"When Camera x" trigger.

[avpman2]

I'm planning on hooking up a couple of IP cameras to the Omni II. I need to trigger an event when either of the cameras see motion. I've looked for hardwired IP cameras with an alarm trigger contact closure which I could wire back to an Omni input. But I only found one such camera and it's not very good.
 
Then I saw the "When Camera" trigger. There is no documentation in the PCAccess software, or anywhere else I can find. How is that trigger initiated? Will OPII detect movement on an IP camera and then activate the trigger? Or is the trigger only activated by the Camera Server using analog cameras?
 
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[HAI_fjh]

The "WHEN CAMERA..." event refers to when a camera input (1-6) is pressed on an OmniTouch with Video. This should be documented in your controller's user manual.

With IP cameras the best way is to wire a security contact on the camera to a zone. There are cameras out there that have security contacts on the camera. As an alternative most recorders (DVR/NVR) have contacts on them.

 

[avpman2]

The "WHEN CAMERA..." event refers to when a camera input (1-6) is pressed on an OmniTouch with Video. This should be documented in your controller's user manual.

With IP cameras the best way is to wire a security contact on the camera to a zone. There are cameras out there that have security contacts on the camera. As an alternative most recorders (DVR/NVR) have contacts on them.

Thank you for clearing that up for me. I've been looking for a reasonabley priced IP camera with a dry contact closure to do exactly what you suggested. I just haven't been able to find much of anything excpet indoor units in the $500 range. I need an inexpensive outdoor unit in the $200 range. Client want's four of them and they're on a tight budget.

 

[pete_c]

Personally my preferences are to keep motion / motion detectors to separate hardware versus the use of video motion algorithms to trigger motion outdoors.
 
I mean I utilize video motion algorithms today and they are only OK and not nearly as good as outdoor motion sensors.  I do though utilize both for outdoor motion detection.
 
The Optex combo PIR and cameras work well with the HAI OPII board. 
 
My Optex combo outdoor cams are some 10 years old (or older) and they have weathered just fine and are still functioning like new today.

 

[HAI_fjh]

Just a comment on using "video" motion detect outdoors: IMHO don't do it. The problems I have encountered are false positives. In doors video motion detect works great but outdoors things like, trees swaying in the wind, shadows of trees swaying in the wind, dogs, cats, birds, bugs, clouds, lightning and many other things can trigger as "motion".

In my drive I have a camera that does motion and a PIR sensor. Initially I tried to use just the the camera motion detect but it literally triggered hundreds of times a day/night. That's when I added the PIR. I use the PIR for the actual motion detect. Now it only triggers if a car pulls in the drive or a person walks up to withing 30 or 40 feet of the house. Things like shadows and dogs passing across the front yard don't trigger anything. This works great for me.

Your application may be different but my experiences with video motion detect outdoors is poor.

Just something to think about.