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Pix Controller Raptor User Manual

Wireless camera system
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PixController, Inc.
Raptor Wireless Camera System
User's Manual
Cellular and WiFi Radio Version
Internal Motion Sensor or Wireless Motion Sensor Version
Revision: 2.00a

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Summary of Contents for Pix Controller Raptor

  • Page 1 PixController, Inc. Raptor Wireless Camera System User’s Manual Cellular and WiFi Radio Version Internal Motion Sensor or Wireless Motion Sensor Version Revision: 2.00a...

  • Page 2: Warranty Registration

    In no event shall PixController, Inc. be liable for any incidental, special, indirect or consequential damages, whether resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use this product or from defects in this product. The Buyer is not permitted to tamper or remove any of the Raptor System electronics without voiding this warranty.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    11. Wireless RF Sensors 11.1 Using the Wireless KeyFob 11.2 Using the Wireless PIR Motion Sensor 12. GPS Option 12.1 Sending a SMS text message to retrieve Raptor GPS location 13. Updating the Raptor Firmware 14. Long Range WiFi 14.1 WiFi Repeaters...
  • Page 4 14.2 Using WiFi option without Internet Connectivity 15. Raptor Camera 16. Charging the 12V Battery...

  • Page 5: What's Included & System Updates

    • 12V SLA 3.4AH rechargeable battery • 12V SLA AC wall charger • 2GB USB Flash Drive • External Trigger Raptor systems will include (1) Wireless PIR sensor • CD with system manual and PC setup software Raptor Wireless System Updates Firmware updates and upgrades will be available free of charge from PixController, Inc.

  • Page 6: Raptor System Overview

    3. Raptor System Overview Raptor Wireless System with built in motion sensor – Exterior Raptor Wireless System with external wireless motion sensor – Exterior...
  • Page 7 Raptor Wireless System Internal Components...

  • Page 8: Introduction

    3.1 Introduction The Raptor Wireless System will capture a photo and email it to you via a cellular network (cellular radio option) or Wi-Fi access point (Wi-Fi radio option) upon motion-activation. Cellular system includes an unlocked Quad Band GSM/GPRS cellular radio that will work on cellular networks worldwide.

  • Page 9: Raptor System Specifications

    4. Raptor System Specifications Size: 9-1/4"L x 7-3/4"W x 4-1/2"D GSM/GPRS Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz • • Cellular Radio Weight: 8 Pounds • SMA Cellular Antenna Connector Waterproof Case • • VGA Color Day/Night IR Camera (640 X 480) Cast Steel Eye Bolts - Use MasterLock Python •...

  • Page 10: Raptor System Setup

    If you have purchased a cellular Raptor Wireless System you will need to purchase a SIM card from your local cellular provider with a valid data plan before you can begin using your system.
  • Page 11 You can adjust the sensitivity of the Day/Night sensor by adjusting the Day Sensitivity POT. The Day/Night sensor is located behind the PIR lens on the front of the Raptor Wireless Camera system. Typically you will not need to adjust this setting. However, if you need to make the PIR motion sensor more or less sensitive use a small Philips.
  • Page 12 This is where you will place the SIM card from your cellular provider. The card slides in/out from the right. Cellular Radio Status LED The LED will light up upon power up of the Raptor System letting you know if you have cellular connection. Menu Keys These 5 push button keys are used for changing or displaying Raptor System Settings shown on the LCD display.

  • Page 13: Installing The Pc Software

    5.3 Installing the PC Software On the Raptor System CD there is a folder labeled “RaptorConfig”. Simply drag this folder on to your PC or open the folder on the CD. Next, run the file RaptorConfig.exe by double clicking on the file name.

  • Page 14: Raptor Pc Software Setup

    To run the Raptor PC Software you must install the RaptorConfig.exe and Grahicgrid.dll in the same folder or on your desktop. Place the USB Flash drive from the Raptor System into your PC and double click on the “RaptorConfig” icon.

  • Page 15: Raptor Configuration Setup - General Tab

    Keep in mind that your battery life will be impacted greatly by the number of photos you send a day. If you are setting the Raptor System up in a high traffic area where you may be sending as many as 100 photos a day we highly recommend using a solar panel or external battery for keeping the system charged.
  • Page 16 Every 24 hours, the battery will be re-tested, and if the voltage has recovered to at least 0.25 volts above the threshold, such as if a solar charger is installed, the Raptor will return to normal operation, and will send an e-mail notification of this fact.

