# TagMaster CT45 LPR Camera {% hint style="danger" %} WARNING: Improper Installation of the Camera can result in Water Damage. Be sure to follow the installation directions carefully to ensure that the camera is properly installed. {% endhint %} ## Pre-Installation Considerations: *This section is intended to provide installation guidelines for the TagMaster North America CT family of LPR cameras to ensure optimum results are achieved.* ### Waterproofing The Camera is shipped with waterproofing grommet hardware that must be installed with the camera. ### Infra-Red-Light Detection When using infrared cameras, the imaging relies on the light being reflected from the plate back to the camera. The maximum recommended angle of the camera for a reliable reflection is up to 20 degrees, as for every degree deviation from zero, the accuracy rate will be lowered. At 24° deviation, there is a 1.66% reduction from the base rate At 32° deviation, there is a 72% reduction from the base rate Above 40° deviation there is no reflection back to the camera ### Understanding Skew The mounting location must be considered when determining accuracy. Vertical and horizontal skews distort the characters. For every degree deviation from zero, the accuracy rate will be lowered. We recommend no more than 20 degrees. ### Lens Selection The license plate image must be within the appropriate size for the proper OCR operation. Use the correct lens type (Short, Medium, Long) to meet the proper size image of the license plate based on the distance from the camera to the target object. #### Short Range: * Short-range cameras have a smaller capture area – therefore only good for lower speeds * Can only be mounted close to the ground otherwise the skew is too great. {% hint style="info" %} Short Range is typically the Lens type used for Scale Operation {% endhint %} #### Medium Range: * Generally used for ‘stop and go’ applications (e.g. gated systems) #### Long Range: * Longer-range cameras have larger capture areas so better for faster speeds * Can only be mounted further from the ground – otherwise line-of-sight issues may occur ### Alignment The camera should provide a horizontal image of the License Plate For correct performance, a horizontal line should cross all characters ### Keep in Mind **For Free Flow Operation:** the general recommendation for the camera’s placement is between 4’ to 6’ high and about 1’ off the curb, with plate distance (target) at 14’-18’ when using the Medium range lens. {% hint style="info" %} Free Flow Operation is typically only used for checking in trucks as they arrive on site {% endhint %} 1:3 Rule When different geometry is required, we recommend the 1:3 rule (aka 3-9 ratio - for every 3 feet higher the camera is mounted, the target distance from the base of the pole is increased by 9 feet). The minimum capture distance should be 3 times the mounting height – This is to prevent over-skew for the plate image as too much angle will also cause the IR light projected from the camera to not be reflected back from the plate. ## LPR Camera Configuration To access the camera and do any configuration, you must initially connect to it as a Wi-Fi access point. Typically, the Wi-Fi access point has the following information by default: * Wi-Fi SSID/Connection Name: 192.168.1.130 * Wi-Fi Password: TagMaster ### Web Utility Settings Access Once you have connected to the Wi-Fi access point for the camera, you'll need to enter it's IP/Network Address into a web browser to access the Web Utility. * Web Utility Username: Administrator * Web Utility Password: citysync Once you connect to the web utility and log-in with the default credentials, you'll want to select the **Settings** option.

### Web Utility: Setting IP/Network Address Once here, you'll be greeting with the **Quick Setup** page selected by default from the utility menu.

At this point, you can configure the Network settings to a specific available IP/Network Address on the appropriate network. \ \ You will have the option to use a DHCP/Dynamic IP Address, but it's typically recommended to set it to a Static, unchanging address to help with troubleshooting and to make sure it stays attached to that address since it will be used in the Fast-Weigh configuration.

After setting the network address, the **Deploy** button will finalize and save the configured settings.

***Important Note:*** \ ***Keep in mind, once you set and Deploy these settings, you'll need to disconnect from the Wi-Fi access point and reconnect to your normal network and reload the web utility using the new IP/Network Address entered into the web browser.*** ### Web Utility: Network Interface Next, we will go to the **Network Interface** section of the web utility's menu.

Here we need to enable the following settings: * TCP/IP Host: Checked On / Enabled * Protocol: Generic * Output Format: JSON, readable Unicode * Port: 4222 * Max. Clients: 10 * Check On "Do not backlog events on this channel"

Example of the above settings in place via the web utility.

After you have entered these settings into the web utility, use the Deploy button to finalize and push them to the device.

### Web Utility: Regions Next, we will go to the **Regions** sections in the web utility menu.

Here, you will need to set the geographic information for the camera based on where it is used. * **Regions:** Select the appropriate Region (such as North America). * **Excluded and Included Countries:** Here you can use the Left and Right arrows to move the appropriate states from the Excluded section into the Included section. The Up and Down arrows will allow you to move through the lists easier. * ***These states will typically be where the camera is used, along with any specific states that you commonly receive trucks with License Plates from.***

Just like with every other screen before this, once you are ready to finalize and push the settings to the camera, use the **Deploy** button.

## Adding the LPR Camera to Fast-Weigh Ticketing 1. In Fast-Weigh Ticketing, go to **Server Settings.** 1. (You must have appropriate User Permissions to access these settings). 2. Under the **Manage Devices** area, select **Add Device**. 3. Under **Add Device**, select the **Device Type: LPR Camera**.

4. Assign a Name to the device. 5. Next fill out all of the relevant fields and choose the options you wish to be enabled. The following is a breakdown of these fields: 1. **Camera Type:** TagMaster 2. **IP Address:** The IP/Network address of the LPR Camera itself followed by the Port number assigned in the previous camera configuration steps. 1. If you're camera's reader's IP Address is 192.168.1.20, then it would go into Fast-Weigh as:\ **** 3. **TagMaster Keep Alive:** Toggles keeping the LPR Camera connection alive at all times. 4. **Field to Match:** This is the field the LPR Camera will attempt to match to in FW. Most will be Auto ID Number, unless you are specifically matching to a UDF or license number. 5. **Check-In Location:** This setting is for checking in a scanned truck ID to a specific Kiosk or Lane. This will typically remain on No Check-In Location. 6. Once the settings have been filled out, select **Add LPR Camera.** 7. Next, under **Manage Lanes**, select the LPR Camera using the **Auto ID** drop-down selection.

Now that the LPR Camera has been set to the Lane, it should now be able to auto-populate license plate numbers into the software when it reads it from a truck! **To fully utilize this feature, you will need to assign License Plate numbers to the Trucks in your Fast-Weigh system.** *** ## Using the LPR Camera to Capture Still Images The TagMaster LPR camera can be used to capture still images in place of an [IP Camera](https://help.tacinsight.com/fast-weigh-knowledge-base/references/hardware/ip-cameras) within Fastweigh. By default, the LPR will post an infrared image as the overview image, but some settings can be adjusted to display a color image instead. After setting up the LPR camera following the process outlined above, navigate to the ***Manage Devices*** tab and click the **\[+Add Device]** button.

Select **IP Camera** as the *Device Type,* then click on the Edit icon next to the URL field.

When the additional fields populate, select the **LPR Plate** from the *Type* menu.

Then, input the URL for the LPR camera. #### Enabled Settings in the TagMaster CT45 LRP In the LPRs UI, under the *Detection* tab are two settings that need to be enabled: *Enable Color Camera ANPR* and *Preserve Camera Order*. With these two options enabled, it will post the color image to the ticket instead of the infrared image.