Axis Communications Home Theater Server AXIS 241QA User Manual
AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA Video Server  
User’s Manual  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA  
3
Table of contents  
Product description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5  
Overview of the AXIS video server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5  
AXIS 241QA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6  
AXIS 241SA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6  
LED indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6  
Switches & connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7  
Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7  
Using the video server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9  
Accessing the video server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9  
Setting the root password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10  
The Live View Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11  
Video and audio streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13  
Video stream types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13  
MPEG-4 protocols and communication methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
AXIS Media Control (AMC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
How to stream MPEG-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
Other methods of accessing the video stream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15  
Configuring the video server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17  
Video & image settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18  
Image settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18  
Video source settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19  
Advanced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19  
Quad stream settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
Overlay/Mask settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23  
Live View Config . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27  
HTML Examples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30  
External Video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31  
Sequence Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31  
Pan Tilt Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32  
Installing PTZ devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32  
PTZ configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33  
PTZ controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34  
PTZ control queue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37  
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Axis video server  
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Event configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39  
Event servers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39  
Event types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40  
Camera tampering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42  
Motion detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43  
Port status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44  
System options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45  
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45  
Date & time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48  
Network - Basic TCP/IP settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49  
Network - Advanced TCP/IP settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50  
Ports & devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54  
Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54  
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54  
Advanced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55  
Resetting to the factory default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56  
Unit connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57  
The D-Sub connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57  
The I/O terminal connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58  
Schematic diagram - I/O terminal connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59  
COM ports RS-232 and RS-485 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59  
60  
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61  
Checking the firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61  
Upgrading the firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61  
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62  
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66  
General performance considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69  
Optimizing your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69  
Frame rates - Motion JPEG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70  
Frame rates - MPEG-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70  
Bandwidth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71  
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72  
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Product description  
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Product description  
This manual describes the AXIS 241QA: 4-port video server including 2-way audio, and  
the AXIS 241SA: 1-port video server including 2-way audio.  
Overview of the AXIS video server  
The Axis video server is fully featured for security surveillance and remote monitoring  
needs. It is based on the AXIS ARTPEC-2 compression chip, and can digitize up to four  
analog video sources and make these available on the network as real-time, full frame rate  
Motion JPEG and/or MPEG-4 video streams.  
The Axis video server is equipped with RS-232 and RS-485 ports for connecting third party  
PTZ systems. The 4 alarm inputs and four alarm outputs can be used to connect various  
third party devices, such as door sensors and alarm bells.  
Up to 20 viewers can access the Axis video server simultaneously when using Motion JPEG  
and MPEG-4 unicast. The number of simultaneous viewers can be increased by using  
multicast MPEG-4. When using AXIS Media Control (AMC) to view MPEG-4 video streams,  
each MPEG-4 viewer requires a separate MPEG-4 decoder license. One license is included,  
and further licenses can be purchased separately from your Axis dealer. If using other  
clients to view the MPEG-4 video stream, no further MPEG-4 decoder licenses are required.  
Video can be viewed in five resolutions (up to 4CIF), and image compression is  
configurable. The Axis video server contains support for video motion detection, which  
allows the unit to trigger on activity in the video image, and advanced scheduling tools  
which can also be used to trigger an event. As the Axis video server is designed for use in  
security systems, it is equipped with several security features, such as IP address filtering,  
several user levels with passwords and HTTPS.  
The Axis video server has a built-in web server, providing full access to all features  
through the use of a web browser. The built-in scripting tool allows basic applications to  
be created, providing basic surveillance solutions. For advanced functionality, the video  
server can be integrated via the use of VAPIX® Axis Communications’ powerful API (see  
www.axis.com/developer for further information).  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Product description  
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AXIS 241QA  
The AXIS 241QA provides 4 BNC inputs for connecting analog video devices.  
The AXIS 241QA also provides a Line/Microphone In (mono) connector for connecting an  
external microphone or other source, producing a line level signal. An active speaker with  
a built-in amplifier can be connected to Line Out (mono), to enable two-way  
communication. Audio communication can be bi-directional (full-duplex), push to talk  
(half-duplex) or in one direction only (simplex).  
Front panel - AXIS 241QA  
Video input (x4)  
Control button  
DIP switch  
Line/Mic In &  
Line Out  
LED indicators for Network, Status & Power  
AXIS 241SA  
The AXIS 241SA provides 1 BNC input and 1 matching loop-through output. This model  
can also accommodate S-Video (Y/C) by using a Y/C to BNC cable (not included).  
The AXIS 241SA also provides a Line/Mic In (mono) connector for connecting an external  
microphone or other source producing a line level signal. An active speaker with a built-in  
amplifier can be connected to Line Out (mono) to enable two-way communication. Audio  
communication can be bi-directional (full-duplex), push to talk (half-duplex) or in one  
direction only (simplex).  
LED indicators  
After completion of the startup and self-test routines, the multi-colored LED indicators  
signal the following conditions:  
Unlit  
No connection.  
Network  
Status  
Green  
Steady for connection to a 100 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.  
Amber Steady for connection to a 10 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.  
Unlit  
When configured for “no flash” on access.  
Green  
Steady for normal operation. Can be configured to flash green at intervals  
whenever the unit is accessed.  
Amber Steady during startup, reset to factory default or when restoring settings.  
Red Slow flash for failed firmware upgrade.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Product description  
7
Power  
Green  
Normal operation.  
Flashes green/amber during firmware upgrade.  
Amber  
Switches & connectors  
DIP switch - A corresponding line termination switch is supplied for each video input. All  
units are shipped with line termination enabled for each video input; that is, with the DIP  
switch set in the down position.  
Note: If the video source is to be connected in parallel with other equipment, disable the input termination by  
turning the corresponding DIP switch to the up position (OFF). Failure to do so may cause reduced image  
quality.  
Control Button - Press this button to restore the factory default settings, as described in  
Resetting to the factory default settings, on page 56. This button is also used to install the  
video server using AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service (See the Axis Video Server  
Installation Guide).  
Video Input - Each supported video input (1 or 4 depending on the model) is connected  
using a coax/BNC connector. Physical connections made using a 75 ohm coaxial video  
cable have a recommended maximum length of 800 feet (250 meters).  
Line Out - Mono audio output (line level), which can be connected to a public address (PA)  
system or an active speaker with a built-in amplifier. A pair of headphones can also be  
attached.  
Line/Mic In - Single 3.5 mm input for a mono microphone, or line level mono signal (only  
the left channel is used from a stereo signal).  
Rear panel  
Network  
connector  
12-pin I/O terminal  
connector  
RS-232  
connector  
Power adapter  
connector  
Serial number on underside label  
Power adapter connector - For connecting the power adapter.  
I/O terminal connector - The I/O terminal connector provides the physical interface to four  
digital transistor outputs, 4 digital inputs and an RS-485 interface. See Unit connectors, on  
page 57 for more information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Product description  
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Note: The I/O terminal connector also provides an auxiliary connection point for DC power.  
Network connector - The Axis video server connects to the network via a standard  
network cable, and automatically detects the speed of the local network segment  
(10BaseT/100BaseTX Ethernet).  
RS-232 connector - A 9-pin D-SUB connector providing an RS-232 serial connection.  
Typically used for connecting Pan/Tilt/Zoom devices. See Unit connectors, on page 57 for  
more information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Using the video server  
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Using the video server  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can be used with most operating systems and web browsers.  
The recommended browser is Internet Explorer with Windows, and Mozilla with other  
operating systems. See also the Technical specifications, on page 66.  
Note: For information on installing the video server, please refer to the Installation Guide.  
Accessing the video  
server  
1. Start your web  
browser.  
2. Enter the IP address or host name of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA in the  
Location/Address field of your browser.  
3. If you are accessing the camera for the first time, see Setting the root password,  
on page 10. Otherwise enter your user name and password, as set by the  
administrator.  
4. A video image is displayed in your browser.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Using the video server  
10  
Notes:  
•
To view streaming video in Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must set your web browser to  
allow the AXIS Media Control (AMC) to be installed on your computer. AMC is required to  
use audio in the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA. AMC also provides an MPEG-4 decoder for  
viewing MPEG-4 video streams. This decoder is installed the first time an MPEG-4 video  
stream is accessed. Please note that the product administrator may have disabled the  
installation of the decoder, as a license is required for each instance.  
•
•
If your computer restricts the use of additional software components, the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA can be configured to use a Java applet for updating JPEG images.  
Please see the online help for more information.  
When using a browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer with AMC, instead of a stop,  
a snapshot and a full screen button, there is a stop and a play button in the bottom left  
corner of the live view page. For a description of these buttons see The Live View Page,  
below.  
Setting the root password  
1. When accessing a camera for the first time, the ‘Configure Root Password’ dialog  
is displayed on the screen.  
Note: Before you enter your password at this point, you can secure configuration of the  
root password via HTTPS by creating a self-signed certificate. To do so, click the Create  
self-signed certificate... button in the Create Certificate window, and then proceed as  
follows.  
2. Enter a password, and re-enter to confirm the spelling. Click OK.  
3. The ‘Enter Network Password’ dialog appears. Enter the User name: root  
Note: The default administrator user name root is permanent and cannot be deleted.  
4. Enter the password as set in step 2 above, and click OK. If the password is lost,  
the cameras must be reset to the factory default settings. See page 56.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Using the video server  
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5. If required, click Yes to install the AXIS Media Control (AMC). You will need  
administrator rights on the computer to do this.  
The Live View Page  
If your AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA has been customized to meet specific requirements, all  
the buttons and other items described below may not be displayed on the Live View page.  
Below you have an overview of all the buttons:  
The Video Format drop-down list allows the video format on the Live  
View page to be temporarily changed.  
Pulse - click this button to activate the port  
The Output buttons control  
for a defined period of time, such as switching  
an output directly from the  
on a light for 20 seconds.  
Live View page. These  
buttons are configured  
Active/Inactive - click these buttons to  
under Setup > Live View  
manually start and stop a connected device,  
such as switching a light on/off.  
Config > Layout.  
These buttons start/stop the Sequence Mode. This mode is created in Setup >  
Live View Config > Sequence mode and automatically displays the view  
from two or more video sources at set intervals.  
From the Source list, select the desired video image(s). The list can  
contain internal video sources, external video sources, or the Quad  
Stream view. The Quad Stream option displays all four video images  
in one stream.  
The trigger buttons trigger an event directly from the Live View page. These  
buttons are configured under Setup > Live View Config > Layout. Click these  
buttons to manually start and stop events.  
Use the Snapshot button to capture a snapshot of the image currently  
displayed in the window. Right-click on the image to save it in on your  
computer.  
The AMC viewer toolbar (AXIS Media Control) is available in Microsoft Internet  
Explorer only and displays the following buttons:  
The Play/Stop buttons start and stop the media stream.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Using the video server  
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The Snapshot button saves a snapshot of the video image currently displayed. The  
Snapshot function and the target directory for saving snapshots can be configured  
from the AMC Control Applet, which can be opened from the Windows Control  
Panel or by right-clicking the image.  
Click the View Full Screen button and the video image will fill the entire screen  
area. No other windows will be visible. Press Esc (Escape) on your keyboard to  
cancel full screen view.  
Click the Record button to start an MPEG-4 recording (only available when  
viewing MPEG-4).  
AMC Audio controls  
There are audio controls for controlling the client computer’s speaker output. These  
controls are only available in the MPEG-4 video format and when audio is enabled, see  
Audio Settings, on page 23.  
Click the Speaker and Microphone buttons to switch the sound off and on, for the  
speaker and microphone, respectively.  
Use the slider to control the volume on the speaker and microphone.  
The volume can be set between 0 and 100.  
When using Half-duplex mode, this button toggles between allowing you to speak  
and listen. The first icon indicates that you can talk and the speaker attached to the  
video server plays your voice. The second icon indicates that you will hear audio  
from the video server, but no audio is sent to web clients. When in simplex talk  
mode, the icon toggles between allowing you to speak, and is dimmed when you do not  
want other clients to receive any audio.  
Note that these AMC toolbar functions can also be accessed by right-clicking in the image.  
For information on using Pan/Tilt/Zoom controls, please see Pan Tilt Zoom, on page 37.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video and audio streams  
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Video and audio streams  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA provides several different video and audio stream formats.  
The type to use depends on your requirements and on the properties of your network.  
The Live View page in the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA provides access to Motion JPEG and  
MPEG-4 video and audio streams, as well as to single JPEG images. Other applications and  
clients can also access these video and audio streams/images directly, without going via  
the Live View page.  
Video stream types  
Motion JPEG  
This format uses standard JPEG still images in the video stream. These images are then  
displayed and updated at a rate sufficient to create a stream that shows constantly updated  
motion.  
The Motion JPEG stream provides excellent image quality and access to each and every  
individual image contained in the stream.  
Note also that multiple clients accessing Motion JPEG streams can use different image  
settings.  
MPEG-4  
This is a video compression standard that makes good use of bandwidth, and which can  
provide high-quality video streams at less than 1 Mbit/s.  
The MPEG-4 standard provides scope for a large range of different coding tools for use by  
various applications in different situations, and the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA provides  
certain subsets of these tools. These are represented as Video object types, which are  
selected for use with different viewing clients. The supported video object types are:  
• Simple - sets the coding type to H.263  
• Advanced Simple - in Axis products, this sets the coding type to MPEG-4 Part 2  
AMC (AXIS Media Control) supports both object types, while QuickTime™ requires the  
Simple object type. When using MPEG-4 it is also possible to control the bit rate, which in  
turn allows the amount of bandwidth usage to be controlled. CBR (constant bit rate) is used  
to achieve a specific bit rate by varying the quality of the MPEG-4 stream. When using  
VBR (variable bit rate), the quality of the video stream is kept as constant as possible, at the  
cost of a varying bit rate.  
