ThermovisionFLIR FSeries Installation Manual

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1.6.2 Video Connection
The analog video connection on the back of the camera is a BNC connector. The camera also 
provides an RCA video connector that can be used to temporarily monitor the video output, without 
disconnecting the BNC connection.
The video cable used should be rated as RG59U or better to ensure a quality video signal. 
1.6.3 Ethernet Connection
The cable gland seal is designed for use with Shielded Category 6 Ethernet cable. 
1.6.4 Serial Connection
For serial communications, it is necessary to set the parameters such as the signalling standard (RS-
232 or RS-422), baud rate, number of stop bits, parity and so on. It is also necessary to select the 
communication protocol used (either Pelco D or Bosch) and the camera address. By default, the 
serial interface uses Pelco D, RS-422 standard, 9600 baud rate, 8/1/none, and address 1.
Note
Connect the wires of the serial cable as show in Figure 1-3 on page 1-6. When using the RS-422 
standard, ensure the transmit pair of the camera goes to the receive pair of the other device, and vice 
versa.
Note
Typical Bosch systems operate using 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.
The terminal blocks for serial connections will accept a maximum 20 AWG wire size.
IP Network
Figure 1-4: Connector and DIP Switch locationsAnalog Video
(monitoring output only)
Serial Connector
for local control
Not used
Camera Power
Heater Power
Analog Video 
						

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1.7 Serial Communications Overview
The installer must decide if the serial communications settings will be configured via hardware (DIP 
switch settings) or software. If the camera has an Ethernet connection, then generally it will be easier 
(and more convenient in the long run) to make configuration settings via software. Then configuration 
changes can be made over the network without physically accessing the camera. Also the settings 
can be saved to a file and backed up or restored as needed.
If the camera is configured via hardware, then configuration changes in the future may require 
accessing the camera on a tower or pole, dismounting it, and removing the back and so on. If the 
camera does not have an Ethernet connection, the DIP switches must be used to set the serial 
communication options.
Note
Note
1.7.1 Serial Communications Settings - Hardware DIP Switches
The camera has two blocks of DIP switches that are used to configure the serial communications 
settings. One block of switches has 8 switches and is used to set the serial address (or ID) of the 
camera. The other block of switches has 10 switches and is used to set baud rate, hardware protocol 
(RS-232 or RS-422), serial protocol (Pelco D or Bosch), and Software Override.
The figure below shows the locations of dip switches SW101 and SW102. 
The serial communications parameters for the F-Series camera are set or modified either via 
hardware DIP switch settings or via software, through a web browser interface. A single DIP switch 
(SW102-9), Software Override determines whether the configuration comes from the hardware DIP 
switches or the software settings.
The DIP switches are only used to control serial communications parameters. Other settings, related 
to IP camera functions and so on, must be modified via software (using a web browser). 
Figure 1-5: F-Series Camera ConfigurationSW101
SW102
Off
On
Switch
Position
Software
Override
Switch 
						

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If the Software Override DIP switch is set to the software position (as it is by default), all of the other 
DIP switches will be ignored, and configuration changes must be made through software. If the switch 
is set to the hardware position, all configuration settings related to serial communications are made 
with the DIP switches, and changes that are made via software (with a web browser) will be ignored.
The following image shows the factory default settings, with address 1, 9600 baud, Pelco D, RS-422, 
Software Override set to software:
Serial Address:  Use the block of switches on the left (SW101) to set the serial address of the 
camera. The available range of values is from decimal 1 to 255. The dip switches are interpreted as a 
binary number, with switch 1 representing the least significant bit (the switches are in the reverse 
order of the bits). For convenience, a table of serial addresses and their binary equivalents is included 
at the end of the manual. See “Serial Address: Decimal To Binary Conversion” on page 3-1.
Other Serial Communication Parameters:  The tables below defines the switch locations, bit 
numbering and on/off settings used in controlling the other serial communication parameters.
Table 1-1: Dip Switch Address/ID Settings—SW101
ID Sw 1
LSBSw 2Sw 3Sw 4Sw 5Sw 6Sw 7Sw 8
MSB
1 On Off Off Off Off Off Off Off
2 Off On Off Off Off Off Off Off
3 OnOnOffOffOffOffOffOff
………………………
255OnOnOnOnOnOnOnOn
Table 1-2: Dip Switch Settings—SW102
SettingsDescription
Baud Rate:  This is the baud rate of the system user serial 
port. The available values are 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 
kbaud.Bit 1 Bit 2
Off Off 2400
On Off 4800
Off On 9600
On On 19200 
						

