AXIS Q1961-XTE Explosion-Protected Thermal Camera - User manual

To find Axis devices on the network and assign them IP addresses in Windows®, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager. Both applications are free and can be downloaded from axis.com/support.

For more information about how to find and assign IP addresses, go to How to assign an IP address and access your device.

You can use the device with the following browsers:

✓: Recommended
*: Supported with limitations

1. Open a browser and type the IP address or host name of the Axis device.

   If you don’t know the IP address, use AXIS IP Utility or AXIS Device Manager to find the device on the network.

2. Type the username and password. If you access the device for the first time, you must create an administrator account. See Create an administrator account.

For descriptions of all features and settings in the web interface of devices with AXIS OS, see AXIS OS web interface help.

The first time you log in to your device, you must create an administrator account.

1. Enter a username.

2. Enter a password. See Secure passwords.

3. Re-enter the password.

4. Accept the license agreement.

5. Click Add account.

The device password is the primary protection for your data and services. Axis devices do not impose a password policy as they may be used in various types of installations.

To protect your data we strongly recommend that you:

• Use a password with at least 8 characters, preferably created by a password generator.

• Don’t expose the password.

• Change the password at a recurring interval, at least once a year.

1. To make sure that the device has its original AXIS OS, or to take full control of the device after a security attack:

2. Reset to factory default settings. See Reset to factory default settings.

   After the reset, secure boot guarantees the state of the device.

3. Configure and install the device.

This video gives you an overview of the device’s web interface.

Preview mode is ideal for installers when fine tuning the camera view during the installation. No login is required to access the camera view in preview mode. It is available only in factory defaulted state for a limited time from powering up the device.

Set the power line frequency

1. Go to Video > Installation > Power line frequency.

2. Select a power line frequency and click Save and restart.

Set the orientation

1. Go to Video > Installation > Rotate.

2. Select 0 , 90, 180 or 270 degrees.

   See also Monitor long and narrow areas.

This section includes instructions about configuring your device. If you want to learn more about how certain features work, go to Learn more.

Image stabilization is suitable in environments where the product is mounted in an exposed location where vibrations can occur, for example, due to wind or passing traffic.

The feature makes the image smoother, steadier, and less blurry. It also reduces the file size of the compressed image and lowers the bitrate of the video stream.

1. Go to Video > Installation > Image correction.

2. Turn on Image stabilization.

Use corridor format to better utilize the full field of view in a long and narrow area, for example a staircase, hallway, road, or tunnel.

1. Depending on your device, turn the camera or the 3-axis lens in the camera 90° or 270°.

2. If the device doesn’t have automatic rotation of the view, go to Video > Installation.

3. Rotate the view 90° or 270°.

You can add an image as an overlay in the video stream.

1. Go to Video > Overlays.

2. Click Manage images.

3. Upload or drag and drop an image.

4. Click Upload.

5. Select Image from the drop-down list and click .

6. Select the image and a position. You can also drag the overlay image in the live view to change the position.

You can add a text field as an overlay in the video stream. This is useful for example when you want to display the date, time or a company name in the video stream.

1. Go to Video > Overlays.

2. Select Text and click .

3. Type the text you want to display, or select modifiers to show for example the current date.

4. Select a position. You can also click-and-drag the overlay in the live view to change the position.

This section includes instructions about configuring your device. To learn more about how streaming and storage works, go to Streaming and storage.

1. Go to Video > Stream.

2. Click in the live view.

3. Select Video format AV1 if your device supports it. Otherwise select H.264.

4. Go to Video > Stream > General and increase Compression.

5. Go to Video > Stream > Zipstream and do one or more of the following:

6. • Note

     The Zipstream settings are used for all video encodings except MJPEG.

   • Select the Zipstream Strength that you want to use.

   • Turn on Optimize for storage. This can only be used if the video management software supports B-frames.

   • Turn on Dynamic FPS.

   • Turn on Dynamic GOP and set a high Upper limit GOP length value.

1. To store recordings on the network, you need to set up your network storage.

2. Go to System > Storage.

3. Click Add network storage under Network storage.

4. Type the IP address of the host server.

5. Type the name of the shared location on the host server under Network share.

6. Type the username and password.

7. Select the SMB version or leave it on Auto.

8. Select Add share without testing if you experience temporary connection issues, or if the share is not yet configured.

