Need Help tweaking HFW5231E-Z12 for night @ 240ft

[Bitslizer]

First of all, my minimum viable goal is human readable plate, ANPR capable output would be a bonus. Anyone have luck with such long distance and want to share their settings?

Second, daylight is already good to go, although dawn/dusk would be hit or miss due to the challenging lighting condition.

so, I tried parking my car at the targeted spot at night and the plate is readable while the car is stationary, but as soon as it is moving the plate blur into a mess even at 1/1000. IR is set to 100% manually already

Horizontal angle is about 7 degree, not much option to change this.

Vertical angle is adjustable I can mount it from about 15ft down to about 4ft. Currently testing it at 4ft (just because its a easy location) but I think the headlights are shining directly into the camera at this height, but even cars pointing away still have blurry plate, I actually have better readable rate with cars coming toward the camera than away.

 

[wittaj]

Here are my settings for the 5231-Z12E that I was able to read plates at 220 feet:



This was approaching the limits I felt of the camera. You could probably get it with more IR.

This distance gave me a straighter shot, but as I played with it, I could make the angle a lot less ideal at a closer distance of 175 feet (so still out there) and get almost every plate.

I know from your other threads you do not have the wiggle room since you are sending it between two houses LOL.

 

[Bitslizer]

I will try it tomorrow night. (Trying to see what I get from tonight's current setting) Question: why the extreme low sharpness?

another thing is my z12 don't have near and far ir light option, is that limited to the z12e?

 

[wittaj]

I found that the higher sharpness ended up adding pixelated noise to the plate and I wanted it to pop and the lower sharpness kept the plate mostly white and provided cleaner letters and numbers.

Surprised it doesn't have near/far IR. Maybe a firmware?

 

[Bitslizer]

It's already been updated to v16... Came with v10, neither have near/far.

I mean physically there are 2 wide angle led and 2 long range led, but do not have separate control in the UI

 

[wittaj]

Since you would blast them both at 100% it probably doesn't matter.

 

[wittaj]

Mine is: 2.800.0000002.0.R, Build Date: 2019-01-11

 

[Davahad]

I use a separate IR Emitter Axton IR Illuminator AT-11E-S.11ES382010 (20 degrees x 10 degrees) which has a 360' range. Works great and clear reads at night from long distance.

 

[The Automation Guy]

another thing is my z12 don't have near and far ir light option, is that limited to the z12e?

Those settings only show up after you change the IR setting to manual. If you use the auto setting, there is no user changeable settings.

 

[Bitslizer]

Those settings only show up after you change the IR setting to manual. If you use the auto setting, there is no user changeable settings.

even at manual I only have 100% not near/far, but again this is a z12 and not a z12e so that maybe why

 

[Bitslizer]

I use a separate IR Emitter Axton IR Illuminator AT-11E-S.11ES382010 (20 degrees x 10 degrees) which has a 360' range. Works great and clear reads at night from long distance.

Way too pricey and bulky to get past the spouse!

Their nano cube may work, but that's indoor only and at $132 still more than I want to spend (yes i'm VERY cheap) at that price range i think the black oak spot light is a better option at $108

 

[Bitslizer]

Before I dive down the IR illuminator rabbit hole... Need more light so adjusting the exposure.... Got lucky with a 2fer.... Truck stop right where I needed it and another driving by. Still need to tweak a bit but starting to get result

 

[Bitslizer]

and of course the 2 cars after that have blank white plate sigh.......

 

[wittaj]

What about putting the exposure back to 1/2000 and upping the brightness?

 

[Davahad]

Way too pricey and bulky to get past the spouse!

Their nano cube may work, but that's indoor only and at $132 still more than I want to spend (yes i'm VERY cheap) at that price range i think the black oak spot light is a better option at $108

Looks like it is around $289 now and it also comes with a lifetime manufacturers warranty.

 

[Bitslizer]

Looks like it is around $289 now and it also comes with a lifetime manufacturers warranty.

If I can't dial it in, I think I can switch the LED's lens, I may try an el-cheapo 4 LEDs illuminator and get some 5 degree lens on ebay and see if that works

 

[Davahad]

If I can't dial it in, I think I can switch the LED's lens, I may try an el-cheapo 4 LEDs illuminator and get some 5 degree lens on ebay and see if that works

When looking at Axton IR at night it looks like a highly focused flood light going down the street. I tried several of Chinese IR emitters that have 40 IR Emitters 300' and they are junk and no where near the rated distance and light is scattered. Could of used that $80 towards the Axton to start but then again had no idea.

In talking with Axton engineer they have emitters that will go over a mile if I recall correctly. The one I have has 3 IR emitters total on it and it really is 300+ feet. That with the lifetime warranty + advanced replacement if it fails was all I needed to be sold.

Attached are a few pics from late night using OpenAlpr.

 

[Bitslizer]

I read you, but It will be like $25 not even $80..... It seems I have borderline enough IR just from the 2 far and 2 near IR LED from the 5231E-Z12.... just need a touch more to bump it over the edge.

I need something small and unobtrusive. I know the Amazon cheap illuminator will never cover the rated distance but....
1) that's for general scene illumination.
2) we are targeting IR retro-reflective license plate.

Some 3 or 4 LED like this with round housing (easier for me to aim without the rectangle housing mounted at an odd looking angle)

https://www.amazon.com/Infrared-Illuminator-Power-Vision-Camera/dp/B01D73XM24

With these LENS or I found some 15 degree IR lens too

10 pcs Led Lens 5 Degree with Black Holder for 1W 3W High Power LED Light | eBay

These led lens has different beam, help to focus the light into a tight spot.The edges of the lens are aren't sealed all that, you need to fixed the assembly to the LED. Widely use in for LED spot light, automobile lights, DIY projecting lamp etc.We have stock of other degrees, if you need...

www.ebay.com

Hoping that will be discrete and just enough additional IR to light the plate up

 

[Davahad]

Better off turning off the IR on the camera (no spiderwebs) and build a discrete housing for the Axton.

 

[wittaj]

The newer cams without the ring of IR LED are less prone to spiderwebs. My Z12 has never had a spiderweb problem, nor any of my other Dahua cams. As always, YMMV.