Red Hen Systems VMS-333 User manual

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Copyright © Red Hen Systems
VMS-333 & VMS-Mobile
User Guide
Version 1.23
October 10, 2017

VMS-333 & VMS-Mobile User Guide
Version 1.23
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Copyright © Red Hen Systems
Copyright and Trademarks
VMS-333 & VMS-Mobile User Guide
©2017 Red Hen Systems, LLC All rights reserved.
First Edition.
This material may not be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part without the written permission
of Red Hen Systems, 145B W. Swallow Rd. Fort Collins, CO 80525.
Trademark Notices
VMS-333 Video Mapping System™, VMS-Mobile, MediaMapper®, MediaMapper ELITE®, EZdiff™,
RHVoice are trademarks of Red Hen Systems, LLC.
All other trademarks listed in this document are the property of their respective owners.
Visit Red Hen Systems on the World Wide Web at www.redhensystems.com
Technical Support
Availability: Monday through Friday during business hours
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Feedback
Please email your comments and suggestions about the VMS-333 and documentation to:
[e-mail]

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FCC Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment causes
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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Table of Contents
Preface....................................................................................................................................7
Who is this guide for?............................................................................................................................... 7
Why read this guide?................................................................................................................................ 7
How is this guide organized?.................................................................................................................... 7
What’s New? ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Section 1. Introducing the VMS-333..........................................................................................8
1.1 What is VMS-333 and what does it do? ............................................................................................. 8
1.2 What is the THISR family of products? ............................................................................................... 9
1.3 What is VMS-Mobile?......................................................................................................................... 9
1.4 Why use VMS-333 and VMS-Mobile? .............................................................................................. 10
Section 2. Understanding the Equipment..................................................................................11
2.1 Equipment Handling ......................................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Parts Inventory .................................................................................................................................11
Hardware ............................................................................................................................................11
Software..............................................................................................................................................13
GIS .......................................................................................................................................................13
2.3 Parts Diagrams.................................................................................................................................. 14
Primary Parts.......................................................................................................................................14
Cables..................................................................................................................................................14
Adapters and Power............................................................................................................................15
Accessories.......................................................................................................................................... 16
3. Getting to Know the Controls and Connectors.......................................................................17
3.1 Identify the VMS-333 components ..................................................................................................17
Side...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Bottom ................................................................................................................................................19
3.2 NanoFLASH .......................................................................................................................................20
Front....................................................................................................................................................20
4. Setting Up Your GPS Receiver ...............................................................................................21
4. 1 Wired (GPS unit shipped with VMS-333).........................................................................................21
4.2 Wired (GPS unit in aircraft)...............................................................................................................21
4.3 Unwired (Bluetooth).........................................................................................................................21
5. Setting up the VMS-333........................................................................................................22
5.1 Connect the VMS-333....................................................................................................................... 22
Scenario 1: Connect VMS-333 to video camera and feature trigger..................................................23
Scenario 2: Connect VMS-333 to DSLR still camera............................................................................24
Scenario 3: Connect flash feedback cable to the DSLR camera PC connector ...................................26
Scenario 4a: Connect VMS-333 to DSLR camera and Laser Range Finder.......................................... 27
Scenario 4b: Use the VMS-DMRT........................................................................................................28
Scenario 5: Connect VMS-333 to Video Camera and Boreal Laser..................................................... 29
Scenario 6: Hook the VMS-333 to the NanoFLASH.............................................................................30
5.2 Review hookup details: Step-by-step............................................................................................... 31
5.3 Test your setup.................................................................................................................................34
6.0 Using the VMS-333 with Video Recorders ...........................................................................37
6.1 Turn on the device and record what you see while traveling..........................................................37

