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So the ACTi ENR-140 (what I am looking at currently) comes with two LAN ports. Does one have to be connected to an "internal network" only containing the cameras, and the other connected to an "external network" with an Internet connection and other local PCs? Or can we just use one port to connect the NVR to an existing LAN and get cameras, network access, and Internet access through one port?

Both ways are OK!

You can have everything connected via 1 port, or you can separate cameras and remote access by using 2 different ports - in that case the NVR itself becomes a firewall, and remote users will not be able to reach and manipulate cameras directly, but can only access NVR.

Here is the tool that can quickly validate the compatibility of your chosen PoE switch and ACTi cameras in terms of sufficient power supply.

http://www.acti.com/switchselector

I hope it helps!

Hello!

Here is an article I wrote some time ago that explains how to set up Motion Detection with ACTi cameras. I hope it helps. It explains the use of "sensitivity", "threshold", etc.

http://www.acti.com/kb/detail.asp?KB_ID=KB20101108002

Now that the cameras are online, you can upgrade all 20 cameras via IP Utility 4 at the same time. All done in 5 minutes.

Yes, it appears to be the issue of 5.09.15 firmware when used under ONVIF 2.2 protocol. (no problems when using ACTi protocol). It is now considered as a known issue, and is already fixed with 5.10 version (beta). Rolling back to 5.08 will also solve the issue, but it only supports functions defined by ONVIF 2.0. If that is not your concern while using Exacqvision, then 5.08 should be fine.

Wow! That's really tough. The system level troubleshooting is always a challenge. However, our tech support team will help you solve all these problems very quickly, I am very sure of it.

Did you get the answers from our tech support team regarding this case? I am very curious about this case, too.

It is recommended to use industrial grade switches, to have the safe performance. Industrial grade usually means that the maximum power (e.g. 15.4W for Class 3) is guaranteed on ALL ports at the same time. Lower grade switches may support 15.4W on each port separately, but the total power is not "15.4W x number of PoE ports."

Some brands which have been well known for their industrial grade in the past, may also offer lower grade products nowadays due to competitive pressure or business strategy change. So please rely on the spec sheets to be sure.

KCM-5611 requires 10.7W via PoE when IR LED is on (refer to KCM-5611 datasheet).

Cisco 300 series does not even guarantee that much power when you use up all the PoE ports!

Example: SF302-08P has 8 ports, with total power of 62W, that is an average of 7.75W per port when all ports are in use. If all ports are used by KCM-5611, you do not have to blame the camera for disconnection due to lack of power.

I hope this helps..

Here is the table I created some time ago. I hope it is useful.

I suggest to use constant bitrate, and make sure the bitrate level is sufficient. The default bitrate level of the camera is for the default resolution (e.g. 1080p). If you bought a 3MP or 5MP camera and you decided to change the default 1080p to a higher resolution, you have to increase the bitrate level, too.

If you keep too small bitrate level, you are not allowing enough data to describe the high resolution image, and there will be data shortage, especially for the last few frames of each second. As a result, the last few frames of each second may be more blur and it sharpens again with the new I-frame.

This is a useful rule of thumb that applies to all the IP cameras across manufacturers.

Have a nice day there!

Hmm... How about this: with a few hours of effort, it is possible to make your own File Manager script that would search, download the needed files, remove needless files, etc, automatically. I know may be a bit time consuming, but sometimes self made tools are kind of cool.

You may take a good use of Local Storage related URL Commands, as listed here:

http://www.acti.com/kb/detail.asp?KB_ID=KB20120327001

(page 23).

The following commands can be executed by your script:

• Get the recorded files list
  Get the recorded file
  Delete the recorded file
  Get the status of local storage
  Mount or unmount the disk
  Format the local storage
  Check the report of disk format
  Remove older files from local storage
  Set date and time filter for local storage file search
  Search for event related recordings
  Scan the disk for possible errors
  Check the report of the disk scan
  Set overwrite parameters and low disk warning rule

Good morning!

Indeed, there is no user interface within the Web Configurator to do the playback of the RAW files. At least not yet. And currently, there is no plan to develop the RAW player within the camera either. The long term plan is to let the NVR do the sync, manage the files in the camera and do the playback.

ACTi main focus is to provide a decent software NVR solution, as the highest priority. The other software/utility solutions are with secondary priority. NVR 3 today is the result of the priority arrangement.

Regarding the local storage file management:

The current way to playback is pretty much as you already said:

1. download the RAW files

2. use Archive Player or Demo Tool to play RAW directly or use Media Converter to convert RAW to AVI. All these utilities can be downloaded from http://www.acti.com/Utility

We also keep looking at the market trends and see whether there is a growing need for having the media player within the Web Configurator or not.

In the meanwhile, I can just humbly thank you for your patience!

You can do the continuous recording if you like. It may not be the best idea in the long run though, due to SD card life span may not be as long as hard drives.

However, if it is needed, here's the pdf that explains how to set it up:

http://www.acti.com/kb/detail.asp?KB_ID=KB20120702001

Where we can find this 5.09.09 firmware? Can't find it on acti.com website.

I have 5.08.06 firmware, and I'm using CGI command to enable ONVIF.

I tested it in GeoVision and ExacqVision. In GeoVision:

you can record and view video, change resolution set presets, zoom in and out, but moving doesn't work... well only diagonal PT works.

In Exacq - you can move camera, but you can't use or set presets.

:/

The firmware version 5.09 will be published on the website when it has passed the hemispheric camera (KCM-3911/7911) functionality test. The 5.09 will provide the option to have the raw fisheye view from the camera (non-dewarped).