Notes:  
•
MPEG-4 is licensed technology. The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA includes one license for the  
decoder required for viewing in AMC. Installing additional unlicensed copies of this decoder  
is prohibited. To purchase more decoder licenses, contact your Axis reseller.  
All clients viewing the MPEG-4 stream must use the same image settings.  
•
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video and audio streams  
14  
MPEG-4 protocols and communication methods  
To deliver live streaming video over IP networks, various combinations of transport  
protocols and broadcast methods are employed.  
• RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) is a protocol that allows programs to manage  
the real-time transmission of multimedia data, via unicast or multicast.  
• RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) serves as a control protocol, to negotiate  
which transport protocol to use for the stream. RTSP is thus used by a viewing  
client to start a unicast session, see below.  
• UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a communications protocol that offers limited  
service for exchanging data in a network that uses the Internet Protocol (IP). UDP  
is an alternative to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The advantage of  
UDP is that it is not required to deliver all data and may drop network packets  
when there is network congestion. This is suitable for live video, as there is no  
point in re-transmitting old information that will not be displayed anyway.  
• Unicasting is communication between a single sender and a single receiver over a  
network. This means that the video stream goes independently to each user, and  
each user gets their own stream. A benefit of unicasting is that if one stream fails,  
it only affects one user.  
• Multicast is bandwidth-conserving technology that reduces bandwidth usage by  
simultaneously delivering a single stream of information to multiple network  
recipients. This technology is used primarily on delimited networks (intranets), as  
each user needs an uninterrupted data flow and should not rely on network  
routers.  
AXIS Media Control (AMC)  
The recommended method of accessing live video and audio from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS  
241SA is to use the AXIS Media Control (AMC) in Microsoft Internet Explorer in Windows.  
This ActiveX component is automatically installed on first use, after which it can be  
configured by opening the AMC Control Panel applet from the Windows Control Panel.  
Alternatively, right-click the video image in Internet Explorer.  
How to stream MPEG-4  
Deciding on the combination of protocols and methods to use depends on your viewing  
requirements, and on the properties of your network. Setting the preferred method(s) is  
done in the control applet for AMC, which is found in the Windows Control Panel. When  
this has been set, AMC will test all the selected methods in the specified order, until the  
first functioning one is found.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video and audio streams  
15  
RTP+RTSP  
This method (actually RTP over UDP and RTSP over TCP) should be your first consideration  
for live video, especially when it is important to always have an up-to-date video stream,  
even if some images do get dropped. This can be configured as multicast or unicast.  
Multicasting provides the most efficient usage of bandwidth, especially when there are  
large numbers of clients viewing simultaneously. Note however, that a multicast broadcast  
cannot pass a network router unless the router is configured to allow this. It is thus not  
possible to multicast over the Internet, for example.  
Unicasting should be used for video-on-demand broadcasting, so that there is no video  
traffic on the network until a client connects and requests the stream. However, if more  
and more unicast clients connect, the server will at some point become overloaded. There is  
also a maximum of 20 simultaneous viewers to be considered.  
RTP/RTSP  
This unicast method is RTP tunneled over RTSP. This can be used to exploit the fact that it  
is relatively simple to configure firewalls to allow RTSP traffic.  
RTP/RTSP/HTTP or RTP/RTSP/HTTPS  
These two methods can also be used to traverse firewalls. Firewalls are commonly  
configured to allow the HTTP protocol, thus allowing RTP to be tunneled.  
Other methods of accessing the video stream  
Video/images from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can also be accessed in the following  
ways:  
• If supported by the client, the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can use Motion JPEG  
server push to display video. This option maintains an open HTTP connection to  
the web browser and sends data as and when required, for as long as required.  
• As single JPEG images in a browser. Enter the path:  
http://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?resolution=CIF  
• Windows Media Player. This requires AMC and the MPEG-4 decoder to be  
installed. The paths that can be used are listed below, in the order of preference.  
• Unicast via RTP: axrtpu://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp  
• Unicast via RTSP: axrtsp://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp  
• Unicast via RTSP, tunneled via HTTP: axrtsphttp://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp  
• Unicast via RTSP, tunneled via HTTPS: axrtsphttps://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp  
• Multicast: axrtpm://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp  
Notes:  
•
•
<ip> = IP address.  
# = video source number or the quad stream. This is set to 1 if omitted.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video and audio streams  
16  
Other MPEG-4 clients  
Although it may be possible to use other clients to view the MPEG-4 stream, it is not  
guaranteed to work in all cases. For some other clients, such as QuickTime™ the Video  
Object Type must be set to Simple. It may also be necessary to adjust the advanced  
MPEG-4 settings.  
To access the video stream from e.g. QuickTime™ the following path can be used:  
rtsp://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp  
This path is for all supported methods, and the client will negotiate with the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA to determine exactly which transport protocol to use.  
Notes:  
•
•
<ip> = IP address.  
# = video source number or the quad stream. This is set to 1 if omitted.  
Audio transmission methods  
The audio stream can be accessed in the Live View page when viewing either Motion JPEG  
or MPEG-4.  
Using Motion JPEG  
The basic transmission method of audio used in conjunction with Motion JPEG video  
streaming is transmission over HTTP. The video and audio streams are not synchronized  
when using Motion JPEG so the streams may be slightly out of sync. The latency in any  
stream should be low, but this will depend on the network infrastructure.  
Using MPEG-4  
When using MPEG-4, audio is streamed using the same protocol as the video stream.  
When audio is transmitted using MPEG-4, the Axis video server sends synchronization  
information along with the streams to the client performing the synchronization.  
Note: Audio is streamed from the client to the server over HTTP when using Motion JPEG and MPEG-4.  
Accessing the audio streams  
In addition to accessing audio in the Live View page using AMC, audio from the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA can also be accessed in the following ways:  
AXIS VAPIX API  
You can read about accessing audio for the other protocols through the VAPIX® API at  
www.axis.com/techsup  
QuickTime/Windows Media Player  
It is possible to use QuickTime and Windows Media Player to listen to the audio stream  
using the same methods to access video streams.  
Java Applet  
The Java applet supports simplex audio.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Configuring the video server  
17  
Configuring the video server  
This section describes how to configure the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA and is intended for  
administrators, who have unrestricted access to all the Setup tools  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA is configured from the Setup link in a web browser. For  
more information on supported browsers, see the Technical specifications, on page 66.  
Accessing the Setup tools  
Follow the instructions below to access the Setup Tools from a web browser.  
1. Start the browser and enter the IP address or host name of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS  
241SA in the location/address field.  
2. The Live View page is now displayed. Click Setup to display the Setup tools.  
Setup tools  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video & image settings  
18  
Video & image settings  
Below you find examples of the features available in the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA. For  
details of each setting, please refer to the online help available from each page. Click  
access the online help.  
to  
Image settings  
Image appearance  
Modify image appearance to optimize the video images according to your requirements.  
All configuration of images and overlays will affect the performance of the video server,  
depending on the usage and the available bandwidth.  
• High resolution generates larger files  
• Lower compression improves image quality, but generates larger files  
• Rotating the image 90 or 270 degrees will lower the maximum frame rate  
• Black & White uses less bandwidth than Color  
See also the specifications for frame rates and bandwidth on page 70.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video & image settings  
19  
Mirroring  
Mirroring is the horizontal flipping of an image, that gives you another image perspective.  
This is a useful function when you need a direct view of the image, for example, in ATMs  
and door phones. The mirroring settings should be defined before you define the  
parameters for privacy masks and motion detection.  
Text overlay settings  
Include date, time and/or text of your choice to be viewed on the image. The color of the  
text may be set to white or black, while the background color may be set to white, black,  
transparent or semitransparent. The position of the text is set either to the top or the  
bottom of the image. For more information, please see the online help  
.
Video stream  
The Maximum video stream time can be set as Unlimited, or set per session in seconds,  
minutes or hours. When the set time has expired, a new stream on the Live View page can  
be started by refreshing the page in the web browser. Note that the maximum video stream  
time does not apply to clients connecting via multicast.  
To avoid bandwidth problems on the network, the frame rate allowed to each viewer can  
also be limited. Select either Unlimited or define a Maximum frame rate per viewer.  
Test  
For a preview of the image and overlay settings before saving, click Test. When you are  
satisfied with the settings, click Save.  
Video source settings  
These settings allow you to:  
• enter a descriptive name for the video source  
• eliminate black borders surrounding the image, by making Offset adjustments.  
See the online help for more information  
AXIS 241SA:  
.
Select the physical connector the video source is connected to, BNC or Y/C.  
• BNC (composite video) connects a standard video camera or other video equip-  
ment  
• Y/C (S-video) connects a Y/C (S-Video) camera or other video equipment  
Advanced  
MPEG-4 settings  
These settings are the tools for adjusting the MPEG-4 settings and for controlling the video  
bit rate.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video & image settings  
20  
The MPEG-4 standard provides many different coding tools for various applications in  
different situations. As most MPEG-4 clients do not support all of these tools, it is usual to  
instead define and use subsets for different clients or groups of clients. These settings allow  
you to define the type of viewing client to use.  
Adjusting the maximum bit rate and setting it to variable or constant is a good way of  
controlling the bandwidth used by the MPEG-4 video stream.  
MJPEG  
Sometimes the image size is large due to low light or complex scenery. Adjusting the  
maximum frame size helps to control the bandwidth and storage used by the MJPEG video  
stream in these situations. Defining the frame size as Unlimited provides consistently good  
image quality at the expense of increased bandwidth and storage usage during low light.  
Limiting the frame size optimizes bandwidth and storage usage, but gives poor image  
quality. To prevent increased bandwidth and storage usage, the maximum frame size  
should be set to an optimal value.  
For more information on these advanced settings, please see the online help.  
Quad stream settings  
A Quad stream enables you to monitor all channels at the same time. Instead of having  
four Internet Explorer windows open, you can have just one window open with the Quad  
view. You can edit this view with the desired stream time, frame rate, and text overlay.  
These settings are the same as the Image Settings. See page 18.  
Overlay/Mask settings  
Text  
overlay  
Image  
Overlay  
Overlay/Mask type  
Overlay/Mask type allows you to place  
an overlay, or up to three privacy  
masks over the video image:  
• Upload and place an image as  
an overlay - usually used to  
provide extra information in  
the video image.  
• Place up to three configurable  
privacy masks to conceal dif-  
ferent areas of the video  
image.  
Selecting the overlay/mask type from the menu will display further settings available for  
the selected type. See the online help for further information.  
Note: A privacy mask cannot be bypassed, but an overlay image can be bypassed with the help of the VAPIX® API.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video & image settings  
21  
Upload and use an overlay image  
1. Select Uploaded image as overlay in the drop-down list against Overlay/Mask  
Type.  
2. In the field Upload own image, click the Browse button and locate the image file  
on your computer or server.  
3. Click the Upload button and follow the on-screen instructions.  
To use an already uploaded image:  
1. Select an uploaded image from the Use image drop-down list.  
2. Place the image at the required location by entering the x and y coordinates.  
3. Click Save.  
Overlay image requirements:  
Image Formats  
Image Size  
•
•
Windows 24-bit BMP (full color)  
Windows 4-bit BMP (16 colors)  
The height and width of the overlay image in  
pixels must be divisible by 4.  
Overlay image limitations:  
• The maximum overlay image size supported by the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA is  
the same as the maximum image resolution. See the Technical Specifications, on  
page 66.  
• When a text overlay is also used, this reduces the amount of space available to  
the overlay image. To keep the text readable at lower resolutions, the text overlay  
occupies proportionally more of the image at lower resolutions.  
• If the overlay is initially positioned so that part of it is outside the video image, it  
is relocated so that it appears over the video image. It is always the entire image  
that is displayed.  
Please see the online help  
for more information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Video & image settings  
22  
Use a Privacy Mask  
To use privacy masks to hide different areas of the video image:  
1. Select Configurable areas as privacy mask in the Overlay/Mask Type  
drop-down list.  
2. Enter the (x,y) coordinates of the top left hand corner of the mask, and the height  
and width to define the masks’ placement and size.  
3. Select the color for the privacy mask - black, grey, white, or red.  
4. Check the Enable box to enable the masks you have defined and click on Save.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Audio  
23  
Audio  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can transmit audio to other clients using an external  
microphone and can play audio received from other clients by attaching a speaker. The  
Audio Settings allow different audio configurations to be set up, such as full duplex, half  
duplex, and simplex.  
Note: The speaker attached to the audio output of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA must have a built-in amplifier,  
which is the case for e.g. some PC speakers.  
Audio Settings  
This section describes how to configure the basic audio settings for the AXIS 241QA/AXIS  
241SA, such as setting the communication mode and adjusting the sound levels in the  
microphone and speaker connected to the camera.  
Enable Audio  
Select the video sources that the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA will transmit and receive audio  
from.  
Audio Channels  
There are two mono audio channels between the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA and a  
connected client, one for receiving audio and the other for transmitting audio. Each audio  
channel can be turned on or off, which means there are four audio mode options that can  
be used.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Audio  
24  
Full-duplex mode means that you can transmit and receive audio (talk and listen) at the  
same time, without having to use any of the controls. This is just like having a telephone  
conversation. The only controls you may wish to use are the mute buttons to turn off the  
sound, and the sliders, to adjust the input/output volume levels. This mode requires that  
the client PC has a sound card with support for full-duplex audio. If your available  
bandwidth is 0.2 Mbit/s or less, it is recommended that you use Half-duplex mode instead.  
