Summary:
The article provides a comprehensive guide on configuring camera settings, including camera identification, modes, flash power, image size, and night mode. It explains motion detection settings such as sensitivity, delay, and time lapse, and details network settings like QR code registration and daily photo limits. Additional settings cover language, date/time, photo stamping, battery type, SD card loop recording, password protection, and factory reset options. The guide also offers troubleshooting information and contact details for support.
CAM Tab: Camera Settings
This section lets you customize how your camera captures photos.
Cam ID (Camera Identification)
- What it does: Allows you to give each camera a unique name or ID (up to 4 letters or numbers).
- Why it's useful: If you have multiple cameras, this helps you easily know which camera took a specific photo in your app.
- How to use: Select ON, press OK, and then enter your desired 4-digit/letter ID for this camera.
Cam Mode (Camera Mode)
- Photo: When this mode is selected, the camera will only take still photos when triggered.
-
How it works:
- The camera will take a series of photos based on your Multi-shot and Image Size settings (explained below).
- The full-quality images will be saved on the camera's memory card (local storage).
- Smaller, thumbnail versions of the photos will be sent to your mobile app.
Flash Power
- High: In dark environments, all the infrared (IR) lights will turn on to provide maximum illumination for night photos.
- Low: In dark environments, only half of the infrared (IR) lights will turn on. This might result in less bright night photos but can help conserve battery.
- How to choose: Select the desired power level based on how much light you need in your night photos and your battery usage preferences.
Image Size
This setting determines the resolution (size and detail) of the photos your camera takes. Higher megapixels (MP) mean more detail but also larger file sizes.
- 8MP (3264x2448): Good image quality with smaller file sizes.
- 12MP (4032x3024): Higher image quality with slightly larger file sizes.
- 24MP (5632x4224): Highest image quality with the largest file sizes.
- How to choose: Select the desired resolution based on how much detail you need in your photos and the storage capacity of your memory card.
Night Mode
This setting helps you control how the camera takes photos in low-light conditions.
- Min. Blur (Minimize Blur): The camera will use a faster shutter speed to reduce motion blur, resulting in clearer images of moving objects at night.
- Max. Range (Maximum Range): The camera will use a longer shutter speed to allow the infrared (IR) flash to reach further, improving visibility in dark areas. However, this might result in more motion blur.
- Balanced: This mode tries to find a middle ground between minimizing blur and maximizing the IR flash range.
- How to choose: Select the mode that best suits the environment you are monitoring and whether motion blur is a concern.
Multi-shot (Number of Shots)
- What it does: Allows you to set how many photos the camera will take each time it detects motion (from 1 to 5 photos).
- How it works: The camera will send the second photo in the sequence to your app. All the photos in the sequence will be saved on the camera's memory card.
- How to use: Select the number of photos you want the camera to take per trigger.
PIR Tab: Motion Detection Settings
This section controls how the camera detects movement.
Sensitivity
This setting determines how easily the camera is triggered by motion and heat changes.
-
High:
- More sensitive to smaller movements.
- Longer detection range.
- More likely to detect subtle differences between body heat and the environment.
- Easier for the camera to be triggered.
- Suggestion for hot environments: In high temperatures, it can be harder for the camera to distinguish between the subject's body heat and the surrounding temperature. Setting the sensitivity to High is generally recommended in these conditions.
- Middle: A balanced level of sensitivity.
- Low: Less sensitive to movement, requiring larger movements or significant heat changes to trigger the camera.
- OFF: When set to OFF, the camera will not take any pictures when it detects motion.
- How to choose: Adjust the sensitivity based on the size of the objects you want to detect and the environmental conditions.
Delay (Time Interval Between Photos)
- What it does: Allows you to set a specific amount of time the camera will wait before taking another photo after it has already been triggered by motion. This helps prevent the camera from taking too many photos in a short period.
- How to use: Select ON, press OK, and then set the desired time interval (from 5 seconds to 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds).
- Example: If you set the delay to 00:01:00 (1 minute), the camera will wait one minute after taking a photo due to motion before it can take another motion-triggered photo.
- Important Note: You cannot use Time Lapse and Delay at the same time. You must choose one or the other.
Time Lapse
- What it does: Allows the camera to automatically take photos at set time intervals, regardless of whether motion is detected. When Time Lapse is active, the camera's motion detection (PIR sensor) is turned off.
- How to use: Select ON, press OK, and then set the desired time interval between photos (from 5 seconds to 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds).
- Example: If you set the interval to 00:05:00 (5 minutes), the camera will take a photo every 5 minutes.
- Important Note: You cannot use Time Lapse and Delay at the same time. You must choose one or the other.
Working Timer
- What it does: Allows you to set specific start and end times for when the camera will be active and take photos. Outside of these hours, the camera will not function.
- How to use: Select ON, press OK, and then set the desired start and end times (hour and minute).
- Example: If you set the timer from 15:00 to 18:00, the camera will only take photos between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
4G Tab: Network Settings
This section deals with the camera's 4G connection and data usage.
QR Code
- What it does: Displays a QR code that you can scan with your mobile app to quickly register the camera to your account.
- How to use: Open your camera's app and look for an option to "Scan QR Code" or "Add Camera." Point your phone's camera at the QR code shown on the camera screen to register it.
Max Num/Day (Maximum Number of Photos Per Day)
- What it does: Allows you to limit the number of photos the camera will send to your app each day.
-
How it works:
- Default: unlimited: The camera will send all triggered photos to your app.
- Optional: 1 to 99: You can set a maximum number of photos (between 1 and 99) that will be transmitted to your app daily.
- Any photos taken beyond this limit will still be saved on the camera's memory card but will not be sent to your app until the next day.
- How to use: Choose the desired maximum number of photos you want to receive in your app each day.
OTHER Tab: Additional Settings
This section contains various other useful settings.
Language
- Allows you to change the language displayed on the camera's menu. Currently, only English is available.
Date/Time
- Allows you to set the current date and time on your camera (Month, Day, Year, Hour, Minute, Second).
- Important Note: Make sure to set the correct date and time to ensure all camera functions (like time stamps on photos and the working timer) work correctly.
Stamp
- What it does: When turned ON, the camera will imprint information on each photo, including the programmed Cam ID, moon phase, temperature, date, and time.
- How to use: Select ON to enable these details on your photos.
Battery Type
- Allows you to select the type of batteries you are using in the camera (Alkaline, NI-MH, or Lithium).
- Important Note: Choosing the correct battery type helps the camera accurately manage power and ensures optimal battery performance.
SD Loop (SD Card Loop Recording)
- What it does: When turned ON, and the memory card becomes full, the camera will automatically delete the oldest photos to make space for new ones. This allows for continuous recording without manually managing the memory card.
- How to use: Select ON to enable this feature.
Password
- What it does: Allows you to set a password (up to 6 letters or numbers) to protect your camera's settings from unauthorized access.
- How to use: Select ON, press OK, and then enter your desired password.
Reset
- Selecting Yes will reset all camera settings back to their original factory default values.
About
- Displays information about your camera's firmware version, IMEI number, MCU version, and ICCID. This information might be useful for troubleshooting or when contacting customer support.
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team at support@tactacam.com.