SEON Explorer TX8 User manual

Document Part Number 700-0158 R001
*700-0117*

700-0158 R001 iii
About This Guide
The User Guide is intended for anyone who needs to operate, configure, or
troubleshoot the Explorer TX8 Mobile DVR System.
Related user guides include:
•Explorer TX8 Installation and Configuration Guide, 700-0157
•vMax View User Guide, 700-0137
Conventions Used
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Finding Information Online
You can find more information about Seon Design Inc. as well as its products and
services at www.seon.com.
CAUTION
Cautions identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to the unit or other equipment.
Tip: These notes provide tips for optimum performance of the DVR system.
Important: These notes provide important information, which are not as serious as a Caution.
Acronym Definition Acronym Definition
CAN Controller area network LAN Local area network
DVR Digital video recorder OSD On-Screen Display
FPS Frames per second RA Return Authorization
GPS Global Positioning System TCM Transmission Control Module
HDD Hard disk drive TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol
H.264 H.264 video compression USB Universal Serial Bus
IR Infrared UTC Universal Time Coordinated

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700-0158 R001 v
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1. Overview- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–2
1.2. TX8 DVR Product Features- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–3
1.2.1. Recording Capacity for DVR Hard Drive Storage - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–4
1.2.2. System Components - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–4
1.2.3. Front Panel Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–5
1.2.4. Back Panel Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–6
1.3. Installation Diagram - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–7
1.4. DVR Configuration, Video Playback and Archiving - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–8
1.4.1. Trackball mouse - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–9
1.4.2. Remote Control (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–9
1.5. On-Screen Display Access - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–11
1.6. vMax Web Access - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–13
Chapter 2 Configuration
2.1. DVR Configuration Options - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–2
2.1.1. Configuration Menu Diagram - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–3
2.1.2. Updating the Firmware - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–4
2.2. DVR Configuration Uploads- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–5
2.2.1. USB Memory Device to DVR Configuration Upload - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–5
2.2.2. Uploading Configuration Files to DVR via vMax Web - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–9
Chapter 3 Operation
3.1. Remove and Replace the DVR Hard Drive - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–2
3.2. Search, Playback, and Archive Video- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–2
3.3. vMax View and DVR Hard Drive Interface- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–3
3.4. On Screen Display Menus- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–4
3.4.1. Using the Search Function - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–6
3.4.2. Using the Archive Function - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–8
3.4.3. Copy to USB - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–10
3.4.3.1. Archive Segmentation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–10
3.5. Using One-Touch Download - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–11
Chapter 4 vMax Web Operation
4.1. System Requirements- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–1
4.2. Accessing vMax Web - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–2
4.3. vMax Web User Interface - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–4
4.3.1. vMax Web Live Tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–5
4.3.2. vMax Web Configuration Tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–6
Contents

Contents
vi 700-0158 R001
4.3.3. vMax Web Playback Tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–7
4.3.1. vMax Web Archive Tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–12
4.3.1.1. Archive Segmentation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–13
4.3.2. Viewing TX8 Video Archives - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–13
Chapter 5 Maintenance and Service
5.1. Returning Product for Service - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5–1
5.2. Troubleshooting the Explorer TX8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5–2
Appendix A Specifications
A.3. Explorer TX8- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A–1
A.3.1. Advanced Smart-Temp™ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -A–2
A.3.2. Explorer TX8 Functional Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -A–2
A.3.3. Explorer TX8 Front Cover, Cable Cover - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -A–2
Legal Notice
Seon Design® Inc. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L–1
Contact Information - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L–1
Seon Design Inc.® Product Warranty
Disclaimer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -W–1