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6.2 Adjust the speaker volume............................................................................................................... 37
6.3 Adjust the headphone volume.........................................................................................................37
6.4 Use the feature trigger to mark features of interest........................................................................37
6.5 Make an audio note.......................................................................................................................... 37
6.6 Upload recorded data to the computer. ..........................................................................................38
6.7 View your recorded data ..................................................................................................................38
6.8 Pay attention to indicators ............................................................................................................... 38
Light indicators (LEDs).........................................................................................................................38
Audio indicators ..................................................................................................................................39
7.0 Using an Android Device with the VMS-333 and DSLR Cameras ...........................................40
7.1 Connect the Android device to the VMS-333...................................................................................40
7.2 Optional: Connect the Android device directly to a Nikon DSLR camera.........................................40
7.3 Start up VMS-Mobile and examine the home screen ......................................................................41
7.4 Upload new firmware to the VMS-333 ............................................................................................44
7.5 Load the offline map you want to access from VMS-Mobile ...........................................................44
7.6 Work with offline maps ....................................................................................................................48
7.7 Load KML files...................................................................................................................................49
7.8 Mark individual features of interest and continuous conditions/features......................................54
7.9 Load a feature definition file ............................................................................................................ 57
7.10 Edit a feature definition file............................................................................................................59
7.11 About feature definition files .........................................................................................................62
Feature Definition File Details............................................................................................................. 63
7.12 Control the way feature triggers behave .......................................................................................67
7.13 Determine if the camera is running properly.................................................................................70
7.14 Control the behavior of an external DSLR camera and Laser Range Finder...................................70
7.15 Configure VMS-333 parameters..................................................................................................... 72
7.16 Set intervalometry parameters ......................................................................................................74
7.17 Set Laser Range Finder parameters................................................................................................78
7.18 Configure VMS-333 data ................................................................................................................79
7.19 Configure VMS-333 buttons ...........................................................................................................82
7.20 Exit and stop background services ................................................................................................. 82
7.21 Get familiar with the VMS-Mobile folder structure .......................................................................82
8. Using the Laser Range Finder................................................................................................83
8.1 Introducing the LRF ..........................................................................................................................83
8.2 LRF Operating Procedure.................................................................................................................. 84
8.3 Making Sure Everything is Working.................................................................................................. 87
8.4 Configuring VMS-333 or VMS-DMRT for Laser Range Finder intervalometry .................................88
9.0 Troubleshooting.................................................................................................................90
9.1 Prevent Problems ............................................................................................................................. 90
9.2 Resolve Problems .............................................................................................................................90
9.3 Red Hen Systems Support Team ......................................................................................................91
10. Updating the Firmware and Configuring Parameters ...........................................................92
10.1 Set connection parameters for updating firmware........................................................................ 92
10.2 Load the firmware ..........................................................................................................................98
10.3 Set connection parameters for operation....................................................................................100
10.4 Set operational parameters with the terminal emulator.............................................................104
Appendix A. Quick Reference for VMS-Mobile Screens .............................................................107

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Home ....................................................................................................................................................107
Home > Control Camera.......................................................................................................................107
Home > Android menu .........................................................................................................................107
Home > Mark Features (example)........................................................................................................108
Home > Mark Features > Android menu..............................................................................................108
Home > Mark Features > Android menu > Load Feature Definitions ..................................................108
Home > Configure.................................................................................................................................109
Home > Configure > Feature Definitions..............................................................................................109
Home > Configure > Feature Definitions > Load ..................................................................................109
Home > Configure > Feature Definitions > Edit.................................................................................... 110
Home > Configure > Data .....................................................................................................................111
Home > Configure > Data (long press): Advanced section at top ........................................................ 111
Home > Configure > Feature Triggers...................................................................................................112
Home > Configure > Feature Triggers > Internal Feature Trigger ........................................................112
Home > Configure > Feature Triggers > External Feature Trigger........................................................112
Home > Configure > Feature Triggers > DMRT Feature Trigger ........................................................... 113
Home > Configure > Offline Maps > Android menu.............................................................................113
Home > Configure > Parameters ..........................................................................................................113
Home > Configure > Parameters > Intervalometry Mode > Time........................................................113
Home > Configure > Parameters > Intervalometry Mode > Distance .................................................. 113
Home > Configure > Parameters > Intervalometry Mode > Field of View...........................................113
Home > Configure > Load KML .............................................................................................................114
Appendix B. Pin-out Diagrams..................................................................................................115
B.1 Connectors on VMS-333.................................................................................................................115
FT.......................................................................................................................................................115
GPS ....................................................................................................................................................115
PWR................................................................................................................................................... 115
COM ..................................................................................................................................................115
Appendix C. External GPS Receivers .........................................................................................116
C.1 NMEA 0183 Version 2.0 Interface .................................................................................................. 116
D.2 Trimble GPS Receivers....................................................................................................................116
GGA. Global Positioning System Fix Data ......................................................................................... 117
RMC. Recommended Maximum Specific GNSS Data........................................................................118
Appendix D. VMS-333 Warranty...............................................................................................119