However, since this test does not influence KCM-8xxx models, therefore this firmware version is already uploaded to the shipped PTZ models.

KCM-8111 with firmware 5.09.09 or newer supports ONVIF 2.2. All the KCM-8111/8211 units are shipped with this version or newer, so they should all be ONVIF 2.2 conformant, as you take them out of the box. Just make sure to enable the ONVIF service in the camera.

 

Thank you Ando. Now reading your reply, are the 8211's starting to ship?

You may check with regional distributors for most accurate schedule, as the product availability depends on the shipping time to each region and if the distributors have a backlog to handle first, or not.

Anyone know what Onvif version the KCM-8111 has? I know the new D and E series cameras are running 2.2, but the firmware on the 8111 is older.

KCM-8111 with firmware 5.09.09 or newer supports ONVIF 2.2. All the KCM-8111/8211 units are shipped with this version or newer, so they should all be ONVIF 2.2 conformant, as you take them out of the box. Just make sure to enable the ONVIF service in the camera.

I am afraid there is no such function available today.

The common usage is to keep the video data in RAW format and only export important sections into avi for evidence purposes (police investigators, insurance claims, customer disputes, lost&found, etc). The advantage of archiving RAW files is the completeness of information - it not only contains audio and video stream, but event related information - each video frame in RAW format also contains information whether the motion detection system or digital input was triggered at that given moment or not. It may be helpful for some investigations. The video that has been converted into avi no longer has that additional information.

Can you explain your definition of "automatically"?

There are 2 possible cases as I see:

1. I want to convert the live stream into AVI, which means the conversion speed as to be as fast as recording of RAW in realtime, otherwise the accumulated time gap would be endless. Today, there is no RAW to AVI realtime converter available.

2. I want to select the content of the whole folder, containing hundreds of existing RAW files, and I want to let the Media converter convert all of them one by one automatically. That is doable with current Media Converter.

NVR 3 recording: RAW

NVR 3 export: RAW or AVI

RAW Players:

NVR 3 (only the RAW files recorded by itself)

Archive Player V2.1.18 - any RAW (available at: http://www.acti.com/ip_utility)

Camera Demo Tool V1.5.04 - any RAW (available at: http://www.acti.com/ip_utility)

RAW to AVI Converters:

Media Converter V2.1.26 (available at: http://www.acti.com/ip_utility)

I work in ACTi head office in Taipei.

ONVIF 2.2 is available with firmware version 6.02.03.

Most camera shipped a week ago may still come with previous firmware (6.01).

If you use ACTi IP Utility, it will list all the connected cameras together with their current firmware version.

(http://www.acti.com/IP_utility)

If you discover the cameras do not have 6.02.03 yet, please download the latest firmware from ACTi website.

When you have downloaded 6.02.03 from the website, simply use IP Utility, select all products, and upload the new firmware to all the cameras, no matter you have tens or hundreds of them, all done in a few seconds. Then the cameras will be ONVIF 2.2 compliant. Just note, by default, the ONVIF function is disabled, but you can enable it by user interface of Web Configurator, or use URL command via IP Utility, to activate ONVIF on all your cameras at the same time.

Thank you! You made my day! This sounds great. DO 12volt will work perfectly for me, because there are so many 12volt Chime devises out there. I can simply connect Chime's battery contacts (after taking the battery out of the Chime) to the camera's terminal block with a pair of cables. Would you just confirm this? I am being causious - I don't want to damage the camera.

Yep, that's it! Go ahead!

Once you have done with the wiring, you would like to test if it is correct or not before configuring the Event panel of Web Configurator.

To validate the wiring, there are the buttons on live view page, just press it and see if you hear the chime.

I am having trouble finding the proper Relay. I understand the camera will supply only about 1v to the relay. Any thoughts in finding the proper relay?

Camera's digital output is DC12V, regardless of the devices you connect to it.

Solution 1:

Camera DO (DC12V) -> Alarm device (powered by DC12V)

Solution 2:

Camera DO (DC12V) -> Relay (DC12V for magnet, AC110-240V for external circuit) -> Alarm Device (powered by AC110-240V).

The firmware for my discontinued Acti Cam that is available from Acti.CZ is more recent than the firmware my camera has now.

Am I able to use firmware from Acti.CZ in U.S.A.?

 

Thanks in advance

Technically yes. The firmware does not vary across territories. The newest firmware versions are available at www.acti.com. All the other sites just mirror the content of www.acti.com

However, since you are talking about discontinued camera, I suggest you to validate this idea first via http://www.acti.com/chd Online Helpdesk (free service), to make sure the following:

1. Is your old camera possibly compatible with latest firmware? Anything you need to know/beware before upgrading?

2. Do the new features in latest firmware really work and solve the problems you are working on?

3. Will your video management system be able to work with the new firmware? Some of the third party VMS are strictly tied to certain versions of firmware and no exceptions are allowed.

Here's the document that explains the use of Digital Output for alarm purposes.

http://www.acti.com/kb/detail.asp?KB_ID=KB20091230001

There are 2 solutions:

1. Use a device that is powered by 12V DC. This way, you can connect it to the camera without any relay in-between. The camera is able to provide 12V DC power to the alarm device directly when the event occurs. For example, a 12V buzzer. You can test it directly with 12V battery first. If it works fine, you can go ahead and connect it to KCM-7111 as shown in the document above.

2. Use a device that runs on 110-240V AC. In such case you need to place a relay between the camera and the alarm device, and have the external power supply for that device.