700-0158 R001 vii
Figure 1-1 TX8 DVR System with Smart-Reach Mobile Wireless and vMax Commander Software - 1–2
Figure 1-2 TX8 DVR with Security Front Cover and Secure Cable Cover - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–3
Figure 1-3 Front Panel - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–5
Figure 1-4 Back Panel Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–6
Figure 1-5 Typical Explorer TX8 System - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–7
Figure 1-6 Trackball Mouse Pointing Device - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–9
Figure 1-7 Remote Control - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–9
Figure 1-8 LCD Monitor Connected to DVR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–11
Figure 1-9 TX8 Splash Screen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–11
Figure 1-10 On-Screen Display during Live Viewing and Recording- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–11
Figure 1-11 vMax Web Login Screen- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–13
Figure 1-12 vMax Web Live Tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–14
Figure 2-1 Configuration Main Menu for On Screen Display and vMax Web - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–3
Figure 2-2 Updating DVR Firmware Dialog Box - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–4
Figure 2-3 Main Menu and System Menu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–5
Figure 2-4 Program Update Menu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–6
Figure 2-5 Program Update Menu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–6
Figure 2-6 Program Update Menu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–7
Figure 2-7 Program Update Menu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–7
Figure 2-8 Load Configuration: Warning Message - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–7
Figure 2-9 Click Back to Save Configuration - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–8
Figure 2-10 Titles and Display Menus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–8
Figure 2-11 Login vMax Web - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–9
Figure 2-12 vMax Web Live View - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–9
Figure 2-13 vMax Web System Settings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–10
Figure 2-14 vMax Web System Configuration Program Update Settings- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–10
Figure 2-15 vMax Web Program Update Settings- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–10
Figure 2-16 Windows File Search - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–11
Figure 2-17 vMax Web Load Configuration from File - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–11
Figure 2-18 Loading Confirmation- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–11
Figure 2-19 Loading Complete - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–12
Figure 2-20 Titles and Display Menu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2–12
Figure 3-1 TX8 Hard Drive Interface with Hard Drive- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–3
Figure 3-2 Local Playback of Video using LCD Monitor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–4
Figure 3-3 Main Menu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–4
Figure 3-4 Playback Tool Bar Window- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–4
Figure 3-5 Show/Hide Toolbar Icon - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–6
Figure 3-6 Search Menu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–6
Figure 3-7 Archive Menu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–8
Figure 3-8 One-Touch Settings: clip - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–9
Figure 3-9 Copy to USB Progress Bar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–10
Figure 3-10 LCD Monitor Connected to DVR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–11
Figures

Figures
viii 700-0158 R001
Figure 3-11 One-Touch Progress - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–12
Figure 4-1 Internet Explorer Protected Mode: Off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–2
Figure 4-2 vMax Web DVR Login Prompt- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–3
Figure 4-3 Windows Warnings- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–3
Figure 4-4 vMax Web User Interface - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–4
Figure 4-5 Live tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–5
Figure 4-6 Configuration tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–6
Figure 4-7 Playback tab views, searching by Time or Event - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–7
Figure 4-8 Playback Event Search Results- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–11
Figure 4-9 Archive tab - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–12

700-0158 R001 ix
Table 1-1 Estimated Recording Time for 1 TB DVR Hard Drive, 8 Cameras- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–4
Table 1-2 Trackball Mouse Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–9
Table 1-3 Remote Control Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–10
Table 1-4 On-Screen Display Information - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1–12
Table 3-1 Playback Tool Bar Items- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–5
Table 3-2 Search Configuration Items - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–7
Table 3-3 DVR Event Descriptions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–7
Table 3-4 Archive Configuration Items - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3–8
Table 4-1 Minimum System Requirements - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–1
Table 4-2 Time Search Fields - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–7
Table 4-3 Event Search Fields- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–8
Table 4-4 DVR Event Descriptions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–8
Table 4-5 Archive Tab Fields- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4–12
Table 5-1 Maintenance Tasks - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5–1
Tables

Tables
x700-0158 R001

Introduction
700-0158 R001 1–1
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
This chapter describes the product features and components of the Explorer TX8
Mobile DVR System. This chapter contains the following sections:
• Overview, on page 1–2
• TX8 DVR Product Features, on page 1–3
• Installation Diagram, on page 1–7
• DVR Configuration, Video Playback and Archiving, on page 1–8
• On-Screen Display Access, on page 1–11
• vMax Web Access, on page 1–13