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Preface
Who is this guide for?
This User Guide is for anyone who will be installing or using the VMS-333 and VMS-Mobile Android
application. If you are reading this, you are probably one of the following types of people:
Pilots with or without GIS and photography skills. You may even be a member of the Professional
Aeronautic Photography Association.
Vehicle drivers or vessel pilots with or without GIS or photography skills.
Operators who are skilled with GIS equipment and cameras (these individuals usually install and
maintain the VMS-333 equipment).
Why read this guide?
This guide provides you with step-by-step instructions for setting up your equipment, as well as
capturing geotagged media, and transferring it to your computer for examination.
How is this guide organized?
This manual is organized for ease-of-use to make things easy to find and read. This means it starts
with a basic introduction and lets you know what’s new since the previous release. Then it moves to
the basics (what you get with the product and how to recognize its parts), proceeds with
instructions for connecting everything, and then moves into using the VMS-333 and the VMS-Mobile
Android application. It even has a short trouble-shooting section to help you deal with any problems
you might encounter.
For those of you who prefer technical details, check out the appendices. There you can review pin-
out diagrams of connectors.
What’s New?
If you’re someone who’s been using VMS-333 for a while, you’ll probably be interested in
what’s new.
New to VMS-333 and VMS-Mobile
Minor Bug fixes.
New intervalometry devices. VMS-333 now supports both cameras and Laser Range Finders as
intervalometry target devices. Automatically shoot photos or take LRF measurements at pre-defined
intervals.
New intervalometry target settings. Use the VMS-Mobile Configure Parameter screen to configure
the device where you will be using Intervalometry. See Configure VMS-333 parameters.
New home screen. The VMS-Mobile home screen now shows the currently selected VMS-333
intervalometry target device and lets you turn Intervalometry on and off for that device. See Start
up VMS-Mobile and examine the home screen.

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Section 1. Introducing the VMS-333
1.1 What is VMS-333 and what does it do?
When it comes to right-of-way patrol, whether you are flying over power lines, boating along the coast,
or driving along a railroad line, the VMS-333 is the ideal device for geotagging audio and video data in
real time.
With VMS-333, you can capture both what you see, via an off-the-shelf camcorder, video recorder, or
Nikon DSLR camera (with a memory card or hard drive), and what you say, via a headset and
microphone. You can even take still photos of points of interest and make audio notes about them, if
necessary. The VMS-333 automatically geo-tags the captured data with location and time information,
using a GPS receiver.
VMS-333 works with various types of GPS receivers from hardwired external (NMEA) units to wireless
Bluetooth GPS devices. The GPS unit supplied with the VMS-333 is a wired “puck” style receiver
powered by the VMS-333 through a single cable. It also includes a magnetic mount for easy attachment
to the outside of the vehicle.
When connected to a Nikon DSLR camera, the VMS-333 acts as an intervalometer that controls how
often, how long, and how many shots are taken to create a collection of continuous corridor image
strips. It provides three modes of intervalometry functions:
Time. Triggers camera shots at specific time intervals.
Distance. Triggers camera shots at specific distances as measured by GPS.
Field of View. Triggers aerial camera shots that take in a specific coverage. For example, as altitude
decreases, more shots are taken, and as altitude increases, fewer shots are taken.
Note: Because the VMS-333 includes a Bluetooth wireless communications channel, you use an Android
tablet running the VMS-Mobile application to set the parameters associated with intervalometry and
camera control.
The GPS data and other metadata are encapsulated in the media files containing the captured audio and
video data. These data files are stored on the hard drive or memory card of the video recorder. You can
then transfer this data to your personal computer and display the results on a map through
MediaMapper. All you need to do is select any video trail on the map to watch the video or click any
marked point of interest on the map to view its associated still photo or listen to its audio notes.
This information can be very useful in corridor management of pipeline and electric transmission right of
ways. It is also beneficial in managing riparian areas along rivers and streams and other types of
corridors, both natural and man-made.

