Difference between revisions of "Multiple XCam2s to PC with MultiView or PTP or XRV"

Latest revision as of 19:36, 28 May 2014

Question

My multiple-wireless-camera kit is supposed to record to my PC, but it's not working. What could be wrong?

Answer

Setup Problems

Most likely, some part of the system is not configured correctly. Here is a master list of symptoms with all possible causes listed:

Software will not install and register

No internet connection
Did not get download email
Ports blocked for registration
No Administrator access
Computer security software prevents installation

Software crashes on opening

Complete reinstall procedure.

VA11A / "could not capture" /"could not put in graph" error message on opening software

VA11A plugged into non-powered USB port
Driver not installed correctly
Incorrect Video Capture Device selected

No picture on PC

Wrong power supply on video receiver; the VR31A takes a PR30A and the VR36A takes a D9300.
Video receiver not turned on-check power switch near antenna hinge
Video reciever not connected to VA11A
Camera and video receiver on different A-D transmission channels.
If your PC gives you a "test screen" instead of displaying static, there may just be really, really nasty 2.4GHz radio interference in your location. Try connecting some other device with a video output to the VA11A.
Pan Tilt Pro: NetMeeting not set up correctly

Cameras won't switch via remote

TM751 not plugged in to wall outlet.
TM751 and cams not set to matching House and sequential Unit codes
TM751 or camera in outlet with bad power line communications; causes include:
- Surge Strip- all cameras must be plugged directly into the wall
- Line Noise
- Phases Not Bridged
- If an inverter or generator is used, it must generate pure sine wave AC power.
Remote not set to correct House code
RF signal from remote control not reaching the TM751

Cameras won't switch via PC

CM19A not plugged in to USB.
Actual camera codes do not match codes set in software.
CM19A signals not reaching TM751

Bad Picture

Not enough light
2.4 GHz interference
Camera range issues
Switching problems (see above).

Hardware Problems

Here is a list of devices in a common wireless camera kit and all possible issues they may have short of complete failure. Devices that have completely failed should be fairly easy to identify.

VA11A

Broken video input-will not accept video from 2 different A/V devices
Broken USB chip- will not come up or will not ID correctly; see Troubleshooting Video Display Errors on PC

CM19A

Broken antenna- reduced or nonexistent RF communication range.

TM751

Broken antenna- will click from the button on the front, but will not click via remote.
Broken relay-TM751 will not click from button or relay, but will still retransmit. Rare.
Broken powerline sender- will click but will not control other devices. This is extremely rare but has been known to happen. It is hard to diagonse without another TM751.

XCam2+Power Supply

Mistuned video sender- if you get a picture with the camera and receiver on different A-D transmission channels, either the camera or receiver is mis-tuned.
Power supply has bad powerline reciever- the camera will not turn off, even when tested on a powerstrip with your CM15A.

Video Receiver

Mistuned video receiver- if you get a picture with the camera and receiver on different A-D transmission channels, either the camera or receiver is mis-tuned.

Motion sensor

Broken IR sensor- LED only flashes when you tap the buttons under the battery cover
Broken antenna- LED flashes but cameras do not switch; remote control works.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Question==
-''My multiple-wireless-camera kit is supposed to record to my PC, but it's not working. What could be wrong?''
+'''My multiple-wireless-camera kit is supposed to record to my PC, but it's not working. What could be wrong?'''
 ==Answer==
 ===Setup Problems===
 Most likely, some part of the system is not configured correctly. Here is a master list of symptoms with all possible causes listed:
 ====Software will not install and register====
 *No internet connection
 *Did not get download email
@@ Line 14: / Line 18: @@
 *No Administrator access
 *Computer security software prevents installation
 ====Software crashes on opening====
 *Complete reinstall procedure.
 ====VA11A / "could not capture" /"could not put in graph" error message on opening software====
 *VA11A plugged into non-powered USB port
 *[[Troubleshooting Video Display Errors on PC|Driver not installed correctly]]
 *Incorrect Video Capture Device selected
 ====No picture on PC====
 *Wrong power supply on video receiver; the VR31A takes a PR30A and the VR36A takes a D9300.
 *Video receiver not turned on-check power switch near antenna hinge
@@ Line 30: / Line 40: @@
 *If your PC gives you a "test screen" instead of displaying static, there may just be really, really nasty [[Other 2.4 GHz Device Compatibility|2.4GHz radio interference]] in your location. Try connecting some other device with a video output to the VA11A.
 * Pan Tilt Pro: [[Green Screen Displayed Instead of Camera Video|NetMeeting not set up correctly]]
 ====Cameras won't switch via remote====
 *TM751 not plugged in to wall outlet.
 *TM751 and cams not set to matching House and sequential Unit codes
 *TM751 or camera in outlet with bad [[X10 Basics|power line communications]]; causes include:
 **Surge Strip- all cameras must be plugged directly into the wall
-**[[Noise, Noise Filters and Automatic Gain Control|Line Noise]]
+**[[Noise Filters and Automatic Gain Control|Line Noise]]
 **[[Phase Coupling|Phases Not Bridged]]
 **If an inverter or generator is used, it must generate pure sine wave AC power.
 *Remote not set to correct House code
 *RF signal from remote control not reaching the TM751
 ====Cameras won't switch via PC====
 *CM19A not plugged in to USB.
 *Actual camera codes do not match codes set in software.
 *CM19A signals not reaching TM751
 ====Bad Picture====
 *Not enough light
 *[[Other 2.4 GHz Device Compatibility|2.4 GHz interference]]
 *[[Extending Wireless Camera Range|Camera range issues]]
 *Switching problems (see above).
 ===Hardware Problems===
 Here is a list of devices in a common wireless camera kit and all possible issues they may have short of complete failure. Devices that have completely failed should be fairly easy to identify.
 ====VA11A====
 *Broken video input-will not accept video from 2 different A/V devices
 *Broken USB chip- will not come up or will not ID correctly; see [[Troubleshooting Video Display Errors on PC]]
 ====CM19A====
 *Broken antenna- reduced or nonexistent RF communication range.
 ====TM751====
 *Broken antenna- will click from the button on the front, but will not click via remote.
 *Broken relay-TM751 will not click from button or relay, but will still retransmit. Rare.
 *Broken powerline sender- will click but will not control other devices. This is ''extremely'' rare but has been known to happen. It is hard to diagonse without another TM751.
 ====XCam2+Power Supply====
 *Mistuned video sender- if you get a picture with the camera and receiver on [[Finding the Channel Switch on Wireless Cameras|different A-D transmission channels]], either the camera or receiver is mis-tuned.
 *Power supply has bad powerline reciever- the camera will not turn off, even when [[Alternate Camera Switching Configuration|tested on a powerstrip]] with your CM15A.
 ====Video Receiver====
 *Mistuned video receiver- if you get a picture with the camera and receiver on [[Finding the Channel Switch on Wireless Cameras|different A-D transmission channels]], either the camera or receiver is mis-tuned.
 ====Motion sensor====
 *Broken IR sensor- LED only flashes when you tap the buttons under the battery cover
 *Broken antenna- LED flashes but cameras do not switch; remote control works.