StarDot Technologies net camera User manual

netcam
User’s Manual
www.stardot-tech.com

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Conguration..........................................................................5
1.1 Before You Start.......................................................................5
1.2 What’s Included and What’s Required .....................................5
1.3 Parts of NetCam ......................................................................6
1.4 Connecting NetCam to a Network ...........................................6
1.5 An Overview of Network Connectivity......................................7
1.6 Connecting NetCam to a Modem.............................................9
Chapter 2 Installation ............................................................................10
2.1 Installing NetCam...................................................................10
2.2 Installing NetCam Outdoors...................................................11
Chapter 3 Accessing NetCam ..............................................................12
3.1 Viewing NetCam’s Images .....................................................12
3.2 AccessingNetCam’sCongurationMenus............................12
3.3 Image Properties....................................................................12
3.4 Overlay Properties .................................................................16
3.5 FTP Properties .......................................................................20
3.6 Applet Properties ...................................................................24
3.7 Date/Time Properties .............................................................26
3.8 Network Properties ................................................................28
3.9 Dial-Out Properties ................................................................30
3.10 Security Properties.................................................................32
Chapter 4 Imaging Tips.........................................................................34
4.1 Lighting ..................................................................................34
4.2 Image Processing Options.....................................................36
Chapter 5 NetCam Lenses ....................................................................37
Troubleshooting Guide ...........................................................................39
Technical Support ...................................................................................39
Specications ..........................................................................................40

Page 4 NetCam

NetCam Page 5
Chapter 1 Conguration
Congratulations on your purchase of a StarDot NetCam network camera with
integrated web server. NetCam provides the highest quality live still images in a
remote camera that can be connected to a network or a modem. With proper usage,
NetCam will provide many years of quality remote imaging. We recommend that you
read this manual carefully to completely understand NetCam’s capabilities.
1.1 Before You Start
This manual guides you through the basic setup procedure for NetCam
and provides a detailed resource of the camera’s advanced options and
capabilities.
Setting up NetCam consists of three steps. The rst step is to congure
NetCam’s network or dial-out settings. The second step is to congure
NetCam to upload images to a web server (this step is optional). The third
step is the physical installation of the camera.
1.2 What’s Included and What’s Required
The NetCam package includes a NetCam camera, a lens, a wall mount, a
power supply, a combo network/power cable, a null modem serial cable and
the StarDot Tools software on CD-ROM. The Dial-Out package includes an
external modem and modem cable (instead of the network cable). In order
to use NetCam, you will need the following:
• Power source
• A computer – for conguring NetCam and for viewing NetCam
images (viewing requires Java-enabled web browser)
Note: A computer is not necessary to operate NetCam, only to congure it.
• Network connectivity (LAN, cable modem, DSL, T-1, Dial-Up
Internet Account, Satellite Modem, etc.)
• Web server space (only required when congured as Dial-Out ISP
camera)

Page 6 NetCam
1.3 Parts of NetCam
netcam
www.stardot-tech.com
S0 (Modem)
External Modem Connection
For Internet ISP Dial-Out
S1 (Aux)
Configuration of NetCam via PC Serial Port,
Auxilliary Device Control
NET (Ethernet Port)
Used to Connect NetCam to a Network
Network Activity LED
PWR (DC Power Jack)
8-15VDC, 1A
I/O AUXand (Input/Output and Auxiliary)
Motorized Zoom Lens
1.4 Connecting NetCam to a Network
The StarDot Tools software can be used nd NetCam’s IP address or
to congure NetCam with a Setup Wizard.
Install the StarDot Tools software by inserting the CD-ROM and
running setup.exe (it should run automatically).
If your network has a router or server that auto assigns IP addresses
(DHCP), StarDot Tools will nd NetCam’s IP address and display
it in the software. To access NetCam, simply double-click its IP
address. Turn to Chapter 3 for assistance on conguring NetCam.
If your network does not auto-assign IP addresses, you’ll need to
congure NetCam via the included serial cable. Connect one end of
the null model serial cable to the S1 port of NetCam and the other
end into an available serial port on your PC.
Connect NetCam into a network router, hub or switch with a standard
CAT 5 network cable or with the included Combo Ethernet/Power
Cable (see illustration).
In StarDot Tools, click the Setup Wizard button.
Follow the steps in the Setup Wizard. If you’re unsure of some of
the answers or you’d like more information on connecting NetCam
to the Internet or your private network, read the next section,
“An Overview of NetCam Connectivity”.

