How to Hook up a PTZ Camera

How To Hook Up A PTZ Camera

You have different options if you are looking to hook up your PTZ camera. When you get started, you might have a single camera and add others as you grow. PTZ cameras can have different outputs, so you need to know what you have and how you plan to use the camera. For example, if you want to connect a single camera to an IP connection, you can use a Cat5 cable to the camera and computer. You can control it using an IR remote with this kind of setup.

You can also set a PTZ camera up over a network and control it from your joystick or controller. They can be connected to a DVR so that you can record any activity, such as in a surveillance system. It is important to ensure that your camera and your controller use the same protocol so they can communicate with one another. The important thing is to consult your user manual to ensure that your devices are compatible.

How to Hook up Multiple PTZ Cameras

You have two options if you plan to hook up multiple PTZ cameras. You can take multiple cameras with the same connections as long as the controller can connect more than one camera. One way of achieving this is by using multiple cameras that are powered using PoE connected to a PoE switch. Your cameras will transmit video to a video switcher connected to your local area network. You can control the switcher with your computer, using your mouse or your keyboard.

If you plan to connect your PTZ cameras to a DVR, you need to connect them to a controller and then connect the controller to the DVR. The DVR only has one input, so you must use the controller.

How to Daisy Chain PTZ Cameras

PTZ cameras have three cables for power, video, and data. When you daisy chain them, you connect one to the controller, and then you use cables to connect one camera to the next until you connect all of the cameras in the chain.

It would be best to have an RJ45 cable in and out button, which you can use to daisy chain the cameras. You can also use RS232 (serial cables), which is ideal for short distances. People often use RS485, a one-way connection from a DVR to a camera, which works for larger distances.

One important thing to remember is that your cameras and your DVR, and your controller need to be set to the same protocol. The protocol is what allows them to communicate with one another. You can check your user manual to see how to do this on your particular camera brand.

You need to assign a hardware ID to each camera. You can use the DIP switch on each camera to do this. You should find a small bank of these switches inside the camera, and you can change them to ensure that each camera has a unique configuration.

Once you have connected the cameras in a daisy chain, you need to assign termination. There is a setting called termination on each camera, which should be assigned to the last camera in the chain. You can look for this setting and ensure it is turned off for all other cameras on the chain. If you have a camera that doesn’t have a termination setting, you can set each camera to a unique Ohm. You will want to look at your user manual to determine what the manufacturer recommends.

Final Words

When you hook up your PTZ cameras, you must know what setup you want to make. You can do PoE on a local network if you want to connect cameras to a controller. You can also daisy chain multiple cameras, connecting one camera to the controller and then connecting each camera to the one before it until you reach the last one. You can control all cameras using one joystick when choosing this method. Make sure you consult your manual to verify the protocol available to you and any details specific to your camera brand.