Mobotix Camera Firmware 3.4.2.16 Released
Mobotix has just released version 3.4.2.16 firmware for all M12/D12/M22/D22 cameras including both 1.3 and 3.0 megapixel models.
New Functionality includes:
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Support of D12 panorama cameras |
- Special Display Mode “180 ° View”, with the two sensor imagas combined |
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Vitual PTZ |
Vitual Pan/Tilt/Zoom-Actions with joystick or mouse |
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SD card recording |
Recording to SD cards instead of a file server – using MxFFS |
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Support ExtIO |
This is the first SW version that can be used to connect an ExtIO to the camera |
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Various additional enhancements and bug fixes |
See the release notes |
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Event-Download improved |
Now events can be downloaded to a tar file up to 8GByte size. |
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Improved noise filter |
The noise filter for low light situations has been improved. It can be set to two levels – low and high. |
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SIP enhancements |
The SIP configuration now supports a “Quick Setup” mode. Furthermore now also stored events can be played back via a SIP video connection. |
Details
Please note that some of the described features in the dialogs will only be visible if the More button at the bottom of a dialog has been pressed.
3 Megapixel Image Format and Additional TV Image Formats
This software version can generate images in 3 Megapixel resolution (QXGA, 2048×1536 pixels). This resolution can be used for live video and for recording one image sensor. It is most useful on cameras with 3 Megapixel sensors (factory IP addresses 10.3.x.x and higher). If you need dual images from a dual camera, the maximum resolution of each image sensor is limited to MEGA (1280×960 pixels). You can select QXGA resolution using either the Resolution Quick Control in the camera’s Live screen or in the Setup Menu > General Image Settings dialog.
The following new standard image formats are available with this version:
TV-CIF (352×288 pixels)
TV-PAL (704×576 pixels)
Recording to Flash Devices
This feature allows using recording on non-volatile storage media, i.e. either the factory-integrated Flash storage in the camera or a USB storage device (stick or harddisk)! For this purpose, the MOBOTIX MxFFS file system has been developed, which guarantees optimum performance and high reliability. You can select one of these new storage methods-just like when storing to an external file server-in the Admin Menu > Storage on External File Server / Flash Device dialog.
Make sure that you understand the following hints before you use this feature:
Recording on a Flash device is an alternative to using a file server; combining both methods is not possible.
Recording in a integrated Flash storage device is only possible when using R8 models, which have been equipped with an 8 GB Flash storage device at the factory.
You should always use the new MOBOTIX MxFFS file system as recording format – even when using USB storage devices!
Video data on USB storage devices, which have been written using MxFFS can currently only be viewed via a MOBOTIX camera. A future version of MxControlCenter will be able to read such a USB storage device when connecting it to the USB port of a Windows computer.
Regardless of the file format used (FAT32 or MxFFS), recording to a USB storage device can be a lot slower than recording to an external file server or the integrated Flash storage within the camera. If the recording speed is too slow and the camera creates images faster than they can be stored, this will result in “lost events”! If this is the case, you reduce the frame rate and/or resolution for recording.
Warning: You should make sure that you never disconnect a USB storage device without deactivating it first in the Admin Menu > Manage Hardware Expansions dialog since this may lead to serious loss of data. When using MxFFS, data loss is limited to 4 MB per incident; with FAT32, you may loose all data and the storage device may even be destroyed!
Custom Image Sections and Sizes
This feature allows defining an image section of any size as well as the desired resolution of that image section! To do so, set the next higher image resolution that completely contains the desired resolution, e.g. XGA. Next, draw a rectangle over the desired image section ([Shift]-click, then click) and select Resolution > Custom Size in the Quick Controls of the Live screen to use the current setting. As an alternative, you can also use the Setup Menu > General Image Settings dialog to configure this feature.
When using graphical means to define the image section, a [Shift]-click, [Ctrl]-click (instead of [Shift]-click, click) will draw a rectangle that always has the same ratio of width to height as the currently displayed image.
Using this method, you can create image sections with any desired ratio of width to height-even squares are possible.
Improved Settings of the Video Motion (VM) Windows
The following additional parameters, which control the triggering behavior can be added to the definitions of every VM window (the sequence of the parameters is of no importance any more):
a=<minimum percentage of the area, which needs to change>, [0..99], default: 20
am=<maximum percentage of the area, which may change>, [0..99], default: not used
s=<sensitivity to use when detecting changes>, [0..99], a smaller value is more likely to trigger a window, default: 20 for regular, 10 for reference windows
Example:
0,540,380,200,200,a=25,am=80,s=5
Improved Video Codec for SIP Transmissions to Video Phones
Since the basic codec settings have been further optimized, the camera can now easier establish SIP video connections to video phones.
Improved Error Notification
The file server tests when storing video on an external file server can now be started with a delay after rebooting the camera. This allows adjusting a nightly camera reboot to a reboot of a NAS system used for recording, for example. Use the Startup Delay parameter in the Admin Menu > Storage Failure Detection dialog to configure this feature.
The new Admin Menu > Error Notification dialog provides several options for getting notifications on errors that are detected within the different systems of the camera by e-mail, FTP or network messages as well as sound and visual means. In addition, you can define notifications, which the camera sends in case of unexpected reboots (i.e. reboots not triggered by the user).
Improved Multiwatcher
The Multiwatcher configuration dialog now opens the camera list in a separate window. In addition, the camera immediately verifies the camera user name and password information.
State of the Signal Output After Rebooting Can Be Set
When configuring the signal output of the camera, you can now set a default state (On or Off) after a camera reboot. Previously, the signal output had always been set to Off after rebooting.