9. Click Add.

1. Record video directly from the camera

2. Go to Video > Stream.

3. To start a recording, click .

   If you haven’t set up any storage, click and . For instructions on how to set up network storage, see Set up network storage

4. To stop recording, click again.

1. Watch video

2. Go to Recordings.

3. Click for your recording in the list.

You can create rules to make your device perform an action when certain events occur. A rule consists of conditions and actions. The conditions can be used to trigger the actions. For example, the device can start a recording or send an email when it detects motion, or show an overlay text while the device is recording.

To learn more, see Get started with rules for events.

With the thermometry functionality, you can detect temperature changes in the monitored area. In this example, the camera monitors the temperature in a freezer. If the freezer gets too warm, the camera triggers an Axis strobe siren to alert staff on the premises.

• This example explains how to:

• Set up a temperature detection area in the camera, that monitors if the temperature in the area's warmest part exceeds -18 °C (0 °F) for more than 30 seconds.

• Create a rule in the camera, that starts the Axis strobe siren if the freezer gets too warm.

Before you start

• Create a new user with the role Operator or Administrator in the strobe siren.

• Create a profile called “Temperature alarm 15 sec” in the Axis strobe siren. Set the duration of the profile to 15 seconds.

Set up a temperature detection area in the camera

1. In the camera's web interface, go to Thermometry > Temperature detection and add an area.

2. In Name, type High temp.

3. Turn on Use area.

4. In Temperature in the area, select Warmest spot.

5. Select Above and type -18 (0) in the temperature input field, and 30 seconds in the delay input field.

Create a recipient in the camera

1. In the camera's web interface, go to System > Events > Recipients and add a recipient.

2. Enter the following information:

3. • Name: Strobe siren

   • Type: HTTP

   • URL: http://<IPaddress>/axis-cgi/siren_and_light.cgi

     Replace <IPaddress> with the address of the strobe siren.

   • The username and password of the newly created strobe siren user.

4. Click Test to make sure all data is valid.

5. Click Save.

Create a rule in the camera to start the strobe siren profile

1. Go to Rules and add a rule.

2. Enter the following information:

3. • Name: Start temperature alarm

   • Condition: Video > Temperature detection

   • Action: Notifications > Send notification through HTTP

   • Recipient: Strobe siren

   • Method: POST

   • Body:

     {

       "apiVersion": "1.0",

       "method": "start",

       "params": {

         "profile" : "Temperature alarm 15 sec"

       }

     }

4. Click Save.

This example explains how to send an email when the input signal is cut or short-circuited. For more information about the I/O connector, see I/O connector.

1. Go to System > Accessories > I/O ports and turn on Supervised.

1. Add an email recipient:

2. Go to System > Events > Recipients and add a recipient.

3. Type a name for the recipient.

4. Select Email as the notification type.

5. Type the recipient’s email address.

6. Type the email address that you want the camera to send notifications from.

7. Provide the login details for the sending email account, along with the SMTP hostname and port number.

8. To test your email setup, click Test.

9. Click Save.

1. Create a rule:

2. Go to System > Events > Rules and add a rule.

3. Type a name for the rule.

4. In the list of conditions, under I/O, select Supervised input tampering is active.

5. Select the relevant port.

6. In the list of actions, under Notifications, select Send notification to email and then select the recipient from the list.

7. Type a subject line and message for the email.

8. Click Save.

1. Activate the tampering detection:

2. Go to System > Detectors > Camera tampering.

3. Set a value for Trigger delay. The value indicates the time that must pass before an email is sent.

4. Add an email recipient:

5. Go to System > Events > Recipients and add a recipient.

6. Type a name for the recipient.

7. Select Email.

8. Type an email address to send the email to.

9. The camera doesn’t have it’s own email server, so it has to log into another email server to send mails. Fill in the rest of the information according to your email provider.

10. To send a test email, click Test.

11. Click Save.

12. Create a rule:

13. Go to System > Events > Rules and add a rule.

14. Type a name for the rule.

15. In the list of conditions, under Video, select Tampering.

16. In the list of actions, under Notifications, select Send notification to email and then select the recipient from the list.