  • Page 17: Raptor Configuration Setup - E-Mail Tab

    The Status E-Emails box lets you setup the Raptor System to send you a system status email based on the settings. If activated the Raptor System will email you once a day, or once a week, depending on how you set it up and give you a battery status, cellular signal status, and internal temperature status.

  • Page 18: Raptor Configuration Setup - Camera Tab

    The Camera ID setting is used to set the filenames the Raptor Systems sends to you, In the case that you are using more than one Raptor System you can set the Unit ID to let you know which system the file is sent from...

  • Page 19: Raptor Configuration Setup - Schedule Tab

    6.5 Raptor Configuration Setup – Schedule Tab Active Schedule The Active Schedule box lets you setup the Raptor System for 24-hour activity, Day only activity, or Night only Activity. There is also a “Use Schedule Grid” setting which is explained below.
  • Page 20 Simply drag you mouse across the blocks to fill them in. The green high lighted colors will let you set times the Raptor System will be inactive. You can also set the “Set” or “Clear” buttons off to the right to set a whole day or clear a whole day.

  • Page 21: Raptor Configuration Setup - Smpt/Ftp Tab

    6.6 Raptor Configuration Setup – SMTP/FTP Tab The SMTP/FTP tab is where you will be setting up the cellular provider information for sending data over the cellular provider’s network. You will need to contact your cellular provider to get the APN and SMTP settings for their network.
  • Page 22 Use Authentication (Camera Tab, SMTP Setup Group) – Check this box if your SMTP provider requires authentication. If you check this box, you must fill in the Username and Password text-entry fields with your correct log-in information Username (Camera Tab, SMTP Setup Group) – This is the Username associated with the SMTP account.

  • Page 23: Raptor Configuration Setup - Cellular Tab

    6.7 Raptor Configuration Setup – Cellular Tab The Cellular tab will let you setup your APN or Internet Access Point for your GSM/GPRS Cellular provider. APN SETUP (Internet Access Point) The various GSM providers all use APNs but implement them differently. For example, some by default will not allow mobile terminated connections while others use RADIUS servers and require user name/password authentication in addition to SIM authentication.

  • Page 24: Raptor Configuration Setup - Wi-Fi Tab

    6.8 Raptor Configuration Setup – Wi-Fi Tab Wifi Network Setup (Wifi Tab) – New control group for Wifi server setup. This is where the network settings are entered. Future versions will permit dynamic detection of and connection to unsecured Wifi networks, but as of this release the network you want to connect to must be specified explicitly here.
  • Page 25 Therefore, you will need to specify the address of one or two special-purpose time servers that the Raptor can access to synchronize time. Since the time server may be in a different time zone, you will also need to enter your time-zone and daylight-savings information.
  • Page 26 Remote cameras do COTA updates on a user-selectable cycle of every 10 minutes, hourly, or daily. This is how often the Raptor will “wake up” and check the FTP server for update requests. Four actions can be requested remotely – Configuration Update, Error Log Retrieval, GPS Fix Retrieval, and Remotely Triggered Image Acquisition/Transmission.
  • Page 27 IMEI number (cellular) or MAC address (WiFi) factory- programmed into the wireless module installed in the Raptor system. On initial normal start-up, the Raptor camera will automatically register its availability for COTA operations by creating the directory on the remote COTA server. On this and subsequent start-ups, it will transfer its current configuration settings to the COTA server.
  • Page 28 Daily COTA cycle on battery life will be negligible, but an Hourly COTA cycle will reduce the stand-by time of the Raptor to as little as 30 days on the standard SLA battery. A 10-Minute COTA cycle will reduce battery life to as little as five days.
  • Page 29 The Raptor units will do this automatically the first time they are powered up and switch to Auto Mode in normal operational, with correct COTA server information.
  • Page 30 settings. Now you can modify the settings as desired before transmitting them back to the camera. Camera Update Cycle The four radio-buttons at the top-left of the COTA tab are used to select the “wake-up” interval that the camera will use for checking for COTA requests. See the notes (above) about the implications of various settings.
  • Page 31 Transmit Commands To Camera Once the desired check-boxes have been selected, click this button to transmit the commands to the COTA FTP server. The commands will then be executed on the next camera COTA cycle. If you transmitted some commands and wish to change them, simply check the commands you want and un-check those you don’t want, and click this button again to update the list of commands requested.

