Drive-by shooting!

[wittaj]

Would the same configuration for the mini-PTZ work? Use the wall bracket with the plate?

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-Water-Proof-Mount-Bracket-PFB303W/dp/B0BTM1R49L/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_2/141-3547009-7032811?pd_rd_w=UM76V&content-id=amzn1.sym.26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_p=26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_r=R9NX1KKCT9GQAM64N4AH&pd_rd_wg=e7svY&pd_rd_r=ac72961d-3e52-44b2-9186-aa1acf8028c5&pd_rd_i=B0BTM1R49L&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-PFA101-Mount-Adapter/dp/B0BTLYW3R4/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/141-3547009-7032811?pd_rd_w=UM76V&content-id=amzn1.sym.26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_p=26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_r=R9NX1KKCT9GQAM64N4AH&pd_rd_wg=e7svY&pd_rd_r=ac72961d-3e52-44b2-9186-aa1acf8028c5&pd_rd_i=B0BTLYW3R4&psc=1

I felt the mini-PTZ bracket was too big and bigger than the camera LOL, so I used a corner bracket and drilled holes in it to match the support plate. Now the camera sits a lot closer to the house too.

Everbilt 6 in. Stainless Steel Corner Brace 20876 - The Home Depot

Everbilt - 6 in. Zinc Plated Corner Brace - Ideal for reinforcing inside of right-angle corner joints. Countersunk design allows screws to sit flush with material. Easy to install. Made of steel. - THD

www.homedepot.com

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

Thank you @wittaj Do you have a PFA101 mount adapter? Does that have sockets that line up with the PTZ camera's junction box so that I can attach it?

 

[eggsan]

it looks like the PFA-730 is unique for that mini-ptz. Regarding the mounts, the width is about the same (159mm vs 155mm), but the bolt pattern may not fit.

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

Thanks @eggsan. I traded messages with @EMPIRETECANDY who says he should have some of the wall mounts later this month. Until then I'll just leave my PTZ camera up in its awkward position.

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

While I wait for the wall mount to be stocked, I've been experimenting with the ability to capture license plates. Here is an example of what I am able to capture using this PTZ camera. Shutter speed at 1/2500; sharpness, sharpness CNT, and gamma at 2; far light illuminator at 100.

Any suggestions on what else to try to improve the video? I think the focus is okay because the outline of the rear lights are sharp.

 

[hdjdkkd]

Oh no that sucks.

This is the camera you need:

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E-Starlight-Network-English/dp/B07RJQT9NB/ref=sr_1_5?imprToken=eNnu.Pmf5hsW5hcTVECAQg&linkCode=w61&m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1683594384&redirect=true&s=merchant-items&slotNum=0&sr=1-5

And this is the splitter you need:

https://www.amazon.com/Loryta-Extender-Repeater-Ethernet-Splitter/dp/B07RQ569MF/ref=sr_1_53?imprToken=eNnu.Pmf5hsW5hcTVECAQg&linkCode=w61&m=A329YQ83EBQGJF&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1683594433&redirect=true&s=merchant-items&slotNum=0&sr=1-53

And then look in the LPR subforum for how to set it up to get plates:

LPR

Licence Plate Reader cameras

ipcamtalk.com

Any chance you can post the video?

Typical POE protocol, only requires 2 pairs. If you need to install 2 Poe cameras on one cat5/6 , you can simply supply each camera with 2 pairs. Less hardware = less failure……

 

[bigredfish]

While I wait for the wall mount to be stocked, I've been experimenting with the ability to capture license plates. Here is an example of what I am able to capture using this PTZ camera. Shutter speed at 1/2500; sharpness, sharpness CNT, and gamma at 2; far light illuminator at 100.

Any suggestions on what else to try to improve the video? I think the focus is okay because the outline of the rear lights are sharp.

View attachment 170488

Not bad for a first go. What is Gain set at?

