Alnet VideoDR-S User manual

VideoDR-S User’s Manual
User’s Manual version 1.12 (May 2003)
This manual applies to the program version 1.0.0.249
2003 ALNET SYSTEMS INC.
The information in this manual is up-to-date at the moment of this publication. ALNET SYSTEMS, INC.. has all rights to modify the program without earlier
notification.
This manual applies only to the VideoDR-S server application.

VideoDR-S User’s Manual. 2
Table of contents
1INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................4
1.1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................4
1.2 VIDEO CAPTURE CARDS ....................................................................................4
1.3 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ......................................................5
1.3.1 Minimum requirements ..............................................................................5
1.3.2 Recommended configuration .....................................................................6
1.3.3 What hardware to avoid? ...........................................................................6
2INSTALLATION OF THE VIDEODR-S SYSTEM ON A PC.................................8
2.1 INSTALLATION OF VIDEO CAPTURE CARDS...........................................................8
2.2 INSTALLATION OF THE DONGLE ..........................................................................8
2.3 CONNECTION OF CAMERAS,SWITCHES AND ALARM INPUTS ..................................9
2.4 INSTALLATION OF THE SOFTWARE ....................................................................10
3STARTUP AND CONFIGURATION OF THE VIDEODR-S SYSTEM ................16
3.1 RUNNING THE PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME ...................................................16
3.2 FIRST CONFIGURATION –STEP BY STEP ...........................................................17
3.3 MAIN PROGRAM VIEW .....................................................................................18
3.4 SCREEN DISPLAY MODES,BOOKMARKS,SAVING A FRAME FEATURES ..................22
3.4.1 Sequence of displaying camera images and saving a frame...................22
3.4.2 Window display modes (full screen, window, normal)..............................23
3.4.3 Split screen modes (screen layout)..........................................................23
3.4.4 Bookmarks...............................................................................................23
3.5 CONFIGURATION OF CAMERA SETTINGS ...........................................................23
3.6 CONFIGURATION OF THE VIDEO CAPTURE CARD ................................................29
3.7 CONFIGURATION OF PROGRAM SETTINGS .........................................................30
3.8 CONFIGURATION OF NETWORK SETTINGS –VIDEO SERVER ...............................31
3.9 CONFIGURATION OF ARCHIVE FILES .................................................................32
3.10 CONFIGURATION OF SERVER ACCESS ACCOUNTS..............................................33
3.10.1 Editing an account................................................................................34
3.10.2 Adding a new account ..........................................................................37
3.10.3 Deleting an account..............................................................................37
3.11 CONFIGURING DNS SERVICE ..........................................................................37
4USING THE VIDEODR-S SYSTEM ...................................................................39
4.1 BROWSING THE VIDEO IMAGE ARCHIVE.............................................................39
4.1.1 Control panel of the archive .....................................................................40
4.1.2 Searching for motion in image archives...................................................41
4.1.3 Exporting archive to AVI file.....................................................................42
4.1.4 Inserting the bookmark into the video archive..........................................43
4.1.5 Zooming into fragments of the image ......................................................43
4.1.6 Setting the archive image parameters and motion detection sensitivity...44
4.1.7 Scaling the time charts.............................................................................44
4.1.8 Browsing recordings from a given day – using the calendar....................44
4.2 SCHEDULER ..................................................................................................45
4.2.1 Camera Operation Schedule (motion detection alarm)............................45
4.2.2 Input Operation Schedule ........................................................................47

3 ALNET SYSTEMS INC.
4.2.3 System alerts ...........................................................................................48
4.3 SELECTING AND ADDING NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES ..............................................49
4.4 CREATING A BACKUP COPY OF THE VIDEO IMAGE ARCHIVE .................................51
4.5 UPDATING THE PROGRAM ...............................................................................52
4.6 ”ABOUT”WINDOW ..........................................................................................53
4.7 EXITING THE PROGRAM...................................................................................54
4.8 LOGIN AND LOGOUT OPTIONS ..........................................................................54
5DOME CONTROL ..............................................................................................55
5.1 DOME CONTROL SETTINGS..............................................................................55
5.2 DOME CONTROL PANEL...................................................................................57
6DONGLE VALIDATION .....................................................................................58
7UNINSTALLATION OF THE VIDEODR-S SYSTEM SOFTWARE ....................61
8FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .....................................................62
9ADVANCED SETTINGS ....................................................................................64
9.1 TUNNELING ...................................................................................................64
9.2 DIAL-UP ........................................................................................................64
10 CONTACT INFO ................................................................................................66

