Photo Sentinel PRO User manual

Quick Start Guide
PRO
Ver. 1.0

CONTACT
Support + Contact
INDEX
INDEX
Setup Tips
Quick Start Guide
Network Setup
Network Troubleshooting
3
4 - 5
6 - 7
8
2
If you run into issues not covered or resolved by this quick start
guide, additional information can be found on our website:
photosentinel.com/support
Our support team in Melbourne, Australia can be reached by
phone during normal AEST office hours (9-5 AEST, Mon-Fri), or
any other time by pre-arrangement. Our timezone is Australian
Eastern Standard Time (+10GMT, +11GMT in summer).
CONTACT US
[phone]
[e-mail]
Phone:
Email:

3
SETUP TIPS
TEST BEFORE INSTALLING
The number one technical tip for use of this unit is that you set it
up and test it before going out into the field to install it. Because
the system integrates with complex cellular technology, you may
need to manually configure the equipment to work with your
local network. Therefore, to save you time, money and stress at
the installation site, it is imperative that you set up and test the
system before you travel to install it.
CHECK SYSTEM ALERTS ARE TURNED ON
A key feature of your photoSentinel is the alert system that will
send you an email and/or SMS if there is an issue with your
equipment.
Your system alerts are switched on when your system connects
over the cellular network for the first time. However, we still
encourage you to manually double-check they are turned on.
To check the alert system is switched on:
Log into photoSentinel Control Hub at setup.photosentinel.com.au
Select your unit from the dropdown, navigate to the Config page,
and scroll down to Advanced Settings.
Confirm the checkbox is ticked for Send me warnings when this
photoSentinel exhibits faulty behaviour.
Next, navigate to My Details by clicking on your username in the
top right corner of the window, and then click on Edit.
Scroll down and confirm the checkbox is ticked for Email me
system warnings when potential problems arise. If you want SMS
alerts, tick the checkbox for SMS critical warnings to me and select
the hours between which you wish to recieve SMS alerts.
Click Save.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

a.
b.
c.
d.
Go to setup.photosentinel.com.au
Log in with your username and password.
If you are a new user, you will have recieved an
email with your login credentials.
Select your photoSentinel from the dropdown
menu, then navigate to the Config page.
For testing, set both the photo frequency and
upload/connection frequency to ten minutes.
4
QUICK START
QUICK START FOR THE PRO
1Log into the photoSentinel
Control Hub and configure your
photoSentinel for testing.
Insert your SIM card and check
that the microSD card is already
installed in the controller. Connect
all the photoSentinel and camera
cables (see opposite) and mount
your camera on the Joby ballhead.
Switch the photoSentinel
controller ON.
2
3
4Switch the controller into Camera
Bypass mode, and set up the
camera.
5Switch the photoSentinel
controller to Normal mode. The
system will power on the camera
and take a photo, and upload it
over the cellular network.
Allow 5-10 mins for upload.
(See LED guide on page 7.)
6View the photo on the web
gallery to ensure it has uploaded.
7Repeat steps 4-6 until you’re
happy with the photo that is
uploading.
1a
4a
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Check the camera’s on-board time and date
settings are correct.
Frame the photo. Make all your photography
adjustments (aperture, ISO, etc. Use manual
focus).
Set a low resolution - for the test run, you’ll
want to conserve upload time and data
usage.
Save the on-board camera settings, generally
done by switching the camera off and on
again. Leave the camera switched on.
Take a photo and view it in playback to make
sure the camera is saving to the microSD
card in the controller.
6a
a.
b.
Go to setup.photosentinel.com.au
On the Galleries page, click on your
photoSentinel unit to go to the photo gallery.
5a
The photoSentinel controller will attempt to
connect to the cellular network for the first time
using a series of pre-programmed APNs. If it
finds a working APN, it will connect and upload a
photo.
If, after trying all the pre-programmed APNs, the
system still does not connect, you will need to
manually program in your network’s APN.
For how to set your APN, see pages 6-8.

5
QUICK START
SD Cable
Camera Power
& Trigger
Power Lead
Antenna Cable
2a
8Having completed the trial run, set
your ongoing camera settings.
Switch the photoSentinel
controller back to Normal mode.
Wait for it to capture and upload
another photo, then view the
gallery to make sure the photo is
what you want. Make adjustments
again as necessary.
9
10
8a
a.
b.
c.
d.
Switch the photoSentinel controller to
Camera Bypass mode.
Set your camera resolution and any other
settings you want to use for your project.
Save the settings to the camera by switching
the camera off and back on.
Leave the camera switched on.
Place the provided silica gel
sachet into the photoSentinel
housing and shut the door
(making sure all the cables are
clear) and tighten the triangular
security screws.
11
Setup Complete
a.
b.
Check the camera hasn’t been knocked out of
position.
Check there are no marks on the window or
camera lens.
10
a
In Control Hub, adjust the
photoSentinel unit’s photo interval
and connection settings to the
preferred ongoing regime for your
project.
12
12
a
a.
b.
Go to setup.photosentinel.com.au
Select your photoSentinel from the dropdown
menu, then navigate to the Config page.
The most common regime is to set the photo
interval and upload/connection settings to the
same frequency to ensure consistent syncing
of operations.