  • Page 32: Cota Quick Start Setup

    This will be needed to configure your Raptor system remotely. The Raptor system is now ready to be placed in the field for remote access. We suggest testing the remote access function before placing the Raptor camera in the field.
  • Page 33 After the login is complete select the remote camera from the “Remote Camera Units” drop down menu at the top of the COTA tab. The name will be a combination of the IMEI number for Raptor Cellular units or MAC number for Raptor WiFi units, and the Raptor Camera Description tag. If you have multiple Raptor cameras in the field this will let you select the cameras configured for COTA.

  • Page 34: Setting Up Ftp Space For Cota

    If you do not have any FTP hosting space we suggest using an on-line FTP hosting service called “Transferum”. They will charge you a one time fee of $15 which will let you run an unlimited number of Raptor cameras from one account. Please see: http://www.transferum.com/Main/component/content/article/69...
  • Page 35 After you send the email requesting your username and account information you must wait for Transferum to respond. This may take up to ½ day. Once you receive the email use the username and password they send you and enter them into the “COTA SERVER SETUP” box. The Address will be ftp.transferum.com.

  • Page 36: Read/Save Raptor Configuration Files

    6.10 Read/Save Raptor Configuration Files Flash Drive group Read – This will allow you to read a config file from a flash drive. You will be prompted, via a drop-down menu, to select which drive you would like to use. If there is no removable drive present on your system, this button will be disabled.
  • Page 37 Error Log: A file is stored (ERRORLOG.TXT) on the flash drive containing error information. Each error appends a new line onto the log file, consisting of a time stamp and text describing the error. Note that this file is only appended during normal operation. Errors encountered during diagnostic operation are displayed on the LCD and are not stored in the error log.

  • Page 38: Choosing A Cellular Provider

    7.2 Activating your AT&T Cellular Account with the Included SIM Card IMPORTANT: Before you begin have a credit card, your Raptor system, and your SIM card handy. If you had PixController set up your system for you, you can skip to section 8.
  • Page 39 Enter your service zip code. To determine your IMEI number: Turn your Raptor power switch ON (with no SIM card in place) Immediately hit the center orange button in your system to take it into diagnostic mode. Note: Screen should say “Diagnostic Mode” at this point.
  • Page 40 Once you log in again, you will be taken to a screen that asks you for your new passcode. This is a new code that will be sent to your Raptor System to verify that you are indeed the owner of the “phone” that you registered.

  • Page 41: Refilling Your At&T Cellular Account

    Remove the Jump-drive from your Raptor system and insert it into your computer. Select the EMAIL tab. Insert test email address/es. Hit SAVE and OK. Remove drive. Insert Jump-drive back into your Raptor system. Power Raptor up as before, hitting center button immediately and waiting through self-test.
  • Page 42 Select the “Data” option under “Please select the item you wish to purchase” heading in the middle of the screen. There are several data plans you can select: 10 Mb data ($5.00) – will let you transmit about 215 Raptor Photos •...

  • Page 43: Using A World Gsm/Gprs Sim Card And Other Cellular Networks

    7.4 Using a World GSM/GPRS SIM Card and other Cellular Networks World GSM Cellular Network World GSM SIM is a prepaid SIM card mobile service that allows you to use your Raptor Wireless Camera why where in the world. Typically a World SIM card will charge more for data charges than a SIM card locked to a single cellular provider, but the World SIM gives you the freedom to place your Raptor Wireless Camera anywhere in the world there is cellular service.

  • Page 44: Powering The System On

    When turning power on to your Raptor System LCD screen will display the current firmware version number then begin a self test of all of the modules present in your Raptor System. These modules will be shown on the LDC screen they are tested.

  • Page 45: Diagnostics Mode

    This is a powerful option to test the Raptor Wireless System. Photos can be manually taken and sent via SMTP (Cellular or WiFi) or FTP (Cellular or WiFi). Diagnostic mode will also allow you to edit most of the Raptor settings in the field without using a PC. Usage: Press the “Right”...
  • Page 46 Walk-Test mode will let you test the sensor detection from either the built in sensor or external wireless sensor. When the Raptor system is triggered in this mode it will display the trigger event and from which type of sensor triggered the system.
  • Page 47 G. MANUAL TEXT EMAIL Manual test email mode will send a text email sending all of the Raptor information such as time/date, battery level, modem signal level to the email addresses setup in the configuration settings. This will let you test your wireless network before deployment of the Raptor unit.
  • Page 48 Configuration values for Wifi network name, Wifi security protocol, Wifi password/key, Wifi time servers, and Wifi time specs. Note that these values will only be visible when the Raptor hardware is configured for Wifi operation. The APN specs for Cellular internet connection is now only visible when the Raptor hardware is configured for Cellular operation.
  • Page 49 MAC: This is the Media Access Control address, which is unique to each Wifi modem. • IP Addr: This is the current IP address assigned to the Raptor by the Wifi access point. • Modem Menu (Diagnostic Mode): On Raptor units equipped with cellular capability, a new item will appear in the Modem menu.
  • Page 50 The Sub-Menu gives 3 or 4 selections: Selection Action(s) QUIT MESSAGE READER Return to the Modem menu DELETE MESSAGE Delete the current message (if applicable) DELETE ALL Delete all text messages BACK TO MESSAGE Return to displaying the current message without performing any other actions.