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Camera Control Protocol:  This is the communication 
protocol selected for the system when operating over the 
serial port. The available protocols are Pelco-D and Bosch.
Bit 3 Bit 4
Off Off Pelco-D
On Off NA
Off On Bosch
On On NA
Serial Communication Standard:  This determines the 
electrical interface selected for the user serial port. The 
available settings are RS422 and RS232.Bit 5 Bit 6
Off Off NA
On Off RS422
Off On RS232
On On NA
Not Used
Bit 7 Bit 8
XX
XX
XX
XX
Software Override DIP Switch:  This setting determines 
whether the system will use software settings for 
configuration or if the dip switch settings will override the 
software settings. Default is Off.Bit 9
Off Software select
On Hardware select
Not UsedBit 10
X
Ta b l e 1 - 2 :  D i p  S w i t c h  S e t t i n g s — S W 1 0 2
SettingsDescription 
						

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1.8 F-Series Camera Specifications
Note
Power consumption is independent of the input voltage when the heater is off. The power drawn by 
the heaters increases with the input voltage to a maximum at 30 Volts.
13 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm, Resolution
THERMAL CAMERA SPECS
Detector TypeLong-Life, Uncooled  
VO× Microbolometer
Pixel Pitch25 μm
Focal Length (lens/model dependent)9 mm, 13 mm, 19 mm 9 mm, 13 mm, 19 mm, 
35 mm, 65 mm, 100 mm
Field Of View (lens/model dependent)24° × 20° (F-124; 9 mm)
17° × 14° (F-117; 13 mm)
12° × 10° (F-112; 19 mm)  48° × 39° (F-348; 9 mm)
34° × 28° (F-334; 13 mm)
24° × 19° (F-324; 19 mm)
13° × 10° (F-313; 35 mm)
7° × 5° (F-307; 65 mm)
4.6° × 3.7° (F-304; 100 mm)45° × 37° (F-645; 13 mm)
Zoom (model dependent)2× E-zoom 2× & 4× E-zoom
Spectral Range
Focus RangeAthermalized, focus-free50 mm, 65 mm, 100 mm
12° × 10° (F-612; 50 mm)
2× & 4× E-zoom 25 μm 17 μm
25° × 20° (F-625; 25 mm)
18° × 14° (F-618; 35 mm)
10° ×  8°  (F-610; 65 mm)
6.2° × 5°  (F-606; 100 mm) 320 x 240 160 x 120 640 x 480
Continuous e-zoom 
on F-6xxE models
ENVIRONMENTAL
Dust, Water Protection RatingIP66
Operating Temperature
 Cold start-50°C to +70°C (-58°F to +158°F);
-40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F)
OUTPUTS
Composite Video NTSC or PALStandard
Video Over EthernetTwo independent channels of s treaming MPEG-4, H.264, or M-JPEG  
CONTROL
Point To Point (stand alone)Standard
EthernetStandard
SerialRS-232/-422; Pelco D, Bosch
Network EnabledStandard
GENERAL
Weight9.5 lb (configuration dependent)
Dimensions (L,W,H)18.1” × 5.5” × 6.3” (460 mm × 140 mm × 160 mm)
Power Requirements
Power Consumption
Inrush Current24 VAC (21 -30 VAC)
24 VDC (21-30 VDC)
24 VAC: 15 VA max no heater, 51 VA max w/heater 
24 VDC: 10 W max no heater, 46 W 
max w/heater   
 10 ms 
 
 4.17 ms
  
						

