Wintriss Communication Problem

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• Wintriss
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Wintriss Communication Problem

If your cameras stop communicating properly, there are (3) possible reasons:

 1)       One or more of you cameras/sensors has failed.

2)       One or more of your cables has failed.

3)       Your DSP card inside the computer has failed.

 Following the steps outlined in these instructions will help isolate where the problem lies.

• Step 1 – Check your power

  • Shut down your computer and turn off power to the sensors.

  • Turn on power to the sensors.

  • Look closely at each of the sensors. There should be a faint red light emitting from them. Sometimes this is only 1 or 2 of the bulbs.

  • If you see a faint red light on each of your sensors, then all sensors have power.

  • If one sensor does not show a faint red light, then either

    • That sensor is bad OR

    • The power cable to that sensor is bad or unplugged

      • Swap the sensor in question with a sensor that is working to determine if it’s a bad sensor or bad power cable. (Remember to turn off power before swapping sensors)

  • If none of your sensors show a faint red light, then they are not receiving power.

    • Sensor Power Supply is bad OR

    • Outlet the Power Supply is plugged into is not live

• Step 2 – Test your cables

  • Before unplugging any cables, turn off power to the cameras and the computer!!

  • For this you will need an RJ45 cable tester, which can be purchased at most electronic stores. I will recommend one that comes in (2) pieces so that the cable does not need to be taken down to test.  BE SURE TO CLEARLY LABEL THE CABLES AND WHERE THEY PLUG INTO THE SENSOR BEFORE UNPLUGGING ANYTHING!

  • Follow the instructions included with the RJ45 tester to ensure the cable is good. Twist the ends of the cable around a bit and make sure the communication doesn’t break when doing so.

    • Repeat for all RJ45 cables plugged into your sensors (An RJ45 connector looks like a big phone plug)

  • If any cable does not pass All Tests from the RJ45 tester, then replace that cable. Any standard Category 5 network cable should work fine, and these can be purchased from most computer stores. 

    • Please Note!

• Step 3 – Testing the Communication of the Sensors

  • Turn on the computer and sensors.

  • Exit TechnoHUNT completely, until you reach the Main Windows Desktop (You will see Recycle Bin, My Computer, etc.)

  • Open the Utilities Folder (sometimes called TechnoHUNT Utilities)

  • Double Click "Start Day"

    • Check all of the sensors. All of them should now be fully lit (bright red).

    • If ANY of your sensors are not lit up, then Skip to Step 4.

  • Double Click Tracking Program (sometimes just called TRACK)

    • This will open a new window split in half. The bottom half of the screen is labeled Messages. One of the four (4) things may happen here:

      1)       Unable to Send Command to Camera

      • This means the communication between your sensors and your system failed! Skip to Step 4.

      2)       Low Light Level Warning

      • All Sensors are Communicating Properly!

      • The sensor is not aligned sufficiently – Align sensor to the center of the tape. Refer to Wintriss Sensor Alignment instructions.

      • The tape is scuffed, scratched, or just worn from old age – Try wiping down the tape with a damp cloth, followed immediately with a dry cloth to avoid water spots. If the tape is too old or badly damaged, it must be replaced.

      • The sensor Plexiglas cover is scratched or dusty – Wipe down with a lint-free cloth.

      3)       Pixel Range Error

      • All Sensors are Communicating Properly!

      • Sensor is seriously out of alignment – Align sensor to center of the tape. Refer to Wintriss Sensor Alignment instructions.

      • Something is blocking the Sensor Array - Check for objects laying on or covering any portion of the tape.

      4)       No messages – Top half of screen shows Camera, Pixel, etc.

      • All Sensors are Communicating Properly!

      • Hit the letter ‘C’ on the keyboard – This will start a continuous communication stream with the sensors.

      • Put your arm through, or walk through each Sensor Array to make sure that the graphs show a downward spike from the break in light.

      • Numbers should appear on the screen showing the camera number, and the pixel area that you passed through.

        • If one of your sensors does not register anything passing through the array, then the sensor is bad.

        • If all cameras see something passing through the array, there should be no problems with the system.

      • It is always good to check your graphs on all sensors and make sure they are aligned to the center of the tape.
• Step 4 – Testing each camera individually

  • Open the Utilities folder.

  • Double Click Shop.dat (sometimes named Shop Data, or Edit Shop Info)

    • The first line of this file should read NUM CAMERAS: X, with X being however many sensors you have (i.e. NUM CAMERAS: 4 if you have a 4 sensor system)

    • Change the current number to 1 (NUM CAMERAS: 1), be careful not to add or remove any spaces, or change any other line in this file.

    • Click File

    • Click Save

    • Click File
    • Click Exit

    RIGHT Click Tracking Program (use the Right mouse button)

    • Click Properties

    • Click Program

      • Under Command Line, the last word should be track.exe (or track.exe 2)

      • Change track.exe to track.exe 1 (after track.exe, hit the space bar, then type the number 1)

      • Click OK

• Your system now believes it is a 1-sensor system, and will try and communicate with only 1 sensor.
  • Turn off power to your sensors.
  • Clearly Label Where All Cables Plus In To Each Sensor!
  • Take down all sensors from the wall.
  • Each Sensor has (4) RJ45 slots, which look like large phone jacks. Slots 1 and 3 are output to the next sensor, Slots 2 and 4 are inputs.
  • On the Right Hand Screen Sensor, you will notice (2) terminator plugs in Slots 1 and 3. Remove these terminator plugs.
  • On Each Sensor, there is a set of pins that identify the sensor number and it’s location. This is the ID SETTING of the sensor. These are 8 rows of 2 pins each, numbered from 1 to 8. Written beside these pins are the words Camera ID. A small piece of plastic (called a Jumper) is over one of the rows, depending on the cameras current ID (1-4).
  • Pick up one of the sensors.
  • Using a pair of Needle-Nose Pliers, remove the plastic Jumper and place it over both pins in row #1. This sets the Camera ID to ID 1.
  • Take the (2) terminator plugs, and put them in slots 1 and 3.
  • Take the (2) cables going from your computer to Sensor 1, and plug them into slots 2 and 4. C3 on the DSP card will plug into slot 2 on the sensor, C4 will plug into slot 4.
  • Remember to plug the power cable back in (it looks like speaker wire with a small white plastic end)
  • Turn on your sensors and your computer.
  • Perform Step 3, as outlined above.
  • Repeat for All other sensors.

Receiving No Message, Low Light Level Error, or Pixel Range Error means that sensor is communicating properly with the computer (though it’s probably not aligned).

Receiving Unable to Send Command to Camera means that sensor is NOT communicating with the computer.

If one of your sensors is NOT communicating properly, but all others are, then you have a Bad Sensor.

If ALL of your sensors are NOT communicating properly, then you either have a Bad DSP, or a Bad Cable between the computer and Sensor 1.

If you replace those (2) cables between the computer and Sensor 1, and still none of the sensors communicate with the system, then it must be a Bad DSP.

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