Controlling PTZ Cameras

Configure the PTZ connection, operate the basic and expanded PTZ control panels, set up and call presets, tours, patterns, AutoScan, AutoPan, and AUX functions, and call the OSD menu of a coaxial camera on the Sapphire Series CVI DVR.

PTZ is a mechanical platform that carries a camera and a protective cover and performs overall control remotely. A PTZ can move in both horizontal and vertical direction to provide all-around view to the camera.

Before operating PTZ, ensure the network connection between PTZ and the Device.

Configuring PTZ Connection Settings

You need to configure the PTZ connection settings before use.

Local connection: RS-485 Port for connecting Speed Dome or coaxial cable for connecting coaxial camera.
Remote connection: local area network.

Open the PTZ interface

Select Main Menu > CAMERA > PTZ.

The PTZ interface is displayed.

PTZ interface showing the live view preview, PTZ control buttons, and the connection parameters Channel, PTZ Type, Control Mode, Protocol, Address, Baudrate, Data Bits, Stop Bits, and Parity

Configure the PTZ connection parameters

Configure the settings for the PTZ connection parameters. See the following table.

Parameter	Description
Channel	In the Channel list, select the channel that you want to connect the PTZ camera to.
PTZ Type	Local: Connect through RS-485 port or coaxial cable. Remote: Connect through network by adding IP address of PTZ camera to the Device.
Control Mode	In the Control Mode list, select Serial or HDCVI. For HDCVI series product, select HDCVI. The control signal is sent to the PTZ through the coaxial cable. For the serial mode, the control signal is sent to the PTZ through the RS-485 port.
Protocol	In the Protocol list, select the protocol for the PTZ camera, for example, select HDCVI3.0.
Address	In the Address box, enter the address for PTZ camera. The default is 1. The entered address must be the same with the address configured on the PTZ camera; otherwise the PTZ camera cannot be controlled from the Device.
Baudrate	In the Baudrate list, select the baudrate for the PTZ camera. The default is 9600.
Data Bits	The default is 8.
Stop Bits	The default is 1.
Parity	The default is NONE.

Apply the settings

Click Apply to save the settings.

Click Copy to copy the settings to other channels.

Working with PTZ Control Panel

PTZ control panel performs the operations such as directing camera in eight directions, adjusting zoom, focus and iris settings, and quick positioning.

Basic PTZ Control Panel

Right-click on the live view screen and then select PTZ. The PTZ control panel is displayed.

Basic PTZ control panel showing the direction pad, Speed, and the Zoom, Focus, and Iris adjustment buttons

The functions with buttons in gray are not supported by the system.

Parameter	Description
Speed	Controls the movement speed. The bigger the value is, the faster the movement will be.
Zoom	Zoom out. Zoom in.
Focus	Focus far. Focus near.
Iris	Image darker. Image brighter.
PTZ movement	Supports eight directions.
Fast positioning button	Positioning: Click the fast positioning button to enter the fast positioning screen, and then click anywhere on the live view screen, the PTZ will turn to this point and move it to the middle of the screen. Zooming: On the fast positioning screen, drag to draw a square on the view. The square supports zooming. Dragging upward is to zoom out, and dragging downward is to zoom in. The smaller the square, the larger the zoom effect.
Mouse control	Not all models support this function and can only be controlled through mouse operations. Click the mouse control icon, you can control the four directions (left, right, up, and down) PTZ movement through mouse operation.
Expand	Click the expand arrow to open the expanded PTZ control panel.

Expanded PTZ Control Panel

On the basic PTZ control panel, click the expand arrow to open the expanded PTZ control panel to find more options.

Expanded PTZ control panel showing the direction pad, Speed, No. box, and the additional function icons

The functions with buttons in gray are not supported by the system.
Right-click once to return to the interface of PTZ basic control panel.

Icon	Function	Icon	Function
Preset	Preset	Auto Pan	Auto Pan
Tour	Tour	Flip	Flip
Pattern	Pattern	Reset	Reset
Autoscan	Autoscan	AUX Config	Click the AUX Config icon to open the PTZ functions settings interface.
AUX Switch	AUX Switch	Enter Menu	Click the Enter Menu icon to open the MENU OPERATION interface.