Half-duplex mode also transmits and receives audio in both directions, but only in one  
direction at a time. This means that you must select when to receive or transmit audio with  
the help of the push-to-talk button. To speak, press and hold the button (check that the  
microphone is not muted). When finished, release the button. You will now be receiving  
audio from the other end of the connection.  
Note that the push-to-talk button is configured from AMC, see AXIS Media Control (AMC),  
on page 14. It is also possible to configure the push-to-talk button so that it toggles  
between speaking and listening modes. Half-Duplex mode is best if you only have limited  
bandwidth available.  
If you select the Simplex - Video server speaker only mode, the speaker connected to the  
AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA plays audio, but no audio is transmitted from the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA to other web clients. This could be used to provide spoken instructions  
to a person seen in a camera. This mode requires you to use the push-to-talk button.  
The Simplex - Video server microphone only mode transmits audio from the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA to a web client. It does not receive audio from any other web client.  
This can be used in remote monitoring, and web attractions, to provide live audio and  
video of a monitored situation.  
When using half-duplex, the Send the sound from the active client to all other clients  
option transmits the audio signal from the client talking to all the other clients.  
Audio Input  
Audio from an external microphone or a line source can be connected to the  
Line/Microphone In jack of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA. The audio source can be set to  
Microphone or Line. If you are using a microphone, the Input sensitivity can be set to  
High or Low. See Technical specifications, on page 66 for the exact maximum levels.  
The Enable microphone power option provides DC power for the external microphone. If  
you use a small electret condenser microphone such as a clip-on microphone or a PC  
microphone, this option needs to be enabled.  
To use a high impedance dynamic microphone, DC power should not be enabled. DC power  
will not harm the microphone, but if you are uncertain, try switching it off and on. DC  
power is enabled by default. To use a professional microphone requiring 48V phantom  
power, you need an external power supply and must use a balanced-unbalanced converter  
(audio transformer) in between.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Audio  
25  
If t the sound input is too low or high, it is possible to adjust the input gain for the  
microphone attached to the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
Select the desired audio Encoding format, G711, G726.  
Depending on the selected encoding, set the desired Bit rate (audio quality). The settings  
depend on the available bandwidth and the required audio quality, that is, a high bit rate  
setting requires more bandwidth.  
Audio Output  
If the sound from the speaker is too low or high it is possible to adjust the output gain for  
the active speaker attached to the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
When satisfied with the settings, click Save, or click Reset to revert to the previously saved  
settings.  
Advanced Audio Settings  
The Audio Quality Settings allow you to tune the audio input to suit your environment.  
Enable speech filter improves the sound quality if using a microphone that is placed close  
to the person talking and can also help reduce background noise. The filter cuts the lowest  
and the highest frequencies. The bypass frequency range is approximately 250Hz to  
3700Hz (measured at -10dB cut-off points).  
Enable echo cancellation can reduce the feedback generated when using full duplex. If  
there is sound distortion, turning echo cancellation off may improve the sound quality.  
Noise cancelling is a way of reducing the background noise when there is no useful audio  
present. A typical application could be when there is a noisy environment and you are only  
interested in hearing the sound when someone is speaking close to a microphone. There are  
two adjustable parameters available to optimize this function:  
• Noise canceller threshold value  
• Noise canceller attenuation  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Audio  
26  
When the incoming sound is louder than the threshold, it will pass without any change.  
When lower than the threshold, the incoming sound is reduced by a certain attenuation  
factor. The threshold value should be set higher than the background noise, but lower than  
the useful audio.  
The noise canceller threshold value can be set to High, Medium High, Medium low and  
Low. A lower threshold will allow most of the audio to pass. Only the weakest background  
noise is reduced. A higher threshold makes the noise canceller act on even stronger  
background noise. At the maximum level High, there is a risk of reducing useful audio as  
well.  
There is a trade-off between noise cancelling and sound quality. In other words, increasing  
the Noise canceller attenuation value compromises sound quality. Adjust the threshold  
and the attenuation to an optimum level by listening and changing the levels.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Live View Config  
27  
Live View Config  
Layout  
These are the tools for deciding the layout  
of the Live View page.  
The layout can be set in two ways:  
• Use Axis look - the layout is  
unchanged.  
• Use custom settings - modify the  
default page with your own col-  
ors, and images. Click the Con-  
figure button to view the  
options.  
The other settings on this page relate to  
buttons and links to include in the Live  
View page. See page 30 for more  
information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Live View Config  
28  
Customizing the default page  
The appearance of the default AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA Live View page can be  
customized to suit your own requirements, or you can upload and use your own home  
page. To upload your own files, click the Upload/Remove button and see the description  
below.  
Note that the setup address is http://<ip address>/operator/basic.shtml  
Upload Own Web Files  
Your own web files, and background pictures must first be uploaded to the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA before they are available for selection in the Custom Settings page.  
1. In the Upload/Remove Own Web files page, enter the path to the file, or click the  
Browse button.  
2. Select the user level for the uploaded file. Setting the user access level means that  
you have complete control over the pages can be viewed by users.  
3. When the path is shown correctly in the text field, click the Upload button.  
Uploaded files are now shown in the list in the lower section of the page.  
Note: To remove a file, check the relevant box under Remove Uploaded Files and click the Remove button.  
4. To use your uploaded file, click on the radio button and select the file from the  
drop-down list.  
To use an external file located somewhere other than in the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA,  
select the External radio button and enter the URL in the field marked External.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Live View Config  
29  
Modify the Axis Look  
Select the background and text colors from the drop-down lists. To add a background  
picture, a banner and/or a logo, select your uploaded file or specify the location of an  
external file as described above. Banners and logos can also be linked to web addresses.  
Include a title to be shown above the video stream and/or a description displayed below  
the video stream.  
Own Home Page  
To use a previously uploaded web page as the default page, check the Own Home Page  
box, select the page from the drop-down list and click OK.  
Default Live View Video  
Select a single video source or the quad view to use as the default view on the Live View  
page.  
Default Video Format  
Select the default video format to use on the Live View page. Check the box against Show  
video format selection to view the drop-down list on the Live View page. Here you can  
temporarily change the format.  
Default Viewer  
Select from the drop-down list the viewer you wish to use for your web browser. Please see  
the online help for more information.  
Viewer Settings  
Show viewer toolbar - enables display of the viewer’s own toolbar under the image.  
Enable MPEG-4 decoder installation - the administrator can enable or disable the  
installation of the MPEG-4 decoder included with AMC. This is used to prevent the  
installation of unlicensed copies. Further decoder licenses can be purchased from your Axis  
dealer.  
Show crosshair in PTZ joystick mode - this enables the display of a crosshair in the video  
image when the PTZ mode is set to joystick.  
Use PTZ joystick mode as default - sets the PTZ joystick mode as the default mode.  
Enable recording button - allows the user to start an MPEG-4 recording directly from the  
Live View page.  
Action Buttons  
The manual trigger buttons can be used to manually start and stop an event from the Live  
View page. See Pan Tilt Zoom, on page 32. The Show snapshot option allows you to take  
a snapshot of the video stream and save it to a computer.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Live View Config  
30  
User-defined Links  
Enter a descriptive name and the URL in the  
field provided. The link appears on the Live  
View page.  
User defined CGI links can be used to issue  
HTTP API requests, such as PTZ commands.  
Example:  
1. Check Show Custom Link 1  
2. Enter a descriptive name, such as CAM1  
Start PTZ.  
3. Enter the cgi link:  
http://192.168.0.125/axis-cgi/com/ptz.cgi?  
camera=1&continuouspantiltmove=30,-30  
4. Check Show Custom Link 2.  
5. Enter a descriptive name, such as CAM1 Stop PTZ.  
6. Enter the cgi link:  
http://192.168.0.125/axis-cgi/com/ptz.cgi?camera=1&continuouspantiltmove=0,0  
These links appear in the web interface and can be used to control the PTZ camera.  
For more information on VAPIX® AXIS Communication’s powerful API, see the Developer  
pages at the Axis web site www.axis.com/developer  
See also the section on PTZ, on page 37.  
HTML Examples  
Live video from the Axis video server can be added to your own web page.  
Select the preferred video format from the Select video format drop down list. The  
available options are Motion JPEG, MPEG-4 using AMC, and MPEG-4 using QuickTime. If  
MPEG-4 using AMC is set as the video format, note that a separate MPEG-4 license is  
required for each viewer.  
The Motion JPEG selection has additional settings for Image Type, Image size and  
Optional settings for configuring the video stream to suit your web page. Click Update  
when satisfied.  
The video server then generates the required source code for your configuration. Copy this  
code and paste it into your own web page code.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Live View Config  
31  
External Video  
You can add links to other Axis network devices available over the network. These sources  
can be displayed on the Live View page, just as if they were video sources connected  
directly to the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
Click the Add... button to open the External Video Source Setup dialog, and define the  
necessary settings.  
Example of a path to an external video source:  
http://192.168.0.125/axis-cgi/mjpeg/video.cgi  
Sequence Mode  
The live view page can be configured to rotate through selected internal and/or external  
video sources, in order or at random. PTZ preset positions can also be included.  
Select the desired video sources and enter the time in seconds to display each source (up to  
59 minutes). Click Save.  
The Sequence buttons appear in the Live View page to allow the viewer to  
start and stop the sequence mode.  
Please see the online help  
for more information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
Pan Tilt Zoom  
32  
Installing PTZ devices  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA supports several PTZ devices. Please see www.axis.com for  
a complete list of supported devices, and to obtain the correct driver. Follow the  
instructions below to install a PTZ device:  
1. Using an appropriate cable, connect the device to your selected port (RS-232 or  
RS-485). These ports are available via the D-Sub connector and the I/O terminal  
connector, respectively. See pages 57 and 59 for more information.  
2. In the menu in your web page, go to Setup > System Options > Ports & Devices  
and then select either port RS-232 or RS-485 to configure. See the figure below.  
3. Select Pan Tilt Zoom from the Usage drop-down list.  
4. Click Upload to install a PTZ driver.  
(PTZ drivers are available from the Axis Web site at www.axis.com)  
5. Click Port Options... to modify the port settings. The default values correspond to  
the values specified by the PTZ driver.  
6. From System Options > Ports & Devices, select the port configured for PTZ and  
then select the video source to use with the device.  
7. If required, click the Advanced Options button to make further settings and see  
the online help.  
Note: Advanced users and application developers can also use the Axis Application Programming Interface and  
HTTP specification for generic control of PTZ devices using CGI commands or a TCP/IP client. Please refer to  
the Axis Website at www.axis.com for further information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
33  
PTZ configuration  
Once PTZ has been installed for the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, PTZ Configuration now  
appears in the menu to the left with the following sub menus.  
Preset positions  
A preset position is a pre-defined camera view than can be used to quickly move the  
camera to a specific location.  
From Preset Position Setup, use the Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) controls to steer the camera  
to the required position. When satisfied with the camera's position, enter a descriptive  
name. The camera position, iris and focus settings are then saved as a preset position.  
The position can be assumed at any time, by selecting the preset's name from the Preset  
positions drop-down list. Preset positions can be selected in Live View, from events and in  
Sequence mode.  
One position can be set as the Home position, which is readily accessible by clicking the  
box beside Use current position as Home. The position's name will then have (H) added to  
the end, such as Office Entrance (H).  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
34  
PTZ controls  
If the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA has been appropriately configured, the Live View page  
will display the controls available for the installed PTZ device. The administrator can  
enable/disable the controls for specified users.  
Video sources  
Tilt bar (relative)  
The exact controls shown depend on the make and model of PTZ device. There may be  
Focus and Iris bars available as well, but the most common controls are:  
• the Pan bar - moves the camera to the right and left  
• the Tilt bar - tips the camera up and down  
• the Zoom bar - zooms the view in and out. Note that this is only available if the  
camera is fitted with a zoom lens.  
Clicking on the bars or on the arrows at the end of the bars will move the camera to a new  
position. The type of movement and the location of this new position depends on the type  
of PTZ driver.  
When controlling the camera using a relative PTZ driver (see the bars in the illustration  
above) the new position is relative to the previous position, for example, left of, below,  
above. Clicking the bar further from the center results in a larger movement.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
In contrast, when using an absolute driver, each  
35  
position on the bar (see right) represents a defined  
position in the device’s range of movement, with the center of the bar representing the  
point midway between the two extremes of movement.  
Clicking a position directly on the bar moves the camera directly to the new position in  
one smooth movement. Clicking on the arrows at the ends of a bar causes a stepped,  
incremental change.  
Using CGI links to control PTZ devices  
User-defined CGI links on the Live View page can be used to issue HTTP API requests, such  
as PTZ commands. These links are configured in the Live View Layout settings; see page 9.  
PTZ control modes  
The PTZ device can also be controlled using click-in-image movement, which has two  
different types of navigation; Center and Joystick.  
Center mode means that when clicking in the image, the camera view centers on the  
absolute position that was clicked.  
Joystick mode moves the camera in the direction of the mouse pointer. By clicking and  
holding the mouse button down in the image, the PTZ device moves the camera in that  
direction, relative to the center of the image. The further from the center the image is  
clicked, the greater the movement. The camera stops moving when the button is released.  
Note: There is also joystick support in AXIS Media Control (AMC).  
Control panel  
The focus and iris (image brightness) can be adjusted manually by using the control bars,  
or they can be set for automatic adjustment, by clicking the Auto iris and Auto focus  
buttons.  
To access the Auto iris and Auto focus buttons, click on the Control  
panel button. The menu to the right will then appear in the upper left  
hand corner of the screen.  