NetCam Page 7
DB9-DB9 Null
Modem Cable (Included)
Used to connect NetCam
to a PC Serial Port for
Configuring Camera
Combo Ethernet/Power
Cable (50 ft., Included)
Used to connect NetCam
to Network and
Power Supply
12VDC Power Supply (Included)
Plugs Into Combo
Ethernet/Power Cabl
e
To Internet/LAN
netcam
www.stardot-tech.com
Router, Switch or Hub
(Not Included)
(normally not needed)
1.5 An Overview of Network Connectivity
A LAN or network connection is the simplest conguration for NetCam.
NetCam simply needs an IP address (and other networking parameters) to
make the live images and conguration menus accessible from any web
browser on the network. There are two ways NetCam can be assigned an
IP address: automatically or manually.
Automatic IP Assignment (DHCP)
NetCam is shipped in an automatic IP assignment mode called DHCP
(Dynamic Host Conguration Protocol). If your network has a DHCP server
(in most cases, a router), it will automatically assign the necessary network
parameters to NetCam. Before you can access the camera, you will need
to know which IP address was assigned to NetCam. Use the StarDot Tools
software to nd NetCam’s IP address.
Manual IP Assignment
If you want to assign NetCam a permanent IP address, you will need
the following information:
• IP Address (example: 192.168.1.5)
• Subnet Mask (example: 255.255.255.0)
• Gateway (example: 192.168.1.1)
• DNS Servers (example: 24.1.179.1, 24.1.179.2)

Page 8 NetCam
If you are installing NetCam on a company network, you will probably want
to get this information from your system administrator.
The easiest way to congure NetCam manually is to connect NetCam to
a serial port on your computer. Plug one end of the null modem serial cable
into the S1 port on the back of NetCam and the other end into an available
9-pin serial port on the back of your computer. Use the included StarDot
Tools software to congure NetCam.
If you don’t have a serial port or are using a non-Windows machine,
you have a few options.
If NetCam is connected to a network with a DHCP server and your
computer is not running Windows, you can log into your router (or whatever
is acting as your DHCP server) and view the DHCP clients table. NetCam
will have the MAC address starting with 00:30:F4. Take note of the IP
address and enter it in your web browser. Click on the conguration link,
visit the network tab and assign NetCam a manual IP address (outside of
the router’s DHCP range).
If NetCam is connected to a network without a DHCP server
(IP addresses are not automatically assigned) and your computer is not
running Windows, you’ll have to manually assign NetCam an IP address.
This requires terminal emulation software and the included null serial cable.
On a Macintosh or on a Windows computer without a serial port, you’ll
need a USB RS-232 adapter.
To talk directly to NetCam via the included serial cable, set your
terminal software to a bitrate of 38,400 (8/N/1). Log in with admin / admin
and use the following commands to assign NetCam a temporary IP address.
Once the IP has been assigned, browse to NetCam with a web browser and
congure NetCam to have a permanent static IP address.
In the following example, NetCam is being assigned a temporary IP
address of 192.168.0.2 via a terminal program connected to the S1 port on
the back of NetCam:
ifcong eth0 192.168.0.2
route add -net 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 eth0
Remember, once you can reach NetCam via its temporary IP address,
you’ll want to immediately assign it a permanent static IP address in the
network conguration menu.