  • Page 51: Raptor System Emails

    10. Raptor System Emails When the Raptor Wireless System is setup to send emails in SMTP format this will include a photo attached in JEPG format and the email text body. The email will include a descriptive text body which includes important information about the Raptor Wireless system including battery level, radio signal strength, internal temperature, and GPS position if the GPS receiver option is installed in your unit.

  • Page 52: Status Message Example

    79.60368&style=h&lvl=18&sp=Point.40.40324_-79.60368_Raptor%20Camera">Click for Bing Map</a><br></body></html> Filename on flash drive: \PIX\IMAGES\00009\03314433.jpg Attachment Filename: Cam00_20100730_100826.jpg <<<This e-mail auto-generated by the PixController Raptor V1.13d>>> 10.2 Status Message Example Raptor System Status Text Message Example Subject: Camera 1 Status Date: 29 Jul 2010 08:01:18 -0700...

  • Page 53: Sending Photos To Your Cellular Phone

    You can send photos to your cellular phone as well as your PC. Sending photos to your cellular phone is a very powerful feature of the Raptor Wireless System. If you cellular contract is setup to receive photos you will need to put the address of your cellular phone into the Raptor Wireless Camera using the following format show below.

  • Page 54: Wireless Rf Sensors

    11.2 Using the Wireless PIR Motion Sensor The Wireless motion sensor is a device which will sense motion and send a wireless signal back to your Raptor system (wireless motion sensor version). The sensor can send a signal over about 50 to 60 feet.
  • Page 55 To change the Address that the Wireless PIR transmits: First, remote the 4 screws from the back of the case and take off the cover as shown. Press and hold the Address button (under the battery compartment lid) the red LED flashes first and then blinks the current setting (once for A, twice for B, etc.).

  • Page 56: Gps Option

    Raptor Wireless System with the GPS receiver contact PixController, Inc. at sales@pixcontroller.com. Be sure to place your Raptor Wireless System with GPS receiver in an area that has good view of the sky. Obstructions such as inside buildings, metal enclosures, and heavy tree canopy can degrade or block the GPS signal.

  • Page 57: Updating The Raptor Firmware

    Once the new fix is acquired, the Raptor will send a second text message with the newly acquired coordinates. If the unit is in motion, the speed and direction will also be included in the text message. If a new fix cannot be acquired within approximately 10 minutes (e.g.
  • Page 58 Run the ds30 Loader to install the Firmware update on your Raptor System ds30 Loader Settings: Be sure the follow setting are set correctly before uploading the Raptor Firmware update Hex File: (folder the XXXXXX.HEX file is located, example C:\Raptor200c.hex)

  • Page 59: Long Range Wifi

    SMA antenna mount for connecting other antennas. Using a High Gain Yagi such as the 16dBi ANT001 Raptor Wi-Fi antenna you will need point the antenna in the direction of the Wi-Fi Access Point. It's best to place the Wi-Fi Access Point as high as you can, and also upgrade the Access Point to higher gain antennas such as antenna ANT003, 9dBi OMNI antenna.
  • Page 60 Transmission distances from 1/2 mile to 1 mile can be obtained by adding the optional 16dBi high gain Yagi antenna to your Raptor Wi-Fi system, and the 15dBi OMNI Mast Antenna, part number ANT002, to your Wi-Fi Access Point. Both antennas can be purchased from our accessories page.

  • Page 61: Wifi Repeaters

    FTP server configured on a standalone computer as shown below. Free FTP server software such as FileZilla Server, http://filezilla-project.org/, are an open source, simple to use, and free to download. “PC Base Station” running FileZilla FTP software receiving Raptor WiFi Photos...
  • Page 62 15. Raptor Camera The Raptor camera is a still IR (Infrared) VGA Camera which will capture photos at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 with data size around 48K. The smaller resolution is needed to keep image file size down in order to send photos quickly over low bandwidth cellular networks thus saving battery life of the Raptor system.

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