Focusing a camera and the first tests - Revision history

Markmcintyre: /* Focusing the Camera */

2026-03-13T11:52:29Z

Focusing the Camera

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:52, 13 March 2026
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	There's a whole separate section of the Wiki on [[Focusing_your_camera\|focusing]], but here's the short version !!		There's a whole separate section of the Wiki on [[Focusing_your_camera\|focusing]], but here's the short version !!
	* connect the camera to your network as above.		* With the camera in the housing, connect the camera to your network as above.
	* Open VLC.		* Open VLC.
	* ~~Aim~~ the camera at something at around 30-50 metres away.		* At night, aim the camera out an open window at something at around 30-50 metres away.
	* Screw the lens in and out slowly to get best focus.		* Screw the lens in and out slowly to get best focus.
			* Pin-sharp focus is not necessary and is in fact not optimal - a little out of focus is fine as it helps stars show up.

	~~You can usually do an initial~~ focus ~~with~~ the camera ~~assembled on~~ a ~~desk~~. ~~Point it out a window during the hours of darkness and~~ focus on ~~a building at least 50m away~~.		Aside: it is not necessary to focus on stars as the camera has an enormous depth of field and anything from a few metres to infinity will be in focus. However, you can double-check focus on stars if you want.

	You can ~~do this using~~ the RMS utility ShowLivestream instead of VLC, if you have already fully configured the camera and Pi as explained in the next step.		You can use the RMS utility ShowLivestream instead of VLC, if you have already fully configured the camera and Pi as explained in the next step.

	Note that there's a short lag due to the network, so you should wait a second or two after each adjustment to allow the change to be reflected in VLC.		Note that there's a short lag due to the network, so you should wait a second or two after each adjustment to allow the change to be reflected in VLC.

	Important note: if your camera came with an electronic filter, and you have left the 'daytime' filter in place you MUST finalise focus at night. The filters slightly alter focus.		Important note: if your camera came with an electronic filter and you have left the 'daytime' filter in place you MUST finalise focus at night. The filters slightly alter focus.

	~~</td></tr></table>~~

	= [Optional] All system test =		= [Optional] All system test =

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration */

2024-11-26T19:12:49Z

Camera setup & configuration

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 26 November 2024
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	= Camera setup & configuration =		= Camera setup & configuration =
	To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software (works on Windows only) or via RMS scripts (can be done directly from your Raspberry Pi). In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.		To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software (works on Windows only) or via RMS scripts (can be done directly from your Raspberry Pi). In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.

			'''Please note:''' IMX307 has almost identical firmware and the settings are the same apart from one and that is gain, which you need to set to 15 instead of 60 as for IMX291.

			'''Warning:''' Please set IMX307 to a fixed IP address instead of DHCP as there were reported issues with the DHCP setting on this module.

	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==
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	[[File:Setting-camer-params.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Setting Camera Params]]		[[File:Setting-camer-params.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Setting Camera Params]]
	<pre>Scripts/RMS_SetCameraParams.sh</pre>		<pre>Scripts/RMS_SetCameraParams.sh</pre>

			'''Run this ONLY FOR IMX307 as addition to the script run above'''
			<pre>python -m Utils.CameraControl SetParam Camera GainParam Gain 15</pre>

	* Note: If you have RMS installed on your PC then you can change the camera address from your PC instead, then connect it to the Pi and run the 2nd script.		* Note: If you have RMS installed on your PC then you can change the camera address from your PC instead, then connect it to the Pi and run the 2nd script.

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method */

2024-02-28T13:38:15Z

Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:38, 28 February 2024
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	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==
	<table><tr><td>		<table><tr><td>
	* CMS is a security camera software package you can download [https://www.dropbox.com/s/3r4fiqec6jpzwz3/CMS%20and%20Manual.rar?dl=0 as a rar archive here] or [https://archive.~~ukmeteornetwork~~.co.uk/RMS_images/CMS.zip as a zip archive here]. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.		* CMS is a security camera software package you can download [https://www.dropbox.com/s/3r4fiqec6jpzwz3/CMS%20and%20Manual.rar?dl=0 as a rar archive here] or [https://archive.ukmeteors.co.uk/RMS_images/CMS.zip as a zip archive here]. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.
	* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.		* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.
	</td></tr>		</td></tr>

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration */

2024-02-07T23:40:41Z

Camera setup & configuration

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:40, 7 February 2024
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	= Camera setup & configuration =		= Camera setup & configuration =
	To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software (~~work~~ on Windows only) or via RMS scripts (can be done directly from your Raspberry Pi). In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.		To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software (works on Windows only) or via RMS scripts (can be done directly from your Raspberry Pi). In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.