NetCam Page 9
1.6 Connecting NetCam to a Modem
In order to use NetCam with an analog phone line, you will need the
Dial-Out NetCam package (CAM-NETx2, which comes with an external
modem and cable), a dial-up ISP account, and an analog phone line.
Install the StarDot Tools software by inserting the included
CD-ROM and running setup.exe.
Connect one end of the null model serial cable to the S1 port of
NetCam and the other end into an available serial port on your PC.
Connect the round end of the modem cable into the external modem
and plug the modem power supply into the modem (modem and
modem cable both included with remote package).
Plug the DB9 end of the modem cable into the S0 port of NetCam.
Run the StarDot Tools software and click on the Setup Wizard
button.
Follow the steps in the Setup Wizard. When asked for modem type,
select 3JTech.
Test your conguration locally rst. Once successful, you can
place NetCam and the modem remotely and it will automatically dial
out to the Internet and upload images according to the set schedule.
DB9-DB9 Null
Modem Cable (Included)
Used to connect NetCam
to a PC Serial Port for
Configuring Camera
Modem/Power Cable
(Included with Dial-Out Package)
Used to connect NetCam
to External Modem
External Modem (Included
with Dial-Out Package)
Plugs into NetCam, wall outlet
and analog phone line
To Internet
via Phone
Line & ISP
netcam
www.stardot-tech.com
Power Supplies
(Included)
Plug Into Power/
Modem Cable
and Modem

Page 10 NetCam
Chapter 2 Installation
Before installing NetCam in its nal location, it is important to congure
and test it rst (see Chapter 1).
2.1 Installing NetCam
Ethernet Connection
If NetCam will be connected directly to an Ethernet network, measure
the distance from NetCam to the nearest Ethernet hub or switch. This
distance should not exceed 300 feet. If you wish to extend the distance
further than 300 feet, you can add an Ethernet hub or switch.
Running Separate Ethernet and Power
Run standard CAT 5 or better Ethernet cable from the hub/switch to
the NET jack on the back of NetCam. Plug the included power supply into
the back of NetCam.
Running Combined Ethernet and Power
To save the hassle of running both power and network cables (or having
to have a 110V power supply at the camera location), NetCam ships with
a 50 ft. combo Ethernet/power cable. You can use this in place of standard
CAT 5 network cable. Plug the included power supply into the power tail
jack on one side of the cable and plug the network plug into a hub. The
other end of the cable plugs into the NetCam’s PWR and NET jacks (see
illustration in Chapter 1.4).
If you need a longer cable, StarDot offers lengths of 100, 200 and 300
feet. Keep in mind that the longer combo cable lengths require a power
supply with higher voltage output (voltage drops over the length of a cable).
The appropriate power supply is included with the longer combo cables.
Modem Connection
If NetCam’s connection to the Internet will be a dial-out ISP connection,
an external modem and modem cable are required (these are provided with
the Dial-Out NetCam package).
Connect the external modem’s power supply into an AC wall outlet.
Connect the external modem into a phone jack using a standard telephone
cable. Using the included DB9 Female to round connector cable, connect
the external modem into the S0 port on the back of NetCam.
It is important that NetCam be pre-congured for a dial-out modem
connection before placing the camera in its nal installation location (see
Chapter 1.6).

NetCam Page 11
2.2 Installing NetCam Outdoors
NetCam is an outdoor-capable camera, but two important steps must
be taken before NetCam can be used in an outdoor environment. NetCam’s
lens must be adjusted for daylight imaging, and NetCam must be enclosed
in an outdoor enclosure.
Lens Adjustment
NetCam ships with a manual iris lens (if you ordered a different lens
with NetCam, it will most likely have a manual iris). The iris must be closed
down to a pinhole size before using the camera in daylight lighting. If
the lens has markings on the iris ring, you will want to close the iris down
to ƒ16 or larger (the larger the ƒ-stop, the smaller the iris). If the lens does
not have numerical markings on the iris ring (it may just show “open” and
“close” with arrows), look into the lens and turn the iris until the hole is
about the size of a pinhole.
The pinhole size is an approximation. To precisely set the iris, add $e to
the image overlay (the text printed on the image). This will print the current
exposure. During daylight, this value should fall between 100 and 500. You
generally do not want to want to see the exposure with a value below 100.
If your exposure is reading below 100, adjust the iris smaller until it reads
between 100 and 500. Note: Make sure Auto Exposure is enabled.
Failure to set the iris properly in daylight lighting may result in
streaky image quality and will prematurely cause permanent damage
to the CCD sensor. NetCam’s auto exposure logic will automatically
compensate for changes in brightness throughout the day by adjusting the
exposure. NetCam can take great quality images from dawn to dusk with a
manual iris lens, provided it’s set properly. For more information on daylight
imaging and how to achieve the best quality possible, see Chapter 4.1.
Mounting the Camera
To mount NetCam outdoors, it must rst be encased in an outdoor
enclosure (different models are available from StarDot Technologies, see
http://www.stardot-tech.com/netcam).
Install NetCam in an outdoor enclosure and adjust the internal mount
so NetCam’s lens is up against the enclosure window. This helps to reduce
glare.
Determine where NetCam will be pointing and where you’d like to
mount it. The outdoor enclosures can be mounted on a horizontal or vertical
surface. When aiming the camera, factors such as sun travel and amount
of visible sky can vastly affect the quality of the image. For imaging tips,
see Chapter 4.1.

