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sync troubles

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:27 pm
by artoo
unfortunately i dont have a permanent location for my 12 cam system, so i have to set it up occasionaly.
but every time there is troubles at the first starts.

usualy sync seems to be a little borked.
i often see like 3times cam1, 2times cam2, 2times cam3.. etc..

is there any way to avoid this ?
usualy i find myself changing cables and sync splitter cables.. and booting all up and down for a unestiminate-able time.. until accidentaly all works.

that makes me wonder if i do anything wrong.

i allready got me 11 hiquality chinch-cables to replace the very thin default ones..
but it seems not to make a difference.

would be great to know if i am the ownly one having these troubles.. or if somebody could give me some hints.

thanks and greetings!

Re: sync troubles

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:02 pm
by VincentG
You are using the RCA cables to do a hardwire sync?

The numbers starting over, in the chain, indicate that the sync signal from the master camera is being "lost". So if the sequence is 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2, etc. then there is an issue between the camera #3, and the second #1, as well as the second #2 camera and the third #1 camera

Look to make sure that the RCA output on the #3 camera is plugged into the input on the #1 (2nd) camera. Same for the 2nd 2-1 restart.

Check the splitter cable connection, as it attaches to the cameras as well, as it may not be seated correctly.

Re: sync troubles

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:14 pm
by artoo
ah ok.

it was more like 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6

and yes, rca cables.
a while i worried that the cables i got with the system might be too thin and one or two did break.
(i couldnt swear that nobody did ever step on one of them)

so i got me a set of highend rca cables with a bigger diameter and shielding, gold contacts and that. but it seems not to help realy.

today (right now) im working with the system.
after disconnecting and reconnecting some sync splitter cables to the cams, its up and running now.

but once in a while during the captures a bunch of cammeras seem to crash or something.
i hear that windows sound like something was disconnected, and then directly after that the windows sound like something is connected.
but then i see some cammeras dont capture anymore.
i allways have the 12 cam windows open during the capture to see that all are recording the dots.
but pretty frequently 4-6 cams just get lost.
usualy i save the project then, restart arena.. and load the project again.
fortunately area starts superquick.

its like the usb ports on the cams have loose connections.
maybe because the system has been set up and then boxed again like 30 or 40 times allready.. (?)

or is that too unlikely ?

Re: sync troubles

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:16 pm
by artoo
ah and i like to add that i plug all the cables in with much care and attention allways.
since i know the thing is a bit of a diva until it runs..
..and even while running.

at least to me.. or does anybody else have simmilar issues ?

Re: sync troubles

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:54 pm
by VincentG
What are you system specifications?

Are you using the D-link hubs, or the OptiHubs?

So all the cameras are connected in a single in/out sync chain?

Re: sync troubles

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:51 am
by spencer
its two d-link hubs,
each one has 6 cams connected.

and its a single open sync chain. (no loop of course)

Re: sync troubles

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:43 pm
by VincentG
Are the power supplies on the dlink hubs, say d-link, or naturalpoint?