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1.2 What is the THISR family of products?
Red Hen Systems provides a family of tactical handheld intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance
(THISR) products. These products all include video mapping system (VMS) devices that connect to and
control a wide variety of peripheral devices including: GPS receivers, video cameras (visible and multi-
spectral), video recorders, microphones, DSLR cameras, and Laser Range Finders. The VMS devices also
connect to environment monitoring equipment that collects data such as: methane gas concentration,
wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and more.
VMS-333 is one type of VMS device; the Digital Mapping Reconnaissance Toolkit (DMRT) is another.
With the VMS-333, all peripheral devices are connected by cables and must be held by hand or placed in
a car, plane, or helicopter. With the DMRT, all peripheral devices are held within an easy-to-carry, rigid
framework. Different versions of the DMRT include different external devices within the framework, but
each DMRT contains a single VMS device.
Note: Throughout the User Guide, the VMS devices will be referred to as VMS-333 and VMS-DMRT.
1.3 What is VMS-Mobile?
VMS-Mobile is an Android application that allows you to configure, control, and monitor the behavior of
the VMS-333 and any DSLR camera connected to it, as well as lets you download and view maps.
The use of VMS-Mobile with the VMS-333 and its connected devices is entirely optional —the devices
will function without the presence or use of VMS-Mobile. However, VMS-Mobile can make it easier and
simpler to work with the devices. By using VMS-Mobile, you can do the following:
1. Configure the VMS devices using a friendly touchscreen on any Android device.
2. Control the VMS devices remotely over short distances using touchscreen buttons that start and
stop supported actions. For example, pressing a VMS-Mobile onscreen button mimics pressing the
physical VMS-333 feature trigger buttons.
3. Monitor the operation of VMS devices. This includes displaying the states of the color LEDs on the
VMS-333 that indicate whether there is a current GPS fix and whether data is being collected, as
well as showing current location details on an onscreen map screen. VMS-Mobile can also monitor,
record, and store the real-time log file from the VMS devices or record and store a redundant GPS
receiver log file for mission backup purposes.
Note: This User Guide describes both the software (VMS-Mobile) and the hardware (VMS-333 and VMS-
DMRT).

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1.4 Why use VMS-333 and VMS-Mobile?
The VMS-333 benefits a wide variety of industries that do right-of-way patrol over highways, gas and
oil pipelines, transmission lines, shorelines, and rivers. You may want to use it because:
Compact, light, and mobile solution that can record more than 7 hours of video.
Expandable—you can connect up to four audio capable recording devices.
Accurate, easy to set up and operate, producing compliant content that is easy to review.
For ease of use, VMS-Mobile allows you to control the VMS-333 and DSLR camera without being
physically connected to it.
Note: If you purchased the Red Hen VMS HD-II, you also got a DVR called a NanoFLASH. You can connect
the VMS-333 to up to four NanoFLASH units.