BZBGEAR BG-Commander User guide

BG-Commander

PTZ Camera Controller

User Manual

CONTACT

1.888.499.9906 | [email protected] | bzbgear.com

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Thank You!

Thank you for purchasing the BG-Commander IP/Serial PTZ joystick controller. This manual will help
you familiarize yourself with the capabilities and functions of this device. Before setting this device up
it is recommended that you read this manual in its entirety to ensure optimal performance. This
product has been designed for years of trouble-free use. To keep this product functioning optimally
please follow these recommended guidelines for care and maintenance.

Precautions

• Never expose the controller to moisture.

• Do not drop the controller.

• Clean only with a soft dry microfiber cloth.

• Connect controller with only PoE or the included power supply.

• Do not disassemble the unit in any way to avoid risk of electrical shock or damage.

There are no user serviceable parts, and this will void your product warranty.

• Only use within the recommended temperature and humidity parameters

1.Product Description

1.1 Overview

The BG-Commander is designed to provide precise control of BZBGEAR’s complete line of
cameras with support for both IP and serial control protocols. It supports VISCA over IP and
ONVIF protocols as well as VISCA, Pelco-D, and Pelco-P via RS-232/422/485. The web
interface makes it easy to quickly add IP cameras.

o Operating temperature range: 14° - 122°F (-10° - 50°C)
o Operating humidity range: 10 – 90%

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1.2 Product Features

Number

Name

Function

1

Power switch

Power on/off

2

Power

Stand ard 5.5/2.1 power port, DC 1 2V2A±10%

3

LAN

Network Connection

4

RS232

Supports Visca, Pelco-P/D

5

RS422

Supports Visca, Pelco-P/D

• Supports IP and analog control modes

• Supports VISCA over IP, ONVIF, Pelco-P/D, and VISCA protocols

• Variable speeds for all control axes

• Zoom can be controlled by twisting the control handle or the dedicated zoom knob

• Integrated browser interface for quick setup

• Supports PoE

1.3 Interface Description

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1.4 System connection diagram

(1) Network connection

video
conference
camera

Dome
camera

PTZ
Camera

(2) RS485 connection diagram.

Control output:
The RS485+ of the camera is connected to Ta of the controller, and the RS485- of the camera

is connected to the Tb of the controller.

(3) RS 422 connection diagram

Controller

Camera

Controller

Camera

VISCA RS422

VISCA RS422

VISCA RS422

*7 cameras max

When using RS422 bus connection mode, the third
pin (Ra) of the controller is connected to the TXD
IN- of the camera, the fourth pin (Rb) of the
controller is connected to the TXD IN+ of the
camera, the first pin (Ta) of the controller is
connected to the RXD IN- of the camera, and the
second pin (Tb) of the controller is connected to
the RXD IN+

Using RS232 connection mode, the first pin (RXD) of
the controller (10Pin terminal) is connected to the
camera input interface TXD, the second pin (TXD) of
the controller is connected to the camera RXD, and
the third pin of the controller is connected to the
camera GND (you can also use the standard RS232
DB9 interface of the controller to connect the camera.

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(4) Connection between cameras

Using RS422 bus cascade connection mode, the output of camera 1 is connected to the
input of camera 2, the output of camera 2 is connected to the input of camera 3, and so on.
As below:

VISCA Equipment

CAMERA1 CAMERA2 CAMERA3

TXD OUT+
TXD OUT­RXD OUT+
RXD OUT-

RS232 cascade connection CAMERA1 CAMERA2 CAMERA3
The output of camera 1 is connected to the

input of camera 2, the output of camera 2 is
connected to the input of camera 3, and so
on.

.............

.............

.............

.............

RXD IN+
RXD IN­TXD IN+
TXD IN-

TXD
RXD
GND

... ...

.............

.............

.............

RXD
TXD
GND

... ...

2.Buttons Description

2.1 Buttons Description

[AUTO EXPOSURE]: Click the button to enter the automatic adjustment screen exposure mode.
[AUTO WHITE BALANCE]: Click the button to select the white balance setting

[AUTO FOCUS]: Click the button to set the focus of the camera on the object
[CAM1 - 7]: Switch devices quickly
[SETUP/MENU]: 1. Press and release to enter the joystick setup menu.

2. Press and hold to activate camera OSD menu.

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Controller
setting

Description

1.Add
network
device

Camera

The jo ystick ID of camera can be filled in 1-7; after
adding camera a ll information p ress [ENTER] to save.

