MicroPower Helios, MPT 2500, MPT 2700 Installation Manual

4350 Executive Drive, Ste. 325

San Diego, CA 92121

+1-888-854-3312

www.micropowerapp.com

Helios™

Solar Wireless IP Surveillance System

Installation Guide

Version 5.0

Helios Installation Guide

Table of Contents

Contacting MicroPower Customer Support 3 General Safety Precautions 3 Package Contents 4 System Overview 5 Installation Recommendations 6 I. Site Survey 6 II.

System Setup 7

III.

Mounting the MiniHub and Rugged-i camera 24

IV.

Adjusting the Camera Image 28

V. Configure the Video Management Software (VMS) 29

Helios Installation Guide

Contacting MicroPower Customer Support

MicroPower’s customer support strategy is through best-in-class business partners including OEMs, distributors, systems integrators and systems vendors. If your MicroPower product was purchased directly from a MicroPower business partner, that partner is the first point of contact for technical support. If the business partner cannot resolve a problem, then the partner will contact MicroPower.

Web Support: http://www.micropowerapp.com

Email Support:

help@micropowerapp.com

Phone Support Worldwide:

+1-

888-854-3312

Fax Support – Worldwide: +1-858-947-3907

General Safety Precautions

• Follow all cautions, instructions, and warnings as listed on the product and related documentation, including electro-static discharge (ESD) recommendations, physical handling advice and other recommendations or best practices.

• Use ESD precautions when unpacking and installing MicroPower camera and hub products. ESD mats and grounding straps are recommended.

• Ensure that the voltage and frequency of your power source match the voltage and frequency required by the equipment. Do not use an alternative power supply.

• Ensure that the battery size and voltage match the size and voltage required by the equipment. Failure to do so could result in damage to the equipment and nullification of the product warranty.

• Use only the included antennas and ancillary equipment provided with the product.

• Do not make mechanical or electrical modifications to equipment. MicroPower is not responsible for the safety or regulatory compliance of a modified product.

• Do not omit device components that would interfere with air flow and cooling as designed. Failure to follow these guidelines can cause overheating and affect the reliability of your MicroPower product.

• Protect your warranty. A product which has been damaged, misused, abused or misapplied may be determined to be out of warranty.

Helios Installation Guide

Package Contents

Helios Solar Wireless IP Surveillance System consists of two major devices; the MPT 2500 Rugged-I Solar Wireless IP Video Camera and the MPT 2700 Wireless Video Hub.

MPT 2500 Rugged-i™ Solar Wireless IP Video Camera

• One Directional Antenna (Combination for Narrowband and Wideband)

• Rugged-i Camera

• Camera Mounting Arm

• Mounting Hardware (IP66 Enclosure) for Camera

o 3 Hex 10 mm Philips head screws o 2 attachment Philips screws o 3 plastic sleeves

• Antenna Mounting Bracket

o U-Bracket o 2 attachment screws and nuts

MPT2700 MiniHub™ Wireless Video Hub System

• One Directional Antenna

• Antenna Mounting Bracket

o U-Bracket o 2 attachment screws and nuts

• MiniHub

• Power Cord

Helios Installation Guide

System Overview

MicroPower Technologies has developed a unique power and wireless technology, TrustLinx, that is 90% lower power and 400% longer range than traditional wireless IP video camera technology. With this proprietary and patented technology, the MicroPower outdoor IP video cameras can be operational for five days without being recharged by the sun and maintain 24 hour operation at 5 frames per second (fps). In addition, TrustLinx, has a unique capability to cooperate with multiple wireless technologies that allow the transmission of video data at a potential distance of 1/2 mile with the highest possible video quality.

Because of this unique and proprietary technology, the MicroPower Technologies Helios System with the MPT2500 Rugged-i Solar Wireless IP Video Camera and the MPT2700 MiniHub Wireless Video Hub work in tandem to provide a wireless IP video system which allows for the placement of the outdoor wireless IP video camera system practically anywhere that is needed. Thus, the MicroPower system eliminates the need for digging trenches to connect power to outdoor IP video cameras, significantly reducing installation time and labor costs.