	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration */

2024-02-07T23:40:13Z

Camera setup & configuration

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:40, 7 February 2024
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	= Camera setup & configuration =		= Camera setup & configuration =
	To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software or via RMS scripts. In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.		To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software (work on Windows only) or via RMS scripts (can be done directly from your Raspberry Pi). In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.

	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==

RadimStano at 13:07, 18 October 2023

2023-10-18T13:07:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:07, 18 October 2023
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	~~'''WARNING: THIS IS A PAGE IN PROGRESS! DO NOT FOLLOW IT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BUILDING OF A CAMERA FROM SCRATCH'''~~
	Ahoj! In this section, cable the camera for the first time, do the preliminary focusing, configure your camera and optionally test the whole system.		Ahoj! In this section, cable the camera for the first time, do the preliminary focusing, configure your camera and optionally test the whole system.

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method */

2023-10-16T19:36:30Z

Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:36, 16 October 2023
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	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==
	<table><tr><td>		<table><tr><td>
	* CMS is a security camera software package you can [https://www.dropbox.com/s/3r4fiqec6jpzwz3/CMS%20and%20Manual.rar?dl=0 ~~download~~] ~~from the internet~~. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.		* CMS is a security camera software package you can download [https://www.dropbox.com/s/3r4fiqec6jpzwz3/CMS%20and%20Manual.rar?dl=0 as a rar archive here] or [https://archive.ukmeteornetwork.co.uk/RMS_images/CMS.zip as a zip archive here]. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.
	* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.		* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.
	</td></tr>		</td></tr>

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method */

2023-10-16T14:11:32Z

Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:11, 16 October 2023
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	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==
	<table><tr><td>		<table><tr><td>
	* CMS is a security camera software package you can [https://~~learncctv~~.com/~~download-cms-software~~/ download] from the internet. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.		* CMS is a security camera software package you can [https://www.dropbox.com/s/3r4fiqec6jpzwz3/CMS%20and%20Manual.rar?dl=0 download] from the internet. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.
	* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.		* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.
	</td></tr>		</td></tr>

RadimStano: /* Camera setup & configuration */

2023-04-17T16:07:11Z

Camera setup & configuration

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:07, 17 April 2023
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	= Camera setup & configuration =		= Camera setup & configuration =
	To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this~~: This is mean~~ the ~~IP configuration of the camera and setting up the parameters of the camera needed for its night operation~~. ~~Instead of text, you will now~~ watch a video ~~with detailed hands-on instructions:~~		To operate at night, the camera must be reset to the correct gain, colour mode and video mode. There are two ways you can do this - doing it via the CMS software or via RMS scripts. In any case it is recommended to watch the below video.

	== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==		== Camera setup & configuration - Youtube video method ==
	<table><tr><td>		<table><tr><td>
	* If you have a Pi3, you will currently have to use CMS.
	* CMS is a security camera software package you can [https://learncctv.com/download-cms-software/ download] from the internet. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.		* CMS is a security camera software package you can [https://learncctv.com/download-cms-software/ download] from the internet. You can use the software as explained in the video by Denis Vida below.
	* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.		* Note however that you should reset the network as the LAST thing you do. The video does it a bit soon.

RadimStano: /* [Optional] All system test */

2023-04-17T16:05:19Z

[Optional] All system test

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 17 April 2023
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	If the video stream opens and looks good, then you have successfully tested your system!		If the video stream opens and looks good, then you have successfully tested your system!

			[[File:All_system_test.png]]

	= Camera setup & configuration =		= Camera setup & configuration =