Introduction
1–2 700-0158 R001
1.1. Overview
This section introduces the product features of the Explorer TX8 Plus Mobile Digital
Video Recording (DVR) System.
The Explorer TX8 DVR integrates with the optional Smart-Reach Mobile wireless
technology and works with optional vMax Commander and vMax View video
management software for on-board video data management, as shown in Figure 1-1.
Figure 1-1 TX8 DVR System with Smart-Reach Mobile Wireless and vMax Commander Software

Introduction
700-0158 R001 1–3
1.2. TX8 DVR Product Features
The Explorer TX8 has the following product features:
• supports up to 8 video channels and 8 audio channels
• records up to 15 frames per second (FPS) at 720 × 480 D1 resolution on all video
channels simultaneously
• offers H.264 video compression for enhanced compression and quality
• has removable dual hard disk DVR drives
• stores up to 1.5 Gigabytes (GB)
• offers high-resolution stream for playback on a PC
• monitors DVR and hard drive status and notifies the administrator of any issues,
ensuring all onboard events are captured, using the vMax Commander video
management software Health Check feature
• uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for Geo-fencing, to designate a
geographic boundary for the vehicle and provides an alert if the vehicle leaves the
area
• logs and displays G force data and provides incident alerts with G-Sensor
• authorized personnel only restricted access to Security front cover and secure
cable cover with slotted cable entries, see Figure 1-2
• configure, playback, and archive video from the DVR locally with trackball
mouse or remote control, monitor, and DVR On Screen Display (OSD)
• configure, playback, and archive video from the DVR remotely with vMax Web
via Internet
• interfaces with network using RJ-45 connections on the front and back panels, see
Figure 1-3 and Figure 1-4
Figure 1-2 TX8 DVR with Security Front Cover and Secure Cable Cover

Introduction
1–4 700-0158 R001
1.2.1. Recording Capacity for DVR Hard Drive Storage
The Explorer TX8 uses H.264 video compression to extend the recording time on the
DVR hard drive. The recording time varies, depending on the FPS, resolution
(horizontal x vertical pixel count), and picture quality settings. Lower picture quality
results in higher compression and a lower memory requirement. Higher picture quality
results in lower compression and a higher memory requirement.
Table 1-1 shows the estimated recording time in hours for 1 TB (two 500 GB DVR
hard drives).
1.2.2. System Components
The typical Explorer TX8 system consists of the following components (see
Installation Diagram, on page 1–7):
• Explorer TX8 DVR
• Cameras and camera cable, one connector per camera
• Trackball mouse and remote control
• DVR hard drive
• Alarm button and cable
• Harnesses
- power input harness with in-line fuses for constant and switched power lines
- adapter harness
- speed harness
• GPS receiver, optional
• Diagnostic Button, optional
• RGY Illuminator, optional
Important: The average image size is dependent on the scene content, lighting conditions, and amount of movement
recorded. External facing cameras will consume disk space more rapidly. Estimated recording times are based on
simulated test conditions. Actual recording times will vary greatly.
Table 1-1 Estimated Recording Time for 1 TB DVR Hard Drive, 8 Cameras
FPS
Picture Quality (3)
360×240 resolution 720×240 resolution 720×480 resolution
15 880 hours 473 hours 247 hours
10 1168 hours 686 hours 363 hours
5 2192 hours 1288 hours 694 hours

