AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder User Manual
About this document This manual is intended for administrators and users of the AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder, and is applicable to firmware 5.50 and later. It includes instructions for using and managing the product on your network. Previous experience of networking will be of use when using this product. Some knowledge of UNIX or Linux-based systems may also be beneficial, for developing shell scripts and applications. Later version of this document will be posted to the Axis website, as required.
The power supply used with this product shall fulfill the requirements for Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) and Limited Power Source (LPS) according to IEC/EN/UL 60950-1. Battery The Axis product uses a 3.0 V BR/CR2032 lithium battery as the power supply for its internal real-time clock (RTC). Under normal conditions this battery will last for a minimum of five years. Low battery power affects the operation of the RTC, causing it to reset at every power-up.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Table of Contents Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connectors and Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access the Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access from a Browser . . . . . . . . . .
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Table of Contents Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Symptoms, Possible Causes and Remedial Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Performance Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Hardware Overview Hardware Overview 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Hardware Overview Connectors and Buttons For technical specifications, see page 62. BNC Connector Each video input is terminated using a coax/BNC connector. Connect a 75 Ohm coaxial video cable; the recommended maximum length is 250 m (800 ft). Note If the video source is connected in parallel with other equipment using a BNC T adaptor, disable the input termination by setting the 75 Ohm termination switch to OFF to avoid reduced image quality.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Hardware Overview NOTICE TICE NO • Risk of damage to SD card. Do not use sharp tools or excessive force when inserting or removing the SD card. • Risk of data loss. To prevent corruption of recordings, the SD card should be unmounted before removal. To unmount, go to Setup > System Options > Storage > SD Card and click Unmount. Note For SD card recommendations see www.axis.com Control Button For location of the control button, see Hardware Overview on page 6 .
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Access the Product Access the Product To install the Axis product, see the Installation Guide supplied with the product. The product can be used with most operating systems and browsers. The recommended browsers are • Internet Explorer® with Windows® • Safari® with OS X® and • ChromeTM or Firefox® with other operating systems. See Technical Specifications on page 62. To view streaming video in Internet Explorer, allow installation of AXIS Media Control (AMC) when prompted.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Access the Product Access from the Internet Once connected, the Axis product is accessible on your local network (LAN). To access the product from the Internet you must configure your network router to allow incoming data traffic to the product. To do this, enable the NAT-traversal feature, which will attempt to automatically configure the router to allow access to the product. This is enabled from Setup > System Options > Network > TCP/IP Advanced.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Access the Product A temporary certificate (valid for one year) is created, enabling encryption of all traffic to and from the product, and the password can now be set securely. 2. Enter a password and then re-enter it to confirm the spelling. 3. Click OK. The password has now been configured. The Live View Page The controls and layout of the Live View page may have been customized to meet specific installation requirements and user preferences.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Access the Product To show the manual trigger buttons in the Live View page: 1. Go to Setup > Live View Config. 2. Under Action Buttons, select Show manual trigger button. AXIS Media Control viewer toolbar The AXIS Media Control viewer toolbar is available in Internet Explorer only. See AXIS Media Control (AMC) on page 14 for more information. The toolbar displays the following buttons: The Play button connects to the Axis product and starts playing a media stream.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Access the Product Click the Emulate joystick mode button and click in the image to move the camera view in the direction of the mouse pointer. Click the Center mode button and click in the image to center the camera view on that position. The center mode button could also be used to zoom in on a specific area. Click in the image and drag to draw a rectangle surrounding the area to be magnified. To zoom out, rotate the mouse wheel.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Media Streams Media Streams The Axis product provides several audio and video stream formats. Your requirements and the properties of your network will determine the type you use. The Live View page in the product provides access to H.264 and Motion JPEG video streams, audio streams and to the list of available stream profiles. Other applications and clients can access video and audio streams directly, without going via the Live View page. How to Stream H.264 H.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Media Streams The AMC Control Panel can be used to configure various video and audio settings. Please see the AXIS Media Control User’s Manual for more information. The AMC Control Panel is automatically installed on first use, after which it can be configured. Open the AMC Control Panel from: • Windows Control Panel (from the Start screen or Start menu) • Alternatively, right-click the video image in Internet Explorer and click Settings.