So, I am just learning how the Ninja stuff
works. I have Wired X10 cameras, so they
get their power from their own power
supply. Normally, does X10 suggest that the
House#/Code of the Camera power supply be
the same as the Ninja?
What if I don't want to do that? I have an
external switcher that sequences through my
four cameras--so I don't want Camera #1 to
turn off when I start controlling Camera 2--
I assume the way to do this is to have each
camera on a different house code? (which
makes it more of a pain--but I can't find
another option.) I tried having Camera 1 as
A/1 and Camera 2 as A/5 and Camera 3 as A/9
and Camera 4 as A/13 -- but that doesn't
fool the system--it still turns off the
other cameras in the same "house".
If I simply have the camera as A/1 and the
Ninja as B/1--should that solve my problem
of the camera turning off when I start
controlling another camera?
How does the communication work? Whn I
hit "C1" on the remote control, is it
sending a "A/1 ON" command or what? What
commands is it sending for panning (are they
extended codes or just regular X10 that the
Ninja knows means pan/tilt/etc.?)
Hi Christopher,your cams on and off signals
come through the 120 volt house wireing.
(These signals don't like surge protectors)
To control more than one cam you need a
transceiver, which plugs in a wall outlet.
(about $12.00 from X10). The ninja's P/T
signals are RF transmitted through the air.
Hope this helps some.
Are you saying the P/T is entirely RF--not RF
converted to powerline by the tranceiver?
The PAN & Tilt Pro software available on-line
controls PTZ cameras via the CM19A, so basic
or extended x10 commands should probaly work
if you can find the codes.
www.mbx-usa.com has the CR14A protocol as
well as the cm17a and generic X10 RF
protocols.
Chris,
Did you try to hook up the power source for
the camera to the nija therefore
eliminating the need for two power sources?
Any idea how that can be achieved?
The Ninja has a power supply connection [in
the base] that you connect the camera supply
connector to and don't use the one thet came
with it. Or so the instructions show.
That connection is normally for wireless
cameras I think the wired ones use a
different type connection and cable.
I ordered a SR731 RF repeater as
recommended by x10 Sales to amplify
commands over longer distances from the
CR14A Ninja Scan Pad Controller to the
ZC15A Ninja Base but received a PSX01
repeater that I can't find much info on the
x10 web site. Anyhow, the PSX01 doesn't
work. I placed this PSX01 just a little
farther out of range than the CR14A works
at, then stood next to it and got nothing.
Does anyone have any successful experience
with x10 repeaters at 310 MHz?
Go to www.x10pro.com and you can get the
manual for it. It is basically the same as
the SR731.
Does the CR14A pan/tilt controller send
through the TM 751 transceiver or send
directly to the Ninja Base?
I found that if you are using the Ninja with
an Anaconda they should both use the same
setting. A-1 for the camera and a-1 for the
ninja base, this way when you press c-1 on
the scan pad you can see that cam and
control the ninja it's attached to.
If you have other Anacondas using Ninja
bases. The second cammera & ninja setting
will be A-2 and the third A-3 etc.
I'd like to know how to connect 8 anacondas
to 8 vcrs to one tv. So I may record what
any one or all cameras see. And monitor any
one on tv. Something with 8 RCA inputs? Any
suggestions would help thanks.
I have read that the CR14a sends the on off
signals through a tranceiver to control the
switchable power supplies and the pan and
tilt signal are not X10s standard ones and
the ninja reacts directly to pan and tilt
commands from the CR14a.
Sorry , I forgot to add, you do need one
TM751 plugged in, by itself, on the same
phase as everything else. It works
Alex,
If you want to go to the trouble of using 8
vcrs and 8 cameras, then you should search
for an 8 channel dvr input card and set up
a security surveillance computer. The
cards are much cheaper now (typically $50-
$100). Many computer vendorssell these
cards, or you can search ebay under "dvr
surveillance". The cards are usually 4, 8,
12, 16 or 32 camera inputs. They record
multiple cameras onto a hard disk drive as
mpeg video files. If you don't have any
computer know-how, there are pre-made
systems available.
As I posted on the "poor engineering"
forum, be aware that x10 cameras don't hold
up too well when run 24/7. You will need
to let them coll down for a few hours per
day. This can be done with a timer.
Ok did some tests this morning. With a Ninja
Kit; ELK ESM-1 X10 Signal Meter and a RR501
Tranceiver. The XM14A Addressable Power
Supply is controled by an X10 Line Signal
through the Tranceiver from the CR14A C1 to
C4 Buttons. The power supply defaults to ON
when power is applied. So in a multicamera
setup after a power fialure all of them
maybe ON. The Pan and Tilt Commands do not
go through the power lines and even with no
tranceiver online. The unit will pan and
tilt if it's power supply is on. It too only
follows the CR14A commands if it's power
supply is ON.
This may explain why some have problems. The
CR14A has to be both in RF range of the
Ninja to do pan and tilt movements and the
tranceiver to control which Camera-Ninja
unit is ON. Also in the mix is the
tranceiver also has to be able to get the
X10 Line Signals to the Addressable Power
Supplies to turn them ON or OFF.
I am wanting to control the Ninja P/T
functions from linux....does anyone have any
pointers on what I will need to accomplish this?
There is some information on the ninja CR14A remote on http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm (http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm). I found some good data on what RF codes are sent on www.mbx-usa.com (http://www.mbx-usa.com), but it seems to be down for the last week or so. Cameras and ninja power supplies are turned on and off by an X10 line signal. The pan and tilt is a direct RF command to the ninja base.