VideoDR-S User’s Manual. 4
1 Introduction
The digital technology successfully conquers many fields of life where it has
been used only marginally until now. This is happening thanks to continuous
technological progress and development of new algorithms. Employment of new
technologies and methods for digital image recording and compression, decreasing
prices of mass memory units and faster processors, contributed to development of
modern closed-circuit television systems, the best of which is currently the
VideoDR-S system.
1.1 System description
The VideoDR-S is a digital video recorder designated for operation with
closed-circuit television cameras. The system runs on IBM-compatible computers
with Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP operating system. It can
record the image from a maximum of 16 cameras, supports up to 12 remote
switches and 16 inputs for additional alarm inputs. It allows inspection and control
through a computer network (e.g. the Internet). Pro version and above allows for
PTZ domes control. The program permits setting of motion detection in arbitrary
areas of the screen, as well as motion searching in archives. The differential
image-compression method, while preserving excellent image quality, allows image
recording longer than in other systems of this type, at the same file size. The
differential image-recording algorithm used does not replace the entire new frame but
only its part that has changed. The replaced image fragments are called deltas in the
system.
Home Edition version is designed for households and is limited in comparison with
Professional edition. The limitations are as follows:
-alarm inputs and remote switches not supported,
-there might be only one administrator and regular user in the system,
-3 fps per camera limited frame rate capture,
-remote access only to current day archives,
-no scheduling feature.
Real Time version supports video capture in real time. Maximum 30fps per each
camera for NTSC TV system and 25fps for PAL TV system.
The software used for operation of the VideoDR-S comprises two independent
programs. The first of them is a server application, operating the video capture card
and related processes. The second is a client application used for connecting to the
server through local networks or the Internet. The server includes all the client
options and tools for the computer on which it is installed and running. The
installation version is comprised of two separate executable files – for the client and
the server. The optional client application is free of charge, and it allows remote
management and browsing of data made available by the server. The video archive
of the server may also be browsed remotely by the client application.
1.2 Video capture cards
The video capture cards are extensions of the motherboard, placed inside the
computer case, plugged into PCI slots of the motherboard. A single card includes
four BNC standard terminals used for input of video signal from cameras, and a serial

5 ALNET SYSTEMS INC.
interface used for connecting up to four alarm signals as well as 3 devices to be
controlled by the card (3 relays). The system can operate up to 4 cards.
The basic element of a single card is the BT878 processor used for conversion of
video input signal into digital form. This processor is capable of capturing up to 25
frames per second. Connecting 4 signals to one converter (a card with one converter)
gives a computing power resulting in 7 frames per second for each of the four active
video inputs of a single card. When only one video signal input of a one-processor
card is active, it is possible to convert this signal with the speed guaranteed by the
BT878, which is equal to 30 frames per second (25 for PAL system).
We have another video capture card that is used for Professional Real Time version.
It has four BT878 processors. You can connect 4 or 8 cameras to this video capture
card and have up to two cards in one device. If you use one capture card you could
have captured 30 fps per each camera.
1.3 Hardware and software requirements
For failure-free operation of our systems we recommend using processors and
motherboards based on the Intel chipset.
NOTE!!!
The VideoDR-S has been designed for continuous operation under Microsoft
Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP operating systems. VideoDR-S will not
work with other operating systems (e.g. Windows 95/98/Me, BeOS, Linux...).
1.3.1 Minimum requirements
The recommended minimum is a computer with:
•
•
•
•
•
•
256 MB of RAM,
large capacity hard drive (20Gig +)
graphics card with 32 MB of RAM (e.g. based on the GeForce2
graphics processor),
monitor supporting 1024x768 resolution.
Depending on the number of cards installed, the following processors are
recommended:
Intel Celeron 1.0 - 1.2 GHz (256 kB Cache) – one card,
Intel Celeron 1.3 - 1.4 GHz (256 kB Cache) – two cards,

