Camera Motion Systems

We have 5 PTZ cameras: 3 are the newer PTZ-12G models and 2 are the PivotCam-20 versions. The 12Gs run nicely using Dashboard or the joystick on our Carbonite Solo 13 but the PivotCams are quite erratic. The movement is so quick that it's often not possible to position them accurately using either Dashboard or the Carbonite. When using presets, they move so fast that I need to wait a few seconds to ensure the mount has stopped bouncing before putting them on air. I have tried every setting on Dashboard as well as on the web control of each camera itself and nothing seems to slow movement down to a reasonable level. In fact, it doesn't even slow anything down at all. In Dashboard, just grabbing the virtual joystick and lightly trying to move it slowly will cause the camera to fly away in the direction you're wanting to tweak it. When trying to frame a shot in order to save it for a preset, the best I can do is "get close" and then attempt to slightly "bump" the joystick to sort of fine tune framing the shot properly.

Last week, i thought I would spend some time going through all the possible gyrations and settings to see which ones would affect movement of panning and tilting (zoom is kind of fast, too, but it's acceptable). At first, I thought I had it fixed. I opened Dashboard and went directly to the joystick on the panel and miraculously it seemed to be moving just fine. Then after a few other movements (and hitting presets in between) it went bonkers again. I worked backwards to troubleshoot, restarted Dashboard and tried a few different things as well as sequences for what I was doing. Finally, it appeared that I could recreate my situation and here's what it seems was happening. As long as I open Dashboard, did nothing else and attempted to move the camera with the virtual joystick (or the physical joystick on the console), I was fine. As soon as i selected a preset, when I went back to the joystick, chaos again ensued. 

I realize that the PivotCams are probably no longer supported (hence the reason I also have three 12G models) but I'm hoping there's a solution. What the heck am I doing wrong?

------------------------------
Steve Witwicki
Video Technical Director
Light of Christ Church
------------------------------

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your message. You are correct that PivotCams are no longer supported, but I would still like to see if there is anything we can do to help you out.

I have a few questions to help me better understand what you are experiencing:

1. What version of Dashboard are you currently using?
2. Is the joystick you are using a Ross Robotics model?
3. Are you utilizing Ross SmartShell software to select presets?

If you are using SmartShell, could you please confirm the version you have? The version number can be found in the top left corner of the user interface.

Thank you.

------------------------------
Tim Beland
Field Services Specialist
Ross Video
Canada

Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2024 11:16
From: Steve Witwicki
Subject: Camera Movement on PivotCam

We have 5 PTZ cameras: 3 are the newer PTZ-12G models and 2 are the PivotCam-20 versions. The 12Gs run nicely using Dashboard or the joystick on our Carbonite Solo 13 but the PivotCams are quite erratic. The movement is so quick that it's often not possible to position them accurately using either Dashboard or the Carbonite. When using presets, they move so fast that I need to wait a few seconds to ensure the mount has stopped bouncing before putting them on air. I have tried every setting on Dashboard as well as on the web control of each camera itself and nothing seems to slow movement down to a reasonable level. In fact, it doesn't even slow anything down at all. In Dashboard, just grabbing the virtual joystick and lightly trying to move it slowly will cause the camera to fly away in the direction you're wanting to tweak it. When trying to frame a shot in order to save it for a preset, the best I can do is "get close" and then attempt to slightly "bump" the joystick to sort of fine tune framing the shot properly.

Last week, i thought I would spend some time going through all the possible gyrations and settings to see which ones would affect movement of panning and tilting (zoom is kind of fast, too, but it's acceptable). At first, I thought I had it fixed. I opened Dashboard and went directly to the joystick on the panel and miraculously it seemed to be moving just fine. Then after a few other movements (and hitting presets in between) it went bonkers again. I worked backwards to troubleshoot, restarted Dashboard and tried a few different things as well as sequences for what I was doing. Finally, it appeared that I could recreate my situation and here's what it seems was happening. As long as I open Dashboard, did nothing else and attempted to move the camera with the virtual joystick (or the physical joystick on the console), I was fine. As soon as i selected a preset, when I went back to the joystick, chaos again ensued. 

I realize that the PivotCams are probably no longer supported (hence the reason I also have three 12G models) but I'm hoping there's a solution. What the heck am I doing wrong?

------------------------------
Steve Witwicki
Video Technical Director
Light of Christ Church
------------------------------

1. Dashboard version is 9.10.1.

2. The physical joystick I was referring to is the one on the control surface of the switcher we have: Ross Carbonite Black Solo 13. The virtual joystick I was mentioning is on a widget of a custom panel I built in Dashboard. (see attached screen shot)

3. No we select presets from the same custom Dashboard panel I mentioned. (again, see attached screen shot)

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your message. You are correct that PivotCams are no longer supported, but I would still like to see if there is anything we can do to help you out.

I have a few questions to help me better understand what you are experiencing:

1. What version of Dashboard are you currently using?
2. Is the joystick you are using a Ross Robotics model?
3. Are you utilizing Ross SmartShell software to select presets?

If you are using SmartShell, could you please confirm the version you have? The version number can be found in the top left corner of the user interface.

Thank you.

------------------------------
Tim Beland
Field Services Specialist
Ross Video
Canada

Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2024 11:16
From: Steve Witwicki
Subject: Camera Movement on PivotCam

We have 5 PTZ cameras: 3 are the newer PTZ-12G models and 2 are the PivotCam-20 versions. The 12Gs run nicely using Dashboard or the joystick on our Carbonite Solo 13 but the PivotCams are quite erratic. The movement is so quick that it's often not possible to position them accurately using either Dashboard or the Carbonite. When using presets, they move so fast that I need to wait a few seconds to ensure the mount has stopped bouncing before putting them on air. I have tried every setting on Dashboard as well as on the web control of each camera itself and nothing seems to slow movement down to a reasonable level. In fact, it doesn't even slow anything down at all. In Dashboard, just grabbing the virtual joystick and lightly trying to move it slowly will cause the camera to fly away in the direction you're wanting to tweak it. When trying to frame a shot in order to save it for a preset, the best I can do is "get close" and then attempt to slightly "bump" the joystick to sort of fine tune framing the shot properly.

Last week, i thought I would spend some time going through all the possible gyrations and settings to see which ones would affect movement of panning and tilting (zoom is kind of fast, too, but it's acceptable). At first, I thought I had it fixed. I opened Dashboard and went directly to the joystick on the panel and miraculously it seemed to be moving just fine. Then after a few other movements (and hitting presets in between) it went bonkers again. I worked backwards to troubleshoot, restarted Dashboard and tried a few different things as well as sequences for what I was doing. Finally, it appeared that I could recreate my situation and here's what it seems was happening. As long as I open Dashboard, did nothing else and attempted to move the camera with the virtual joystick (or the physical joystick on the console), I was fine. As soon as i selected a preset, when I went back to the joystick, chaos again ensued. 

I realize that the PivotCams are probably no longer supported (hence the reason I also have three 12G models) but I'm hoping there's a solution. What the heck am I doing wrong?

------------------------------
Steve Witwicki
Video Technical Director
Light of Christ Church
------------------------------