There are also driver specific shortcuts that can appear in the Control  
Panel. In the screen to the right, a driver has been installed that  
brings up the Wiper shortcut button, which allows the user to  
configure and use a windshield wiping action with the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
36  
Preset positions  
Also available with many PTZ devices are Preset positions. These presets are selected from  
the drop-down Source list on the Live View page and will move and/or zoom the camera  
to a pre-defined position, that is to cover an area of particular interest. Events can also be  
configured to go to preset positions when triggered. For information on setting up preset  
positions, please see Preset positions, on page 33 and the online help.  
Guard tour  
A guard tour moves between chosen Preset Positions, one-by-one, in a pre-determined  
order or at random, and for configurable time periods. Unlike the Sequence Mode, which is  
a viewing application under Live View Config (see Live View Config, on page 27), the  
guard tour sequence runs after the user has logged off or closed the browser.  
Advanced  
Device - The Device Settings window is for driver specific settings. The appearance of this  
window can vary depending on the driver installed. Options that can be configured  
include: Driver Specific Settings for Video Source 1, Mechanical Limits for Moving  
Video Source 1, Light Control for Video Source 1, and Extended Driver Specific Settings  
for Video Source 1.  
Controls - The Control settings window contains tools for creating and saving short  
command buttons that are located under the Control panel. These buttons provide direct  
access to various built-in auxiliary commands provided by the PTZ driver and are  
displayed in the PTZ Panel.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
37  
OSD Menu - If the PTZ unit supports an internal configuration menu, this can be accessed  
using the On-Screen Display (OSD). Configure the analog camera by opening and  
navigating through its internal menu in this display.  
PTZ control queue  
Use the PTZ control queue window to enable and disable PTZ queueing. This window  
allows you to set up a queue for viewers wanting to access the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA,  
and limits the number of viewers and the length of time each viewer can access and  
control the PTZ unit. For more information on how to set up the control queue, please see  
the online help.  
Note also that a viewer who belongs to a group (see Security, on page 45) with a higher  
PTZ priority can go before other users in the queue and take control of the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Pan Tilt Zoom  
38  
The order of priority for taking control of the queue is as follows:  
1. Administrators - an administrator takes over PTZ control regardless of who is  
first in queue. The administrator is removed from the queue 60 seconds after their  
last PTZ control command.  
2. Event - the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can be set up to take control of the queue  
and move to a specific position for 20 seconds when triggered by an alarm. The  
event is immediately placed first in the queue, except when an administrator is in  
control. For more information, see Triggered Event, on page 40.  
3. Operator - same as administrator, but with lower priority.  
4. Guard tour - a guard tour has PTZ control for an indefinite period of time. It may  
be overridden by Operator, Event, or administrator. Guard tour resumes when  
higher priority groups leave the queue. For more information see Guard tour, on  
page 36.  
5. Viewer - Multiple viewers must await their turn. The viewer has 60 seconds PTZ  
control before control is passed to the next viewer in queue.  
Note: In order to identify different users in the viewer group, cookies must be enabled on the client.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Event configuration  
39  
Event configuration  
This section describes how to configure the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA for alarm handling.  
Various actions can be configured to run when certain types of events occur.  
Event type  
A set of parameters describing how and when the video server is to perform certain actions  
the circumstances that start an event  
at a signal from an external device, such as a door  
switch or a motion sensor  
Triggered Event (see page 40)  
Scheduled Event (see page 41) the circumstances that start an event  
at a pre-programmed time  
what occurs when the event runs  
video images uploaded to an FTP server, email notifica-  
tion sent.  
Action  
Event servers  
Event Servers are used for receiving uploaded image files and/or notification messages. To  
set up an Event server for your AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, click on Event Servers under  
Event Config and enter the required information according to the selected server type.  
Server type  
Purpose  
Information required  
FTP Server  
•
receives uploaded images  
•
•
•
•
•
Descriptive name of your choice  
User Name and Password  
Upload path, (e.g. images/)  
Port number  
Use passive mode if there is a firewall between the video  
server and FTP server  
•
Use a temporary file if your FTP server does not allow an  
existing file to be overwritten by a new file with the same  
name.  
HTTP Server  
TCP Server  
•
•
receives notification messages  
receives uploaded images  
•
•
•
•
•
Descriptive name of your choice  
URL  
User Name and Password  
Proxy address/Proxy port (if required)  
Proxy User Name and Password (if required)  
•
receives notification messages  
•
•
Descriptive name of your choice  
Port number  
For details on each setting, please refer to the online help  
page.  
available from each web  
Note: The images in pre-trigger and post-trigger buffers will be lost if the connection to the event server fails.  
When the setup is complete, the connection can be tested by clicking the Test button (the  
test takes approximately 10 seconds).  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Event configuration  
40  
Event types  
An event type is a set of  
parameters describing how  
and when the video server  
is to perform certain  
actions.  
Example: If somebody walks past  
the connected camera, and an event  
has been configured to act on this,  
the video server can record and send  
video images to an FTP server, or  
send a notification email to a  
pre-configured email address with a pre-configured message. Video images can be sent as an attachment with the  
email.  
Triggered Event  
A triggered event could be activated by:  
• a push button connected to an input port on the video server  
• detected movement in a configured motion detection window  
• a lost signal from a video source  
• a manual action clicking the trigger button in the web interface  
• on restart (reboot) after power loss  
How to set up a triggered event  
This example describes how to set the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA to upload images when  
the main door is opened:  
1. Click Add triggered on the Event types page.  
2. Enter a descriptive Name for the event, such as Main door.  
3. Set the priority - High, Normal or Low (see online help files).  
4. Select the video Source the event is to act on - Video 1 on Main door.  
5. Set the Respond to Trigger... parameters defining when the event is to be active;  
e.g. only after office hours  
6. Select the trigger alternative from the Triggered by... drop-down list;  
e.g. an Input port with a connected sensor if the door is opened.  
7. Set the When Triggered... parameters, that is what the video server should do if  
the main door is opened - e.g. upload images to an FTP server.  
8. Click OK to save the event in the Event Types list.  
Please see the online help  
for descriptions of each available option.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Event configuration  
41  
Pre-trigger and post-trigger buffers  
This function is useful when checking to see what happened immediately before and after  
a trigger, e.g. two minutes before and after a door was opened. Check the Upload images  
option under Event Types > Add Triggered... > When triggered... to see available options.  
Include pre-trigger buffer - images stored internally in the server from the time  
immediately preceding the trigger. Check the box to enable the pre-trigger buffer, enter the  
desired length of time, and specify the required image frequency.  
Include post-trigger buffer - contains images from the time immediately after the trigger.  
Configure as for pre-trigger.  
Note: If the pre- or post-buffer is too large for the Axis video server's internal memory, the frame rate is reduced  
and individual images may be missing. If this occurs, an entry will be created in the unit's log file.  
Continue image upload (unbuffered) - enables the upload of images for a fixed length of  
time. Specify the time for the uploaded recording in seconds, minutes or hours, or for as  
long as the trigger is active. Finally, set the desired image frequency to the maximum (the  
maximum possible) or to a specified frame rate. The frame rate would be the best possible,  
but might not be as high as specified, especially if uploading via a slow connection.  
Scheduled event  
A Scheduled event can be activated at pre-set times, in a repeating pattern on selected  
weekdays.  
How to set up a scheduled event  
This example describes how to set the video server to send an email notification with saved  
images from a set time:  
1. Click Add scheduled on the Event types page.  
2. In the Scheduled Event Type Setup page, enter a descriptive name for the event,  
such as Scheduled email.  
3. Set the priority (High, Normal or Low).  
4. Select the video source that is the source the event should act on;  
e.g. Video 2 in Storage room.  
5. Set the Activation Time parameters (24h clock) when the event should be active;  
e.g. start on Sundays at 13.00 with a duration of 12 hours.  
6. Set the When Activated... parameters that is what the video server should do at  
the specified time; such as send uploaded images to an email address.  
7. Click OK to save the Event in the Event Types list.  
Please see the online help  
for descriptions of each available option.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Event configuration  
42  
Camera tampering  
The camera tampering application generates an alarm whenever the camera is  
repositioned, or when the lens is covered, sprayed, or severely defocused.  
You must also create an event, (see How to set up a triggered event, on page 40) for the  
camera to send an alarm.  
Settings  
The Minimum duration parameter sets the minimum tampering period, that is an alarm  
will not be triggered until this period has lapsed, even if the tampering conditions are  
otherwise met. This can help prevent false alarms for known conditions that affect the  
image.  
If the camera lens is sprayed or covered so that the camera’s live view becomes dark, it will  
not be possible to distinguish this situation from other situations where the same effect is  
seen, such as when lighting conditions change.  
When the Alarm for dark images parameter is enabled, alarms are generated for all cases  
where the lights are either dimmed or turned off, or if the lens is sprayed, covered, or  
severely defocused. If not enabled, no alarm is sent.  
After you define these settings, click Save.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Event configuration  
43  
Motion detection  
In the Motion Detection menu, you can configure the video source(s) for motion detection.  
The motion detection feature is used to generate an alarm whenever movement occurs (or  
stops) in the image. The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can use a maximum of 10  
Include/Exclude windows.  
• Include windows target specific areas within the image  
• Exclude windows are areas to be ignored within the Include window  
Once configured, the motion detection windows will appear in a list when motion  
detection is selected to trigger an event. See How to set up a triggered event above.  
Note: Using the motion detection feature may decrease overall performance in the video server.  
How to configure Motion Detection  
This example describes how to configure motion detection:  
1. Click Motion Detection in the Event Config menu.  
2. Click New against Windows Name.  
3. Select the Include or Exclude option to define an Include or Exclude window, and  
enter a descriptive name in the field below.  
4. Click Save.  
5. Adjust the size (drag the bottom right-hand corner) and position (click on the text  
at the top and drag to the desired position).  
6. Adjust the Object Size, History and Sensitivity profile sliders (see table below for  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Event configuration  
44  
7. details). Any detected motion within an active window is then indicated by red  
peaks in the Activity window (the active window has a red frame).  
8. Click Save.  
If there are parts of the Include window that you wish to exclude, click the  
Configure Excluded Windows radio button and perform steps 1-6 above.  
Click Save.  
Please use the online help  
for descriptions of each available option.  
Parameter  
Object Size  
History  
Sensitivity  
High  
Only very large objects  
trigger motion detection  
An object that appears in the region will Ordinary colored objects against ordinary  
trigger the motion detection for a long  
period  
backgrounds will trigger the motion  
detection  
Low  
Even very small objects  
trigger motion detection  
An object that appears in the region will Only very bright objects against a dark  
trigger motion detection for only a very  
short period  
background will trigger motion detection  
Default values Low  
Medium to High  
Medium to High  
Examples:  
•
•
•
Avoid triggering on small objects in the image by selecting a high size level.  
To trigger motion detection as long as there is activity in the area, select a high history level.  
To only detect flashing light, low sensitivity can be selected. In other cases, a high sensitivity level is  
recommended.  
Port status  
Under Event Configuration > Port Status, there is a list that shows the status for the  
connected inputs and outputs of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA. This is for the benefit of an  
operator, who cannot access the System Options section.  
Example: If the Normal state for a push button connected to an input is set to Open circuit, as long as the button is  
not pushed, the state is inactive. If the button is pushed, the state of the input changes to active.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
45  
System options  
Security  
User access control is enabled by default, when the administrator sets the root password on  
first access. New users are authorized with user names and passwords, or the administrator  
can choose to allow anonymous viewer login to the Live View page, as described below:  
Users  
The user list displays the authorized users and access levels:  
Viewer  
Provides the lowest level of access, which only allows the user access to the Live View page  
Operator  
An Operator can view the Live View page, create and modify event types and adjust certain other  
settings. The Operator does not have access to the Systems Options configuration pages.  
Administrator An administrator has unrestricted access to the Setup Tools and can determine the registration of all  
other users.  
To prevent unauthorized use of the product, the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA network  
camera supports multi-user password protection, where access can be restricted to a  
defined number of users only (maximum of 20).  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA Network Camera supports several methods of user  
authentication. These are:  
• HTTP Basic Authentication - This authenticates the user by requesting a user  
name and a password. The exchange of network credentials is in simple  
base64 coding and is not encrypted.  
• HTTP Digest Authentication - This method also requests a user name and pass-  
word, but the exchange of credentials is encrypted, which better secures it  
against eavesdropping.  
User settings - check the corresponding checkboxes to enable:  
• Anonymous viewer login - allows viewers direct access to the Live View page.  
• Anonymous PTZ control login - allows any viewer access to the Pan Tilt Zoom  
controls on the Live View page (if Pan/Tilt/Zoom is available).  
IP Address Filter  
Checking the Enable IP address filtering box enables the IP address filtering function. Up  
to 256 IP address entries may be specified (a single entry can contain multiple IP  
addresses). Click the Add button to add new filtered addresses.  
When the IP address filter is enabled, addresses added to the list are set as allowed or  
denied addresses. If the addresses in the list are allowed, then all others are denied access,  
and vice versa. See also the online help  
for more information.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
46  
Note that users from IP addresses that will be allowed must also be registered with the  
appropriate access rights (User, Operator or Administrator). This is done from Setup >  
System Options > Security > Users.  
Referrals - to prevent unauthorized sources from including the video stream from the  
AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA into external Web pages, check the Referrals box and enter the  
IP address or Host name of the computer that hosts the Web pages with the included video  
stream. Multiple IP addresses/host names can be defined and are separated by  
semicolons(;)  
Notes:  
•
If the referrals feature is enabled and you wish to also allow normal access to the Live View  
page, the product's own IP address or host name must be added to the list of allowed  
referrers.  
