ...

Page 9: ... associated with each setting are given for a typical outdoor image Large size Quality Setting File Size High 110K bytes Medium 60K bytes Low 15K bytes Lighting This selection will produce the correct color balance for the selected lighting environment Checking the Use external control will cause the external illumination signal on the connector to become active one second before the exposure is t...

Page 10: ...________________________ This page determines internal settings necessary for proper camera operation Time Date and Day Set these values to the current time and date The camera uses these to implement scheduled operation Use a 24 hour clock for time and mm dd yy format for the date Camera Name Enter a name for the camera This name will be used for transmitted image files and in notification messag...

Page 11: ...ignal on the external trigger line It can also be activated internally via a user defined schedule To enable scheduled operation click on the box below and go to the Schedule page to define those times Enable Schedule Notification The camera can provide a notification message each time it is activated via the external trigger The notification message can be either an Email or a Short Message Servi...

Page 12: ...Use this setting to determine the nature of this notification Make sure the appropriate parameters are entered in the Network Settings page Notification will never be sent when the camera is activated only via a scheduled time _____________________________________________________________________________________ This page determines the days hours and minutes that the camera will deliver a picture ...

Page 13: ...name FTP password FTP passw ord Email password Email Cell phone 1234567890 Submit Reset _______________________________________________________________________ This page defines how the camera will connect to the Internet A phone number for SMS notification is also entered here FTP server This value is the Internet address of the FTP server that will receive an image from the camera FTP directory ...

Page 14: ...notification is not selected on the operating page then the cell phone number may be left blank ______________________________________________________________________________ OBSERVER IV Test and Troubleshoot Modem Configuration Cellular Service Image Delivery Test Notification Test Text Message Receive Test Focus Serial No 1234567890 _______________________________________________________________...

Page 15: ...y retrieves Observer images from an FTP server These images are displayed and stored on the computer In this manner the images captured by the Observer IV camera are collected presented to the user and archived for latter retrieval Installation The FTPJPG application must be installed on a computer with Internet access A computer with only dial up modem access will have difficulty retrieving pictu...

Page 16: ... address to which the images are delivered by the camera Enter the user ID and password for this server This server address user ID and password will be the same entries as made in the Observer s Network Settings page Click on the Connect button The application will access the server and display the contents The directory tree may have to be navigated to get to the destination folder Opening the f...

Page 17: ... mouse button while positioned over an image will bring up two menu options Show Archive and Show Log Data Click on Show Archive and the archive directory for that particular camera will be displayed Go to the top of the window and set View Thumbnails This will provide a view of all the images from that camera that have been retrieved When done reviewing the archive click in the upper right corner...

Page 18: ...described The Observer IV camera will continue to deliver images to the FTP server even when the FTPJPG application is not running However the most recent image will overwrite the previous one which will be lost The only way to save each image delivered by the camera is to have FTPJPG active ...

Page 19: ...17 The Camera Case and Controls GSM antenna Front window Do not remove side screws Weatherproof case External power connector Mount Bottom plate screws 4 ...

Page 20: ...18 Removing the antenna The antenna may be removed when handling or shipping the camera Grab the thick middle part of the mast and unscrew When replacing screw down finger tight do not over tighten ...

Page 21: ... two different antennas shown above The larger whip on the left is tuned for 850 1900 MHz operation The smaller wave radiator on the right is optimized for 900 1800 MHz operation In areas where sufficient signal strength is present either antenna should function satisfactorily ...

Page 22: ...emoving the end caps Loosen the bottom screws at the back end one half turn Remove the screws holding the clear end cap Use a small screwdriver or fingernail at the bottom edge to lift out the clear end cap ...

Page 23: ...21 Replacing the batteries Remove the four screws holding the bottom plate Remove the bottom plate Insert batteries with the correct polarity ...

Page 24: ... internal power selector switch depending on the use of batteries or an external AC adapter Push the switch up towards the red dot when using internal batteries Push the switch down away from the red dot when using the external AC adapter ...