VideoDR-S User’s Manual. 6
•
•
•
Intel Celeron 1.3 - 1.4 GHz (256 kB Cache) – three cards,
Pentium IV 1.8 MHz and better – four cards.
We recommend the Intel chipset of the motherboard to fully utilize the PCI bus
speed. For 1 to 3 card systems – i815, for 3 to 4 cards – i845 or i850.
1.3.2 Recommended configuration
•Pentium 4 class processor for optimal operation of the entire system,
•512 MB of RAM,
Motherboards based on Intel chipsets: 815E/815EP (PIII), 845(P4), 845D(P4),
845E(P4), 845G(P4).
Recommended motherboards:
•ASUS P4B
•ASUS P4B266
•ASUS P4B533
•ASUS P4B533-V
•GIGABYTE 8IRX
•GIGABYTE 8IEX
•GIGABYTE 8IEXP
•GIGABYTE 8IGX
•MSI 845E Max2
•MSI 845G Max
•MSI MS-6337
•ABIT-SA6R
•ICP Rocky-4784EVG
•ASUS TUSL2-C (PIII / Celeron)
•AXIOM SBC8168VE
(Motherboards based on VIA/SiS/Ali chipset are not recommended)
PCI slot expansions: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 × 32-bit PCI 2.1
RAM:
•Transcend DDR 256MB (DDR-266)
•KingSton DDR 256MB (DDR-266)
•KingMax SDRAM 256MB (PC-133)
•KingMax DDR 256MB(DDR-333)
Graphic cards: 16-bit color with DirectDraw support
Recommended graphic cards:
•Leadtek WinFast GeForce2 MX400
•Leadtek WinFast A170 DDR TDH
•Leadtek WinFast 3D S325 32MB
•Leadtek WinFast A250 TD 128MB
•ATI RADEON 8500 64MB/128MB
•ELSA GLADIAC 525 128MB
•ELSA GLADIAC 517 VIVO 64MB
1.3.3 What hardware to avoid?
Motherboards with an onboard/integrated graphics card.

7 ALNET SYSTEMS INC.
•Motherboards not based on the Intel chips.

VideoDR-S User’s Manual. 8
2 Installation of the VideoDR-S system on a PC.
The following paragraphs outline step-by-step instructions for installation of the
hardware dongle, video capture cards and VideoDR-S system software.
2.1 Installation of video capture cards
Depending on the selected kit, one to four video capture cards are delivered,
together with the hardware “dongle” and the software operating with the specified
number of cards.
In the first step of the installation process, ensure that the computer is switched
off, then remove the screws and remove the left side panel of the PC case (looking
from the front) and insert all video capture cards into available PCI slots1
PCI slots
Placing the case horizontally will allow easy access to the motherboard. Insert
video capture cards into successive available slots. After inserting all the video
capture cards replace the side panel and fasten the screws.
2.2 Installation of the dongle
For the software to operate correctly, the hardware dongle must be installed.
LPT dongle USB dongle
Plug the dongle into the printer parallel port (LPT) or USB port at the back of the
computer. The computer can now be switched on and the software installed.

9 ALNET SYSTEMS INC.
LPT port
USB port
Dongle
connected as
a transitory
element to the
LPT port
2.3 Connection of cameras, switches and alarm inputs
Connect the cameras, plugging the BNC plugs from the cameras into the BNC
sockets on the video cards in the computer. Ensure that the cameras are powered
on.
Connector of alarm inputs
and relay outputs
Input 1 Input 2 Input 3 Input 4
The connection of a suitable cable to the 15-pin connector of a given video card
accommodates connection of switch outputs and additional sensor inputs. Using this
connector, you can connect 4 additional alarm sensors and 3 switch outputs to each
card. Two relays are SPST type, and one is SPDT type. A pin layout of the connector
is presented below:

VideoDR-S User’s Manual. 10
2.4 Installation of the software
At the startup, the Windows operating system should recognize a new device in
the computer (the installed video capture cards).
The system will ask if you want to install drivers for the new Video Capture
device in the system. Leave this window open (do not click any of the buttons) and
begin the installation of the VideoDR-S software.