•
•
Restricting referrers has no effect on an MPEG-4 video stream. To restrict an MPEG-4  
stream, IP address filtering must be enabled.  
Restricting referrers is of greatest value when not using IP address filtering. If IP address  
filtering is used, then the allowed referrers are automatically restricted to those allowed IP  
addresses.  
HTTPS  
For greater security, the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can be configured to use HTTPS  
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol over SSL (Secure Socket Layer)). That is, all communication  
that would otherwise go via HTTP will instead go via an encrypted HTTPS connection.  
To use HTTPS for communication with the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, a certificate must be  
created using one of these methods:  
• A self-signed certificate can be created in the video server, but this does not guar-  
antee the same level of security as an official certificate.  
• An official certificate issued by a CA (Certificate Authority). A CA issues and  
manages security credentials and public keys for message encryption.  
To create a self-signed certificate:  
1. Click either Create self-signed certificate or Create Certificate Request and enter  
the required information in the provided fields  
2. Click OK.  
3. The Create self-signed certificate... option generates and installs a certificate  
which is displayed under Installed Certificate.  
The Create Certificate Request option generates a PEM formatted request which  
you copy and send to a CA for signing. When the signed certificate is returned,  
click Install signed certificate... to install the certificate in the AXIS 241QA/AXIS  
241SA.  
4. Set the HTTPS Connection Policy for the administrator, Operator and Viewer to  
enable HTTPS connection (set to HTTP by default)  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
47  
Please refer to the home page of your preferred CA for information on where to send the  
request. For more information, please see the online help  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
IEEE 802.1X  
48  
IEEE 802.1x is an IEEE standard for port-based Network Admission Control. It provides  
authentication to devices attached to a network port (wired or wireless), establishing a  
point-to-point connection, or if authentication fails, preventing access on that port. 802.1x  
is based on EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol).  
In a 802.1x enabled network switch, clients equipped with the correct software can be  
authenticated and allowed or denied network access at the Ethernet level.  
Clients and servers in an 802.1x network may need to authenticate each other by some  
means. In the Axis implementation this is done with the help of digital certificates  
provided by a Certification Authority. These are then validated by a third-party entity,  
such as a RADIUS server, examples of which are Free Radius and Microsoft Internet  
Authentication Service.  
To perform the authentication, the RADIUS server uses various EAP methods/protocols, of  
which there are many. The one used in the Axis implementation is EAP-TLS  
(EAP-Transport Layer Security).  
The AXIS network video device presents its certificate to the network switch, which in turn  
forwards this to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server validates or rejects the certificate  
and responds to the switch, and sends its own certificate to the client for validation. The  
switch then allows or denies network access accordingly, on a preconfigured port.  
RADIUS  
RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) is an AAA (Authentication,  
Authorization and Accounting) protocol for applications such as network access or IP  
mobility. It is intended to work in both local and roaming situations.  
CA servers  
In cryptography, a Certification Authority (CA) is an entity that provides signed digital  
certificates for use by other parties, and thus acts a trusted third party.  
There are many commercial CAs that charge for their services. Institutions and  
governments may have their own CA, and there are free CAs available.  
Date & time  
Current server time - displays the current date and time (24h clock). The time can be  
displayed in 12h clock format in overlay images.  
New server time - select your Time Zone from the drop-down list and check the daylight  
saving time changes, if you want.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
49  
From the Time Mode section, select the preferred method to use for setting the time:  
• Synchronize with computer time - sets the time from the clock on your com-  
puter.  
• Synchronize with NTP server - the video server obtains the time from an NTP  
server every 60 minutes. Specify the NTP server's IP address or host name.  
Note: Note that if using a host name for the NTP server, a DNS server must be configured under TCP/IP settings.  
See Network > Advanced TCP/IP Settings below.  
• Set manually - this option allows you to manually set the time and date.  
Date & Time Format Used in Images - specify the formats for the date and time (12h or  
24h) displayed in the Live View video streams.  
Use the predefined formats or use your own custom date and time formats. See File  
Naming & Date/Time Formats in the online help  
for information on how to create  
your own date and time formats.  
Network - Basic TCP/IP settings  
IP Address Configuration  
Your Axis network camera supports both IP version 4 and IP version 6. Both versions may  
be enabled simultaneously, and at least one version must always be enabled.  
When using IPv4, the IP address can be set automatically via DHCP, or a static IP address  
can be set manually.  
If IPv6 is enabled, your camera will receive an IP address according to the configuration in  
the network router.  
There are also options for setting up notification of changes in the IP address, and for  
using the AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service. For more information on setting the IP  
address, please see the online help.  
Notes:  
•
DHCP is a protocol for automatic IP address assignment on a network. IP address  
assignment via DHCP may lead to the situation where the IP address changes and you lose  
contact with the camera. Configure the options for notification of IP address change (under  
Services) to receive notification from the camera when the IP address changes.  
Alternatively, if your DHCP server can update a DNS server, you can access the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA by host name which is always the same, regardless of the IP address.  
•
Services  
Enable ARP/Ping setting of IP Address - The IP address can be set using the ARP/Ping  
method, which associates the unit's MAC address with an IP address. Check this box to  
enable the service. Leave disabled to prevent unintentional resetting of the IP address.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
50  
Notes:  
•
•
The ARP/Ping service is automatically disabled two minutes after the unit is started, or as  
soon as an IP address is set.  
Pinging the unit will still be possible when this service is disabled.  
AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service - If the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA has been registered  
with the Axis Internet Dynamic DNS service and the IP address for the product changes,  
the service is updated to reflect the change. Check the box to enable/disable automatic  
updates.  
The domain name currently registered at the Axis Internet Dynamic DNS service for your  
product can at any time be removed. To do this click Settings... and follow the  
instructions. For more information, please refer to the online help  
Network - Advanced TCP/IP settings  
DNS configuration  
DNS (Domain Name System) provides the translation of host names to IP addresses on  
your network.  
Obtain DNS server address via DHCP - automatically use the DNS server settings provided  
by the DHCP server. Click the View button to see the current settings.  
Use the following DNS server address - enter the desired DNS server by specifying the  
following:  
Domain name - enter the domain(s) to search for the host name used by the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA. Multiple domains can be separated by semicolons (;). The host name  
is always the first part of a Fully Qualified Domain Name, e.g. myserver is the host name  
in the Fully Qualified Domain Name myserver.mycompany.com where mycompany.com  
is the Domain name.  
DNS servers - enter the IP addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.  
NTP Configuration  
Obtain NTP server address via DHCP - use a DHCP server to automatically find an NTP  
server to synchronize clock of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA with the other devices on the  
network  
Use the following NTP server address - use the host name or IP address of a specific NTP  
server for time synchronization.  
Host Name Configuration  
The AXIS AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can be accessed using a host name, instead of an IP  
address. The host name is usually the same as the assigned DNS Name.  
For more information, please see Security, on page 45.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
51  
Link-Local address IPv4 Address  
This is enabled by default and assigns the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA an additional IP  
address for use with UPnP™. The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can have both a Link-Local IP  
and a static or DHCP-supplied IP address at the same time - these will not affect each  
other.  
HTTP  
The default HTTP port number (80) can be changed to any port within the range  
1024-65535. This is useful for simple port mapping.  
HTTPS  
The default HTTPS port number (443) can be changed to any port within the range  
1024-65535. This is useful for simple port mapping.  
NAT traversal (port mapping) for IPv4  
Use NAT traversal when your video server is located on an intranet and you want to make  
it available from the other side of a NAT router.  
FTP  
The FTP server running in the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA enables the upload of new  
firmware, user applications and so on. Check the box to enable the service.  
RTSP  
The RTSP protocol allows a connecting client to start an MPEG-4 stream. Check the box to  
enable the RTSP server and enter the RTSP port number to use. The default setting is 554,  
and the allowed port range is 1024-65535. Note that MPEG-4 streams will not be available  
if this is not enabled.  
Network Traffic  
The default setting is Auto-negotiate which means that the correct speed is automatically  
selected. If necessary, you can set the connection speed by selecting it from the drop-down  
list.  
Maximum bandwidth - Specify, in Mbit/s or kbit/s, the maximum bandwidth that the  
video server is allowed to use on your network. This is a useful function when connecting  
your video server to busy or heavily loaded networks. The default setting is Unlimited.  
Note: When using MPEG-4 as the video format, remember that setting a maximum bandwidth value here may  
create problems for individual video streams if the maximum value is less than the sum of the bit rates set  
for the video streams.  
For more information, please see the online help  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
52  
SOCKS  
SOCKS is a networking proxy protocol. The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can be configured  
to use a SOCKS server to reach networks on the other side of a firewall/proxy server. This  
function is useful if the video server is located on a local network behind a firewall, but  
notifications, uploads, and alarms need to be sent to a destination outside the local  
network (such as the Internet).  
QoS  
Quality of Service (QoS) provides the means to guarantee a certain level of a specified  
resource to selected traffic on a network. Quality can be defined as a maintained level of  
bandwidth, low latency, and no packet losses. The main benefits of a QoS-aware network  
can be summarized as:  
• the ability to prioritize traffic and thus allow critical flows to be served before  
flows with lesser priority.  
• greater reliability in the network, thanks to the control of the amount of band-  
width an application may use, and thus control over bandwidth races between  
applications.  
The QoS in Axis network video products marks the data packets for various types of  
network traffic originating from the product. This makes it possible for network routers  
and switches to reserve a fixed amount of bandwidth for these types of traffic. The  
following types of traffic are marked:  
• live video  
• live audio  
• event/alarm traffic  
• management network traffic.  
QoS Settings  
For each type of network traffic supported by your Axis network video product, enter a  
DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) value. This value is used to mark the traffic’s IP  
header. When the marked traffic reaches a network router or switch, the DSCP value in the  
IP header tells the router or switch which type of treatment to apply to this type of traffic,  
for example, how much bandwidth to reserve for it.  
Note that DSCP values can be entered in decimal or hex form, but saved values are always  
shown in decimal.  
More information on Quality of Service at the Axis support web at www.axis.com/techsup  
SMTP (email)  
Enter the host names or addresses for your primary and secondary mail servers in the  
fields provided, to enable event and error email messages from the video server to  
predefined addresses, via SMTP.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
53  
If the mail server requires SMTP authentication, check the box for Use authentication to  
log in to this server and enter the user name and password used for logging in. Several  
different methods of authentication are available. See the online help for more  
information.  
SNMP  
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows the remote management of  
network devices. Select the version of SNMP to use, depending on the level of security  
required. These versions have different levels of security. The three levels of security are:  
• SNMP V1 and SNMP V2c - use very simple security, for example, using the com-  
munity name as password  
• SNMP V3 - provides encryption and secure passwords. Use with HTTPS.  
If using HTTPS, enter the password if it has not already been set. To set the password  
again, the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA must be reset to the factory default settings.  
Trap reporting for SNMP versions 1 and 2  
Network cameras use trap reporting to send messages to a management system for  
important events, or status changes. When these settings are used with SNMP versions 1  
and 2, the security is limited as stated above. Example:  
A trap message may be sent indicating that the configure file has changed, or has not  
changed when SNMP has started; or when a link that has been down, is up again; or when  
an authentication attempt fails.  
Trap reporting for SNMP versions 3  
SNMP v3 is a more secure version providing encryption and secure passwords. To use  
SNMP v3, HTTPS must be activated. To use traps with SNMP v3, an SNMP v3 management  
application is needed.  
UPnP™  
The video server includes support for UPnP™ in Windows ME and Windows XP. UPnP™ is  
enabled by default.  
Note: UPnP™ must be installed on your workstation if running Windows XP. To do this, open the Control Panel  
from the Start Menu and select Add/Remove Programs. Select Add/Remove Windows Components and  
open the Networking Services section. Click Details and then select UPnP™ as the service to add.  
RTP / MPEG-4  
These settings are the port number, IP address, and Time-To-Live value to use for the  
media stream(s) in multicast MPEG-4 format. Only certain IP addresses and port numbers  
should be used for multicast streams. For more information, please see the online help.  
Bonjour  
Your Axis network camera includes support for Bonjour. When enabled, the camera is  
automatically detected by operating systems and clients that support this protocol.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
54  
Ports & devices  
I/O Ports - the pinout, interface support and the control and monitoring functions  
provided by this connector are described in Unit connectors, on page 57.  
RS232 - The COM port RS-232 on the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA supports several  
operational modes listed on this page. For more information, please see COM ports RS-232  
and RS-485, on page 59.  
RS485 - The COM ports on the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA supports several operational  
modes listed on this page. For more information, please see COM ports RS-232 and  
RS-485, on page 59.  
Maintenance  
• Restart - The unit is restarted without changing any of the settings. Use this method if  
the unit is not behaving as expected.  
• Restore - The unit is restarted and most current settings are reset to factory default val-  
ues. The settings that are not affected are:  
• the boot protocol (DHCP or static)  
• the static IP address  
• the default router  
• the subnet mask  
• the system time  
• Default - The default button should be used with caution. Pressing this will return all of  
the video server's settings to the factory default values (including the IP address)  
• Upgrade Server - See Upgrading the firmware, on page 61.  
• Backup - To take a backup of all of the parameters, and any user-defined scripts, click  
this button. If necessary, it is then possible to return to a previous configuration if set-  
tings are changed and there is unexpected behavior.  
• Restore - click the Browse button to locate the saved backup file (see above) and then  
click the Restore button. The settings will be restored to the previous configuration.  
Note: Backup and Restore can only be used on the same unit running the same firmware. This feature is not  
intended for multi-configurations or for firmware upgrades.  
