DPX16: Instructions for Basic Operation and Installation
Page 3
I
NTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing Advanced Technology Video’s DPX16 sixteen camera Color Duplex Multiplexer.
This instruction manual describes the powerful features of this product for basic and advanced operation.
It also covers the installation steps that will allow quick and easy integration into your security system.
The following section provides an overview of the operational features of the DPX16. If you are familiar
with the DPX16, you should proceed to the “Getting Started” section on the following page for step by step
installation instructions.
O
PERATIONAL
F
EATURES
D
ESCRIPTION
Live Camera Displays
The DPX16 will initially be in the live camera display mode whenever power is applied to the unit. Live
cameras can be displayed in 4x4, 3x3, quad, PIP, dual PIP, split screen, squish screen, or full frame
formats. In addition, any display may be frozen using a front panel button, the IR remote control, or
external signal input. In any of these display modes, the unit can be programmed to sequence one or
more cameras with a programmable dwell time. All live camera displays, with the exception of 4x4 and
3x3 formats, are in real time (30 frames/60 fields per second NTSC, or 25 frames/50 fields per second
PAL).
Activity Detection and Alarming
The DPX16’s advanced video processing capability provides an activity detection function for each
camera input. Activity Detection, for each camera, can be programmed in 240 regions (cells) and may be
selectively enabled to provide an “alarm” condition for the multiplexer. See “Activity Detection Operation”
on page 8 for further information regarding the configuration and use of this feature.
Multiplexer Recording/Playback
The DPX16 records each camera individually onto a single video frame of the VCR tape at a rate
compatible with the VCR recording speed (record hours mode). Proper VCR playback operation requires
that the DPX16 be set up to multiplex at the rate which is compatible with your VCR recording speed (see
page 10). During multiplexing, a single frame from each camera is alternately output to the VCR with the
factory default set so that each live camera is given an equal number of frames on the tape. Dead or
unconnected camera inputs will not be recorded. In order to optimize recording for your security situation,
the frequency with which individual camera inputs are sampled for multiplexing may be optionally
configured using either Activity Detection or the Customplexing
camera priority function. When Activity
Detection is enabled, the multiplexing rate of a camera is automatically increased when activity is detected
in the camera’s image. Cameras with activity will be sampled more often than cameras with little or no
activity. When Activity Detection is disabled, the Customplexing
feature is automatically enabled and up
to four levels of multiplexing priority can be set for each camera using the “Recording Priority” menu (more
frames are given to high priority and less frames to low priority). Alarm events will automatically raise the
recording priority of the alarming camera to the highest level during the alarm condition. While multiplex
recording is active, the live display mode can be set to any mode (4x4, 3x3, quad, PIP, Dual PIP or full
screen, etc.) without affecting the multiplex recording function.
In VCR playback mode, cameras can be displayed in 4x4, 3x3, quad, PIP, dual PIP, split screen, squish
screen, or full frame formats. In addition, any display may be frozen. VCR playback incorporates digital
decoding of the camera number from the tape so that screen images on the monitor may be updated at
the rate that images appear on the tape. The default refresh rate of the playback monitor is the playback
rate divided by the number of cameras being multiplexed. This will change when alarmed cameras or
dead cameras are present or camera priorities have been changed.