17. Type a subject and a message for the email.

18. Click Save.

With the thermometry functionality, you can detect temperature changes in the monitored area. The early fire detection app filters uninteresting moving objects, to minimize false alarms.

In this example, the camera monitors the temperature in a pile of debris. The app filters work vehicles that move in the detection area. If the pile itself becomes so hot that a fire might start, the camera shows an overlay.

• This example explains how to:

• Set up a temperature detection area that monitors if the temperature in the area’s warmest part exceeds 50° C (122° F).

• Turn on overlay if the temperature exceeds the preset threshold.

Set up the Palette

1. Go to Thermometry > Temperature reading.

2. Note

   For optimal performance, do not select any option that starts with Iso under Palette. You can select other ones but we recommend White-hot.

3. In the list under Palette, select White-hot.

Start Early fire detection app

1. Go to Apps and turn on Early fire detection.

Set up a temperature detection area

1. Go to Thermometry > Temperature detection and add an area.

2. In Name, type Pile.

3. Turn on Use area.

4. In Temperature in the area, select Warmest spot.

5. Select Above and type 50 (122) in the temperature input field.

Turn on Overlays

1. Go to Apps > Early Fire Detection and click Open.

2. Move the slider under Overlays > Include to turn on overlay for the detection areas.

1. Turn on audio:

2. Go to Video > Stream > Audio and include audio.

3. If the device has more than one input source, select the correct one in Source.

4. Go to Audio > Device settings and turn on the correct input source.

5. If you make any changes to the input source, click Apply changes.

6. Edit the stream profile that is used for the recording:

7. Go to System > Stream profiles and select the stream profile.

8. Select Include audio and turn it on.

9. Click Save.

Network speaker pairing allows you to use a compatible Axis network speaker as if it is connected directly to the camera. Once paired, the speaker acts as an audio out device where you can play audio clips and transmit sound through the camera.

1. Pair camera with network speaker

2. Go to System > Edge-to-edge > Pairing.

3. Click Add and select the pairing type Audio from the drop-down list.

4. Select Speaker pairing.

5. Type the network speaker’s IP address, username and password.

6. Click Connect. A confirmation message appears.

To read about all the features and settings available in the web interface of devices with AXIS OS, go to AXIS OS web interface help.

To help the human eye distinguish details in a thermal image, you can apply a color palette to the image. The colors in the palette are artificially created pseudocolors that emphasize temperature differences.

• There are two types of palettes:

• Thermal palettes: the colors in these palettes don’t correspond to specific temperatures in the image. If an operator watches the video stream, you can choose any of the palettes. If the video stream is only used by applications, select the white-hot palette.

• Isothermal palettes: the colors in these palettes correspond to user-defined temperature levels. The colored part of the palette starts at the lowest temperature defined. This makes objects with a higher temperature stand out in the image. It's then easy for an operator to see what caused the alarm.

• 
  1. Iso-Axis-WH
  2. Iso-Fire-BH
  3. Iso-Fire-WH
  4. Iso-MidRange-BH
  5. Iso-MidRange-WH
  6. Iso-Planck-WH
  7. Iso-Rainbow-WH

You can read more in the white paper Thermometric cameras.

Overlays are superimposed over the video stream. They are used to provide extra information during recordings, such as a timestamp, or during product installation and configuration. You can add either text or an image.

The video streaming indicator is another type of overlay. It shows you that the live view video stream is live.

Decide which compression method to use based on your viewing requirements, and on the properties of your network. The available options are:

Motion JPEG

Motion JPEG, or MJPEG, is a digital video sequence that is made up of a series of individual JPEG images. These images are then displayed and updated at a rate sufficient to create a stream that shows constantly updated motion. For the viewer to perceive motion video the rate must be at least 16 image frames per second. Full motion video is perceived at 30 (NTSC) or 25 (PAL) frames per second.

The Motion JPEG stream uses considerable amounts of bandwidth, but provides excellent image quality and access to every image contained in the stream.