It took me Lots of experimentation.
Can you provide a short video clip of that? I ask because it would be interesting to see A) is it trying to find focus and B) is the plate consistent across the captured frames…

FWIW I’d leave sharpness CNT at 50 for now. And try 1/1000 to see the difference

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

@bigredfish -- Thank you. The advice I received from you and others here at ipcamtalk has been very helpful. I think the gain was set at its default, but I don't know the default value.

Here's the video clip showing the car go by. The camera is at 30 fps. Again, the weird angle is the result of mounting the camera improperly. I'll get that fixed in a few weeks.

View attachment LPR.mp4

 

[bigredfish]

Ok so not a lot a frames of the plate to work with. Do experiment with 1/1000 then Sharp CNT back to 50 and might be worth upping gamma a bit, I’ve never run values that low

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

A big thank you to everyone who's offered advice on getting my Dahua PTZ1A225-HNR-XA camera from Andy to capture license plates. If you've been following this thread, you know that there was drive-by shooting in front of my house and that I installed this camera to capture license plates. The problem is that I had mounted it wrong. When my contractor came to remount it, his guy tore the RJ45 connector off. Long story short, I have fixed everything and it is now mounted properly. See photo below.



But now a new problem has emerged. The image is upside down and I don't see a setting inside the camera's GUI to flip it. There must be a setting inside the camera's firmware to correct this, right? Can you please direct me to it?

 

[JDreaming]

A big thank you to everyone who's offered advice on getting my Dahua PTZ1A225-HNR-XA camera from Andy to capture license plates. If you've been following this thread, you know that there was drive-by shooting in front of my house and that I installed this camera to capture license plates. The problem is that I had mounted it wrong. When my contractor came to remount it, his guy tore the RJ45 connector off. Long story short, I have fixed everything and it is now mounted properly. See photo below.

View attachment 172422

But now a new problem has emerged. The image is upside down and I don't see a setting inside the camera's GUI to flip it. There must be a setting inside the camera's firmware to correct this, right? Can you please direct me to it?

This camera date sheet say it should have "Auto Flip 180."


Have you look in Image setting area : Flip 180.

Older camera : Conditions-Picture- Flip 90 or 180.

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

This camera date sheet say it should have "Auto Flip 180."


Have you look in Image setting area : Flip 180.

Older camera : Conditions-Picture- Flip 90 or 180.

There is a "View Angle Mode" in the Conditions -> Picture settings section. But there is only one option "Auto". I don't see anything like "Flip" any where. But I will keep looking.

 

[wittaj]

I know there is as two of my neighbors each have that camera and they have installed it that way and flipped it.

Probably one of those features you need Internet explorer for LOL

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

@wittaj In the GUI, there is "View Angle Mode" and it is set to "Auto" and there are no other options in the drop down list. I believe I can override this using the Dahua http api to change the "FlipMode" from "Auto" to something else. The problem is I don't know what that should be. I've tried a bunch of different things and they return "error" at the command line.

Can you please ask your neighbors what setting they changed and what value they changed it to?

I've tried running IE, but I get an "overtime" error when I try to login into my camera using it.

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

Success! @weigle2 had a very informative post on another thread. Essentially, I changed "installed mode" to "inverted" under "General -> System" settings tab.

This camera is so awesome.

 

[samplenhold]

Can you post some plate caps, please?

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

@samplenhold That's my project for this evening. Stay tuned.

 

[Cold-Lemonade]

I spent most of the evening trying to calibrate the camera to capture license plates. Here's a clip at 1/2500 shutter speed and sharpness at 1. I did not change sharpness CNT, gamma, or illuminator strength. I think I need to adjust those and also improve the focus.

View attachment lpr-clip.mp4

 

[bigredfish]

Mostly a focus issue.

That said, not a great angle. You'll have trouble getting IR right

 

[Parley]

Mostly a focus issue.

That said, not a great angle. You'll have trouble getting IR right

I agree. I would also look into upping the HLC to at least in the 80's. That will cut down on the light glare. With that angle you might have to look into an auxiliary IR illuminator. However, I would explore the other options mentioned first.