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Media Streams Note • = IP addess • The Axis product supports QuickTime 6.5.1 and later. • QuickTime may add latency to the video stream. • It may be possible to use other players to view the H.264 stream using the paths above, although Axis does not guarantee this.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Set Up the Product Set Up the Product The Axis product can be configured by users with administrator or operator rights. To open the product’s Setup pages, click Setup in the top right-hand corner of the Live View page. • Administrators have unrestricted access to all settings. • Operators have access to all settings except System Options See also the online help . Basic Setup Basic Setup provides shortcuts to the settings that should be made before using the Axis product: 1.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio Video and Audio The video and audio settings can be used to optimize video and audio quality. You can configure the following: • Video stream settings. See page 18. • Stream profiles. See page 20. • Camera settings. See page 20. • Overlay image. See page 21. • Privacy mask. See page 23. • Audio settings. See page 23. • Audio clips. See page 24. Set Up Video Streams To set up the product’s video streams, go to Video & Audio > Video Stream.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio The pixel counter can be accessed from: • Video & Audio > Video Stream. Under Preview, click Open and select the Show pixel counter option to enable the rectangle in the image. Use the mouse to move and resize the rectangle, or enter the number of pixels in the Width and Height fields and click Apply. • The Live View page in Internet Explorer with AXIS Media Control (AMC) in Windows. Right-click in the image and select Pixel counter.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio The current bit rate can be set to appear as text overlay. Under Overlay Settings, select Include text and enter the modifier #b in the field. To apply the settings, click Save. MJPEG Sometimes the image size is large due to low light or complex scenery. Adjusting the maximum frame size helps to control the bandwidth and storage used by the Motion JPEG video stream in these situations.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio • For each video input 75 Ohm video termination can be disabled by setting the 75 Ohm termination switch to OFF. These terminations are enabled on factory default. In cases where the product is to be connected in parallel with other equipment, for optimum video quality, it is recommended that termination be enabled for only the last device in the video signal chain.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio - To make a color in the overlay image transparent, select Use transparency and enter the RGB hexadecimal value for the color. Example: To make white transparent, enter #FFFFFF. For more examples of hexadecimal values, see the online help - . To scale the image automatically, select Scale with resolution. The image will be scaled down to fit the resolution used by the Axis product. 5. Click Save. To select the image to use as overlay: 1.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio Privacy Mask A privacy mask is a user-defined area that prevent users from viewing parts of the monitored area. Privacy masks appear as blocks of solid color and are applied on the video stream. Privacy masks cannot be bypassed using the VAPIX® application programming interface (API). The Privacy Mask List (Video & Audio > Privacy Mask) shows all the masks that are currently configured in the Axis product and indicates if they are enabled.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Video and Audio Use the Input gain to control the volume (dB Full Scale) of the audio input. If the sound is too low, choose a higher dB, to amplify the sound. If the sound is too high, choose a lower dB. The Level bar gives a visual representation of the audio signal level in dB relative to the full-scale input level. • Green — the signal is at a good level. • Yellow — the signal is becoming distorted. • Red — the signal is distorted.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Configure the Live View Page Configure the Live View Page You can customize the Live View page and alter it to suit your requirements. It is possible to define the following features of the Live View page. • Stream Profile. See page 20. • Default Viewer for Browser. See page 25. • Viewer Settings. See page 26. • Action Buttons. These are the buttons described in Controls on the Live View Page on page 11 . • User Defined Links. See page 26. • Output Buttons. See page 26.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Configure the Live View Page Browser Viewer Description Windows Internet Explorer AMC Recommended viewer in Internet Explorer (H.264/Motion JPEG). QuickTime H.264. Java applet A slower imaging alternative to AMC (Motion JPEG). Requires one of the following installed on the client: • JVM (J2SE) 1.4.2 or higher. • JRE (J2SE) 5.0 or higher. Still image Displays still images only. Click the Refresh button in your browser to view a new image.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Configure the Live View Page - Pulse activates the output for a defined period of time. The pulse time can be set from 1/100 second to 60 seconds. - Active/Inactive displays two buttons, one or each action. To configure the active and inactive states, go to System Options > Ports & Devices > I/O Ports and set the port’s Normal state. For more information about I/O ports, see I/O Ports on page 53.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) The PTZ menu is available if a PTZ driver has been uploaded. See Install PTZ Driver on page 30. Preset Positions A preset position is a saved view that can be used to quickly steer the camera to a specific position.