Page 12 NetCam
Chapter 3 Accessing NetCam
3.1 Viewing NetCam’s Images
Any Java-enabled browser can be used to view the live images.
Type NetCam’s IP address in your browser’s address bar (example:
http://192.168.1.5).
3.2 Accessing NetCam’s Conguration Menus
Virtually any web browser can be used to access NetCam’s congu-
ration menus. To access these menus, type NetCam’s IP address in your
browser’s address bar (example: http://192.168.1.5). This will
bring up the live image page. Click on the Conguration link. You will be
prompted for a User Name and Password. Use admin for both.
Tip: We highly recommend that you change the default password. To do so, see
Chapter 3.8.
3.3 Image Properties
All image-related conguration options are located on the Image
Properties page. After making changes, click the Apply button to save new
settings in the camera.
EXPOSURE
Auto vs. Manual
Unless you have a controlled (xed) lighting condition, you will almost
always want to leave Auto Exposure enabled.

NetCam Page 13
Auto Exposure
Enabling Auto Exposure causes NetCam to automatically adjust
the image exposure based on the overall brightness of the image. The
following functions are only implemented when Auto Exposure is
enabled.
• Brightness - The higher the number, the brighter the picture. The
default value is 60.
• Sensitivity - This value rarely needs to be adjusted. It sets the
sensitivity of the Auto Exposure code. A higher number means a
bigger change in lighting is required for the auto exposure to adjust.
The default value is 20.
• Min & Max - Min is the minimum exposure NetCam will expose
images at (default is 0). The default value is the recommended
value. Max is the maximum exposure NetCam will expose images
at (default is 12500, 1/5 second). If your image looks noisy during
low light conditions, you can decrease the max exposure value.
Fluorescent Sync
If NetCam is imaging in an area lit by uorescent lighting, enabling the
appropriate frequency (60Hz for US) will prevent NetCam from producing a
change in brightness or color balance that often accompanies imaging under
uorescent lights. For outdoor shots (any other non uorescent lighting
condition), set to off. The default value is off.
Manual Exposure
Enabling Manual Exposure causes NetCam to expose images at
the value placed in the Exposure eld. Keep in mind that using manual
exposure is not advised for outdoor imaging, since the light conditions are
constantly changing. You may opt to use manual exposure indoors if your
lighting conditions do not change. Here are some sample values and their
fractional equivalents:
50 = 1/1000 second
500 = 1/100 second
833 = 1/60 second
1667 = 1/30 second
3333 = 1/15 second
6250 = 1/8 second (may introduce CCD pixel noise)
12500 = 1/4 second (may introduce CCD pixel noise)
Exposure Grid
When Auto Exposure is enabled, NetCam adjusts the exposure of the
image based on the average brightness of the pixels located in the selected
regions in the Exposure Grid. If you want NetCam to determine the exposure
based on only the sky, you would select the squares that apply to the sky