Introduction
700-0158 R001 1–5
1.2.3. Front Panel Features
Figure 1-3 shows the front panel features followed by a short description. For a full
description of the features, see Operation, on page 3–1.
Figure 1-3 Front Panel
Item Feature Feature
1 DVR hard drive
lock Requires the DVR Hard Drive key to unlock and remove the DVR. See Remove and Replace the DVR Hard Drive, on page 3–2 for hard drive removal details.
2 DVR hard drive Playback the hard drive content in vMax View using the TX/DX hard drive interface connected
to a PC.
See vMax View and DVR Hard Drive Interface, on page 3–3 for hard drive playback details.
3 LAN (Gigabit) Ethernet port with RJ-45 connector for connecting to LAN. Connect to a laptop, Smart-Reach
Mobile wireless equipment, and other equipment.
4USB1,USB2
ports (USB 2.0) Supports USB devices for copying video and audio information, exporting video clips, updating DVR firmware, importing/exporting.
5 LED displays • LAN, activity, on when there is network activity on the LAN connection
• HDD, activity, on when the DVR is accessing the hard drive
• PWR, on when the DVR is on
• TEMP, flashes fast when DVR cannot power up due to temperature limitations
• VOLTAGE, flashes slow when DVR cannot power up due to voltage limitations
6 AUDIO OUT RCA jack
7 VIDEO OUT RCA jack for configuring DVR and viewing recorded video
8 IR receiver Use with remote control
9 ONE TOUCH Download button, see Using One-Touch Download, on page 3–11.
10 STOP/TEMP
PWR button • STOP: press stop button to stop DVR playing or recording • TEMP PWR: press to power on DVR temporarily when held for 5 seconds
• TEMP PWR: press to power down the DVR when held for more than 5 seconds when DVR
is in temporary power mode, or in shut down sequence
12 3
4567810 9

Introduction
1–6 700-0158 R001
1.2.4. Back Panel Features
Figure 1-4 shows the back panel features followed by a short a description.
Figure 1-4 Back Panel Features
Item Feature Description
1 ALARM INPUT Alarm input connector for the alarm button and cable (2-pin).
2 CONTROL Control connector (2-pin) for controlling the Smart-Reach Mobile wireless bridge
equipment.
3 1 to 8 Eight camera input connectors (6-pin).
4 POWER OUTPUT Auxiliary power connector (2-pin). Turns off after recording as configured in delay
settings.
5 Fan Intake fan with filter and removable cover. See Maintenance and Service, on page 5–1.
6 ETHERNET Ethernet port with RJ-45 connector for connecting to LAN. Ethernet is used to connect
either to a PC or laptop or directly to the Smart-Reach wireless bridge and other
equipment.
7 VIDEO OUTPUT Configurable video output for viewing video, BNC connector
8 SIGNALS Adapter harness connector.
9 GPS GPS connector.
10 POWER Power input connector (4-pin) for connecting the power harness.
ALARM
INPUT
POWER
OUTPUT
POWER
GPSSIGNALS
ETHERNET
CONTROL
VIDEO
OUTPUT
1 2 3 4 5
10
9876

Introduction
700-0158 R001 1–7
1.3. Installation Diagram
The following diagram shows typical Explorer TX8 installation connections.
Figure 1-5 Typical Explorer TX8 System
Explorer® TX8
Typical System Setup
Vehicle Electrical Interface
Peripherals Seon System
Supports Eight Cameras
GPS Receiver *1 Adapter
Harness *2
Red - Call Seon if using hall sensor
Green - Speed sensor high
Black - Speed sensor low
3 wires
SPEED
Left Turn (black)
Stop (green)
Brake Signal (red)
Warning (brown)
Right Turn (white)
5 wires
SIGNALS
Vehicle + 12V (red)
10A
3 wires
Vehicle Switched + 12V (yellow)
Battery Negative (black)
POWER
1A
TX8 DVR Rear Panel
Alarm Button
Smart-Reach® Mobile (Wi-Fi)
*1 For speed tracking, use a GPS receiver or speed harness. For ease of installation and better speed tracking, Seon recommends using a GPS receiver.
*2 The Diagnostic Button and alarm input harness are optional and require the adapter harness.
*3 An optional Laptop can be used from the Ethernet outputs located on the front panel.
*4 An optional LCD Monitor can be used from the video outputs located on the front or back panel.
LCD Monitor *4
Diagnostic Button
Optional Accessories
White
Black
Red
4 wires
DIAGNOSTIC
Black
RGY Illuminator
POWER
POWER
OUTPUT
GPS
SIGNALS
VIDEO
OUTPUT
ETHERNET
ALARM
INPUT CONTROL
To DVR GPS Input
To DVR
ALARM
INPUT
To DVR
Camera
Inputs
To DVR
POWER
Input
To DVR SIGNALS Input
Laptop *3
To DVR ETHERNET Input
To DVR ETHERNET Input
To DVR VIDEO OUTPUT
To dedicated
Expansion
Harness
Input

