Using Spotter Cameras to direct a PTZ where to look in an NVR or Blue Iris and setting a spotter cam as a priority in Blue Iris
- Thread starter wittaj
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I'm not sure if that is what we are looking for BUT you guys would know better then me. If you guys do decide that in fact does have it, only other question I have is then how do I setup the trip wire (zig-zag lines) for the spotter cam? Is that done on the NVR or on the Cam GUI?
This is the next screen that opens, when you click on "SET" for PTZ Activation
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bigredfish
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bigredfish
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Assuming it’s the NVR yes you would choose the preset already established on the PTZ (choosing the channel# of the PTZ and then Preset #) that you want it to go to.
Don’t use Motion detection if your NVR and camera support IVS/Tripwire
On the camera you simply set your tripwires as you normally would. The NVR makes the connection and says “if camera channel X tripwire #X is tripped, send a signal to the PTZ to go to preset #X
The camera and PTZ have no direct knowledge of this. They’re just doing their normal thing. The NVR is the hub that connects the dots.
Don’t use Motion detection if your NVR and camera support IVS/Tripwire
On the camera you simply set your tripwires as you normally would. The NVR makes the connection and says “if camera channel X tripwire #X is tripped, send a signal to the PTZ to go to preset #X
The camera and PTZ have no direct knowledge of this. They’re just doing their normal thing. The NVR is the hub that connects the dots.
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oookay...hmm..what you said kinda makes sense to this newbie...but why does the 2nd screenshot below, show a list of channels to choose? Meaning on the 1st screenshot, at the top I can select which channel I want to adjust the settings for, that part I understand. So if I'm on channel 2 why does the next screen make me choose channel 2 again AND also show multiple channels? Not expecting you to know the answer but maybe you are familiar with this sort of setup. Thanks
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bigredfish
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bigredfish
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sorry about not replying with answer, lots of questions moving around in head and been crazy day. Yes, those screen shots are from the Lorex NVR. I fully plan on going either BI or Empire NVR but I'm in a time sensitive situation and am trying to make what I have work, if possible.
I fully understand what you wrote and appreciate how you spelled it out for me. This is all very new but I'm making sense of it, thanks to this forum. So, I dont doubt what you said to be truth just have a question. On the first Pic I posted, where it reads "ptz activation" at top of screen it allows you to click on drop down and select which channel. So keeping that same feature in mind. On the 2nd pic where it LISTS all the channels to choose from to select which is the PTZ...wouldn't it be easier to just have one drop down and select the channel instead of listing all of them? I 100% could be over thinking this, I was just curious if maybe you knew the answer. Either way I cant thank YOU and everyone else here that takes their time out to help. Truly...thank you!
bigredfish
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No because you could have a ptz on more than one channel and each ptz can have multiple presets
In the NVR I got my spotter cam to trigger my ptz, like want, but the ptz will not return to home afterward. In BI I have the ptz schedule on to where it always returns to preset 1. This always works in BI if I move it to a different preset manually, it returns to preset 1 within 10s. It just won't go back to preset 1 after the NVR trigger
bigredfish
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I use a time task on the ptz itself. Works like a charm regardless of how the ptz is first moved
When you say a time task on the ptz itself do you mean on the camer's GUI or thru the NVR? I guess I was so focused on figuring out if my NVR could do spotter cams, that I didnt think if my NVR had a option to send the PTZ back to a set area once it was done with the 1st task.
bigredfish
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bigredfish
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I'm sorry, on this one I have Idle Motion as its "Return Home" command. But on another I use Time Task. Both can accomplish the same thing
I have two Time Tasks on this one because I have the PTZ park at its "Alternate Homes" at various times of the day.
For instance at night it becomes a dedicated LPR cam so its parked at Preset #3 which is a zoomed in area for catching plates
And from 4-6pm I have it turned away from the glaring sun
So all things considered, I actually have 3 "Return Home": commands set on the PTZ itself. All 3 different "Homes"
I have two Time Tasks on this one because I have the PTZ park at its "Alternate Homes" at various times of the day.