Configuring PTZ Functions

Configuring Presets

Open the Preset interface

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the Preset icon.

The Preset interface is displayed.

Preset tab of the PTZ interface showing the direction pad, the Preset box, and the Setting and Del Preset buttons

Position the camera

Click the direction arrows to the required position.

Enter the preset value

In the Preset box, enter the value to represent the required position.

Save the preset

Click Setting to complete the preset settings.

Configuring Tours

Open the Tour tab

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the Tour icon.

The PTZ interface is displayed.

Click the Tour tab.

The Tour tab is displayed.

Tour tab of the PTZ interface showing the direction pad, the Preset and Patrol No. boxes, and the Add Preset, Del Preset, and Del Tour buttons

Enter the tour route number

In the Patrol No. box, enter the value for the tour route.

Enter the preset value

In the Preset box, enter the preset value.

Add the preset

Click Add Preset.

A preset will be added for this tour.

You can repeat adding more presets.
Click Del Preset to delete the preset for this tour. This operation can be repeated to delete more presets. Some protocols do not support deleting.

Configuring Patterns

Open the Pattern tab

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the Pattern icon.

The PTZ interface is displayed.

Click the Pattern tab.

The Pattern interface is displayed.

Pattern tab of the PTZ interface showing the direction pad, the Pattern box, and the Start and End buttons

Enter the pattern value

In the Pattern box, enter the value for pattern.

Record the pattern

Click Start to perform the directions operations. You can also go to the PTZ Control Panel to perform the operations of adjusting zoom, focus, iris, and directions.

Complete the settings

On the PTZ interface, click End to complete the settings.

Configuring AutoScan

Open the Border tab

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the Autoscan icon.

The PTZ interface is displayed.

Click the Border tab.

The Border interface is displayed.

Border tab of the PTZ interface showing the direction pad and the Left and Right buttons

Position the borders

Click the direction arrows to position the left and right borders.

Calling PTZ Functions

After you have configured the PTZ settings, you can call the PTZ functions for monitoring from the Expanded PTZ Control Panel.

Expanded PTZ control panel used for calling PTZ functions, with the direction pad, Speed, No. box, and the function icons

Calling Presets

Enter the preset value

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, in the No. box, enter the value of the preset that you want to call.

Call the preset

Click the Preset icon to call the preset.

Click the Preset icon again to stop calling the preset.

Calling Tours

Enter the tour value

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, in the No. box, enter the value of the tour that you want to call.

Call the tour

Click the Tour icon to call the tour.

Click the Tour icon again to stop calling the tour.

Calling Patterns

Enter the pattern value

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, in the No. box, enter the value of the pattern that you want to call.

Call the pattern

Call the Pattern icon to call the pattern.

The PTZ camera moves according to the configured pattern repeatedly.

Click the Pattern icon again to stop calling the pattern.

Calling AutoScan

Enter the border value

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, in the No. box, enter the value of the border that you want to call.

Call AutoScan

Click the Autoscan icon.

The PTZ camera performs scanning according to the configured borders.

Click the Autoscan icon again to stop auto scanning.

Calling AutoPan

Start moving

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the Auto Pan icon to start moving in horizontal direction.

Stop moving

Click the Auto Pan icon again to stop moving.

Using AUX Button

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the AUX Switch icon, the AUX setting interface is displayed.

AUX setting interface showing the Direct Aux list with On and Off buttons and the Aux Num box with On and Off buttons

In the Direct Aux list, select the option that corresponds to the applied protocol.
In the Aux Num box, enter the number that corresponds to the AUX switch on the decoder.

For the coaxial camera, you can call the OSD menu through the Expanded PTZ Control Panel.

On the Expanded PTZ Control Panel, click the Enter Menu icon.

The MENU OPERATION interface is displayed.

MENU OPERATION interface showing the direction pad and the Enter and Cancel buttons

Click Enter.

The OSD menu is displayed.

OSD menu of the coaxial camera overlaid on the live image, listing parameters such as Format, Video Mode, Backlight Mode, Image Adjustment, Exposure, White Balance, Day Night, Advanced, Reset, and Exit

Select the onscreen parameters

On the MENU OPERATION interface, click the arrow button to select the onscreen parameters.

Complete the settings

Click Enter to complete the settings.