Page 25: ...e switch will have no effect The switch has no effect when the power switch is in the AUTO position Switch 2 Not used leave in UP position Switch 3 Not used leave in UP position Power switch This switches controls power to the camera When ON left the camera is always powered If the Configuration Switch 1 is DOWN when the power switch is placed to the ON position the camera will enter configuration...

Page 26: ...of the camera Their function differs slightly depending on the position of the power mode and Configuration Switch 1 Power mode AUTO Red On when the camera is ON Yellow On while the camera is attempting to connected to the Internet Green Flashing while the camera is transmitting information to the Internet Power mode ON Red On when the camera is ON Yellow On while the camera is attempting to conne...

Page 27: ... settings are required Do not connect to this signal if this function is not required Wireless trigger and receiver devices are available which eliminate the need for cabling between the door switch or motion detector and the Observer Camera see Appendix I The external trigger line must be switched to the return line for a minimum of 300 milliseconds to activate the camera In AUTO mode the externa...

Page 28: ...Installation When installing the Observer camera consider the following Make sure that the area of interest has GSM coverage Install the camera far enough above ground so it will not be vandalized Different focal length lenses are available to provide an adequate view from any distance All lenses are a fixed focus type High contrast scenes are difficult to accurately expose Aim the camera so it do...

Page 29: ...n lessons that will acquaint them with the camera and its operations When Considering Using the Observer IV camera Thoroughly read the Users Guide and verify that the camera will meet the needs of the application The Observer camera is a digital still camera that delivers moderate resolution 640x480 color images no faster than once a minutes It does not supply video images Verify that a good insta...

Page 30: ...ible exposure MPE limits for general population uncontrolled exposure as defined in Section 1 13 10 of the FCC Rules and Regulations Equipment intended or use in a residential environment not withstanding use in commercial industrial or business environments is designated as Class B The Enfora Enabler II G module has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device and ...

Page 31: ...mera there are no user serviceable parts inside All networks wireless as well as wired contain some inherent unreliability The successful delivery of images or notifications at all times cannot be guaranteed Do not rely on the correct operation of the Observer camera in critical conditions where life or property may be threatened ...

Page 32: ...rms at 5 volts Transmit current 350 ma rms at 5 volts 850 ma rms peak Camera CMOS image sensor 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 resolution Lens options 4 5 mm 6 0 mm 12 0 mm 16 mm night vision lenses are available Minimum focus distance is 40 cms Image output format Adjustable JPEG compression Interface GSM GPRS 850 900 1800 1900 MHz External connections DC power Ground External lighting control External tr...

Page 33: ...rgeable 325 NiMH Lithium 650 External power An AC adapter is available which will supply power to the external connector When the external power connections are used the internal power selector switch must be set properly away from the red dot and no batteries need be installed The external power requirements are listed in the Appendix B Power mode selection Two power modes are available when oper...

Page 34: ...power supply This may be desirable if the external supply is a solar panel battery combination and the load presented to the solar panel needs to be kept at a minimum Continuous broadcast mode would not be available in this situation Alternately the power mode switch may be set to ON and the camera powered via the internal battery pack In this situation the camera will present an ongoing drain to ...

Page 35: ... for Windows 2000 1 Click on the My Computer icon on the Windows desktop 2 Click on the Control Panel 3 Click on the Phone and Modem Options and select the Modems tab If this is the first time creating a dial up connection for this computer and additional window will ask where the computer is and about area codes Answers her will have no effect on the connection about to be made 4 Press the Add bu...

Page 36: ...Windows configurations 16 The connection to the Observer Camera is now ready for use To create a shortcut to the connection place the cursor on the icon and right click Answer yes to the question Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead Close the control panel window 17 Once the Observer is properly connected to the COM port and turned on clicking on this icon will establish co...

Page 37: ...ct it from a list Then press Next 7 Select the Standard 57600 bps Modem then Next 8 Select a COM port from the displayed list The port selected must be available for connection to the Observer 9 Click Next then Finish The modem driver has been installed The following steps should be used to configure the Dial Up Networking entry 10 Under My Computer click on Dial Up Networking 11 Click on Make A N...