Up to six (6) Rugged-i IP video cameras can be associated to each MiniHub. The MiniHub is the data connection to a broadband Internet access point. The broadband Internet access point can be a wireless or wired router, or a broadband modem (cable model or ADSL modem).

Helios Installation Guide

Installation Recommendations

There are 5 major steps that are recommended for a successful installation. These are:

1. Site survey

2. System setup

3. Mounting MiniHub and Rugged-i camera

4. Adjust focus of the camera

5. Configure VMS

I. Site Survey

A well-thought out plan for the location of the hub and camera(s) are important steps to ensuring that the entire system can communicate and integrate with a new or existing video surveillance and management system. For complete guidance on performing a quality site survey, please refer to the MicroPower collateral titled “Site Survey Guidelines”.

For best results, a line-of-sight design between the Helios system can provide a range of up to 1/2 mile. However, obstacles such as buildings, concrete, steel or stucco walls and ceilings will impact the wireless performance in terms of reach and data rate speeds. Hence, these items can affect performance and range so that the distance between the MiniHub and Rugged-i camera may need to be reduced. If the distance between the MiniHub and a Rugged-i camera is too far, then the video will either be non-operational since the MiniHub and Rugged-i camera did not pair correctly, or there will be noticeably slower frame rates. The distance between the MiniHub and a Rugged-i camera must be a minimum of 25 feet. For further education and guidelines on RF effects, refer to MicroPower document “A Guide to Optimizing Your RF Setup”.

Since the Rugged-i camera is powered by solar, the impact of shadows and sun direction is an important consideration. The Rugged-i does not require direct alignment with the sun, but it is advisable to place the camera in a location which receives an adequate amount of sunlight throughout the day. The best time to perform a sun profile for all cameras is during the peak hours of sunlight from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m to determine shadow avoidance strategies.

If the Rugged-i camera is being installed in the Northern Hemisphere, ideally the panels and cameras should be placed on the SOUTH side of a pole or facing SOUTH to minimize

Helios Installation Guide

shadows created by the attached pole. East and west facing cameras are acceptable but not optimal. Avoid placing the camera on the NORTH end of a pole or facing NORTH. If the Rugged-i camera is installed in the Southern Hemisphere, ideally the panels and cameras should be placed on the North side of a pole or facing NORTH for minimal shadow impact.

For more information, see the following link.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6069191_install-panel-direction-aiming-degrees.html

In addition, areas that are not recommended include:

• Indoors

• Under a roof eave

• Underneath a tree canopy or foliage which does not receive adequate sunlight

• Next to a building that will create shadows at a different part of the day

Additionally, please make sure there are minimal obstructions to the camera antennas and that they are able to be appropriately positioned to receive and transmit data and video to the hub.

II. System Setup

The following steps are required when performing system setup and installations.

1. Add antennae to MiniHub

2. Configure MiniHub for the final IP address desired.

3. Reboot the hub system.

4. Add camera through the web interface.

5. Add camera antennae

6. Connect the battery cables to the camera.

7. Adjust camera settings if necessary

8. Verify the pairing between the MiniHub and Rugged-I camera in a close

proximity environment.

9. View the camera connection through the web interface and Live Connection.

10. Begin mounting process of the final locations for the MiniHub and cameras.

Helios Installation Guide

For most systems, the pairing between the MiniHub and the Rugged-I Camera have not been performed. If the pairing between the MiniHub and Rugged-I camera has been performed by the factory (steps 1 – 5 have been completed), the user only need to perform the VMS setup. Refer to the documents titled VMS setup for your specific VMS.

During the configuration and pairing exercise, the antennas for the MiniHub and Rugged-i Camera are required to be attached before the battery connection with the camera is connected.