Page 14 NetCam
(click the View Grid button to see the grid over the image). Conversely, if
you’d like the exposure to be determined by the foreground, select only those
squares. This is comparable to the spot exposure on a traditional camera.
The default is the center 9 squares.
PROCESSING
Resolution
Resolution is the dimensional size of the NetCam image, measured
in pixels, horizontal by vertical. The maximum resolution of NetCam is
640x480 (1280x960 on NetCam MP) and the minimum is 96x80 color
(80x60 grayscale). The higher the resolution, the larger the picture appears
in your browser, and the longer it takes to download (and the longer it takes
for NetCam to process and create).
Default: 320x240 (640x480 on NetCam MP)
Tip: As with most digital cameras, NetCam achieves the highest quality and clearest
images at quarter resolution. This is due to the way color is calculated with
digital image sensors. The highest quality image on NetCam is 320x240. On
NetCam MP, the highest quality image is 640x480.
Saturation
This represents the amount of color in the image. The higher the number,
the more saturated the color.
Default: 1200
Gamma
Gamma correction is a post-processing enhancement that increases the
detail in shadowy areas of the image. The higher the value, the lighter the
shadows, at the expense of increased haziness.
Default: 1700
Intensity
Intensity is a post-processing enhancement that increases the brightness
of the image. This should not be confused with the brightness under the
auto exposure settings, which is a preprocessing setting. Intensity articially
brightens the image after it’s already been exposed and color processed. In
most applications, the default of 1024 (no intensity change) is recommended.
If you have a dark lighting situation, you can experiment by increasing this
value. For example, 2048 doubles the brightness. You will most likely need
to adjust the Auto Exposure Brightness to counter balance the effect (to
prevent images that appear overexposed).
Default: 1024

NetCam Page 15
Haze
Haze is a factory setting and should normally not be changed.
Default: 10
JPEG Quality
The JPEG Quality is a balance between lossy image compression
and image quality. The higher the number, the less compression artifacts
in the image, but the bigger the le size. A value higher than 90 is not
recommended, as it greatly increases the le size with very little
noticeable difference in image quality.
Default: 70
Sharpen
When enabled, a software sharpening is performed on the live image.
For the best image quality, sharpen should be on.
Default: On
Auto Color Balance
Enabling Auto Color Balance causes NetCam to automatically adjust
the color balance of the image, based on the content of the image. In most
situations, you will want Auto Color Balance enabled. You can skew the
red, green and blue values if needed.
Default: On
Manual Color Balance
Enabling Manual Color Balance causes NetCam to use the manual Red,
Green and Blue values to set the color balance of the image. You may want
use manual color balance if you have a xed lighting situation.
R - This represents the amount of red in the image.
G - This represents the amount of green in the image.
B - This represents the amount of blue in the image.
Note: As a starting point for setting manual color balance values,
enable Auto Color Balance and place the current R, G, B values in the
image overlay.
Sample string: Red: $r Green: $g Blue: $b
Once you see the current values of the image, you can place those in the R,
G, B settings and have a manually balanced image.

Page 16 NetCam
3.4 Overlay Properties
The Overlay Properties allow you to edit the text displayed on the
image. After making changes, click the Apply button to save the settings
in the camera.
TIME/DATE/TEXT STAMP
Text
Any text entered into this eld will be stamped onto the live image.
Camera location and copyright information are two examples. In addition to
static text, the current date and time, as well as internal camera parameters,
can all become part of the text on the live image. This is handled through
markup characters. For instance, %d inserts the current day of the month
on the live image. There is a complete list of markup characters below and
a mini reference on the Overlay page itself.
Default: NetCam %a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Y
Font
Five different font styles/sizes are available for the overlay text:
FontA-24 24-Point Sans-Serif Block Condensed
FontA-24-s 24-Point Sans-Serif Block Condensed, Anti-Aliased
FontB-12 12-Point Sans-Serif
FontB-12-s 12-Point Sans-Serif, Anti-Aliased
Mono-8 8-Point Mono Font
Default: FontB-12