Page 38: ...eated the connection for the Observer Camera 24 Right click the newly created icon on the Dial Up Networking page and select Create Shortcut Answer Yes to the question Do you want the shortcut placed on the Desktop 25 Once the Observer is properly connected to the COM port and turned on clicking on this icon will establish communications ...

Page 39: ... Establishing modem communications APN is Proxy Checking IMEI 01015311003050 Checking s w version 72 Checking frequency band capability BAND 0 4 Checking SIM CPIN READY Cellular number CNUM My Mobile 13038070384 145 Checking cellular signal CSQ 22 99 RSSI of 69dBm is excellent Checking GPRS network registration CGREG 0 2 CGREG 0 2 CGREG 0 1 Modem registered with network Checking service provider C...

Page 40: ... bytes in 1 transfers 221 Thank you for using the FTP service on LinusJr 221 Goodbye Tearing down GPRS connection TEST COMPLETE ________________________________________________________________________ The results of the Image Delivery Test when the FTP option is selected are shown above ________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL TEST PASSED BACK Starting image i...

Page 41: ...hown above ______________________________________________________________________________ Notification Test This test will deliver a notification message from the camera The type of delivery is determined by the current camera configuration ______________________________________________________________________________ SMS TEST PASSED BACK Registering modem modem attached Sending SMS SMS sent SMS t...

Page 42: ... when email is selected are shown above SMS Receive Test This test will verify that the camera can receive commands via text messaging The SIM inserted in the back of the camera and the cell phone used to send the test message must both be capable of text messaging When the line Send Text Message now is displayed the user has 90 seconds to send a short message to the camera cell phone number The r...

Page 43: ...lize any SMTP server on the Internet which allows it access If email delivery or notification is not required then the availability of an SMTP server is not an issue FTP servers Servers which handle the movement of files across the Internet utilizing the File Transfer Protocol are called FTP servers Access to an FTP server is required for the Observer Camera to transfer image files utilizing the F...

Page 44: ...ified in N minutes Sending the text message SM 100 will stop the broadcasting of images completely The cell phone number of the camera for this command can be displayed by running the Modem Configuration Cellular Service test accessible on the Diagnostics page This feature is always available when the power switch on the back plate is in the ON left position It is unavailable when the camera is op...

Page 45: ...ar showing which drivers if any are installed on which COM ports 2 If there any modem drivers attached to the spare COM port that you have selected for connection to the Observer they will have to be removed A COM port can only have one active driver 3 Highlight the old drivers by clicking on it then click on Remove at the bottom of the window 4 Answer yes to the question Are you sure you want to ...

Page 46: ...ore the connection can be used You have the option of restarting the computer now or later Windows XP does not need to be restarted to use the new connection Restart the computer if required Once the computer has restarted there will be an icon on the desktop titled Observer on COM 1 2 Follow the instructions in the Establishing Communications with a PC section found in the chapter titled Communic...

Page 47: ...age with medium compression will require about 50 65 kilobytes thousand bytes Thus about 15 20 images can be transmitted per megabyte of usage A limited plan may be the most inexpensive if the camera is to transmit only about a hundred images each month Plans allowing an unlimited amount of data transmission each month may be the best value if the camera is to be used more frequently SIM cards may...

Page 48: ...n associated phone number even if it is a data only SIM This number is the one to use to send text messages to the camera if the continuous mode of operation is to be used Not all providers will program the SIM card with the account phone number If it is not displayed during this test it will need to be retrieved from the original documentation from the provider ...

Page 49: ...and receiver Wireless triggers and receivers allow the Observer camera to be triggered from up to 100 meters away without cabling The triggering component can be interfaced to door switches and motion detectors as well as other devices The receiving component is attached to the Observer via the external trigger input Wireless audio annunciator A separate audio amplifier speaker combination is avai...

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