Flir ThermovisionNexus IP Camera Configuration Guide

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Bits. Select the appropriate Hardware Protocol (RS-422 or RS-232), and set the Address parameter 
to the appropriate Bosch address. If necessary, click Save to save the changes.
Note
Typical Bosch systems operate over a biphase connection and the FLIR cameras do not accept 
biphase signals directly. It may be necessary to install a biphase converter in order to use the Bosch 
protocol.
3.5.1 AutoPan Function
In many cases with a pan/tilt camera, it may be desirable to use a simple back-and-forth (left-right) 
scan pattern, rather than a Scan List set of presets. To use the AutoPan feature (also known as Auto 
Scan), set the left and right pan limits and the pan speed, and then start the AutoPan mode. The 
functions for setting up the AutoPan limits and for controlling the AutoPan function are available using 
presets and are described in the following table..
Ta b l e 3-1: AutoPan functions
PRESET GOTO 90GoToPanLimitLeft
PRESET GOTO 91GoToPanLimitRight
PRESET GOTO 92SetPanLimitLeft
PRESET GOTO 93SetPanLimitRight
PRESET GOTO 94IncrementAutoPanSpeed
PRESET GOTO 95DecrementAutoPanSpeed
PRESET GOTO 96St o p Au t o Pa n
PRESET GOTO 99StartAutoPan 
						

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3.5.2 Serial Extensions
In addition to the set of standard commands that would be used on an ordinary CCTV camera, control 
commands that allow access to more advanced features, or features that are specific to a particular 
type of equipment, are available through extensions to the serial protocol. These extended 
commands are quite useful when controlling features that are specific to FLIR thermal cameras. 
In the Pelco D protocol, these additional functions can be accessed using the Aux On and Aux Off 
extensions and are available by default. Many keyboards that support Pelco protocols have Aux On 
and Aux Off buttons for selecting these functions. As an example, the following functions are typically 
supported by default 
3.5.3 Preset Map File
Most pan/tilt cameras support predetermined pan/tilt locations that are stored as “presets’. A 
collection of presets is known as a Scan List (also referred to as a Pattern or Tour), A Scan List is used 
to direct the camera to a sequence of locations that are typically viewed, or are considered important 
or high-priority. Using the FSM software, multiple scan lists for a camera can be set up and scheduled 
according to time of day and other factors. 
However, presets can also be used to access other functions. The camera is capable of storing up to 
128 Presets, but generally not that many are needed, so some presets can be reassigned to access 
the other functions. For keyboards that do not have the Aux buttons, camera presets can be used to 
accomplish the extended functions described above. For example, if preset 41 is not being used for 
an actual preset location, it can be mapped to one of the above functions, such as 
IRPolarityBlackHot. To allow mapping of the serial functions, set the “Use Preset Map File” parameter 
to yes. 
Ta b l e 3-2: Aux Functions
AuX ON 1IRPolarityBlackHot
AUX OFF 1IRPolarityWhiteHot
AUX ON 2DLTVChangeActiveSource
AUX OFF 2IRChangeActiveSource
AUX ON 3TogglePlateauValue
AUX OFF 3IRToggleAGCType
AUX ON 4To g g l e A u t o f o c u s
AUX OFF 4IRStartNUCCalibration
AUX OFF 5IRToggleLUTPalette
AUX ON 6IRToggleDDEGain
AUX OFF 6IRToggleAGCROI
AUX ON 7IRToggleFOV
AUX OFF 7IRToggleAGCMaxGain
AUX ON 8SwitchCameraOn
AUX OFF 8SwitchCameraOff
AUX ON 9InitializePT
AUX OFF 9GoToParkPosition 
						