NetCam Page 17
Font Color
The text color can be modied by adjusting the red, green and blue
values. In addition, you can change the alpha level or transparency of the
text. Valid ranges are in hexadecimal and range from 00-FF.
Default: R: AE G: B4 B: E4 A: FF
Background Color
The text background color can be modied by adjusting the red, green
and blue values. In addition, you can change the alpha level or transparency
of the text background. Valid ranges are in hexadecimal and range from
00-FF.
Default: R: 21 G: 29 B: 5A A: C0
Sample Colors Chart
R G B
FF 00 00 Red
00 FF 00 Green
00 00 FF Blue
FF FF 00 Yellow
00 FF FF Cyan
FF 00 FF Purple
FF FF FF White
7F 7F 7F Gray
00 00 00 Black
Markup Character Reference
All of the following markup characters can be used in the text overlay.
Additionally, any date/time markups (preceded by the %character) can be
used to compose the lenames in the FTP Properties Page, which is very
useful for archiving images with unique lenames (based on the current
date and time, for instance).
Date Markups
%Y Year, Four-Digit [2000-2199]
%y Year, Two-Digit [00-99]
%m Month, Numerical [01-12]
%B Month, Full [January-December]
%b Month, Abbreviated [Jan-Dec]

Page 18 NetCam
%U Week of Year (Starting with Sunday) [00-53]
%W Week of Year (Starting with Monday) [00-53]
%d Day of Month [01-31]
%w Day of Week, Numerical (Sunday=0) [0-6]
%u Day of Week, Numerical (Monday=1) [1-7]
%A Day of Week, Full [Sunday-Saturday]
%a Day of Week, Abbreviated [Sun-Sat]
%j Day of Year (Julian Day) [001-366]
%p AM/PM, Uppercase
${Z} Timezone
Time Markups
%H Hour, Military [00-23]
%I Hour, Standard [00-12]
%M Minute [00-59]
%S Second [00-59]
$03[ Milliseconds [000-999]
$03] Microseconds [000-999]
Date & Time Shortcut Markups
%D Date String [mm/dd/yy]
%r Time String [HH:MM:SS AM/PM]
%T Time String, Military [HH:MM:SS]
Symbol Markups
\260 Degree Sign, º
\251 Copyright Sign, ©
\256 Registered Sign, ®
\261 Plus-Minus Sign, ±
%% Percentage Character, %
Camera Markups
$e Camera Exposure
${IF} Internal Camera Temperature, in Fahrenheit
${IC} Internal Camera Temperature, in Celsius

NetCam Page 19
$n Frame Number
$u Camera Uptime
$r Amount of Red in Image, Hexadecimal
$g Amount of Green in Image, Hexadecimal
$b Amount of Blue in Image, Hexadecimal
$I Image Intensity
$z Image Haze
$W Image Width
$H Image Height
$M MAC Address (Camera ID)
$E Ethernet IP Address
$P PPP IP Address (ISP Dial-Out IP)
NetCam supports the much of the ISO 8859-1 character set, which is
very useful for adding foreign language text to NetCam’s overlay. For a list
of characters, visit stardot-tech.com/netcam/netcam-overlay.txt
Positioning Markups
All positioning markups that begin with \033 must be at the
beginning of a line.
\033l Position Text on Left
\033h Center Text Horizontally
\033r Position Text on Right
\033t Position Text on Top
\033v Center Text Vertically
\033b Position Text on Bottom
\033t\033l Position Text in Top Left, This is the default even
if you don’t use the markup.
\033t\033r Position Text in Top Right
\033b\033l Position Text in Bottom Left
\033b\033r Position Text in Bottom Right
\033h\033v Position Text in Center

Page 20 NetCam
3.5 FTP Properties
The FTP Properties instruct NetCam to upload images to a remote
server. After making changes, click the Apply button to save the settings
in the camera.
FTP Upload
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, one of the most popular methods
for transferring les over the Internet. In addition to NetCam serving
images from its internal web server, NetCam can also upload images to an
external web server. This is useful if you plan on having a large number
of visitors viewing the live images or if you’d like to archive every image
NetCam takes. To enable image uploads, check FTP Upload on and ll out
the options below.
Required Fields
Hostname
The hostname is the name of the server where you’d like NetCam to
upload images to. It can be a machine name or IP address. Do not include
the http:// or ftp:// header or a path.
Example: myserver.com or ftp.myserver.com
Username
This is the username or login name assigned to you by your hosting
company.
Password
This is the password assigned to you by your hosting company.