Support  
The support overview page provides valuable information on troubleshooting and contact  
information, should you require technical assistance.  
The System Overview provides a summary of the status of the video server.  
Logs & Reports - when contacting Axis support, please be sure to provide a valid Server  
Report with your query.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
55  
Information - The Log report and the Parameter List also provide valuable information for  
troubleshooting and when contacting Axis support service.  
Configuration:  
Log Level for Log Files - from the drop-down list, select the level of information to be  
added to the Log file  
Log Level for Email - from the drop-down list, select the level of information to send as  
email and enter the destination email address.  
Advanced  
Scripting is an advanced function that provides the possibility to customize and use  
scripts. This function is a very powerful tool.  
Caution!  
Improper use may cause unexpected behavior or even cause loss of contact with the  
unit. If a script does cause problems, reset the unit to its factory default settings. A  
backup file may be of use to return the unit to its latest configuration).  
Axis strongly recommends that you do not use this function unless you fully  
understand the consequences. Note that Axis support does not provide assistance for  
problems with customized scripts.  
For more information, please visit the Developer pages at www.axis.com/developer  
Plain Config - this function is for the advanced user with experience of Axis video  
server configuration. All parameters can be set and modified from this page,  
including the audio encoding format. Help is available from the standard help pages.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - System options  
56  
Resetting to the factory default settings  
To reset the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA to the original default settings, go to the System  
Options > Maintenance web page (described in Maintenance, on page 54) or use the  
control button on the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, as described below:  
Using the Control Button  
Follow the instructions below to reset the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA to the factory default  
settings using the Control Button.  
1. Switch off the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA by  
disconnecting power.  
2. Press and hold the Control  
Button while reconnecting the  
power.  
3. Keep the Control button  
Status Indicator  
Control Button  
pressed until the Status  
Indicator displays amber (this  
may take up to 15 seconds).  
4. Release the Control Button.  
5. When the Status Indicator changes to Green (may take up to 1 minute), the  
process is complete and the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA has been reset.  
6. Re-install the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, as described in the Installation Guide.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Unit connectors  
57  
Unit connectors  
The following connectors are described in this section:  
• The D-Sub connector, on page 57  
• The I/O terminal connector, on page 58  
• COM ports RS-232 and RS-485, on page 59  
The D-Sub connector  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA provides one 9-pin D-Sub connector, providing the physical  
interface for an RS-232 port, used for connecting accessory equipment; such as standalone  
PTZ devices for the remote control of connected video cameras.  
Pin assignment table and pinout of the RS-232 connector:  
Pin  
1
Function  
CD  
2
RXD  
TXD  
DTR  
GND  
DSR  
RTS  
CTS  
RI  
3
1
2
3
4
5
4
5
6
7
8
9
6
7
8
9
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Unit connectors  
58  
The I/O terminal connector  
This section describes the pinout and interface support provided by the 12-pin I/O terminal  
connector, which includes:  
• 4 digital transistor outputs  
• 4 digital inputs  
• an RS-485 interface  
• auxiliary power and GND  
The terminal connector is used in applications for e.g. motion detection, event triggering,  
time lapse recording, alarm notification via email, image storage to FTP locations, etc.  
• Inputs - e.g. a push button. If the button is pressed, the state changes, and the  
input will be active (shown under Event Configuration > Port Status).  
• Outputs - e.g. an alarm device that can be activated from Output buttons on the  
Live View page or as an action to an Event Type. The output will show as active  
(in Event Configuration > Port Status), if the device is activated.  
Pin  
Function  
Description  
1
Auxiliary DC Power Input  
7-20 VDC/min 8W. Electrically connected in parallel with the power  
connector, this provides an auxiliary connection for mains power to  
the unit. If the product is powered via this pin, use a fuse (rating: 1A  
Slow).  
This pin can also be used to power auxiliary equipment, 9vDC max  
100mA.  
2
GND  
ground  
3
Digital Input 1  
Digital Input 2  
Digital Input 3  
Digital Input 4  
Transistor Output  
Transistor Output  
Transistor Output  
Transistor Output  
Connect to GND to activate or leave floating (or unconnected) to  
deactivate.  
4
5
6
7
With a maximum load of 100mA and maximum voltage of 24V DC, this  
output has an open-collector NPN transistor with the emitter  
connected to pin 2 (GND). If it is to be used with an external relay, a  
diode must be connected in parallel with the load for protection  
against any voltage transients.  
8
9
10  
11  
12  
RS-485 - A (non-inverting)  
RS-485 - B (inverting)  
A half-duplex RS-485 interface for controlling auxiliary equipment,  
e g. PTZ devices.  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA includes one (green) 12-pin connector block. Connect  
input/output devices to this block:  
1. Loosen the corresponding screw on top of the pin on the connector block (see the  
table above to determine which pin to use).  
2. Push the cable into the connector block and secure it by fastening the screw.  
3. Once all devices are connected, connect the connector block to the video server’s  
terminal connector.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Unit connectors  
59  
Schematic diagram - I/O terminal connector  
Switch  
Mode  
Power  
Supply  
3.3V  
+
o
Power adapter (9W)  
z
o
o
1
e.g. push button  
GND 2  
o
o
o
o
z
Relay  
3
4
5
o
o
o
Device  
oo  
6
7
o
o
z
z
8
o
9
o
z
10  
o
A
B
11  
12  
o
o
o
RS-485  
zGND PIN 5  
RS-232  
D-SUB  
z
COM ports RS-232 and RS-485  
The COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485 support several operational modes:  
• Generic TCP/IP - enables the video server to receive status/data and send com-  
mands via TCP/IP  
• Generic HTTP - enables the video server to receive status/data and send com-  
mands via HTTP  
• Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) - for controlling a PTZ device. A PTZ device requires a driver  
for its function. Drivers can be obtained from www.axis.com. Please see page 37  
for information on how to connect PTZ devices.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Unit connectors  
60  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Troubleshooting  
61  
Troubleshooting  
Checking the firmware  
Firmware is software that determines the functionality of the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
One of your first actions when troubleshooting a problem should be to check the currently  
installed version. The latest version may contain a correction that fixes your particular  
problem. The current firmware version in your AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA can be seen  
under Setup > Basic Configuration.  
Upgrading the firmware  
When you download the latest firmware from the Axis Web site, your Axis product will  
receive the latest available functionality. Always read the upgrade instructions and release  
notes available with each new release, before updating the firmware.  
New firmware can be downloaded to the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA over the network.  
Note: Pre-configured and customized settings will be retained for use when the new firmware is running (pro-  
vided the features are available in the new firmware) although this is not guaranteed by Axis Communica-  
tions.  
1. Save the firmware file to your computer. The latest version of the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA firmware is available free of charge from the Axis Web site at  
www.axis.com/techsup or from your local distributor.  
2. Go to Setup > System Options > Maintenance in the video server’s Web pages.  
3. In the Upgrade Server section and browse to the desired firmware file on your  
computer. Click Upgrade.  
Notes:  
•
•
•
Always read the upgrade instructions available with each new release, before updating  
the firmware.  
After starting the process, you should always wait at least 20 minutes before restarting  
the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, even if you suspect the procedure has failed.  
Your dealer reserves the right to charge for any repair attributable to faulty updating by  
the user.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Troubleshooting  
62  
Emergency recovery procedure  
If power or the network connection to theAXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA is lost during the  
upgrade, the process will fail and the unit will become unresponsive. A flashing red Status  
LED indicates a failed upgrade. To recover the unit, follow the steps below. The serial  
number is found on the underside label on the product casing.  
1. Unix/Linux - From the command line, type the following:  
arp -s <IP address of AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA> <serial number> temp  
ping -s 408 <IP address of AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA>  
Windows - From a command/DOS prompt, type the following:  
arp -s <IP address of AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA> <serial number>  
ping -l 408 -t <IP address of AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA>  
2. If the unit does not reply within a few seconds, restart it and wait for a reply. Press  
CTRL+C to stop Ping.  
3. Open a web browser and type in the IP address for AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA. In the  
page that appears, use the Browse button to select the upgrade file to use, e.g.  
axis241qa.bin or axis241sa.bin. Then click the Load button to restart the upgrade  
process.  
4. After the upgrade has completed (1-10 minutes), the unit will automatically restart and  
show a steady green on the Power and Status LEDs and flashing green or amber on the  
Network LED.  
5. Reinstall the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
6. Windows - If you are using a DHCP server, type the following from a command/DOS  
prompt:  
arp -d <IP address of AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA>  
If the emergency recovery procedure does not get theAXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA up and  
running again, please contact Axis support at www.axis.com/techsup/  
Support  
If you contact Axis support, please help us help you resolve your problems expediently by  
providing a server report, log file and a brief description of the problem.  
Server Report - go to Setup > System Options > Support Overview. The server report  
contains important information about the server and its software, as well as a list of the  
current parameters.  
Log file - go to Setup > System Options > Logs & Reports. The Log file records events  
within the unit since the last restart of the system and can prove a useful diagnostic tool  
for troubleshooting.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Troubleshooting  
Symptoms, Possible Causes and Remedial Actions  
63  
Problems setting the IP address  
Using ARP/Ping - the IP address Restart the server and try again. Ensure also the ping length is set to 408. (See the AXIS  
must be set within two minutes 241QA/AXIS 241SA Installation Guide)  
after power has been applied to  
the video server  
The video server is located on a If the IP address intended for the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA and the IP address of your computer  
different subnet.  
are located on different subnets, you will not be able to set the IP address. Contact your net-  
work administrator for an IP address on the same subnet as the computer you are performing  
the installation from.  
The IP address is being used by Disconnect power from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA.  
another device Run the Ping command (in a Command/DOS window, type ping <IP address of unit>  
If you receive: Reply from <IP address>: bytes = 32; time = 10 ms..... - this means that the IP  
address may already be in use by another device on your network. You must obtain a new IP  
address and reinstall the unit.  
If you receive: Request timed out - this means that the IP address is available for use with your  
video server. In this case, check all cabling and reinstall the unit.  
The AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA cannot be accessed from a web browser  
Cannot log in If the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA has been configured to use HTTPS, check that the protocol in  
the URL used to access the unit is correct. You may need to type this in manually (i.e. http or  
https) in the browser’s address field.  
The IP address has been changed 1) Move the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA to an isolated network or to one with no DHCP or BOOTP  
by DHCP  
server. Set the IP address again, using the ARP Ping command.  
2) Access the unit and disable BOOTP and DHCP in the TCP/IP settings. Return the unit to the  
main network. The unit now has a fixed IP address that will not change.  
3) As an alternative to 2), if dynamic IP address via DHCP or BOOTP is required, select the  
required service and then configure IP address change notification from the network settings.  
Return the unit to the main network. The unit will now have a dynamic IP address, but will  
notify you if the address changes.  
Other networking problems  
Test the network cable by connecting it to another network device, then Ping that device from  
your workstation. See instructions above.  
Cannot send notifications, uploads, alarms, etc, to a destination outside the local network  
Firewall protection The video server can be configured to use a SOCKS server to reach networks on the other side  
of a firewall/proxy server  
Your AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA is accessible locally, but not externally  
Firewall protection  
Check the Internet firewall with your system administrator.  
Default routers required  
Check if you need to configure the default router settings.  
The Internet site is too heavily  
loaded  
Use a script on your web server to relay images from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA to the Inter-  
net.  
The Power indicator is not constantly lit  
Faulty power supply  
Verify that you are using the correct power adapter.  
The Status indicator is flashing red and the server is inaccessible  
A firmware upgrade has been  
A rescue firmware is running in the product. First, set the IP address using AXIS IP utility or ARP  
interrupted or the firmware has and Ping, (See the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA Installation Guide). Then, using a web browser,  
been damaged in some other  
way.  
access the unit and download the latest firmware to the product, see Upgrading the firmware,  
on page 61.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Troubleshooting  
64  
No images displayed in the Web interface  
Problem with AMC  
To enable the updating of images in Microsoft Internet Explorer, set your browser to allow  
(Internet Explorer only)  
ActiveX controls. Also, make sure that AXIS Media Control (AMC) component is installed on  
your workstation.  
Installation of additional ActiveX Configure your AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA to use a Java applet for updating the images under  
component restricted or prohib- Live View Config > Layout > Default Viewer for Internet Explorer. See the online help for more  
ited  
information.  
Video Image Problems  
Image too dark or too light.  
Check that the termination dip switch for the video source is set to the correct position. See  
also the online help on Video Source Settings  
Black borders around the video Adjust the X and/or Y offset, in the Video Source Settings. See the online help for information.  
image  
Problems uploading own files  
Missing images in uploads  
Slow image update  
There is only limited space available for the upload of your own files. Try deleting one or more  
existing files, to free up space  
This can occur when trying to use a larger image buffer than is actually available. Try lowering  
the frame rate or the upload period.  
Configuring e.g. pre-buffers, motion detection, high resolution images, high frame rates, etc.,  
will reduce the performance of the video server.  
Slow performance  
Slow performance may be caused by e.g. heavy network traffic, multiple users accessing the  
unit, low performance clients, use of features such as Motion Detection, Event handling, Image  
rotation.  
Bad snapshot images  
Display incorrectly configured on In Display Properties, configure your display to show at least 65000 colors, i.e. at least 16-bit.  
your workstation  
Using only 16 or 256 colors on your display will produce dithering artifacts in the image.  
Incorrect exposure in images  
Incorrect line termination  
If the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA is to be connected in loop through with other equipment, dis-  
able the input termination by turning the corresponding DIP switch to OFF.  