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2Basic Operation and Configuration
This chapter provides basic information on how to operate a new camera that has not yet been 
configured. A bench test can be used to verify camera operation before the camera is configured for the 
local network. This chapter also provides basic configuration information.
2.1 Nexus IP Camera
TheF-Series camera is an IP camera with Nexus capabilities, which means there is a microprocessor 
inside that runs the Nexus Server software. The Nexus Server provides a number of services, including 
camera control, video streaming, and geo-referencing capabilities. The Nexus communications protocol 
is an open, standards-based protocol that allows the server to communicate with a video management 
client, such as FLIR Sensors Manager or with a third-party ONVIF-compatible VMS client. 
There are two main components to the Nexus Server software. One is a web server known as the web 
tool or web interface that listens on the network for web browser requests, and is used for the initial (and 
perhaps ongoing or occasional) configuration changes to the server. The latest release of the web tool 
also allows the user to view video and to operate the camera. 
The other process, known as the Nexus Server, listens on the network for connections from clients such 
as FSM or other VMS clients. These clients are used to control the camera and stream video during day-
to-day operations of the camera.
2.1.1 Nexus Server Configuration
In general, it may be necessary for the installer to make a limited number of configuration changes for 
each server, such as setting the serial and/or IP communication parameters. For example, each camera 
comes from the factory with the same default IP address, so adding more than one camera to an IP 
network requires each camera to be configured with a different IP address, at a minimum. On the other 
hand, many of the configuration parameters will remain unchanged from the factory default settings. 
In order to control the camera, it is necessary to communicate with it either using serial communications 
(RS-232 or RS-422), or over Ethernet using Internet Protocol (IP). In either case, it is likely there are 
some communication parameters that are specific to each installation.
2.1.2 Serial and/or IP Communications
For a camera that is installed in a legacy-type CCTV network using analog video, the camera may 
commonly be controlled with serial communications. The serial cable from the camera will be connected 
to a keyboard/joystick device, or to a video switch, encoder, or DVR that has a serial communication 
port. In this case the installer may want to configure parameters such as the address of the camera, the 
baud rate, and so on. On Nexus IP cameras that support serial communications, these parameters can 
be set through software using a web browser.
For a camera installed in an IP network, the camera will commonly be controlled over Ethernet by a PC 
or laptop running FLIR Sensors Manager (FSM) or a third-party Video Management System (VMS) 
software. FSM is an integral part of the Nexus architecture—it is a client program that communicates 
with the Nexus Server on the camera. It allows control of the camera and video streaming and many 
other sophisticated functions. 
In many cases, a camera will be installed with both serial and Ethernet communications. As such, the 
camera can be controlled by means of a serial device or through software. When someone tries to 
control the camera with a serial device at the same time as someone does through the software IP 
interface, the serial device takes priority.  
						

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Not all parameter settings are described in this manual. If you need help during the configuration 
process, contact your local FLIR representative or, call 888-747-3547 inside the US. 
2.1.3 Serial Communications 
Cameras that have a serial interface support a limited set of pan/tilt/zoom and focus commands over 
RS-422 or RS-232 serial communications using common protocols (Pelco D or Bosch). By default, 
the camera is configured for RS-422 standard, 9600 Baud, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, using the Pelco 
D protocol, and address 1. 
2.1.4 Ethernet Communications
The camera has an Ethernet connection that allows streaming video over an IP network as well as 
configuration and control of the camera
1. It is possible to stream video and control the camera as it is 
from the factory, without making any configuration changes. However in most cases the camera will 
have at least some configuration changes to allow it to connect with other devices on the existing 
network. 
Once the camera is connected to a network and powered on, the user can choose to use either a web 
browser
2 or the FLIR Sensors Manager (FSM) software to view the video and control the camera. The 
FSM software is included with the camera and can be run under Microsoft Windows. Refer to the FSM 
User Manual for details about using the software; the manual is available from the Windows Start 
menu once the software is installed.
With the latest version of camera firmware, a web browser can be used to operate the camera (view 
video, pan/tilt/zoom, and so on) and it can be used to make configuration changes. This manual has  
basic configuration information; refer to the Nexus IP Camera Configuration Guide (FLIR Doc. 427-
0030-00-28) for more details about camera configuration.
If the camera will be controlled only through serial communications, it may still be necessary to 
connect it to an IP network, at least temporarily, to adjust any of the serial communications settings. 
By default, the serial interface uses the Pelco D protocol, RS-422 standard, 9600 baud rate (8/none/
1), and address set to 1. Refer to the Nexus IP Camera Configuration Guide for information on 
changing these parameters.
Getting the camera IP interface set up and working may require a level of familiarity with managing IP 
networks that is new to many security professionals. Prior to configuring the IP interface and 
streaming video parameters, make sure you know how to manage and configure the other equipment 
in the network (for example, any PC or device that will connect to the camera, any router or firewall 
that will carry the IP traffic, and so on). FLIR technical support can only provide limited support in this 
regard.
2.2 Bench Test
Since the camera offers both analog video and IP video, there are several ways to bench test the 
camera. It is recommended the installer should test the camera using the same type of connections 
as the final installation. 
1. For this chapter, it is assumed the camera will be connected to a network via Ethernet. For installations that use 
only analog video output, it is not possible to make configuration changes unless an Ethernet connection is also 
used.
2. The web interface is supported on Microsoft Internet Explorer version 9, as well as the latest versions of Google 
Chrome and Mozilla Firefox®. 
						