H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10/AVC

H.264 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 80% compared to the Motion JPEG format and by as much as 50% compared to older MPEG formats. This means that less network bandwidth and storage space are required for a video file. Or seen another way, higher video quality can be achieved for a given bitrate.

H.265 or MPEG-H Part 2/HEVC

H.265 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 25% compared to H.264.

The Image tab contains camera settings that affect all video streams from the product. If you change something in this tab, it immediately affects all video streams and recordings.

The Stream tab contains settings for video streams. You get these settings if you request a video stream from the product and don’t specify for example resolution, or frame rate. When you change the settings in the Stream tab, it doesn’t affect ongoing streams, but it will take effect when you start a new stream.

The Stream profiles settings override the settings from the Stream tab. If you request a stream with a specific stream profile, the stream contains the settings of that profile. If you request a stream without specifying a stream profile, or request a stream profile that doesn't exist in the product, the stream contains the settings from the Stream tab.

Bitrate control helps you to manage the bandwidth consumption of your video stream.

Variable bitrate (VBR)
Variable bitrate allows the bandwidth consumption to vary depending on the level of activity in the scene. The more activity, the more bandwidth you need. With variable bitrate you are guaranteed constant image quality, but you need to make sure you have storage margins.

Maximum bitrate (MBR)
Maximum bitrate lets you set a target bitrate to handle bitrate limitations in your system. You might see a decline in image quality or frame rate as the instantaneous bitrate is kept below the specified target bitrate. You can choose to prioritize either image quality or frame rate. We recommend that you configure the target bitrate to a higher value than the expected bitrate. This gives you a margin in case there is a high level of activity in the scene.

Average bitrate (ABR)
With average bitrate, the bitrate is automatically adjusted over a longer period of time. This is so you can meet the specified target and provide the best video quality based on your available storage. Bitrate is higher in scenes with a lot of activity, compared to static scenes. You are more likely to get better image quality when in scenes with a lot of activity if you use the average bitrate option. You can define the total storage required to store the video stream for a specified amount of time (retention time) when image quality is adjusted to meet the specified target bitrate. Specify the average bitrate settings in one of the following ways:

• To calculate the estimated storage need, set the target bitrate and the retention time.

• To calculate the average bitrate, based on available storage and required retention time, use the target bitrate calculator.

• 1. Target bitrate
  2. Actual average bitrate
• You can also turn on maximum bitrate and specify a target bitrate within the average bitrate option.
• 1. Target bitrate
  2. Actual average bitrate

With analytics and apps you can get more out of your Axis device. AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) is an open platform that makes it possible for third parties to develop analytics and other apps for Axis devices. Apps can be preinstalled on the device, available for download for free, or for a license fee.

To find the user manuals for Axis analytics and apps, go to help.axis.com.

The thermometry functionality in the camera detects temperature changes in the monitored area. You can set up the camera to, for example, send notifications if the temperature in the area rises above a preset threshold. The early fire detection app filters temporary objects with temperatures above the preset threshold, such as passing work vehicles. This can help reduce the number of false alarms.

For product-specific information about cybersecurity, see the product's datasheet at axis.com.

For in-depth information about cybersecurity in AXIS OS, read the AXIS OS Hardening guide.

The TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a component that provides cryptographic features to protect information from unauthorized access. It is always activated and there are no settings you can change.

This device supports microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC cards.

For SD card recommendations, see axis.com.

microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C LLC. microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both.

• The control button is used for:

• Resetting the product to factory default settings. See Reset to factory default settings.

RJ45 Ethernet connector with Power over Ethernet (PoE).

• Audio in – 3.5 mm input for a digital microphone, an analog mono microphone, or a line-in mono signal (left channel is used from a stereo signal).

Audio input

Use the I/O connector with external devices in combination with, for example, motion detection, event triggering, and alarm notifications. In addition to the 0 VDC reference point and power (12 V DC output), the I/O connector provides the interface to:

Digital input

For connecting devices that can toggle between an open and closed circuit, for example PIR sensors, door/window contacts, and glass break detectors.

Supervised input

Enables possibility to detect tampering on a digital input.

Digital output

For connecting external devices such as relays and LEDs. Connected devices can be activated by the VAPIX® Application Programming Interface, through an event or from the device’s web interface.