Protocol

Optional: VISCA (UPD), SONY VISCA (UDP), VISCA (TCP),
ONVIF, select the corresponding p rotocol of the camera

IP address

Camera IP add ress

Port

Input the camera port nu mber

Username
& Password

Input the camera username and password

2.Add
analog
device

Camera

The joystick ID of ca mera can be filled in 1-7, after
adding camera all information press [ENTER] to save

Protocol

Select the protocol corresponding to the camera

Address
code

Select the ad dress code corresponding to the camera

Baud rate

Select the ba ud rate corresponding to th e camera

3.Device list

Added camera list can be reviewed by moving the joystick up and down.
Press the button on the top of the joystick or press [ENTER] to confirm

4.Network
properties

Network
properties

Switch throu gh Joystick left and right, press [ENTER] to con firm

Dynamic

Dynamic allocation based on switch settings

Static

Manually enter IP address information

5. Device Language:
EN/Chinese

Switch through Joystick left and right, press [ENTER] to confirm

6. Key tone

Switch through Joystick left and right, press [ENTER] to confirm

7. Reset

Double press [ENTER] to reset, press [ESC] to cancel

8. System i nformation

Check the controller software, hardware, Web version,
gateway and subnet mask

[MENU BACK]: While in the camera OSD press this button to go back one level
[MENU ENTER]: While in the camera OSD press to confirm/advance one level
[BACKLIGHT ON]: Press to enable Backlight Control (BLC)
[BACKLIGHT OFF]: Press to disable Backlight Control (BLC)
[ONE PUSH TRIGGER]: Press to trigger white balance
[ONE PUSH AF]: Press to trigger auto focus

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[0-9]: Number key preset (Press and hold to set preset), (short press to recall
preset)
Example:

• Set No. 1 preset: Move the camera to the position

where you want to set preset- press and hold [1]

• Recall No.1 preset: short press [1]

[ESC]: Exit
[ENTER]: Confirm

2.2 Joystick rotations description

• ZOOM SPEED/PT SPEED: Zoom/PTZ speed adjustment

Turn the knob right to increase speed, left to decrease speed. Press the knob to switch the
adjustment type.

• IRIS: Adjust Exposure

Turn the knob to the right to open iris, tu rn left to close ir is.
Pres s [AUTO EXPOSURE] to enable/disable manual iris control.

• RGAIN/BGAIN: Red/Blue gain

Turn the knob right to inc rease gain, left to decrease gain.
Press the knob to switch the gain type.
Pres s [AUTO WHITE BALANCE] to enable/disable manual color correction.

• NEAR/FAR: Turn the knob right to adjust focus toward distant objects, turn the know

left to adjust focus toward near objects.
Pres s [AUTO FOCUS] to enable/d isable manu al focus control.

• Joystick Rotation: Rotate joystick handle clockwise to zoom in, counterclockwise to zoom out.

• Zoom Knob: Rotate knob clockwise to zoom in (telephoto), rotate counterclockwise to zoom

out (wide angle).

3. Add device

Network Device

Camera

Protocol

IP Add
Port

Device List

Camera : 3

Protocol : ONVIF

IP Add : 192.168.0.245
Port : 80
Protocol : VISCA
Address : 3
Baud rate : 9600

3.1

Add network device

Use the controller to add LAN devices as follows:
(1) Press [SETUP/MENU] to enter the main

menu.

User Name : admin

Password : admin

Keyboard Settings

1. Add N etwork Device

2. Add Analog Device

3. Device List

4. Network Attribute: Static

5. Language: English

6. Button Tone: Off

7. Restore Factory

8. System Info

3/7

(2) Setup Add Network Device, fill in the
camera, protocol, IP address, port, correct
username and password, and press
[ENTER] to confirm

(3) Enter the device list, use the joystick
up or down to select the device just
added, press the middle button of the
joystick or [ENTER] to control.

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3.2 Add analog device

Device List

Keyboard Settings

1.Add Network Device

2.Add Analog Device

3.Device List

4.Network Attribute: Static

5.Language: English

6.Button Tone: Off

7.Restore Factory

8. System Info

Camera : 1

Protocol :

Native IP 192.168.0.185
Camera
Network I/F
Target IP :
Analog interface
Target I/F
baud rate
Address
Active I/F : Analog

:

1

:

ONVIF

192.168.0.181

:

8999

:

PELCO-D

: 9600
: 1

Analog Device

Address :
Baudrate :

PELCO-D

192.168.0.245

9600

(1) Long press the bu tton on top of the joystick han dle to switch the analog mode.
(2) Press [SETUP/MENU] button to enter the setting interface, select to add analog device.
(3) Enter the device adding interface, select the camera with 1-7 digital number, select the

corresponding analog protocol, select the address code corresponding to the camera,
select the baud rate, and press [ENTER] to confirm the addition.