For instance at night it becomes a dedicated LPR cam so its parked at Preset #3 which is a zoomed in area for catching plates
And from 4-6pm I have it turned away from the glaring sun
So all things considered, I actually have 3 "Return Home": commands set on the PTZ itself. All 3 different "Homes"
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ok, i understand now. So only thing that might or could be different is depending on which cam I get the GUI might have similar settings or not at all, which is fine either way. I should be picking out the cams in the next few days. Once I have a little breathing room, I will upgrade to a BI system. From what I'm picking up around here, that is best sys with a lot of functions and etc. Thanks once again to everyone for sharing their advice.
Thanks, I have good results with this. Is there a way to only use the ONVIF triggers to move the PTZ and not the BI's motion zones? I'd still like to trigger recording in zones without sending PTZ commands.
Edit: I got it using On Alerts, Do Command.
Edit: I got it using On Alerts, Do Command.
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Any guidance on how much the multiple PTZ preset positions should overlap, based on distance etc?
I ask because with my view, about 50-100ft the ptz tends to get to position After the person has crossed to the original position
I have ptz home looking at the equivalent of the right half of the total view and the spotters total view, spotter sends PTZ left when it triggers IVS on left half of it's view
I ask because with my view, about 50-100ft the ptz tends to get to position After the person has crossed to the original position
I have ptz home looking at the equivalent of the right half of the total view and the spotters total view, spotter sends PTZ left when it triggers IVS on left half of it's view
bigredfish
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If you have two presets touching or overlapping and multiple spotters it can get quite confusing and require much bourbon to sort out.
Would need a diagram of your scene with camera/presets to better know.
Generally if a target can logically move from one preset to another adjacent preset or the original ptz “home” and your spotter cam(s) are detecting and directing the ptz for two adjacent zones, think about widening the spotter area to use just one. It may be you don’t really have enough area to utilize multiple, or widen the initial home preset of the ptz.
Would need a diagram of your scene with camera/presets to better know.
Generally if a target can logically move from one preset to another adjacent preset or the original ptz “home” and your spotter cam(s) are detecting and directing the ptz for two adjacent zones, think about widening the spotter area to use just one. It may be you don’t really have enough area to utilize multiple, or widen the initial home preset of the ptz.
bigredfish
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Also are you using BI or an NVR?
I’ve heard (but can’t confirm) there is a longer delay in the initial activation using BI. With my NVRs typically the reaction time of the ptz being sent a command by the NVR (from spotter) is about 1 - 1.5 seconds
I’ve heard (but can’t confirm) there is a longer delay in the initial activation using BI. With my NVRs typically the reaction time of the ptz being sent a command by the NVR (from spotter) is about 1 - 1.5 seconds
You have to anticipate the time that the PTZ will spin to the preset and takes a moment or two to settle in to start IVS and identify and track and take that into account as to where the spotter triggers the PTZ and the PTZ preset is. You should have the PTZ preset be a little ahead of where the trigger is so that the PTZ preset is loaded up and ready to go when the object hits the field of view.
As @bigredfish points out, there can be a lag as well based on what you are using (VMS and cameras), so you should be looking at the time difference of the time of the spotter trigger and when the PTZ settles in on the preset and can start tracking and then adjust the spotter and/or PTZ accordingly.
I use BI and most of mine are quick, but I have one spotter and PTZ combo that seems to take about 2 seconds.
@Ri22o shows this every well in this thread:
Video of how my spotter cam's IVS rules call my PTZ to auto-track.
With more people looking to get a PTZ and asking about it moving to a preset and auto-tracking I decided to put a video together. This shows how the PTZ goes from parked to a preset based on an IVS trigger from a spotter camera. From this preset the PTZ has its own IVS rules to tell it to...