Summary of the content on the page No. 1
Observer IV
Wireless Internet Camera System
User’s Guide
Colorado Video, Inc.
Boulder, CO
Revised 6/15/2005
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
OBSERVER IV USER’S GUIDE Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Camera Capabilities ........................................................................................................................ 2 Communicating with the Camera.................................................................................................... 5 Browsing the Camera’s
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
OBSERVER IV USER’S GUIDE Introduction The Observer IV is a digital still camera that uses the GSM cellular phone network to deliver images from remote locations to any computer on the Internet. The camera, battery-operated and housed in a weatherproof enclosure, is capable of providing images from areas where standard monitoring techniques are not applicable. Locations without traditional phone or electric service now can be easily monitored with the Observer IV. The Global System
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
Camera Capabilities The Observer camera delivers pictures from remote areas to any computer on the Internet. It is designed to operate, unattended, for extended periods of time. The camera operates in one of two configurations. As a remote imaging device, the camera will deliver images and notification of activity. In the other configuration the camera is used in conjunction with a desktop computer and a web browser to set operational parameters and test for proper function. The imag
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
The following table illustrates the available combinations of image delivery and event notification options. Image Delivery Options FTP Email Notification Options Text Messaging Yes Yes Email Yes No Email with image Yes No Operation The Observer camera will always be activated by the external trigger input. When the trigger input is momentarily switched to the return signal, the camera will be activated and will deliver a picture and notification. If the ext
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
while in the continuous mode the camera can broadcast many megabytes every hour. The user should be aware of the usage charges from the service provider that can result. Most service providers offer unlimited data plans that are ideal for this type of operation. Power mode options The power switch on the back panel determines in which one of two power modes the camera will function; ON or AUTO. The switch can be set to the ON position by sliding it to the left, or the AUTO position
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
Communicating with the Camera To configure the Observer camera, communication must first be established with a desktop PC. A pass thru serial cable is used to connect the 9-pin D connector on the camera to a similar connector associated with a serial COM port on the computer. Once communications is established, any web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape) on the PC can navigate the pages internal to the camera. These pages allow camera options to be selected and configuration par
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
Browsing the Camera’s Web Pages Once communications with the camera has been established, the user can navigate a series of web pages, setting parameters and operational modes. Each page presented by the camera is described in this section. ______________________________________________________________________________________ OBSERVER IV Camera Settings System Settings Operating Mode Network Settings Test and Troubleshoot Take a Picture Colorado-video.com
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
______________________________________________________________________________________ This page sets characteristics of the image delivered by the camera. Exposure - Automatic exposure levels can be made darker or lighter by selecting the Exposure setting. Medium exposure works best in most situations. Quality - This will determine the amount of JPEG compression that is applied to the image. The High quality setting will result in the most image detail and will produce a larger fi
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
________________________________________________ OBSERVER IV System Settings Enter the current time, date and day of week if different than those shown. Use the same format. Hours are based on a 24-hour clock. Dates are in month-date-year format. 1:00 1-1-04 Mon Time Date Day Enter the file name for the pictures sent to the server. If Constant File Name is selected, each picture will overwrite the previous one with the given file name. If Time/Date Stamp is selecte
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
APN – Access Point Name is a name provided by the cellular service that allows the camera to gain access to the Internet via their network. Contact your cellular service provider for the correct value to enter here. PIN – Some SIM cards require a 4-8 digit ‘personal identification number’. The cellular service provider will supply this number if it is required. If a PIN i
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
Activation – The camera will always deliver a picture when the external trigger line is brought to ground. Additionally, the camera can be scheduled to deliver a picture based on the day of the week and the time. Check the Enable Schedule box and set the scheduled times on the Schedule page to enable this function. Notification – The camera can deliver a notification message each time it is activated by the external trigger. Use this setting to determine the nature of this notification
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
______________________________________________________________________________________ OBSERVER IV Network Settings Information about the FTP and email servers is entered here. If either FTP or email functions are not utilized, the corresponding fields may be left blank. If text message notification is enabled enter the receiving cell phone's number. observer-iv.com me@colorado-video.com FTP server Email address colorado-video.com FTP directory Email server
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
Only those fields corresponding to the configured functions need to be filled out. If email image delivery or notification is not required then those fields may be left blank. If text message 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
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
Using the FTPJPG Application The FTPJPG application installs on a Windows PC and automatically 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
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
Images from up to four different cameras can be retrieved. The images do not need to reside on the same FTP server. This window will allow the selection of images residing on a single server for retrieval. The selection process must be repeated for other servers that may contain images from other cameras. Enter the FTP server Internet 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 pa
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
Image display The selected images will be displayed and updated. They may be moved and resized as desired. When an image is updated, a small camera icon will appear in the upper left hand corner and the audio annunciation will sound, if enabled. Clicking the right mouse button while positioned over an image will bring up a menu option titled “Show Archive”. Clicking the left mouse button on this selection will open up the archive directory for that particular camera. Go to the top
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
The Camera Case and Controls GSM antenna Weatherproof case Do not remove side screws. Front window External power connector Bottom plate screws (4) Mount 16
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
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. 17
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
Removing 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. 18