6
APN SETUP
SET THE CELLULAR NETWORK APN
The Access Point Name (APN) allows a SIM card to connect to
the internet. To find your APN, either do an online search (your
SIM card provider + APN) or call your network provider’s help
desk. As one provider can have multiple APNs, make sure you
get the APN for your particular network plan. If it’s unclear which
APN is for your service, you may have to try multiple APNs to
find the right one.
SMS the APN to photoSentinel
1Make sure the photoSentinel is
OFF and insert the SIM card.
Using your phone, send an SMS to
the photoSentinel SIM card with
the following format:
APN=your.APN (where your.APN is
replaced by the relevant APN).
Turn the photoSentinel ON and
check the LED indicator light
sequence for successful
connection (see opposite).
2
3
1
Insert the micro SD card into your
computer (using microSD-to-SD, or
microSD-to-USB converter).
Export the APN via Control
Hub and microSD card
There are two ways to set the APN.
2
Log into setup.photosentinel.com.au ,
select your unit from the dropdown, and
then navigate to the Config page.
3
Scroll down to Advanced Settings and
enter the relevant APN.
4
Click on Export Settings to File at the
bottom of the page.
6
Ensure the photoSentinel is OFF and
insert the microSD card.
7
Switch the photoSentinel ON (Normal
mode) and it will install the new APN.
Check the LED light sequence for
successful connection (see opposite).
5
Save the downloaded file (default.xml) to
the root directory of the microSD card.

7
APN SETUP
LED INDICATOR LIGHT SEQUENCE
1Insert the SIM card and turn on the photoSentinel.
2LED alternating cyan/green - System start up.
3LED solid yellow - A photo will be triggered.
4LED solid blue - Trying to connect to the internet.
5LED flashing green 1 second - Trying to determine APN.
6aLED flashing blue 1 second -
APN identified and the
photoSentinel has connected to
the internet.
6b
LED flashing green 0.2 seconds -
Cannot determine the APN;
requires manual configuration.
Successful Connection Unsuccesful Connection
7aLED flashing blue 0.2 seconds -
The photo is being uploaded to
the photoSentinel server.
7b
LED solid red -
Failed to connect to the internet
or failed to complete file upload.
The photoSentinel will sleep for
two minutes and then try again.
8aLED solid green -
The photo has been successfully
uploaded. After two minutes the
photoSentinel will go to sleep until
the next scheduled activity.
8b
If left on, the photoSentinel will
repeat this process indefinitely
until it recieves the APN
information, so turn it off until
the APN can be configured.
If the LED indicates successful
connection, log into
setup.photosentinel.com.au
and check that the photo has
been uploaded.
If the LED indicates an
unsuccessful connection, try
another APN or check the
guide on the next page for
other initial SIM card issues.

8
APN ISSUES
COMMON CONNECTION SETUP ISSUES
Below are troubleshooting tips for common issues that may
occur when trying to connect your photoSentinel to the cellular
network for the first time.
SIM card has a
PIN lock
Cause SolutionDescription
Some SIM cards have a PIN lock
which needs to be disabled for
the photoSentinel to use the
SIM card.
You can remove a PIN by
inserting the SIM card into a
mobile phone and disabling the
PIN in your settings, or ask to
have it removed at purchase.
SIM card hasn’t
been activated
Some SIM cards require
activation before they can be
used.
Contact your network provider
to activate the SIM card.
Cellular network
is not WCDMA
photoSentinel uses the common
cellular technology WCDMA (aka
UMTS/HSDPA). Some providers
use a different, incompatible
cellular technology.
Check that your network is
WCDMA. If not, you’ll need to
change your network to one
that is WCDMA.
Provider needs
IMEI number
The network provider may have
locked the SIM card to a certain
device and it needs to be
unlocked.
Ask your provider to remove the
IMEI lock on the SIM card. If
they need the IMEI number of
your photoSentinel unit, you
can find it on your unit’s Status
page in Control Hub.
SIM card is
device-locked
Some network providers lock
their SIM cards to particular
devices.
Contact your network provider to
get the SIM card unlocked.
SIM card
requires
username
and password
Very occasionally, an APN will
require a username and
password, particularly if the SIM
card is on a corporate plan.
Find out the username and
password, and contact
photoSentinel headquarters to
arrange for these to be added to
your photoSentinel.