Welcome to LPRCAM.net
Content from the workshop on video surveillance and license plate reading camera systems sponsored by the North Hills Community Association on August 24, 2023.
Here is a link to the PDF of the Powerpoint deck.
Videos of the workshop appear below.
The first video is the initial hour covering the basics of home video surveillance systems. About 1 hour.
Next is the video of the more technical discussion of license plate reading (LPR) cameras. About 30 minutes. You may also want to view the Q&A portion of the introduction video above as many LPR camera questions were asked and answered. Q&A starts at around 41 minutes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is illegal in the state of California to record a conversation without the other party's consent. Best to turn off the audio feature of any camera you deploy.
Below are links referred to in the workshop and my technical camera setting details:
Swann Master 4K Ip system: https://www.amazon.com/Swann-Security-Surveillance-Detection-Recording/dp/B0BVX5HYH6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2NYLZXWRZ46DV&keywords=swann+master+4k+8+channel&qid=1692742163&sprefix=swann+master+4k+8+channel%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-3
Swann 8 channel, 4 camera IP system: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/swann-refurbished-8-channel-2tb-4-x-4k-poe-cameras-w-dual-led-spotlights-face-dection-black-white/6532516.p?skuId=6532516
Dummy cameras: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dummy+cameras&crid=3OCKVVVP3AWRA&sprefix=dummy+cameras%2Caps%2C197&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
License Plate Reading Systems
Dahua cameras
Turret camera for 10-25 ft plate reading
Bullet camera for up to 120 ft plate reading
Youtube.com channels
Pale Moon browser be sure to download the 32 bit verson for Windows
ALPR within Blue Iris software
Two YouTube videos explain how to install Codeproject.Ai inside Blue iris software. The first explains a generic installation. The second details license plate recognition.
ALPR vendors
www.rekor.ai (Uses Open Source ALPR code, commercial)
www.github.com for Open Source ALPR code (C++)
Camera settings for my Dahua LPR cameras
Click >CONDITIONS (in left column)
Profile management tab: night, full time
Zoom and Focus tab: use slider to set zoom to width of road/area monitored. Click Auto Focus, or focus manually
>Picture: Night, Vivid, Brightness 50, Contrast 71, Saturation/Sharpness and Gamma all 50. Mirror OFF, Flip 0 degrees.
>Exposure: Night, Outdoor, Shutter Priority, 1/4000, 3D NR On, Grade 17.
>Backlight: Night, HLD, 75
>WB (white balance): Night, Auto
>Day & Night: Night, Auto, Middle, 6s
>IR Light: Night, Manual, 100, 100.
Click SAVE button
Click >VIDEO (in left column)
Video Tab
H.264H
Smart Codec: off
Resolution: 1920*1080
Frame Rate: 20
Bit Rate Type: CBR
Bit Rate: 6144
Frame Interval: 40
Overlay Tab
Pretty self explanatory. Privacy masking, titles to appear on screen etc.
Click SAVE button
Click >SYSTEM (in left column)
>General
Date & Time Tab
Choose date format, time format and current time. Personally, I Sync with PC and remind myself to reset each camera when DST occurs.
Barry Pilger
North Oakland Hills
August 2023