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On the Files page under PelcoD Map, use the Download link to open the text file that is used for 
mapping the functions to Aux commands and Presets. If it is necessary to change the mapped 
functions, edit the file and upload the new map file to the camera using the Upload button. Once a file 
has been edited and tested, it can also be uploaded to other cameras so that each camera operates 
the same way.
3.6 Remote/VMS (ONVIF Interface)
Several types of third-party Video Management System (VMS) systems are supported by FLIR IP 
cameras. Because these systems tend to evolve and change over time, contact your local FLIR 
representative or FLIR Technical Support if you have any difficulties or questions about using this 
feature.
Select the Remote/VMS link on the 
left side of the page to configure the 
camera to operate with a VMS 
Interface. By default, the camera is 
configured with a Remote/VMS 
interface with ONVIF 2.0 
parameters. 
The ONVIF (Open Network Video 
Interface Forum) is an open 
industry forum for the development 
of a global standard for the interface 
of network video products. An 
ONVIF-compliant VMS can be 
used to control a FLIR camera, display video, and, for pan/tilt cameras, access up to 50 pan/tilt 
presets.
If the camera is to be used with a third-party VMS that is compliant with ONVIF, the parameters can 
be adjusted (if needed) to work with the VMS. Refer to the VMS documentation to determine what 
parameter values are needed. 
After the interface is configured, scroll down and click on the Save button to save the configuration, 
and then restart the server. 
						

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3.7 On Screen Display (OSD) 
With some cameras, it is possible to 
display text information (such as the 
name of the camera or the date/
time) as an overlay on the video 
image. The Sensor > Devices > 
OSD page is used to turn on and 
configure the OSD options. The 
OSD configuration page allows 
certain camera-related information 
to be displayed in the analog video 
and in the IP video streams. It is 
possible to display the following 
parameters as an overlay on the 
video channels: Date, Time, Label, 
Preset
1. 
The Label can display the 
Hostname (as configured on the LAN Settings page) or a custom text string (using the Text Mode 
parameter). 
The appearance of each text string can be controlled with the following parameters:
• State (on or off)
• Transparency (on indicates only the letters are displayed, off indicates the letters are displayed 
inside an opaque block)
• Color (changes the color of the letters)
• Style Mode (can be Preset, which indicates the information is displayed in certain preset sizes 
and locations, or Manual, which requires additional size and location settings)
• Size (text size - small, medium or large) 
• Location (preset location on the screen where the information will appear)
The Initial System Info parameters control how the initial system information is displayed, such as the 
IP address. The OSD text will appear on the IP video stream as well as the analog video output.
1. The Preset label is generally used with FLIR pan/tilt cameras.  
						

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3.8 Video Stream Parameters
From the Maintenance menu, it is 
possible to modify the video stream 
parameters by selecting the Sensor > 
Modules > Video page. Various 
parameters that affect both image 
quality and transmission bandwidth 
are available. 
The number of video streams that are 
available will depend on the camera 
model in use. Generally there will be 
two or more streams for each video 
source (thermal or daylight camera), 
and typically the second of the two 
video streams is used by the Live 
Video web page. 
For specific configuration information 
about a particular camera model, refer 
to the manual provided with the 
camera.
On the PT-Series and D-Series cameras, the first two video streams (Video 0 and Video 1) 
correspond to the thermal camera, and the other streams (Video 2 and Video 3) correspond to the 
daylight camera (or the second thermal camera, when available).‘
On the FC-Series camera, three video streams are enabled for the thermal (IR) camera: Video 0, 
Video 1, and Video 3. The Video 3 stream is used by the web browser Live Video display. The Video 
0 and Video 1 streams are available for viewing from a client program such as FSM, a stand-alone 
video player, or a third-party VMS.
To modify parameters that affect a particular IP Video stream from the camera, select the appropriate 
link at the top (for example, Video 0). For a video stream that is used by the Live Video web page, it is 
only possible to change the frame rate and image size. 
The default settings for each video stream generally provide high-quality, full frame-rate video. In 
general, for most installations it will not be necessary to modify the default parameters. However in 
some cases, such as when a video stream is sent over a wireless network, it may be useful to “tune” 
the video stream to try to reduce the bandwidth requirements. In particular, the RTP Settings, 
Network Options and the Settings parameters are described below.
There are some challenges with streaming video over an IP network, when compared to other 
traditional IP applications which are less time-critical, such as email and web browsing. In particular, 
there are requirements which must be fulfilled to ensure satisfactory video quality in professional 
security environments. There are many parameters and factors related to network infrastructure, 
protocols, codecs and so on that can affect the quality and bit rate of a video stream when it is 
established between the camera and a client. 
On some cameras it may be possible to add an additional video stream by selecting the “+” link; 
however this is not recommended. Turning on additional video stream could place a higher load on 
the microprocessor and could lead to poor performance overall if not done properly. If you have 
problems or questions, contact your local FLIR representative or FLIR Technical Support. 
						