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Even if using analog video and serial communications in the final installation, it is a good idea to test 
the IP communications when performing the bench test. If any image adjustments are necessary, they 
can be done using a web browser over the IP connection, and saved as power-on default settings. 
With the camera powered up, analog video can be tested at the BNC connectors. Connect the 
camera video output to a video monitor and confirm the live video is displayed on the monitor.
If using serial communications, connect the serial cable from the camera to a serial device such as a 
keyboard, and confirm that the camera is responding to serial commands. Before using serial 
communications, it may be necessary to configure the serial device interface to operate with the 
camera. When the camera is turned on, the video temporarily displays system information including 
the serial number, IP address, Pelco address, and the Baud rate. For example:
S/N: 1234567
IP Addr: 192.168.250.116
PelcoD (Addr:1): 9600 SW
2.2.1 Test and Configuration Steps
Assuming the existing network uses IP addresses that are unique and different than the default 
address on the camera, configuring the camera for IP communications generally involves the 
following steps:
Step 1 Connect the Ethernet port to an IP network that is isolated from the existing camera network 
(for example, a standalone switch)
Step 2 Connect a PC or laptop to the same network 
Step 3 Temporarily set the IP address of the PC or laptop to be compatible with the factory network 
address of the camera (for example, 192.168.250.1)
If you are unsure how to set the IP address on the PC or laptop, refer to section 2.11 
“Setting the IP address on a Windows PC” on page 2-24.
Step 4 Perform a bench test of the camera using FSM, prior to making any parameter changes 
(this step is optional but recommended)
Step 5 Using a web browser, configure the camera settings, such as IP address, camera date/
time, and other parameters, so the camera is compatible with the existing network 
equipment
Step 6 Save the configuration changes and restart the server
Step 7 Connect the camera to the existing network and test the camera
Step 8 Make a backup of the new configuration
2.3 Web Browser Interface
Use a web browser to connect to the camera as described below, and confirm it is streaming video. 
Once the bench test is complete, use the web browser to make configuration changes as needed (for 
example, set the IP address to an address that is compatible with the existing network). It is also a 
good idea to run the FSM software and confirm it is working with the camera as expected.
It is possible to log into the camera using one of three User Names: user, expert, and admin (the 
corresponding passwords by default are user, expert, and fliradmin respectively). The user login 
can be used to do the initial bench test of the camera. The admin login must be used to make 
configuration changes such as setting the IP address. The login passwords can (and should) be 
changed by the system administrator to prevent unauthorized access. For information on how to 
change the passwords, refer to section 2.6 “Maintenance Menu” on page 2-11. 
						

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2.3.1 Log into the Camera Web Page
Step 1 Open a web browser and enter: http:\\
.168.250.116. The login screen with a picture of 
the camera will appear. 
Step 2 Enter user for the User Name and user for the Password, and click Login.
The Live Video page will be displayed, with a live image from the camera on the left part of the 
screen. Next to the FLIR logo along the top of the screen are some menu choices, including Live 
Video (the red text indicates it is selected), Help and Log Off. 
On the right side are some control buttons, and possibly an image of a joystick (if the camera has pan/
tilt capability). 
Figure 2-2: Camera Web Page Login Screen