Panasonic Network Camera BL-C111A, BL-C131A Installation Guide

							Installation Guide
Network Camera
Model No.BL-C111A(Wired Type)
BL-C131A(Wireless/Wired Type)
This manual is written for both the BL-C111A (Wired Type) and BL-C131A (Wireless/Wired Type). Available features and operations vary slightly 
depending on the model. You can confirm the model no. of your camera by checking the model no. printed on the front of the camera.
Please read the included Important Information before proceeding.
Complete Operating Instructions and all other documentation can be found on the included CD-ROM.
• This document (Installation Guide) explains how to physically connect the camera to the power supply and network, as well how to mount or place the 
camera for regular use.
•The Setup Guide describes how to set up the camera so that it can be accessed using a PC.
• Refer to the Operating Instructions on the CD-ROM for details regarding the cameras features.
• Refer to the Troubleshooting Guide on the CD-ROM if you have any problems configuring or using the camera.
Abbreviations
• UPnP is the abbreviation for “Universal Plug and Play”.
• The Network Camera is referred to as “the camera” in this document.
• The Setup CD-ROM is referred to as “the CD-ROM” in this document.
Installation Procedure Overview
The following is an overview of the steps required to install and setup the camera. All steps are explained in this document unless otherwise noted.
Preparation
1.Confirm the following items are included in the camera’s packaging.
• Additional pieces can be ordered by calling 1-800-332-5368.
2.You will need the following additional items to install and configure the camera.
– a PC (see the system requirements in the Important Information document)
– a LAN cable (CAT-5 straight cable)
– a router Preparation
Confirm that you have all the 
items required for installation.
Camera Diagram
Make sure you know the names 
of the camera’s physical 
features.
Connections
Connecting the camera to your 
network and to the power outlet.
Setup
Setting up the camera 
(described in the included Setup 
Guide). This involves configuring 
the camera so that it can be 
accessed from a PC.
Mounting
Mounting or placing the camera.
Main Unit (1 pc.)
The appearance of your camera 
depends on which model you 
have purchased.Screw A (2 pcs.)
Order No. PQHE5004X
Used for wall mounting the 
camera.Washer S (2 pcs.)
Order No. XWG35FJ
Used when mounting the camera.
AC Adaptor (1 pc.)
Cord Length: About 3 m (9 feet 
10 inches)
Order No. PQLV206YScrew B (1 pc.)
Order No. XTB4+20AFJ
Used for securing the safety wire 
to the wall.Washer L (1 pc.)
Order No. XWG4F16VW
Used when securing the safety 
wire to the wall.
Safety Wire (1 pc.)
Order No. PQME10080Z
Used to secure the camera when 
wall mounting it.Safety Wire Screw (1 pc.)
Order No. PQHD10110Z
Used for securing the safety wire 
to the camera.Important Information (1 pc.)
Installation Guide
(this document) (1 pc.)
Setup Guide (1 pc.)
Setup CD-ROM (1 pc.)
Order No. PQQX15699YCD
Contains the Setup Program needed to configure the camera, as well as the camera’s documentation.*
*See the included Important Information for a description of each document.
BL-C111A BL-C131A
© 2006 Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
PQQX15707ZB   KK1106MH1116
Please read this document before using the product, and save this document for future 
reference. Panasonic Network Camera Website: http://www.panasonic.com/netcam
for customers in the USA and Puerto Rico
Indoor Use Only
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							2
Camera Diagrams
B L - C 111 A
*1 See 1.1 Understanding the Camera Indicator in the Troubleshooting Guide on the CD-ROM for indicator meaning.
*2 See “PRIVACY Button” on page 4 for information about the PRIVACY button.
BL-C131A
*1 See 1.1 Understanding the Camera Indicator in the Troubleshooting Guide on the CD-ROM for indicator meaning.
*2 See “PRIVACY Button” on page 4 for information about the PRIVACY button.
Connections
Connect the camera to your router and to the power outlet as described below.
• Before proceeding, confirm that your PC is connected to your router and can access the Internet. Also confirm that your router’s UPnP™ feature is 
enabled. (Most routers have UPnP™ turned off by default.) Refer to the operating instructions included with your router or to the Panasonic Network 
Camera website (http://panasonic.co.jp/pcc/products/en/netwkcam/) for more information.
• The camera illustrations in this document depict the BL-C131A.