4-pin terminal block

Example

1. DC ground
2. DC output 12 V, max 25 mA
3. Supervised input
4. Digital output

2-pin terminal block for DC power input. Use a Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) compliant limited power source (LPS) with either a rated output power limited to ≤100 W or a rated output current limited to ≤5 A.

You can clean your device with lukewarm water and mild, nonabrasive soap.

1. Use a can of compressed air to remove dust and loose dirt from the device.

2. If necessary, clean the device with a soft microfiber cloth dampened with lukewarm water and mild, nonabrasive soap.

3. To avoid stains, dry the device with a clean, nonabrasive cloth.

To reset the product to the factory default settings:

1. Disconnect power from the product.

2. Press and hold the control button while reconnecting power. See Product overview.

3. Keep the control button pressed for 15–30 seconds until the status LED indicator flashes amber.

4. Release the control button. The process is complete when the status LED indicator turns green. If no DHCP server is available on the network, the device IP address will default to one of the following:

5. • Devices with AXIS OS 12.0 and later: Obtained from the link-local address subnet (169.254.0.0/16)

   • Devices with AXIS OS 11.11 and earlier: 192.168.0.90/24

6. Use the installation and management software tools to assign an IP address, set the password, and access the device.

   The installation and management software tools are available from the support pages on axis.com/support.

You can also reset parameters to factory default through the device’s web interface. Go to Maintenance > Factory default and click Default.

Axis offers device software management according to either the active track or the long-term support (LTS) tracks. Being on the active track means continuously getting access to all the latest product features, while the LTS tracks provide a fixed platform with periodic releases focused mainly on bug fixes and security updates.

Using AXIS OS from the active track is recommended if you want to access the newest features, or if you use Axis end-to-end system offerings. The LTS tracks are recommended if you use third-party integrations, which are not continuously validated against the latest active track. With LTS, the products can maintain cybersecurity without introducing any significant functional changes or affecting any existing integrations. For more detailed information about Axis device software strategy, go to axis.com/support/device-software.

AXIS OS determines the functionality of our devices. When you troubleshoot a problem, we recommend that you to start by checking the current AXIS OS version. The latest version might contain a correction that fixes your particular problem.

To check the current AXIS OS version:

1. Go to the device’s web interface > Status.

2. Under Device info, see the AXIS OS version.

1. Download the AXIS OS file to your computer, available free of charge at axis.com/support/device-software.

2. Log in to the device as an administrator.

3. Go to Maintenance > AXIS OS upgrade and click Upgrade.

4. When the upgrade has finished, the product restarts automatically.

You can use AXIS Device Manager to upgrade multiple devices at the same time. Find out more at axis.com/products/axis-device-manager.

Problems upgrading AXIS OS

Problems setting the IP address

Problems accessing the device

Problems with streaming

Problems with MQTT

Problems with operating the device

If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, try the troubleshooting section at axis.com/support.

When you set up your system, it’s important to consider how different settings and situations affect performance. Some factors affect bandwidth (bitrate), others affect frame rate, and some affect both.

The most important factors to consider:

• High image resolution or lower compression levels result in images containing more data which in turn affects the bandwidth.

• Rotating the image in the GUI can increase the product's CPU load.

• Access by large numbers of Motion JPEG clients or unicast H.264/H.265/AV1 clients affects the bandwidth.

• Simultaneous viewing of different streams (resolution, compression) by different clients affects both frame rate and bandwidth.

  Use identical streams wherever possible to maintain a high frame rate. Stream profiles can be used to ensure that streams are identical.

• Accessing video streams with different codecs simultaneously affects both frame rate and bandwidth. For optimal performance, use streams with the same codec.

• Heavy usage of event settings affects the product’s CPU load which in turn affects the frame rate.

• Using HTTPS may reduce frame rate, in particular if streaming Motion JPEG.

• Heavy network utilization due to poor infrastructure affects the bandwidth.

• Viewing on poorly performing client computers lowers perceived performance and affects frame rate.

• Running multiple AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) applications simultaneously may affect the frame rate and the general performance.

If you need more help, go to axis.com/support.