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) 1. Go to PTZ > Guard Tour and click Add. 2. Enter a descriptive name. 3. Specify the pause length between runs. 4. Select an available preset position and click Apply. 5. Specify the Move Speed. 6. Specify the View Time in seconds or minutes. 7. Specify the View Order or select the Random view order option. 8. Click Save. To modify or remove guard tours, go to PTZ > Guard Tour, select the guard tour in the Guard Tour List and click Modify/Remove.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) OSD Menu If the PTZ unit supports an internal configuration menu, this can be accessed using the On-Screen Display (OSD). Configure the analog camera by opening and navigating through its internal menu in this display. Install PTZ Driver This Axis product supports several PTZ devices. Please see www.axis.com for a complete list of supported devices, and to obtain the correct driver. To install a PTZ device you need to install the PTZ driver.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Detectors Detectors Camera Tampering Camera Tampering can generate an alarm whenever the camera is repositioned, or when the lens is covered, sprayed or severely defocused. To send an alarm, for example an email, an action rule must be set up. To configure tampering: 1. Go to Detectors > Camera Tampering. 2. Set the Minimum duration, that is, the time that must elapse before an alarm is generated. Increase time to prevent false alarms for known conditions that affect the image. 3.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Detectors Note • Using the motion detection feature may decrease the product’s overall performance. • The position of the Motion Detection Window is relative to the orientation of the Camera. Changing the orientation of the camera will also change the position of the Motion Detection Window. Set Up Motion Detection Windows To set up a motion detection Include Window, follow these instructions: 1. Go to Detectors > Motion Detection. 2.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Detectors A large difference in luminance is required to trigger motion detection. Medium level (50%) Low level (0%) Even very small objects trigger motion detection. An object that appears in the window triggers motion detection only for a very short time before it is considered as non-moving. Only very bright objects on a dark background trigger motion detection.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Applications Applications Third party applications can be uploaded to and installed on the Axis product. Applications add functionality to the product, for example video analytics and intelligent video capabilities such as recognition, tracking, detection and counting. For information about available applications, downloads, trials and licenses, go to www.axis.com/applications Note • It is recommended to run one application at a time.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Applications If the Axis product is reset to factory default, installed applications and their settings are removed. For information about factory default, see Reset to Factory Default Settings.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Events Events The Event pages allow you to configure the Axis product to perform actions when different events occur. For example, the product can start a recording or send an email notification when motion is detected. The set of conditions that defines how and when the action is triggered is called an action rule. Convert Event Types to Action Rules If the Axis product is upgraded to firmware version 5.40 or later, it is recommended to convert Event Types to Action Rules.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Events For more information, see the online help . Triggers Available action rule triggers and conditions include: • Applications – Use installed applications to trigger the rule. See Applications on page 34. • Detectors • • • • - Audio Detection – Trigger the rule when audio is detected. See Audio Detection on page 33. - Live Stream Accessed – Trigger the rule when any stream is accessed and during edge storage playback.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Events Actions Available actions include: • Output Port – Activate an I/O port to control an external device. • Overlay Text – Display an overlay text. See Use Overlay Text in an Action Rule on page 22. • Play Audio Clip – See Audio Clips on page 24. • PTZ Control - Preset Position – Go to a preset position. - Guard Tour – Start a guard tour. See Guard Tour on page 28. • Record Video – Record video and audio to a selected storage.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Events HTTP Send Images Send Notification Send Video Clip HTTPS Encrypted file transfer using HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). Send Images Send Notification Specify login information for the HTTPS server and validate the server’s certificate. If there is a proxy between the Axis product and the HTTPS server, also specify the proxy settings. Send Video Clip Network Share A network share can also be used as a storage device for recorded video.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Events 3. Click OK. To use the schedule in an action rule, select the schedule from the Schedule drop-down list in the Action Rule Setup page. Set Up Recurrences Recurrences are used to trigger action rules repeatedly, for example every 5 minutes or every hour. To set up a recurrence: 1. Go to Events > Recurrences and click Add. 2. Enter a descriptive name and recurrence pattern. 3. Click OK.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Recordings Recordings The Axis product can be configured to record video continuously or according to an action rule: • To start a continuous recording, see page 41. • To set up action rules, see page 36. • To access recordings, see Recording List on page 41. • To configure camera controlled storage, see Storage on page 52. Recording List Recorded videos are listed on the Recordings > List page.