Front View Bottom View Rear View
A
B
C
D
ELens housing
(pan/tilt mechanism)
Lens
Indicator
*1/
PRIVACY button*2
Built-in sensor 
(pyroelectric infrared 
sensor)
MicrophoneF
G
H
I
J
KTripod mounting hole
FACTORY DEFAULT 
RESET button
LAN port
DC IN jack
MAC address label
Serial number labelL
MTripod mounting hole
Wall mounting holes
Front View Bottom View Rear View
A
B
C
D
E
FAntenna
Lens housing
(pan/tilt mechanism)
Lens
Indicator
*1/
PRIVACY button*2
Built-in sensor 
(pyroelectric infrared 
sensor)
MicrophoneG
H
I
J
K
L
MTripod mounting hole
FACTORY DEFAULT 
RESET button
WIRELESS/WIRED 
switch
LAN port
DC IN jack
MAC address label
Serial number labelN
OTripod mounting hole
Wall mounting holes
1BL-C131A only: Confirm that the 
WIRELESS/WIRED switch on the bottom of 
the camera is set to WIRED.
2Connect the LAN cable to the camera and 
the router.
3Connect the AC adaptor cord to the DC In 
jack.
4Plug the AC adaptor into the power outlet.
• The lens will pan and tilt when the camera 
is turned on.
• Confirm that the indicator lights green 
after about 1 minute. If the indicator does 
not light green, see 1.2 Camera Indicator 
Issues in the Troubleshooting Guide on 
the CD-ROM.
• When you operate the camera, the power 
outlet should be near the camera and 
easily accessible.
• Use only specified Panasonic AC adaptor 
(Order No. PQLV206Y).
• When the lens pans or tilts, a sound can 
be heard from the camera. This is normal.
• The camera may become warm. This is 
normal.
After the camera’s indicator turns green, you may set up the camera. Continue by following the procedure described 
in the included Setup Guide.
• If the indicator does not turn green, see 1.2 Camera Indicator Issues in the Troubleshooting Guide on the included CD-ROM.
A
B
C
D
EF
G
H
I
J
K
ML
A
B
C
D
E
FG
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
Router
Internet Modem
PC
AC adaptor LAN cable
(Cat-5 straight cable) Bottom of BL-C131A WIRELESS/WIRED switch
To the 
power 
outlet
Green
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Choosing a Location to Mount the Camera
Notes About the Camera’s Built-in Sensor
Please read the following information about the camera’s built-in 
pyroelectric infrared sensor before deciding where to mount the camera.
Refer to the Panasonic Network Camera website at
http://panasonic.co.jp/pcc/products/en/netwkcam/ for further 
information about the built-in sensor.
The camera’s built-in sensor is a pyroelectric infrared sensor, which means 
it uses infrared rays to detect temperature differences within its range that 
are emitted naturally by people, animals, etc. The sensor can be used to 
trigger the camera to buffer (i.e., temporarily store) camera images in its 
memory. You can view these images later as desired. The sensor can also 
be used to trigger the camera to transfer images to someone or 
somewhere, by FTP, E-mail, or HTTP.
Because the detection range is easily affected by the temperature of the 
surrounding environment or how fast the objects in front of the camera are 
moving, you should take the following into consideration when deciding 
where to mount the camera.
1.The sensor’s active detection range is about 5 m (16 feet 5 inches) in 
front of the camera, about 30° horizontally, and about 85° vertically, 
when the camera is in a 20 °C (68 °F) environment.
2.If an object is within about 1 m (3 feet 3 inches) of the camera, the 
sensor may detect the object even if it is outside of the sensor’s range.
3.If there is no temperature difference between objects in range of the 
camera’s sensor and the surrounding environment, such as on a hot 
summer day, the sensor may not be able to detect properly.
4.If the sensor is obstructed, the sensor is not able to make detections. 
Remove any obstacles in front of the sensor.
5.As shown in the illustration below, the sensor can easily detect 
temperature differences of objects moving sideways within the 
detection range, but cannot easily detect objects moving slowly 
towards the sensor. Mount the camera where objects often pass the 
camera from the sides.
6.If the lens is aimed at an area outside of the sensor’s active detection 
range, the objects that trigger the sensor may not be visible, and 
therefore buffered or transferred images may not show the object that 
triggered the sensor.
In the example below, the person has triggered the sensor, but the 
person is not in the visible range of the camera.
We recommend that you limit the pan and tilt range of the camera to 
the active detection range of the sensor, or that you limit other user’s 
access to the pan and tilt features.7.The sensor may not perform properly in the following areas. Avoid 
these kinds of locations when mounting the camera.
8.When deciding where to mount the camera, you can verify the 
sensor’s ability to make detections that satisfy your needs by referring 
to the camera’s indicator. See 7.4 Changing the Indicator Display in 
the Operating Instructions on the CD-ROM, and configure the camera 
to light the indicator in orange when the sensor makes a detection. 
You can then adjust the sensitivity of the sensor (see 2.8 Adjusting 
Sensor Sensitivity in the Operating Instructions on the CD-ROM) or 
change the camera’s location if necessary. Note that if you increase 
the sensitivity of the sensor, the sensor may make inaccurate 
detections.
Note
• If you are not satisfied with the sensor’s ability to make detections, 
we recommend using the camera’s motion detection feature. This 
feature detects motion by detecting changes in the camera image. 
