PTZ camera viewable but randomly moving

[Jason_Bassett]

Hello

I have a PTZ dome camera, I can see streamed images fine. From researching online I think it is a Dennard 2040 or 2060. Pictures to follow when I get them in case anyone can tell from the way it looks (the identifiable marks have weathered and are unreadable).

The camera is constantly moving around, zooming in and out etc. I have no controller keyboard/joystick.

I would like to take control of the camera or at least halt its movements and zooming.

All of my 8 cameras including this 1 PTZ are cabled back to a multiplex device (about the size of a network switch) which then has 8 BNC style connectors which I link to my capture card.

Is there anyway to control the camera over the existing coax cable link down which the image is transmitted or do I have to make use of serial port converters (RS232 to RS285?), and/or get hold of joystick devices to control them? I'd like to control fully with Zoneminder and set patrol routes etc.

Regards

Jason

[kingofkya]

you need separate line and use you need serial adaptor. 2 pair telephone wire will work but if its a long run you might need thicker cabling.

[Jason_Bassett]

Hello

OK, thanks. I have ordered a serial converter. My machine only has one serial port, will I be able to control more than one camera individually with one port/adapter or does each camera require a separate serial port/adapter?

Thankyou

Jason

[kingofkya]

something like this is what you need for more.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CEAQ8wIwBA#

[devlista]

nt

[devlista]

Deal Extreme has some inexpensive RS-485 dongles that cost a tiny fraction of others I've seen.

On the higher end PTZ cameras, (not from personal experience, just from reading their literature) RS-485 is very common.

My experience with RS485 is in lighting equipment - its used to control lighting in buildings - performance lighting/stagecraft, nightclubs, etc.

Its balanced and it uses (4 conductor, so cat 3 is fine) UTP cable so its able to communicate over a much longer distance than RS232.

Don't use (nontwisted) phone wire. That is asking for problems.

[Jason_Bassett]

Hello

Camera is definitely a Dennard 2060 model. I have a visual. I have purchased an RS232 to RS485 converter but the camera is not accepting any commands.

Reading through the Dennard manuals, it appears I need to access the menu system for the camera to tell it to use 485 signalling. Problem is I do not have a suitable system to plug it into.

Does anyone therefore know of any way to reset such a camera to factory defaults without having the Digital Micros controller equipment?

J