Problems with the MPEG-4 format  
Lower frame rate than expected. Check with the administrator that there is enough bandwidth available. Check also the settings  
for bit rate control, in the Video & Image > Advanced > MPEG-4 settings. Using an inappro-  
priate video object type can also affect the frame rate. See the online help for more informa-  
tion.  
Check in the AMC control panel applet (MPEG-4 tab) that video processing is not set to Decode  
only I frames.  
Lower the image resolution.  
Reduce the number of applications running on the client computer.  
No MPEG-4 displayed in the  
client.  
Check that the correct network interface is selected in the AMC control panel applet (network  
tab).  
Check that the relevant MPEG-4 connection methods are enabled in the AMC control panel  
applet (network tab).  
In the AMC control applet, select the MPEG-4 tab and click the button Set to default MPEG-4  
decoder.  
No multicast MPEG-4 displayed Check with your network administrator that the multicast addresses used by the  
in the client.  
AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA are valid for your network.  
Check with your network administrator to see if there is a firewall preventing viewing.  
Multicast MPEG-4 only accessi- Check if your router supports multicasting, or if the router settings between the client and the  
ble by local clients.  
server need to be configured. The TTL (Time To Live) value may need to be increased.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Troubleshooting  
65  
Poor rendering of MPEG-4  
images.  
Color depth set incorrectly on clients. Set to 16-bit or 32-bit color.  
If text overlays are blurred, or if there are other rendering problems, you may need to enable  
Advanced Video Rendering. This is done on the MPEG-4 tab in the AMC control panel applet.  
Ensure that your graphics card is using the latest device driver. The latest drivers can usually be  
downloaded from the manufacturer's web site.  
Color saturation is different in Modify the settings for your graphics adapter. Please see the adapter's documentation for more  
MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG.  
No audio (AXIS 241QA only)  
Incorrect setup.  
information.  
Check that the sound card in the PC and the connections to the speaker and microphone are  
working. Ensure that the mute button is not pressed and the volume settings are correct.  
Ensure that full-duplex is selected if you want to have two way audio communication.  
Post Content Length in proxy  
server.  
The Post Content Length set in the proxy server is too low. Set the value of the Post Content  
Length in your proxy server to 1MB or more. You may need to contact your system administra-  
tor to do this.  
Full duplex not supported.  
Firewall or router settings.  
Sound card does not support full-duplex. For information on how to check if your sound card  
supports full-duplex, please visit http://support.microsoft.com  
AXIS 241QA works locally, but not externally. Check the Internet firewall settings with your  
system administrator or reconfigure the default router settings.  
DC power not enabled for micro- If the microphone has a built-in amplifier then DC power must be enabled on the Audio Set-  
phone.  
tings page.  
Audio volume too low/high  
Volume settings incorrect.  
The volume of the microphone or speaker connected to the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA is either  
too high or too low. Change the volume for the speaker or microphone in the Live View page.  
Input and output gain set incor- Change the input gain for the microphone and the output gain for the speaker to adjust the  
rectly.  
audio levels on the Audio Settings page.  
Poor audio quality  
Too many users.  
Too many users/clients listening to audio from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA may adversely  
affect the sound quality.  
User too close to microphone.  
Feedback from speaker.  
Background noise.  
Enable the speech filter in Audio > Advanced Settings.  
Enable the echo cancellation filter in Audio > Advanced Settings.  
Adjust the noise cancellation threshold and attenuation to reduce background noise levels in  
Audio > Advanced Settings.  
CPU overloaded.  
Reduce the number of listeners and viewers and decrease the image resolution and compres-  
sion.  
For additional assistance, please contact your reseller or check the product’s support pages  
on the Axis Website at www.axis.com/techsup  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Technical specifications  
66  
Technical specifications  
Item  
Specification  
Models  
• AXIS 241QA: Four video channels, two-way audio  
• AXIS 241SA: One video channel, two-way audio  
* Also available as Blade versions for Axis Video Rack Solution  
Video compression  
Resolutions  
• Motion JPEG  
• MPEG-4 Part 2 (ISO/IEC 14496-2), Profiles: ASP and SP  
• Resolutions 4CIF, 2CIFExp, 2CIF, CIF, QCIF  
• max 704x480 (NTSC) 704x576 (PAL)  
• min 160x120 (NTSC) 176x144 (PAL)  
Frame rate  
(NTSC/PAL)  
• Motion JPEG: Up to 30/25 fps at 4CIF (1 channel)  
30/25 fps at CIF (4 channel)  
• MPEG-4: Up to 30/25 fps at 2CIF (1 channel)  
21/17 fps at 4CIF (1 channel)  
20/17 fps at CIF (4 channel)  
Video streaming  
Image settings  
• Simultaneous Motion JPEG and MPEG-4  
• Controllable frame rate and bandwidth  
• Constant and variable bit rate (MPEG-4)  
• Compression levels: 11 (Motion JPEG) /23 (MPEG-4)  
• Rotation: 90º, 180º, 270º  
• Aspect ratio correction  
• Color: color, black & white  
• Overlay capabilities: time, date, text or image  
• De-interlace filter (AXIS 241QA)  
Pan/Tilt/Zoom  
• A wide range of analog PTZ dome cameras is supported, free drivers available at  
www.axis.com  
• 20 presets/camera  
• Guard tour  
• PTZ control queue  
Audio  
(AXIS 241QA)  
• G.711 PCM 64kbit/s,  
• G.726 ADPCM 32 or 24 kbit/s  
• Full duplex  
• Half duplex  
• Simplex or audio off  
Security  
• Multiple user access levels with password protection  
• IP address filtering and HTTPS encryption  
• IEEE 802.1X authentication  
Alarm and event  
management  
• Events triggered by built-in motion detection, external inputs or according to a  
schedule,  
• Image upload over FTP, Email, and HTTP,  
• Notification over TCP, Email, HTTP and external outputs  
• Pre- and post alarm buffer of 9 MB per channel (approx. 4 min of CIF resolution  
video at 4 frames per second)  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Technical specifications  
67  
Item  
Specification  
Connectors  
• Analog composite video,  
• NTSC/PAL autosensing inputs:  
• AXIS 241QA: 4 BNC inputs  
• AXIS 241SA: 1 BNC input and 1 BNC output: loop through or Y/C video input  
• Ethernet 10BaseT/100BaseTX, RJ-45  
• Terminal block:  
4 alarm inputs,  
4 alarm outputs,  
RS-485/422 half duplex port,  
Alternative power connection  
• D-Sub for RS-232 port  
• AXIS AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA: 3.5 mm jack for Mic in (max 54 mVpp) or Line in  
(max 8.0 Vpp, mono),  
• 3.5 mm jack for Line out (max 2.6 Vpp, mono) to active speaker  
Casing  
• Metal casing. Standalone, stackable or with brackets for wall or cage mount  
Processors and memory  
• CPU: ETRAX 100LX 32bit  
• Video processing and compression: ARTPEC-2  
• RAM: 64MB (AXIS 241QA), 32 MB (AXIS 241SA)  
• Flash: 8 MB  
• Battery backed up by real-time clock  
Power  
• 7 - 20 V DC, max 8 W  
Operating conditions  
• 5 - 50 ºC (41 - 122 ºF)  
• Humidity 20 - 80% RH (non-condensing)  
Installation, management • Installation tool on CD and web-based configuration  
and maintenance  
• Configuration backup and restore  
• Firmware upgrades over HTTP or FTP, firmware available at www.axis.com  
Video access from Web  
browser  
• Camera live view  
• Sequence tour capability for up to 20 PTZ presets or other Axis video sources  
• Customizable HTML pages  
Minimum Web browsing  
requirements  
• Pentium III CPU 500 MHz or higher, or equivalent AMD128 MB RAM AGP graphic  
card, Direct Draw, 32 MB RAM  
• Windows XP, 2000, Server 2003, NT4.0*, ME* or 98*, DirectX 9.0 or later Internet  
Explorer 5.x or later  
• For other operating systems and browsers see www.axis.com/techsup  
*Motion JPEG only  
System integration  
support  
• Powerful API for software integration available at www.axis.com, including AXIS  
VAPIX API, AXIS Media Control SDK, event trigger data in video stream, embedded  
scripting and access to serial port peripherals over HTTP/TCP  
• Watchdog secures continuous operation, can be monitored by other systems via  
event notification  
• Embedded operating system: Linux 2.6  
Supported protocols  
• HTTP, HTTPS, SSL/TLS*, TCP, SNMPv1/v2cv/v3 (MIB-II), RTSP, RTP, UDP, IGMP, RTCP,  
SMTP, FTP, DHCP, UPnP, ARP, DNS, DynDNS, SOCKS. More information on protocol  
usage available at www.axis.com  
* This product includes software developed by the Open SSL Project for use in the  
Open SSL Toolkit.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Technical specifications  
68  
Item  
Specification  
Included accessories  
• Power supply 9 V DC, mounting brackets, connector kit, Installation Guide, CD with  
installation and management tools, software and User’s Manual, MPEG-4 licenses (1  
encoder, 1 decoder), MPEG-4 decoder (Windows)  
Applications (not  
included)  
• AXIS Camera Station - Surveillance application for viewing, recording and archiving  
up to 25 cameras  
• AXIS Camera Recorder - Surveillance application for viewing and recording up to 16  
cameras  
• AXIS Camera Explorer – Basic software for viewing and manual recording  
• See www.axis.com/partner/adp_partners.htm for more software applications via  
partners  
Accessories (not included) • AXIS 292 Network Video Decoder  
• AXIS MPEG-4 Decoder 10 user license pack  
• Power over Ethernet splitters and midspans IEEE 802.11g wireless bridge and access  
point  
Approvals  
• EMC:  
EN55024: 1998+A1,  
EN55022:1998 ClassB  
EN61000-3-2:2000,  
EN61000-3-3:1995+A1  
• FCC Part 15 Subpart B Class B  
• VCCI: 2003 Class B ITE  
• C-tick AS/NZS 3548 and ICES-003 Class B by compliance with EN 550022:1998  
Class B  
• Safety: UL and CSA (Power supply), EN60950  
Dimensions (HxWxD) and • 42 x 140 x 155 mm (1.7” x 5.5” x 6.1”)  
weight  
• 540 g (1.2 lbs) excl. power supply  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Technical specifications  
69  
General performance considerations  
When setting up your system, it is important to consider how various settings and  
situations will affect performance. Some factors affect the amount of bandwidth (the bit  
rate) required, others can affect the frame rate, and some will affect both. If the load on the  
CPU reaches its maximum, this will also affect the frame rate.  
The following factors are among the most important to consider:  
• High image resolutions and/or lower compression levels result in larger images.  
Bandwidth affected.  
• Access by large numbers of Motion JPEG and/or unicast MPEG-4 clients. Band-  
width affected.  
• Simultaneous viewing of different streams (resolution, compression, etc.) by dif-  
ferent clients. Frame rate and bandwidth affected.  
• Accessing both Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 video streams simultaneously. Frame  
rate and bandwidth affected.  
• Heavy usage of event settings affects the CPU load. Frame rate affected.  
• Enabled motion detection. Frame rate and bandwidth affected.  
• Heavy network utilization due to poor infrastructure. Bandwidth affected  
• Viewing on poorly performing client PC lowers perceived performance. Frame  
rate affected.  
• Access by large number of audio clients using full-duplex mode. Bandwidth  
affected.  
Optimizing your system  
To see the bandwidth and frame rate currently required by the video stream, the AXIS  
241QA/AXIS 241SA provides a tool that can be used to display these values directly in the  
video image.  
To do this, special format strings are added as part  
of a text overlay. Simply add #r (average frame  
rate in fps) and/or #b (average bandwidth in Kbps)  
to the overlay.  
For detailed instructions, please see the online help  
for Video & Image > Overlay Settings, and the  
help for File Naming & Date/Time Formats.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Technical specifications  
70  
Important!  
•
The figures displayed here are the values as delivered by the server. If other restrictions  
are currently in force, (e.g. bandwidth limitation) these values might not correspond to  
those actually received by the client.  
•
For Motion JPEG, these values will only be accurate as long as no frame rate limit has  
been specified.  
Frame rates - Motion JPEG  
The following test results show the frame rates in frames/second (fps) for Motion JPEG  
streams from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA, using a compression level of 50%. Note that  
these values are guidelines only - actual values may vary.  
AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA  
fps (NTSC/PAL)  
1 channel  
fps (NTSC/PAL)  
4 channels  
4CIF  
2CIF expanded  
2CIF  
30/25  
30/25  
30/25  
30/25  
30/25  
10/8  
15/13  
27/22  
30/25  
30/25  
CIF  
QCIF  
Frame rates - MPEG-4  
The following test results show the frame rates in frames/second (fps) for MPEG-4 streams  
from the AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA. Note that these values are guidelines only - actual  
values may vary.  
The MPEG-4 test conditions:  
• Compression level = 50%  
• Video Object Type = Advanced Simple  
• GOV structure = IP*  
AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA  
fps (NTSC/PAL)  
1 channel  
fps (NTSC/PAL)  
4 channels  
4CIF  
2CIF expanded  
2CIF  
21/17  
21/17  
30/25  
30/25  
30/25  
4/3  
5/4  
10/9  
20/17  
30/25  
CIF  
QCIF  
Note that setting the GOV structure to use “I-frames only” will increase the frame rate.  
