Surveillance Video Forum

Hi folks! I'm completely new to this type of stuff and could use a little help please.

I'm considering setting up a system using a PTZ type cameras. Also I'd like to operate this through my PC. What I'm having trouble deciphering is the RS485 coms. Most of the cameras I look at use this for the ptz operations. When I look at the various DVR cards they'll mention they support ptz but never mention the rs485.

So is this just a standard feature in these cards or do I need to look specifically for one that says it supports rs485? Or do I simply have to buy one of the joystick type controllers regardless.

If there are links to some decent basic tutorials I'd appreciate those as well.

Thanks for any help!
- Pappy

Hi Pappy,

If the card supports PTZ cameras than you will not need a joystick keyboard to control the camera. You can connect the PTZ camera control cable (2 conductors 18 Gauge) to the serial port or com port of the computer. In order to connect the 2 conductor cable to this port, you would need an RS232/485 adapter, such as this one: http://www.surveillance-video.com/rs232-485c.html

If you have multiple PTZ cameras, the cameras could be daisy chained together and assigned different ID's.

You can still use a joystick keyboard if you choose. The joystick controllers respond a lot faster than trying to click the control buttons on the software interface.

Thanks for the reply. I finally decided to go with the joystick type keyboard for controls. Should be here in the next day or so.

What I'm running into at this point is the fact that these more up to date computers don't have the rs232 ports. So it's a a mix of adapters stacked up to eventually lead to the rs485. I'm a bit leary of that particular configuration. Probably would be fine but looks iffy.

Will probably just use the DVR card for recording.

Thanks again for the info.

- Pappy