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The video streaming to a client program is done using a protocol generally referred to as Real-time 
Transport Protocol (RTP), but there are actually many protocols involved, including Real-Time 
Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) and Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). In the background, a 
“negotiation” takes place to establish a session between the client (such as FSM, or a third party VMS 
or video player) and the camera. The ports which form a session are negotiated using a protocol such 
as RTSP. A client typically requests a video stream using its preferred settings, and the camera can 
respond with its preferred settings. As a result, many of the details are established dynamically, which 
may run contrary to network security requirements.
3.8.1 RTP Settings
According to the specification, RTP is originated 
and received on even port numbers and the 
associated RTCP communication uses the next 
higher odd port number; the default RTP Port is 
554. The Stream Name is used when 
establishing a session from a client. The default 
value recognized by FSM for the first stream is 
ch0; the complete connection string is: 

rtsp://192.168.250.116/ch0. 
If necessary, this stream name can be used to 
open a video stream with a third-party video 
player.
By default the video stream uses the IP address 
of the camera. If the Use External IP parameter 
is set to “yes”, an alternate IP address can be entered.
Note, always use an even port number for the RTP Port parameter. 
3.8.2 Network Options (Unicast/Multicast)
By default, the video streams from the camera are sent using unicast packets rather than multicast. 
This means a given packet of IP Video will be sent separately to each client that has that video stream 
open (for example, FSM clients, nDVR, and so on). Therefore each additional client will cause the 
bandwidth consumption to go up and cause more overhead on the system in comparison to 
multicast. 
On the other hand, video packets sent using multicast are shared by streaming clients, so additional 
clients do not cause bandwidth consumption to go up as dramatically. If the video streams are used 
by more than one client/location, it may be wise to use multicast for more efficient bandwidth usage. 
						

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To set the camera to use Multicast, set the 
Enable Multicast parameter to “yes”, and 
set the Destination Network address and 
Destination Port to a unique combination 
that will not conflict with other IP Video 
devices on the network (the Destination 
Port must be an even number).
If more than one camera is providing 
multicast streams on the network, be sure 
to configure each stream with a unique 
multicast Destination Network IP address 
and Destination Port combination. The 
destination address on each camera will 
default to 232.0.1.1 when the Enable 
Multicast parameter is set to “yes”.
3.8.3 Settings
The parameters in the Settings section will have a significant impact on the quality and bandwidth 
requirements of the video stream. In general it is recommended that the default values are used 
initially, and then individual parameters can be modified and tested incrementally to determine if the 
bandwidth and quality requirements are met. The proper settings for a given installation will depend 
on many factors, including the network capabilities, the processing power in the camera as well as the 
client computer, the scene contrast, and personal preferences. When the installer is faced with 
limitations (such as restricted bandwidth due to a wireless network link), it will be necessary to 
compromise image size, frame rate, and/or image quality in order to achieve an acceptable video 
stream.
For each video stream, the Codec Type 
options are MPEG4, H.264 or MJPEG. MPEG4 
requires the least amount of processing, and 
H.264 requires the most. See 
section 3.8.4 
“MJPEG Codec Type” for additional notes on 
the MJPEG type, which is used by the Live 
Video stream.
The Bit Rate parameter is only used when the 
Rate Control parameter is set to CBR (Constant 
Bit Rate). With the CBR setting, the system 
attempts to keep the resulting bit rate of the 
video at or near the target bit rate.
By default, the Rate Control parameter is set to 
CVBR (constrained variable bitrate) for MPEG4 
and H.264 streams. The VBR (variable bit rate) 
option attempts to maintain a specified quality at 
a constant level by varying the bit rate 
depending on the scene content. The CBR 
(constant bit rate) option uses a best effort 
attempt to adhere to the Bit Rate setting; with high contrast/detail scenes, the quality may be 
compromised due to the bit rate limitation. With the CVBR option, the stream may exceed the bitrate 
momentarily while attempting the maintain the quality level.  
						