4. Review & Control

(1) Press the [SETUP/MENU] button to enter the
settings interface, move the joystick up and down
to select the device list, press the [ENTER] button
to view the added device.

(2) Review the saved devices by mo ving the
joystick up and down, press the button on top of
the joystick handle or the [ENTER] button to select
the camera to be controlled.

(3) When the screen shows that the connection is
successful, the controller has been connected to
this IP device. At this time, you can begin
controlling the camera.

Camera : ONVIF
Protocol
IP Add : 8999
Port : VISCA

Protocol : 1

Address : 9600
Baudrate :

1

:

192.168.0.181

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5. Network Configuration

5.1 Homepage connection and login

Connect the power cable of the controller and connect the network cable. After keyboard
start-up is complete, the device IP: 192.168.x.xxx will be displayed on the display. Enter this IP
address into the browser to access the configuration page. The initial login is:

username: admin
password: none

(1) Connect the controller and computer in the same LAN, enter the controller IP address in the

browser. The page displays as follows:

(2) default username= admin password= empty (no password)

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(3) Click button to add and modify device parameters in the local area network, the

page displays as follows:

Input the device number,
corresponding IP address, port
number and username. Click Save.

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5.2 Web network settings

LAN settings can modify the device's IP acquisition method and port parameters, as shown below:

Static address (STATIC): User defined IP address
Dynamic address (DHCP) (default): The controller will automatically request an IP address

from the router, after the request is successful it will be displayed on the display as:
“Local IP: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx”

5.3 System Upgrade

The upgrade function is used for performing firmware updates. Select the correct upgrade
file from the Browse menu and click up grade. After the upgrade is complete, the device will
automatically restart.
Note: Do not perform any op eration on the device during its upgrade, a nd do not power off or

disconnect the network!

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5.4 System reset

Clear all data and perform a factory reset.

5.5 Restart

Perform a reboot of the controller.

5.6 Import configuration

Import a previous configuration.

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5.7 Export configuration

Export the related information of the current controller added multiple devices, which can be
exported to other controller devices.

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5.8 Version information

Display the software and hardware information of the current controller.

6. Troubleshooting

1. If the screen displays "Connection failed", check IP information is correct for the

camera. Verify controller and camera are on the same subnet.

2. If the screen displays "Username and password are incorrect", please check

whether the added device username and password are correct.

3. If the camera does not respond to the joystick while in VISCA UDP mode enter the

controller setup menu and set option 9: VISCA RESPONSE to DISABLE.

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7. Tech Support

Before contacting tech support, we may have answered your question already! Visit our BZBGEAR
support page at bzbgear.com/support for valuable information on our products.

Here you will find our Knowledge Base (bzbgear.com/knowledge-base) consisting of tutorials, quick
start guides, and step-by-step troubleshooting instructions. Also visit our YouTube channel BZB TV at

youtube.com/c/BZBTVchannel for help setting up, connecting, and other how-to videos regarding our

products.
If you still need answers, please call 1.888.499.9906, email [email protected], or chat at

bzbgear.com.

8.Warranty

BZBGEAR Pro AV products and Cameras come with a three-year warranty. An extended two-year
warranty is available for our Cameras upon registration for a total of five years.

For an extended two-year warranty on our Cameras, follow these steps:

1. Register your Camera within 90 days of purchase by visiting bzbgear.com/warranty.

2. Complete the registration form. Provide all necessary proof of purchase details, including

serial number and a copy of your sales receipt.

For complete warranty information, please visit bzbgear.com/warranty or scan the QR code
below.

9.Mission Statement

BZBGEAR manifests from the competitive nature of the audiovisual and live streaming industry to
innovate while keeping the customer in mind. AV solutions can cost a pretty penny, and new
technology only adds to it. We believe everyone deserves to see, hear, and feel the advancements
made in today’s AV world without having to break the bank. BZBGEAR is your answer for applications
requiring the latest pro AV and live streaming solutions.

You’ll notice comparably lower prices with BZBGEAR while the performance and quality are on par

with the top brands in the industry. Our team offers system design consultation and expert tech
support seven days a week for all BZBGEAR products. Our unparalleled support is our way of showing
we care for every one of our customers. Whether you’re an integrator, home theater enthusiast, or a
do-it-yourselfer, BZBGEAR offers solutions allowing you to focus on your project and not your budget.

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