My progress so far: I've ordered an inexpensive 850nm illuminator, and I have some unmounted cameras to use in my tests. I've also contacted the plate manufacturer to see if I can get some sort of test tag using the same colors and materials as a standard tag. If I can do that, I'll be able to experiment with different camera settings and different levels of IR illumination to see if I can improve the contrast between the lettering and the background. I'll also check to see if different camera models from different vendors make any difference.
It is difficult to find inexpensive 740nm illuminators. This isn't surprising, as they are more visible to the human eye, and hence less useful for general security purposes (outside of LPR). There are some cheap ones available from China on eBay, so I may gamble and order one of those if I can't find something from a domestic vendor.
It is possible that some local agencies may not be aware that their LPR systems are going "night blind", because the new tags have only begun to roll out. Modern LPR systems do allow you to check for vehicles with unreadable tags, but unless someone does so, it may be a while before they realize what's going on.
www.mercurynews.com
) I ordered a couple of 7 watt 730nm bulbs with a PAR30 form factor and an E26 base. I was even able to specify the illumination angle of the LEDs in the order. Once I receive them, I will place them in an outdoor floodlight fixture, point them in the same direction as my cameras, and use a smart outlet or switch to turn them on and off at sunset and sunrise.
For those who are interested in a somewhat smaller scale deployment, Axton quoted me a price of $319 each for their PoE Nano illuminators customized with 730nm LEDs.