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The Quality parameter works in cooperation with the Rate Control. The quality setting (Low, Medium 
or High; default: High) provides a relative way to balance video quality, latency and bandwidth. When 
set to High, the video image will be high quality with high bandwidth and the possibility of some 
latency since the encoder may take longer to compress the video. 
The I-Frame Interval parameter controls the number of P-frames used between I-frames. I-frames 
are full frames of video and the P-frames contain the changes that occurred since the last I-frame. A 
smaller I-Frame Interval results in higher bandwidth (more full frames sent) and better video quality. A 
higher I-Frame Interval number means fewer I-frames are sent and therefore results in lower 
bandwidth and possibly lower quality.
The Image Size parameter controls the video resolution size and therefore can have a considerable 
impact on bandwidth usage. The larger the size of the frame, the better the resolution and the larger 
the network bandwidth required. The following table provides the corresponding resolution for each 
Image Size setting (note, some settings are not available on all cameras). 
Note, the image size for FC-Series cameras with 320 resolution is expanded to be equivalent to the 
image size for 640 cameras.
As a rule of thumb, if the video will be viewed on its own and on a reasonably large screen, a large 
image size setting may look better. On the other hand, if the video is shown as a tile in a video wall, a 
smaller image size may look as good and consume less bandwidth.
3.8.4 MJPEG Codec Type
The video stream for the Live Video web page uses the MJPEG codec type. With this codec type, it 
possible to change the qFactor, Image Size and Frame Rate parameters. The qFactor parameter 
provides a relative balance of quality and bandwidth, similar to a percentage (25=low quality/
bandwidth - 75=high quality/bandwidth). 
 
Ta b l e 3-3: Image Size Settings
Image SizeNTSCPA L
D1720x480720x576
4SIF/4CIF704x480704x576
VGA/Native640x480640x512
SIF/CIF352x240352x288
QVGA/QNative320x240320x256 
						

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3.9 Configuration File 
The Configuration File web page allows the Nexus Server configuration to be displayed or backed up 
locally (on the camera). The configuration file can also be downloaded to another computer for 
backup, or a new configuration file can be uploaded from a computer to the camera. 
Shown at the top of the screen is the configuration script file in a scrollable window. This can be useful 
if you ever need help from a support engineer.
In the Custom Backup & Recovery section, click the Restore link associated with the factory.defaults 
configuration to restore the camera to its factory settings. This file can not be modified or deleted, so it 
is always available.
Use the Backup button to make a backup of your final settings. This will make a backup copy of the 
configuration file and store it locally on the camera.
In the Upload & Download section, the Download Configuration File link can be used to save a copy 
to a PC for safe keeping. A pop-up window will ask for a file name and destination folder.
The Upload button is used to transfer a configuration file from a PC to the camera. 
						

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3.10 Restoring the Factory Settings
The camera comes configured from the factory with default settings for the IP address 
(192.168.250.116), the login password (fliradmin), and all of the other configuration parameters 
(stored in a file called server.ini). In some cases, it may be necessary to restore the settings of the 
camera to the original factory settings. If necessary, this can be accomplished by temporarily 
connecting a loopback device to the Ethernet port during initial power-up
2. Approximately 30 seconds 
after power is turned on, the loopback should be removed to allow the camera to finish booting up.
Note
At each power-up, the system transmits a packet and then checks to determine if that same packet 
has been received. Detection of the received packet indicates the camera has a custom loopback 
connector installed on its Ethernet interface. The detection of the loopback packet cues the camera to 
restore Factory Defaults (including the IP settings, user passwords, and configuration file), reverting to 
the same configuration and behavior as when the camera left the factory. 
The custom loopback connector is described below.
The RJ45 loopback termination ties pin 1 to pin 3, and pin 2 to pin 6. The other pins are not 
connected. This type of device is available commercially (the Smartronix Superlooper Ethernet 
2. For cameras with PoE capabilities, this method is not possible if the camera is connected 
to a PoE switch. It will work if the camera uses conventional power rather than PoE, or if 
the camera is connected to a PoE injector and the loopback is connected to the port that is 
unpowered. 
The camera will not finish booting up while the loopback device is connected to the camera. The 
camera will display analog video, but the Nexus Server will not start until the loopback is removed 
from the camera.
Pin #SignalTied to pin #
1Tr a n s m i t  +3
2Tr a n s m i t  -  6
3Receive +1
4UnusedN/A
5UnusedN/A
6Receive -2
7UnusedN/A
8UnusedN/A