A. Accessing the MiniHub

Accessing the MiniHub is similar to setting up a wireless router in the home. A display or network console is used to directly address the MiniHub. There are two basic topologies in which the MiniHub can be addressed. The common method for systems which already have a sophisticated network in place is addressing the MiniHub through a network switch. It is also possible to communicate to the MiniHub from a server directly to the MiniHub through a crossover cable. Below are illustrations of both topologies.

Network Switch Topology

Crossover Cable Topology

Helios Installation Guide

B. System Setup via the MiniHub

It is important to configure the MiniHub first, prior to pairing the MiniHub to the Rugged-i cameras. System setup is performed through a web Interface while addressing the MiniHub through a network console, similar to how a wireless router is configured in a home setting.

The MiniHub must be connected to a network switch prior to configuring the MiniHub or directly to a laptop/network server through a crossover cable. Communication to the administration console application of the MiniHub is performed through a standard browser via a network console. (Note: The MiniHub is a fully operational Linux server. Any application that is loaded on to the MiniHub will nullify the MicroPower Technologies warranty.)

To configure the MiniHub, you will need to:

Connect the AC power cable to the MiniHub and plug into a power source.

Connect MiniHub Antennae

Power on the MiniHub using the toggle button on the rear of the unit. Make sure the Rugged-i camera and MiniHub are at least 25 feet away from each other.

Configure the network console so that it can directly address the MiniHub. The default IP address of the MiniHub is 192.168.0.100. You may need to modify the IPv4 adapter settings of the network console to match the default MiniHub IP address, since it is required to be in the same domain to be addressable. To communicate to the MiniHub, the first three numbers of the IP address of the network console need to match that of the default MiniHub IP address. In this case, it is necessary to enter 192.168.0.XXX where XXX is any number not previously issued within connected network.

Power Toggle

Button

Antenna Connector(s)

AC Power

Helios Installation Guide

Below is an example screen of modifying the IPv4 properties in Windows to make this change

Press OK.

To communicate to the MiniHub through the network console, type the default IP address of the MiniHub in a browser.

http://192.168.0.100

This is a temporary IP address which will eventually be modified through the system setup application.

At this point, a login screen will appear. This is the MicroPower Technologies setup application. This login screen will look like the following

Helios Installation Guide

Type in admin for the username. The password should be left blank.

At this point, the System Setup Web Interface will appear. Six tabs will be available; System Setup, Add/Remove Camera, Camera Settings, Hub Interface, Camera Info and Hub Status. All instructions and menu options to this Installation Guide pertain to Version 16.16 or greater. You will note Version 16.16 by looking up the Version number in the Hub Status Tab.

The firmware version is located in the Web Interface on tab, Hub Status, under the heading PKTVER. See below.

Helios Installation Guide

Begin configuration of the MiniHub by selecting the System Setup tab.

This is the menu used to specify the final IP address, hostname, WiFi channel, Wi-Fi bandwidth, narrow band channel number, narrow band channel power and time out period.

Typically, you will only need to change the IP address. To configure the IP address, single click the IP address. The user will then be directed to a Configure Hub IP address menu. See below.

This menu allows a user to modify a static IP address, gateway address, subnet address or choose Dynamic otherwise known as DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

Note: Caution should be used in using DHCP, since the IP address will be dynamic, making it difficult to determine the appropriate IP address to access the setup menu in the MiniHub. The only access to the MiniHub for setting modifications is by using the IP address as the URL in the web browser. Hence, using DHCP would require assistance from the IT administrator to perform discovery to determine the assigned IP address of the MiniHub at the moment in which modifications are desired.

The new Hub IP address should correspond to the IP address within the subnet of your network. For instance, should your devices be assigned an IP address of 192.168.100.1,

192.168.100.5 and 192.168.100.10, then a viable Hub IP address would be 192.168.100.150.

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MicroPower Helios, MPT 2500, MPT 2700 Installation Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual