Setup Menu Page
LENS Options
The LENS selection has two options - MANUAL and DC. There is
no sub-menu.
LENS settings allow you to set up two shutter profiles in the
EXPOSURE sub-menu and switch between them. You can set the
shutter to one value when LENS is set to MANUAL, and you can set
the shutter to a different value when the LENS is set to DC. See
EXPOSURE, below, for more information.
NOTE: The ECL-555ES has a fixed focus lens. Future designs may
implement other options.
Exposure Menu
This sub-menu setting gives
SHUTTER setting options, BRIGHTNESS, AGC and DWDR settings.
SHUTTER: Sets video sensor shutter. You can
create two setting profiles with help from the LENS setting
(above). When LENS is set to MANUAL the camera will save the
shutter setting you specify here, and save a different setting
when LENS is set to DC. By changing the LENS option (DC or
MANUAL), you can switch between the two different shutter
settings.
Shutter settings include FLK (anti-flicker), AUTO, and value
of 1/60 sec to 1/100000 sec..
BRIGHTNESS: Set brightness with the slidebar
control. A numeric value is on-screen to aid you with repeat
settings (very helpful if you need to set up multiple cameras or
are trouble-shooting). This setting does not change, regardless
of LENS being set to MANUAL or DC.
AGC (Auto-Gain Control): Set to LOW, MIDDLE,
HIGH, or OFF. This setting does not change, regardless of LENS
being set to MANUAL or DC.
DWDR (Digital Wide Dynamic Range): Set to
Low, Middle, High or OFF. This setting does not change,
regardless of LENS being set to MANUAL or DC. Set OFF or ON.
When you turn it on you can navigate to a simple third-level
menu that lets you set a DWDR LEVEL (using a slidebar control).
Like AGC and BRIGHTNESS, this setting does not change when
you switch LENS from MANUAL or DC or vice-versa.
WHITE BAL Options
White balance options include ATW1 and ATW2 (Auto-tracking
white balance with two different parameters), MANUAL, and
AWC->SET.
ATW1 & ATW2: Preprogrammed auto-tracking
white balance settings.
AWC->SET: To set white balance using this
option you need to point the camera at a white object, make sure
it fills as much of the screen as possible, then click the
mini-joystick. The camera will reproduce colors using the color
you presented as a baseline. While it can be very accurate this
white balance method is best left to professional photographers
who are adept at color adjustment and reproduction.
MANUAL: The fourth WB option gives the user a sub-menu with
three settings - INDOOR, OUTDOOR, and MANUAL, shown at left.
INDOOR and OUTDOOR are pre-programmed settings that are
designed to operate under sunlight (outdoor) conditions or
artificial light (indoor) conditions. Color temperatures are set
accordingly and there is no user adjustment required.
If you select MANUAL then you can
manually set BLUE and RED color levels. (The color GREEN
automatically adjusts based on the levels you set so a
third control for GREEN is not provided.)
Backlight Menu
There are 3 settings for backlight compensation
options and no sub-menus. Available settings are OFF (no
compensation), BLC (Back Light Compensation enabled), and HLC
(Back Light Compensation with High Light Compensation).
BLC: Turns traditional
backlight compensation on. A sub-menu appears, shown at left,
that allows the user to create up to 4 fields (AREA 1 through
AREA 4), turn the area on or off (AREA STATE), modify the
backlight gain (slidebar control) in that area, and place the
area anywhere on-screen using the four remaining slidebar
controls.
HLC: Some thieves and
unsavory individuals have learned that you can momentarily
disable some CCTV cameras by shining bright lights directly at
the camera lens. HLC is one of several methods developed to
combat this threat. When HLC is active it will mask the
source of the bright light with a dark shape, thus allowing the
area to the side of the light source to be viewed and recorded.
People who think they are concealed in a halo of hazy white
light will be revealed.
Day/Night Menu
This sub-menu governs how the camera handles color and how it
changes between day and night mode and back. Four options are
available, EXT and COLOR (no sub-menus), and B/W and AUTO modes,
explained below.
B/W Mode
Sets black-and-white mode. The D&N B/W sub-menu appears, shown
above.
BURST: Alters the color burst information passed to
the video monitor. Since this is B/W mode, it doesn't effect
color but can effect gain. If your monitor is showing a poor
image and you are using long runs of
cable, changing this setting from OFF to ON may improve the
situation.
IR SMART: ON or OFF. When ON, you get
the IR SMART menu, shown above. IR SMART enables the IR capture
mode (note the ECL-556H does not have infrared LEDs but is IR
sensitive if you have a source of IR light in the area). The IR
SMART menu lets you select an area on screen (defined by the
slidebars HEIGHT, WIDTH, LEFT/RIGHT and TOP/BOTTOM) where IR
light can be detected. The IR GAIN slidebar is self explanatory
- it controls signal gain in the area you define.
IR LEVEL: Two options, HIGH and LOW.
Increases IR sensitivity.
AUTO Mode
This mode lets the camera auto-switch between color video
mode and black-and-white video mode, depending on light levels.
You get a sub-menu, shown above, that lets the user control the
switching.
D->N and N->D Level: Set the light level
that triggers the switch from day/night mode to the other mode.
D->N and N->D Delay: Sets a delay time
before the switch is made. This can be useful if the camera is
placed in an area subject to shadows or intermittent light level
changes. If the camera is switching back and forth between modes
all the time (thrashing), increase the delay.
DPC (Dead Pixel Compensation) Mode
Sometimes video sensors can develop a dead pixel. This does
not disable a camera but may make the image a little annoying to
look at. Dead Pixel Compensation, when invoked, finds dead
pixels and marks them digitally. The camera will compensate (in
DSP phase) by assigning a value to the place where that dead
pixel would have, if functional, provided video data. The value
is typically the average of the color/luminance values of the
pixels immediately surrounding it.
To invoke DPC you must first completely cover the lens (zero
light condition). Then turn DPC on. The screen will flash
momentarily. When it stops the process is complete.
DPC is provided strictly as a convenience and a way to extend
product life. Dead pixels are very rare and almost never occur,
and when they do it usually takes years before they develop.
Even then, its rare to see more than one or two, especially with
modern CCD designs. Unfortunately there is no way to predict
their occurrence, even in the highest priced equipment. But when
(and if) they do it's very un-economical to trash a good camera
because a tiny pixel is locked permanently white, for instance.
Most users will never use this feature.
SPECIAL Menu
This option invokes the secondary menu, explained below,
after RESET and EXIT.
RESET Options - PrePro Feature
Self explanatory. Resets the camera to factory defaults
settings.
The only thing notable here is the PrePro feature.
The PrePro feature makes sure all of the OSD
menu options are set to a premium configuration, giving the user
optimal video under the widest variety of possible surveillance
environments. While PrePro is not perfect every
time in every setting, it can save you substantial time setting
up the camera or recovering settings when someone accidently
sets the OSD options in such a way as to make the camera produce
inferior video. You do not have to turn PrePro
on - it is automatic and occurs whenever you reset the camera.
EXIT
Exit the OSD, saves settings.
Special Menu Page
Cam Title Menu
Standard option seen in many CCTV cameras. Allows you to set
and display a name for the camera. The name appears on the
monitor and can be recorded to help identify the scene. Very
useful in large installations.
Standard alphanumeric letters and symbols are provided.
Motion Menu
This sub-menu allows the user to create up to 4 different motion detections
zones, each one with their own parameters.
AREA SEL: Up to 4 zones can be created and
configured, this menu item determines which zone you are working
on. AREA 1 through AREA 4 can be selected.
AREA STATE: Turn on the area or turn it off.
When off, no motion detection (in that area) occurs. When an
area state is ON, an icon appears in the bottom left corner of
the monitor when motion is detected.
HEIGHT, WIDTH, LEFT/RIGHT and TOP/BOTTOM:
Lets the user create the motion detection zone, using the
slidebar settings. A number appears on screen beside the
slidebar to help duplicating settings or troubleshooting.
DEGREE: Controls motion detection
sensitivity, via the slidebar.
VIEW: ON or OFF. When ON, it creates a
pattern of red squares on-screen in the area where motion
occurs. Serves to highlight motion.
Privacy Menu
This camera allows sophisticated privacy mask creation and
control. You can make up to 8 separate privacy masks.
AREA SEL: Area 1 through Area 8. By
selecting an area, all other options you set effect that area
alone. Area 1 can be in a different location, color, size, etc.
than Area 2, Area 3, etc.
AREA STATE: Turns the mask in that area on
or off.
HEIGHT, WIDTH, LEFT/RIGHT and TOP/BOTTOM:
Lets the user set the size and shape of the privacy mask zone, using the
slidebar settings. A number appears on screen beside the
slidebar to help duplicating settings or troubleshooting.
COLOR: 16 different colors are available so
masks can be easily identified.
Park Line (Border Limit, Line Crossing) Menu
This camera allows sophisticated privacy mask creation and
control. You can make up to 8 separate privacy masks.
AREA SEL: Area 1 through Area 8. By
selecting an area, all other options you set effect that area
alone. Area 1 can be in a different location, color, size, etc.
than Area 2, Area 3, etc.
AREA STATE: Turns the mask in that area on
or off.
HEIGHT, WIDTH, LEFT/RIGHT and TOP/BOTTOM:
Lets the user set the size and shape of the privacy mask zone, using the
slidebar settings. A number appears on screen beside the
slidebar to help duplicating settings or troubleshooting.
COLOR: 16 different colors are available so
masks can be easily identified.
Image Adjust(ment) Menu
This sub-menu provides all the standard image adjustment
features normally found in CCTV video cameras as well as
enhanced features specific to this model.
LENS SHAD: Presents a sub-menu with one
slidebar that the user can adjust in order to compensate for
smoke-tinted domes.
2DNR: 2-dimensional dynamic noise reduction.
Select ON or OFF.
MIRROR: Flips video image on the horizontal
plane.
FONT: Lets the user select a font color for
OSD menu selections.
CONTRAST & SHARPNESS: Standard video
contrast and sharpness adjustments.
DISPLAY: Three options are available - USER,
CRT and LCD. Each has it's own simplified sub-menu. You can
tailor video output for best results using a CRT or an LCD
monitor. The USER option provides a unique setting.
NEG IMAGE: Create a photographic negative
image of the video.
Language, Version, Return
LANGUAGE: English or Chinese
VERSION: This field indicates ROM version and can be useful
in troubleshooting.
RETURN: Takes the user back to the first level setup menu and
holds the settings you made. You must EXIT to save all settings.