For more information, see Section 2 Using Triggers to Buffer and 
Transfer Images in the Operating Instructions on the CD-ROM.
• The built-in sensor and the motion detection feature are not 
designed to be used for security or surveillance. No responsibility 
will be taken by our company with respect to consequences 
resulting from the use of these features.
About 5 m
(16 feet 5 inches)
Top View Side ViewAbout 30°About 5 m
(16 feet 5 inches)
About 85°
Difficult to detect
(The detection range
may be reduced) Easy to detectEasy to detect
30°
49°
Where the camera or the object is 
exposed to direct sunlight
In a greasy or humid place such as 
a kitchen
Where there are sharp temperature 
changes such as near an air 
conditioner
Where there is an obstacle such as 
glass in front of the camera
Where the camera or the object is 
exposed to bright light
Near devices that emit radio waves, 
such as mobile phones
Read the following information after setting up the camera according to the procedure described in the Setup Guide.
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For BL-C131A: Notes About Wireless Communication
The radio wave range may decrease depending on the surrounding 
environment or existence of obstacles. If obstacles such as the following 
are placed between a camera and a router, radio waves will weaken. 
Therefore, even if the distance between the camera and router is short, the 
frame rate may decrease or images may not be displayed.
• A metallic door or shutter
• A wall with an insulation material that contains aluminum foil
• A wall made of tin
• A wall made of concrete, stone or brick
• Fireproof glass
• Several walls separated by open space
• A steel shelf
In the example below, wireless communication between the camera and 
the wireless router is impaired due to steel doors or reinforced concrete 
walls between the camera and the wireless router.
PRIVACY Button
Privacy mode allows you to protect your privacy by hiding the lens inside 
the camera, preventing camera images from being seen. You can turn 
privacy mode on by pressing the PRIVACY button on the front of the 
camera.
When privacy mode is turned on, the PRIVACY button (which also serves 
as the camera’s indicator) changes from green to red to let you know that 
privacy mode is activated. To turn privacy mode off and allow the camera 
to be accessed, simply press the PRIVACY button again. It should turn 
green within a few seconds.
If users are accessing the camera when privacy mode is turned on, the 
camera image area displayed in their web browsers turns gray. No camera 
pages can be accessed by users while privacy mode is turned on. Once 
privacy mode is turned off, users can press the refresh button in their web 
browsers to view images again.
The camera’s administrator can also turn privacy mode on and off using a 
PC or a mobile phone, and the PRIVACY button itself can be disabled so 
that privacy mode cannot be turned on or off by pressing the PRIVACY 
button.
For more information about privacy mode, see 7.5 Privacy Mode in the 
Operating Instructions on the CD-ROM.
Note
• If you plan on using the PRIVACY button to turn privacy mode on 
and off, make sure you mount the camera where you can reach the 
button.
Other Notes
• Camera images can be viewed in relatively dark areas, however, image 
quality decreases when viewing dark images. We recommend using 
supplemental lighting for best results.
• Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or halogen light may damage the 
camera’s image sensor. Mount the camera appropriately.
Wall Mounting the Camera
Caution
• Do not drive the screws into a soft material. Drive the screws into a 
secure area of the wall, such as a column, otherwise the camera 
may fall and be damaged.
• Make sure you attach the safety wire when mounting the camera, to 
prevent the camera from falling.
Note
• Use screws that are appropriate for the material of the wall. 
• The included screws are for use with wooden walls only.
• The camera is intended for indoor use only and should not be 
mounted outdoors.
• To ensure that camera images are displayed properly, do not mount 
the camera on an incline. Mount the camera so that it is 
perpendicular to the floor. Do not mount the camera upside down.
1.Using the template on the right as a guide, drive screws A (included) 
into the wall.
• Pass each screw A through washer S (included).
• When driving the screws into the wall, be careful to avoid touching 
any metalwork (metal/wire laths etc.), conduits, or electrical cables 
behind the wall.
2.Attach the safety wire to the tripod mounting hole on the bottom of the 
camera using the safety wire screw (included).
3.Mount the camera on the screws by inserting the screws into the 
camera’s wall mounting holes, then sliding the camera down until it is 
secure.
• Leave 1.8 mm (1/16 inch) of space between the screw heads and 
the washers, as shown below.
4.Secure the safety wire to the wall using screw B (included) and washer 
L (included).
• Leave some slack in the safety wire, as shown.
29 mm 
(1 1/8 inches) Screw A
Washer S
1.8 mm
(1/16 inch)At least 25 mm
(1 inch)
9 mm 
(3/8 inch)4.5 mm 
(3/16 inch)
4 mm 
(3/16 inch) At least 25 mm
(1 inch)
Screw B
Washer L
Safety wire
29 mm
(1 1/8 inches)
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