HOWTO: Add a camera to Panasonic BB-HNP15 Network Camera Recorder which will record on motion detection
This article will apply to those who are using the free trial of Panasonic’s BB-HNP15 Network Camera Recorder software and also to those who have purchased the full 64-camera version.
What we will explain is how to add a camera to the application and then set it up so that it will actively record based on motion detection for a 24 hour period every day of the week.
Glossary Term: Zoom Lens
There are many IP cameras available today which have a zoom lens and this allows the camera to enlarge areas of a scene so that more detail can be seen from distant objects. This is not to be confused with digital zoom, which is another feature entirely.
Technically, the way that the lens achieves a level of magnification is by adjusting its focal length. On zoom lenses this can be done mechanically using the camera’s controls so images can be zoomed from a remote computer once the camera has been fixed in position. Mechanical zoom cameras will usually have an auto-focus feature to allow it to refocus once it has been moved. The other type of zoom lens is a varifocal lens and these in general have a fixed, manual zoom as they are normally found on static cameras. Once a varifocal lens has been set to the required zoom (and manually focussed) it cannot be adjusted without physically adjusting it at the camera.
Focal Length Vs Viewing Angle
Simply put, the viewing angle of the camera will become narrower when you zoom-in. This corresponds to the horizontal and vertical viewing angles. As you zoom-in (telephoto) you will start to narrow your field of view as you magnify one particular area of interest. It is important to check, especially with fixed varifocal lens cameras, that the lens will give you the required shot before you purchase.
Zoom Ratio
Most zoom lenses present their zoom capabilities by using a number such as 3x or 10x etc. This is known as the zoom ratio. It is determined by calculating the ratio between the cameras focal length at the telephoto (zoomed-in) position and the focal length at the cameras wide-angle (zoomed-out) position. IP cameras with varifocal lenses will typically have a zoom ratio of about 3x but some of the high-end PTZ dome cameras can have as much as 30x/35x zoom giving them the ability to capture distant subjects in extremely high detail.
Glossary Term: Smart Search Tool
Smart Search is a tool found in some of the higher-end video recording software applications such as Axis Camera Station and Milestone XProtect Professional and is used in the playback viewer application as a means of searching through previous archived recordings.
It is a tool used for a specific search by analysing motion within a pre-defined area of a chosen camera’s archive material. Any motion it detects within the specified area will be displayed to the user, one event at a time.
Applications
This tool is extremely useful for many applications such as reviewing who has been seen near sensitive equipment over a time period, for monitoring entrances/windows, use for health and safety purposes by monitoring staff in location to hazardous areas etc.
An example using Milestone XProtect Professional V6.0.
Smart Search – Sensitive areas can be selected for monitoring activity
Smart Search – We can use it to indentify when people are interfering with equipment
Glossary Term: IP Camera Image Quality Settings
When you receive your new IP camera it will be setup in its factory default configuration. Usually, these settings are adequate for most uses, but with a little tewaking of the quality settings in particular, you can really make the most of your purchase.
Your first point of call will be the compression format. Choose the most appropriate compression format for your application. The choice is usually between MJPEG, MPEG-4 and H.264.
Then, you’ll need to adjust the compression level to achieve the optimum balance for your needs between quality and framerate. If you want higher quality, the framerate will drop. Conversely, higher framerate will cause the quality to suffer, but with persistence and a detailed assessment of your application’s needs, you will strike the right balance.
Other camera settings which can affect the image quality include color level or saturation, brightness, contrast, focus and resolution.