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Recordings 5. Click Save to save and start the recording.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Languages Languages Multiple languages can be installed in the Axis product. All web pages including the online help will be displayed in the selected language. To switch languages, go to Setup > Languages and first upload the new language file. Browse and locate the file and click the Upload Language button. Select the new language from the list and click Save.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options System Options Security Users User access control is enabled by default and can be configured under System Options > Security > Users. An administrator can set up other users by giving them user names and passwords. It is also possible to allow anonymous viewer login, which means that anybody may access the Live View page.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options 2. Select an HTTPS certificate from the list of installed certificates. 3. Optionally, click Ciphers and select the encryption algorithms to use for SSL. 4. Set the HTTPS Connection Policy for the different user groups. 5. Click Save to enable the settings. To access the Axis product via the desired protocol, in the address field in a browser, enter https:// for the HTTPS protocol and http:// for the HTTP protocol.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options A Server/Client certificate can be self-signed or issued by a Certificate Authority (CA). A self-signed certificate offers limited protection and can be used before a CA-issued certificate has been obtained. To install a self-signed certificate: 1. Go to Setup > System Options > Security > Certificates. 2. Click Create self-signed certificate and provide the requested information. To create and install a CA-signed certificate: 1.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Network Basic TCP/IP Settings The Axis product supports IP version 4 and IP version 6. Both versions can be enabled simultaneously, and at least one version must always be enabled. IPv4 Address Configuration By default, the Axis product is set to use IPv4 (IP version 4) and to obtain the IP address automatically via DHCP. The IPv4 settings are configured under System Options > Network > TCP/IP > Basic.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options ping -l 408 -t Windows example (this may require that you run the command prompt as an administrator) arp -s 192.168.0.125 00-40-8c-18-10-00 ping -l 408 -t 192.168.0.125 4. Check that the network cable is connected and then restart the product by disconnecting and reconnecting power. 5. Close the command prompt when the product responds with Reply from 192.168.0.125:... or similar. 6.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Domain name - Enter the domain(s) to search for the host name used by the Axis product. Multiple domains can be separated by semicolons. The host name is always the first part of a fully qualified domain name, for example, myserver is the host name in the fully qualified domain name myserver.mycompany.com where mycompany.com is the domain name. Primary/Secondary DNS server - Enter the IP addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Note • For NAT traversal to work, this must be supported by the router. The router must also support UPnPTM. • In this context, router refers to any network routing device such as a NAT router, Network router, Internet Gateway, Broadband router, Broadband sharing device, or a software such as a firewall. Enable/Disable - When enabled, the Axis product attempts to configure port mapping in a NAT router on your network, using UPnPTM.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options SNMP The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows remote management of network devices. An SNMP community is the group of devices and management station running SNMP. Community names are used to identify groups. To enable and configure SNMP in the Axis product, go to the System Options > Network > SNMP page. Depending on the level of security required, select the version on SNMP to use.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Storage SD Card NOTICE TICE NO To prevent corruption of recordings, the SD card should always be unmounted before it is ejected. Note For SD card recommendations see www.axis.com Supports microSD cards with up to 64 GB of storage. For best recording performance, use a microSDHC or microSDXC card with speed class 10.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options 1. Insert the SD card in the SD card slot. 2. Open the Axis product’s webpages and go to Setup > System Options > Storage. 3. Click SD Card. 4. Click Format and select the desired file system. 5. Click OK to start formatting the card. Network Share Network share allows you to add network storage such as a NAS (network-attached storage). The NAS shall be dedicated for recordings and data from the Axis products connected to the network.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Select the desired Port Type from the drop-down list. For more information on Serial Port Settings and Daisy Chain Port Settings see the online help . Port Status The list on the System Options > Ports & Devices > Port Status page shows the status of the product’s input and output ports. Maintenance The Axis product provides several maintenance functions. These are available under System Options > Maintenance.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Logs & Reports The System Options > Support > Logs & Reports page generates logs and reports useful for system analysis and troubleshooting. If contacting Axis Support, please provide a valid Server Report with your query. System Log - Provides information about system events. Access Log - Lists all failed attempts to access the product. The Access Log can also be configured to list all connections to the product (see below).
