Subscriber Discussion

48 PTZs With Coaxitron Control Into Axis Encoders

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Oct 29, 2014

I have a site with 48 coaxitron controlled Pelco PTZs that I need to encode and control with Axis P7216 encoders. I know there are code converters out there but they are generally single port. Are there any multiport units available? Anyone had any luck converting in this same situation?

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Brian Rhodes
Oct 29, 2014
IPVMU Certified

I believe the Axis Q7436 would work. It is a blade mount, up the coax PTZ control encoder card. Street price is ~$1200 for a six port blade.

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Carl Lindgren
Oct 29, 2014

Another option might be to just run UTP to each PTZ for RS422/485 control. Most Pelco PTZs can accept either Coaxitron or Pelco 'P' and 'D' protocols. Pelco D protocol is very common in the industry and most manufacturers support it, making it a de facto standard. RS422/485 signals can travel up to 4000 feet on one pair and many PTZs can be daisy chained on a single twisted pair if the controller (VMS/encoder/DVR, etc.) is capable of addressing multiple addresses.

Converting to serial control has some other advantages. Coaxitron is noted for problems, including the pulses from the control signal occasionally interfering with the video and termination issues.

What models are the PTZs?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Oct 29, 2014

It's a mishmash of legacy equipment. Very ugly site and I do not look forward to running cable to 48 PTZs. They are in theory all Pelco PTZs of various older generations - Spectra III and iV. I know companies like Sennetech make a single port converter, but 48 of their devices would be cumbersome. Pelco makes a 16 port unit but it is extremely long lead time / BTO.

JH
Jim Hall
Oct 29, 2014

What about this lil guy (from Infinova)

V2414 Code converter/distributor, Manchester, high speed data line (HSDL) and RS-485 Input, 16 Up-The-Coax protocol output (compatible with Coaxitron), 120VAC/60Hz

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Carl Lindgren
Oct 29, 2014

Jim,

Manchester Code is American Dynamics proprietary. I don't believe Pelco products are capable of accepting it. We had an AD system when I first started my job in 1997 and we had to use Sennetech code translators when we started installing Pelco domes.

However, it may work in another configuration. The spec sheet says "The input protocols for the V2414 up-the-coax code converter are optional to meet the various requirements of the customers." The manual does state that it can accept Pelco P and D protocols (

Perhaps it's an option when ordering?

JH
Jim Hall
Oct 30, 2014

Okey.

Curious though, doesn't "Up-The-Coax protocol output (compatible with Coaxitron)" mean compatible with Pelco Coaxitron? Or are you saying you don't trust'em?

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Carl Lindgren
Oct 30, 2014

To quote Ronald Reagan: "Trust, but verify."

JP
Jason Pfau
Oct 29, 2014
IPVMU Certified

Wait...

there are people who still use Coaxitron for their PTZs???? I always ran a cat-5 cable to each PTZ... even if it was a Pelco Spectra.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Oct 30, 2014
Cheaper option the works well. About $650 topwebsites.co - topwebsites Resources and Information.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Nov 05, 2014

I have had good luck controlling the Spectra 4's or III's using the P7216 tied to a Pelco CM9760-CXTA but there is a catch, all the M and P series encoders only allow 1 channel of PTZ control per block of 4 (16 channel encoder can control 4 PTZ's). Then daisy chain encoders together with 422 full duplex to the translator. The problem you will find is the distance limitation on the translator. Unless your dealing with a casino, I can't think of any other site that will have that many ptz's within 750'. The Q7436 is a brilliant device, but you need the chasis as well. Otherwise bite the bullet and commit to running CAT 5/6 cable to run the PTZ and set the stage to go to IP down the road. Good luck!

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Nov 05, 2014

The Axis Q7411 is a single port encoder with "Coax PTZ Control" admittably a higher pricetag for the solution than P7216 but you dont need a converter or added cabling (or the Q7920 chassis)

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Nov 06, 2014

I agree, the Q7411 would work great, but the problem is that he has a quantity of 48, so when you factor in the fact that MSRP on the Q7411 is $599.00 per camera plus the fact that he will need 48 switch ports, Its going to be expensive. The Q7436 MSRP is 1199 + 399 for the Q291 chasis which holds 3 Q7436 so looking at the total cost of things the combination of the Q7436+Q291 your looking at MSRP $222.00 per channel, plus 1 Network drop per chasis. Which will be about as plug and play as you can get with the Pelco Spectra's, plus you don't need to screw around with making a translator work, and having another piece of equipment that could fail.

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