Introduction
1–8 700-0158 R001
1.4. DVR Configuration, Video Playback and Archiving
Here is an introductory overview of the configuration, playback, and archiving
methods available on the TX8.
The TX8 DVR can be configured in two ways:
• locally via OSD and LCD monitor. See On-Screen Display Access, on
page 1–11.
• remotely via vMax Web browser interface and Ethernet/wireless connection.
See vMax Web Access, on page 1–13.
The TX8 DVR content can be accessed and archived in three ways:
• locally via OSD and LCD monitor. See Search, Playback, and Archive Video,
on page 3–2.
• remotely via vMax Web browser interface and Ethernet/wireless connection.
See Using One-Touch Download, on page 3–11.
• via vMax View video management software and DVR hard drive interface.
See vMax View and DVR Hard Drive Interface, on page 3–3. See also:
•vMax Commander Software User Guide, 700-0120
or
• vMax View User Guide, 700-0137
The following table shows which methods support video configuration, playback, and
archiving.
To do this… Use...
On-screen display
with trackball
mouse or remote
control
(Figure 1-6)
vMax Web remote
access with
Internet Explorer
(Figure 1-11)
DVR Hard Drive
Interface& vMax
View software
(Figure 3-1)
Configure the DVR menu settings. X
Playback and view recorded video with single channel
view or multiple views.
 
Search for video from a Segment, an Events list, or by
time and date.
 
Archive video to .avr file format.  
Archiving options — each individual channel can be
archived as an AVI file and individual images saved to
.bmp or .jpg files
XX 

Introduction
700-0158 R001 1–9
1.4.1. Trackball mouse
1.4.2. Remote Control (optional)
Figure 1-7 shows the buttons on the remote control, and Table 1-3 describes the
features.
Figure 1-6 Trackball Mouse Pointing Device
Table 1-2 Trackball Mouse Features
To do this… Item
Select the highlighted menu option by pressing the middle button. 1
Select the highlighted menu option by pressing the left button with your thumb. 2
• Delete a character entered into a field or go back to a previous items by pressing the button
on the right.
• Press this button to enter the configuration menu.
3
Move the cursor around the screen by rotating the blue button. 4
1
2
3
4
Figure 1-7 Remote Control
1
3
4
5
2
6 7 98
10 11 1312
14 15 17
16
18

1–10
Table 1-3 Remote Control Features
Item Button Description
1 Menu navigation
• Up arrow
•Backarrow
• Down arrow
• Right arrow
In the Menu system:
• Scrolls up one line of text or increases a selected value.
• Navigates to a previous item.
• Scrolls down one line of text or decreases a value.
• Navigates to the next item.
2 ENTER Displays the next screen or confirms the selection of a menu item.
3 DISPLAY Selects the next on-screen display.
4 MENU Enters and exits the Menu system to configure the DVR.
5 BACK Return to the previous screen.
6 Frame reverse During video playback, reverses by a single frame when playback is paused.
7 Play/Pause Plays back video or pauses video playback. In fast forward or reverse playback mode, press
to return to normal playback.
8 Frame advance In playback with the video paused, advances by a single frame.
9 Record Records video.
10 Fast rewind Plays the video in reverse playback. Each press of the button increases the speed 2×, 4×, 8×,
16×, and 32×. When playback is paused, initiates 1/3 speed slow motion.
11 Stop Stops recording.
12 Fast forward Fast forwards video playback. Each press of the button increases the speed 2×, 4×, 8×, 16×,
and 32×. When playback is paused, initiates 1/3 speed slow motion.
13 AUDIO Selects the next audio channel during playback. There are four audio channels.
14 SEARCH Activates the DVR search dialog.
15 COPY Download specific data specified in the DVR’s One-Touch setting menu. (Same function as
the ONE TOUCH button on the DVR front panel.
16 ARCHIVE Opens the Archive dialog.
17 MODE Cycles between individual and quad (4-up) channel display mode.
18 1–4 Selects Channel 1, 2, 3 or 4.
19 5–12 These buttons are for future use.