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder System Options Reset to Factory Default Settings Important Reset to factory default should be used with caution. A reset to factory default will reset all settings, including the IP address, to the factory default values. Note The installation and management software tools are available on the CD supplied with the product and from the support pages on www.axis.com/techsup To reset the product to the factory default settings: 1. Disconnect power from the product. 2.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Check the Firmware Firmware is software that determines the functionality of network devices. One of your first actions when troubleshooting a problem should be to check the current firmware version. The latest version may contain a correction that fixes your particular problem. The current firmware version in the Axis product is displayed in the page Setup > Basic Setup and in Setup > About.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Troubleshooting Emergency Recovery Procedure If power or network connection is lost during the upgrade, the process fails and the product becomes unresponsive. Flashing red Status indicator indicates a failed upgrade. To recover the product, follow the steps below. The serial number is found on the product’s label. 1.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Troubleshooting The IP address has been changed by DHCP IP addresses obtained from a DHCP server are dynamic and may change. If the IP address has been changed, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Camera Management to locate the product on the network. Identify the product using its model or serial number, or by the DNS name (if the name has been configured). If required, a static IP address can be assigned manually.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Troubleshooting Lower frame rate than expected See Performance Considerations on page 65. Reduce the number of applications running on the client computer. Limit the number of simultaneous viewers. Check with the network administrator that there is enough bandwidth available. Check in the AMC Control Panel (H.264 tag) that video processing is NOT set to Decode only key frames. Lower the image resolution.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Troubleshooting Video cannot be recorded Check that the SD card is not write protected (that is, read only). SD card cannot be mounted Reformat the SD card and then click Mount. NOTICE TICE NO Formatting the card will remove all content, including all recordings, from the SD card.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Technical Specifications Technical Specifications Function/group Item Specifications Video Encoder Model AXIS Q7401 Pan/Tilt/Zoom Wide range of analog PTZ cameras supported (drivers available for download at www.axis.com) 100 presets/camera, guard tour, PTZ control queue Supports Windows compatible joysticks Video compression H.264 Motion JPEG Resolutions 176x120 to 720x576 Frame rate H.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Technical Specifications Function/group Item Specifications System Integration Application Programming Interface Open API for software integration, including VAPIX® from Axis Communications available at www.axis.com Includes the ONVIF Profile S; specification at www.onvif.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Technical Specifications Connectors I/O Connector 6–pin terminal block for: • • • • Auxiliary power (DC output) Digital Input Digital Output 0 V DC (-) Function Pin 0 V DC (-) 1 DC output 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 Notes Specifications 0 V DC Can be used to power auxiliary equipment. Note: This pin can only be used as power out. 12 V DC Max load = 125 mA Configurable (Input or Output) 3–6 Digital input – Connect to pin 1 to activate, or leave floating (unconnected) to deactivate.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Technical Specifications Audio Connector 3.5 mm audio connectors (stereo) 3 1 Tip 2 1 2 Ring 3 Sleeve Audio Input Microphone/Line in Ground Audio Output Line out (mono) Ground RS-485/422 Connector Two 2-pin terminal blocks for RS485/RS422 serial interface.
AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder Technical Specifications • Running multiple ACAP Applications simultaneously may affect performance. • If the product includes several camera units, running applications on multiple cameras may affect the frame rate.
User Manual AXIS Q7401 Video Encoder © Axis Communications AB, 2015 Ver. M2.4 Date: January 2015 Part No.
