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[TrinityEB]

First off, let me say that overall I've been pretty satisifed with the Vanguard PTZ camera I setup in our church sanctuary last September.  Between the 22x optical zoom, 2.4ghz wireless video transmit capabilities and ability to control pretty much all aspects of the camera via the CR15A remote control, it makes it easy to sit in a back pew inconspicusly with a small handheld wireless receiver/monitor and record the service.

That being said, I'd like to submit a short list of improvements/enhancements I'd love to see made to the Vanguard & Sentinel cameras in the event that someone from X10 product development is following these forums...

- Simultaneous pan/tilt ability.  The current models must first pan horizontally from point A to B, then tilt vertically to get to the final destination.  To me, this is one of the most limiting features of these cameras.  I've seen even cheap crappy chinese ptz cameras that can do this.  I realize this would also require redesigning the remote control replacing the up/down & left/right buttons with something more like a mini joystick or trackball (like those found on Blackberries), but I think it would be well worth it.

- Smooth, Variable speed P/T functionality.  The speed would be controlled via the joystick or trackball on the remote.  A light touch would translate to a slow pan/tilt, while a heavier touch would speed things up.  Of course it would also be great if the camera would ramp up/down from it's starting position to it's ending position resulting in a smoother transition.  I know this one's a bit of a stretch, but this is a wishlist... right?

- Option somewhere in the setup menu to set the camera so that pressing the "A, B, C D" button on the remote doesn't just shut off the wireless transmission of the camera but cuts the wired video feed as well.  This way you could have 4 cameras connected via a simple video splitter and use the remote to switch from one camera to another even with wired setups.  Again, I realize this might not appeal to some users so it would be great if there were a setting in the menu that could turn this feature on or off.

- RS485 protocol connectivity to remotely control the ptz (and other features of the cameras) via controllers like these: http://www.cnbtec.com/en/html/product/product_list.php?maxx=8&midx=22.


Personally, I'd be willing to pay close to double to what the cameras go for now if they had these capabilities.  Perhaps X10 could consider a "Pro" version?

- Frank.

[trol1374]

   You have it connected wired and wireless?   I'm a little confused on your wish list there.   Maybe if you put the power supply on an appliance module to cut off the main power of the camera, that would cut the feed via wire?

    Just trying to help. 

[HA Dave]

... Maybe if you put the power supply on an appliance module to cut off the main power of the camera, that would cut the feed via wire?

Yep, cutting power will cut the hardwire video feed... and also cause the camera to lose some settings and want to recenter when power is restored. However... you can run a video feed through a Universal module (UM506) and use it to cut/turn on video feeds.

[TrinityEB]

   You have it connected wired and wireless?   I'm a little confused on your wish list there.   Maybe if you put the power supply on an appliance module to cut off the main power of the camera, that would cut the feed via wire?

    Just trying to help. 

I should probably explain my application...  We're using the Vanguard in a church to record the service and post webcasts of the sermon on our church website.  The composite out from the camera is wired to a Neuros OSD digital recorder.   We also purchased a small handheld 2.4ghz wireles receiver/monitor... With this monitor and the CR15A remote control, someone can sit inconspicusly in a pew in the back of the church and control the camera.   At some point we'd like to add two or three additional cameras to be able to cut between different shots/angles.

- Frank.

[HA Dave]

I should probably explain my application...  We're using the Vanguard in a church to record the service and post webcasts of the sermon on our church website.  The composite out from the camera is wired to a Neuros OSD digital recorder.   We also purchased a small handheld 2.4ghz wireles receiver/monitor... With this monitor and the CR15A remote control, someone can sit inconspicusly in a pew in the back of the church and control the camera.   At some point we'd like to add two or three additional cameras to be able to cut between different shots/angles.

- Frank.

The X10 camera (as well as senders and receivers) transmit on 4 different "channels". Your "small handheld 2.4ghz wireless receiver/monitor" Apparently can operate on one of those same channels. You could operate [up to] three cameras on the remaining channels. Use universal modules to turn the wired signals on/off. Consolidate the (on/off switchable) camera video outputs to your recorder/projector/video output-sender [that your forementioned handheld will receive].

Now with the addition of a transceiver (TM751) and a PalmPad remote... you can set in the same pew and select which (camera) angle you choose. As well as zooming each camera.

It sounds more complex than it actually is. Many of us X10ers use several cameras in just the same way.