* The GOV structure can take two different forms; I and IP. The I-structure sends complete images  
(I-images) whereas the IP-structure mostly sends the differences compared with the previous image  
(P-images) and only a few I-images. The IP-structure requires much less bandwidth than the I-structure.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Technical specifications  
71  
Bandwidth  
As there are many factors affecting bandwidth, it is very difficult to predict the required  
amounts. The settings that affect bandwidth are:  
• the image resolution  
• the image compression  
• the frame rate  
• the MPEG-4 object type  
• the MPEG-4 GOV structure  
• the analog cameras connected to the video server  
• the audio settings  
There are also factors in the monitored scene that will affect the bandwidth. These are:  
• the amount of motion  
• the image’s complexity  
• the lighting conditions.  
For MPEG-4, if there is only limited bandwidth available, and if this is more important  
than the image quality, using a constant bit rate (CBR) is recommended. Use a variable bit  
rate (VBR) if the image quality needs to be maintained at a higher level. If supported on the  
network, consider also using MPEG-4 multicasting, as the bandwidth consumption will be  
much lower.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Glossary  
72  
Aspect ratio - A ratio of width to height in images. A  
common aspect ratio used for television screens and  
computer monitors is 4:3. High-definition television  
(HDTV) uses an aspect ratio of 9:16.  
Glossary  
Active Speaker - a speaker with a built-in power  
amplifier.  
Autoiris (DC-Iris) - This special type of iris is electrically  
controlled by the camera, to automatically regulate the  
amount of light allowed to enter.  
ActiveX - ActiveX is a standard that enables software  
components to interact with one another in a networked  
environment, regardless of the language(s) used to create  
them. Web browsers may come into contact with ActiveX  
controls, ActiveX documents, and ActiveX scripts.  
ActiveX controls are often downloaded and installed  
automatically as required.  
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) - A video format that  
supports simultaneous playback of audio and video.  
AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service - This free service  
provides an Axis network product with a unique DNS or  
domain name (URL address), which can then be used  
instead of an IP address to access the product from a web  
browser.  
AF (Autofocus) - A system by which the camera lens  
automatically focuses on a selected part of the subject.  
AMC (AXIS Media Control) - AMC is the ActiveX  
component required to view moving images from an Axis  
video device in Internet Explorer. The component is  
installed automatically on the viewing computer on first  
use. Once installed, AMC can be configured from  
Windows Control Panel.  
AXIS IP Utility - A tool for discovering and setting IP  
addresses for Axis network devices. AXIS IP Utility is  
supplied free of charge by Axis.  
AXIS Camera Management - A powerful and efficient  
installation and management tool for Axis network video  
products. The tool can automatically find and set IP  
addresses, show connection status and manage firmware  
upgrades of multiple devices.  
Analog video camera - The signal from an analog video  
camera is viewed directly on e.g. a monitor in the analog  
system, which depends on traditional analog cabling.  
Alternatively, the signal can be digitized with the use of a  
video server, and can then be made available over a data  
(IP) network.  
Bitmap - A bitmap is a data file representing a  
rectangular grid of pixels. It defines a display space and  
color for each pixel (or "bit") in the display space. This  
type of image is known as a "raster graphic." GIFs and  
JPEGs are examples of image file types that contain  
bitmaps. Because a bitmap uses this fixed raster method,  
it cannot easily be rescaled without losing definition.  
Conversely, a vector graphic image uses geometrical  
shapes to represent the image, and can thus be quickly  
rescaled.  
Angle - The field of view, relative to a standard lens in a  
35mm still camera, expressed in degrees, e.g. 30°. For  
practical purposes, this is the area that a lens can cover,  
where the angle of view is determined by the focal length  
of the lens. A wide-angle lens has a short focal length and  
covers a wider angle of view than standard or telephoto  
lenses, which have longer focal lengths.  
Bit rate - The bit rate (in kbit/s or Mbit/s) is often referred  
to as speed, but actually defines the number of bits/time  
unit and not distance/time unit.  
API (Application Programming Interface) - An API is a  
set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software  
applications. A good API makes it easier to develop a  
program by providing all the required building blocks.  
The Axis VAPIX API allows Axis products to be  
integrated into other applications.  
Bluetooth - Bluetooth is an open standard for wireless  
transmission of voice and data between mobile devices  
(PCs, handheld computers, telephones and printers).  
Bonjour - Also known as zero-configuration networking,  
Bonjour enables the automatic discovery of computers,  
devices, and services on IP networks. Bonjour allows  
devices to automatically discover each other without the  
need to enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers.  
Bonjour is developed by Apple Computer Inc.  
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) - This protocol is used  
to associate an IP address to a hardware MAC address. A  
request is broadcast on the local network to discover the  
MAC address for an IP address.  
ARTPEC (Axis Real Time Picture Encoder) - A chip  
designed by Axis for image compression. ARTPEC  
supports a range of CCD and CMOS sensors, built-in  
functionality for sharpening, backlight compensation,  
noise reduction and white balance, support for multiple  
Motion-JPEG streams, support for MPEG-4 part 2, up to  
30 frames/second from 4 simultaneous video sources and  
real-time compression of up to 45 Megapixels/second.  
BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) - A protocol that can  
automatically configure a network device (give it an IP  
address). BOOTP is the basis for a more advanced network  
management protocol, the Dynamic Host Configuration  
Protocol (DHCP).  
Broadband - In network engineering terms, this describes  
transmission methods where two or more signals share  
the same carrier. In more popular terminology, broadband  
is taken to mean high-speed data transmission.  
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) - A circuit  
designed for a specific application, as opposed to a  
general purpose circuit, such as a microprocessor.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Glossary  
73  
CCD (Charged Coupled Device) - This light-sensitive  
image device used in many digital cameras is a large  
integrated circuit that contains hundreds of thousands of  
photo-sites (pixels) that convert light energy into  
electronic signals. Its size is measured diagonally and can  
be 1/4", 1/3", 1/2" or 2/3".  
format. A codec uses analog-to-digital conversion and  
digital-to-analog conversion in the same chip.  
Codec can also mean compression/decompression, in  
which case it is generally taken to mean an algorithm or  
computer program for reducing the size of large files and  
programs.  
CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) - A CCTV system is a  
closed/private video system, usually constructed with  
coaxial cabling, and used within a single building/group  
of buildings. It is used to visually monitor the location for  
security or industrial purposes. Video from the CCTV  
system can be recorded and viewed on-site or remotely.  
Composite video - A type of video signal in which the  
red, blue and green signals (sometimes audio signals too)  
are mixed together.  
Compression - See Image Compression.  
Contrast - Defines the degree of difference between the  
lightest and darkest parts of an image or video stream.  
CCTV video camera - A traditional CCTV video camera is  
an analog camera, available in both monochrome (black  
and white) and color. Cameras can be set in fixed  
positions or placed on "Pan/Tilt/Zoom" devices, which  
allow the camera to be maneuvered. Using a zoom lens  
provides a closer view of the object being viewed. CCTV  
analog video cameras can be viewed over a computer  
network by using a video server.  
Control unit - If a CCTV system has more than one  
camera, there must be a way to control the video signals  
going to recorders and monitors. There are three basic  
types of Video Control Unit: Multiplexer, Switch and  
Quad.  
dB (Decibels) - A unit to measure sound level changes. A  
3dB change is the smallest level change we can hear. A  
3dB change is actually twice or half the audio power  
level. A gain of 0dB will leave the signal level unchanged.  
CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A specification for  
communication between a web server and other (CGI)  
programs. For example, a HTML page that contains a form  
might use a CGI program to process the form data once it  
is submitted.  
DC-Iris - This special type of iris is electrically controlled  
by the camera, to automatically regulate the amount of  
light allowed to enter.  
CIF (Common Intermediate Format) - CIF refers to the  
analog video resolutions 352x288 pixels (PAL) and  
352x240 pixels (NTSC). See also Resolution.  
Decoder - See video decoder.  
De-interlacing - See interlacing.  
Client-server - Client-server describes the relationship  
between two computer programs in which one program,  
the client, makes a service request from another program,  
the server, which fulfils the request. Typically, multiple  
client programs share the services of a common server  
program. A web browser is a client program that requests  
services (the sending of web pages or files) from a web  
server.  
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - DHCP is  
a protocol that lets network administrators automate and  
centrally manage the assignment of Internet Protocol (IP)  
addresses to network devices in a network.  
DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that  
a given IP address will be valid for a computer. The lease  
time can vary, depending on how long a user is likely to  
require the network connection at a particular location.  
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) - A  
CMOS is a widely used type of semiconductor that uses  
both negative and positive circuits. Since only one of the  
circuit types is on at any given time, CMOS chips require  
less power than chips using just one type of transistor.  
CMOS image sensors also allow processing circuits to be  
included on the same chip, an advantage not possible  
with CCD sensors, which are also much more expensive to  
produce.  
DHCP also supports static addresses for e.g. computers  
running web servers, which need a permanent IP address.  
DNS (Domain Name System) - DNS is used to locate and  
translate Internet domain names into IP (Internet  
Protocol) addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and  
easy-to-remember name for an Internet address. For  
example the domain name www.example.com is much  
easier to remember than 192.0.34.166. The translation  
tables for domain names are contained in Domain name  
servers.  
Coaxial cable - Coaxial cable is the standard means of  
transmitting analog video in a CCTV system. Coaxial is  
also used by cable companies to distribute television in  
residential buildings.  
Domain server - Domains can also be used by  
organizations that wish to centralize the management of  
their (Windows) computers. Each user within a domain  
has an account that usually allows them to log in to and  
use any computer in the domain, although restrictions  
may also apply. The domain server is the server that  
authenticates the users on the network.  
Codec - In communications engineering, a codec is  
usually a coder/decoder. Codecs are used in integrated  
circuits or chips that convert e.g. analog video and audio  
signals into a digital format for transmission. The codec  
also converts received digital signals back into analog  
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Dome network camera - A remotely controllable camera  
mounted in a special housing, characterized by the dome  
shaped glass or plastic covering behind which the camera  
resides. Usually mounted on a ceiling and looking  
downwards, a dome camera can often rotate up to 360  
degrees, thus providing excellent coverage of large areas.  
Frame - A frame is a complete video image. In the 2:1  
interlaced scanning format of the RS-170 and CCIR  
formats, a frame is made up of two separate fields of  
262.5 or 312.5 lines interlaced at 60 or 50 Hz to form a  
complete frame, which appears at 30 or 25 Hz. In video  
cameras with a progressive scan, each frame is scanned  
line-by-line and not interlaced; most are also displayed at  
30 and 25 Hz.  
Duplex - See Full-duplex.  
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) - An optic disc with the  
same physical size as a CD, but with significantly greater  
storage capacity.  
Frame rate - The frame rate used to describe the  
frequency at which a video stream is updated is measured  
in frames per second (fps). A higher frame rate is  
advantageous when there is movement in the video  
stream, as it maintains image quality throughout.  
DVR (Digital Video Recorder) - A DVR records analog  
video to a hard disk in digital format. Most DVRs use the  
MPEG-2 format for encoding analog video signals.  
Full-duplex - Transmission of data in two directions  
simultaneously. In an audio system this would describe  
e.g. a telephone systems. Half-duplex also provides  
bi-directional communication, but only in one direction  
at a time, as in a walkie-talkie system. See also Simplex.  
Encoder - See Video encoder.  
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area  
network technology. An Ethernet LAN typically uses  
special grades of twisted pair wires. The most commonly  
installed Ethernet systems are 10BASE-T and  
100BASE-T10, which provide transmission speeds up to  
10 Mbps and 100 Mbps respectively.  
G.711 - The international standard for encoding  
telephone audio on a 64 kbps channel. It is a pulse code  
modulation (PCM) scheme operating at 8 kHz sample rate.  
ETRAX (Ethernet Token Ring AXIS) - The ETRAX chip is  
the cornerstone of Axis technology and the 'brain' in  
nearly all Axis products. A multipurpose Linux chip with  
integrated Ethernet networking and extremely flexible I/O  
options.  
G.726 - A frequently used speech-compression algorithm  
in telecommunications due to its high perceived speech  
quality and low resource requirements.  
Gain - Gain is the amplification factor and the extent to  
which an analog amplifier boosts the strength of a signal.  
Amplification factors are usually expressed in terms of  
power. The decibel (dB) is the most common way of  
quantifying the gain of an amplifier.  
Factory default settings - These are the settings that  
originally applied for a device when it was first delivered  
from the factory. If it should become necessary to reset a  
device to its factory default settings, this will, for many  
devices, completely reset any settings that were changed  
by the user.  
Gateway - A gateway is a point in a network that acts as  
an entry point to another network. In a corporate network  
for example, a computer server acting as a gateway often  
also acts as a proxy server and a firewall server. A  
gateway is often associated with both a router, which  
knows where to direct a given packet of data that arrives  
at the gateway, and a switch, which furnishes the actual  
path in and out of the gateway for a given packet.  
Firewall - A firewall works as a barrier between networks,  
e.g. between a Local Area Network and the Internet. The  
firewall ensures that only authorized users are allowed to  
access the one network from the other. A firewall can be  
software running on a computer, or it can be a standalone  
hardware device.  
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - GIF is one of the  
most common file formats used for images in web pages.  
There are two versions of the format, 87a and 89a.  
Version 89a supports animations, i.e. a short sequence of  
images within a single GIF file. A GIF89a can also be  
specified for interlaced presentation.  
Fixed dome network camera - This type of camera  
cannot be remotely controlled as regards movement, but  
is mounted in the same type of dome as a controllable  
network dome camera. This camera must be positioned  
manually to provide the required coverage.  
Fixed network camera - This type of camera cannot be  
remotely controlled as regards movement. It must be  
positioned manually to provide the required coverage.  
GOV (Group Of VOPs) - A group of VOPs is the basic unit  
of an MPEG-4 video stream. The GOV contains different  
types and numbers of VOPs (I-VOPs, P-VOPs) as  
determined by the GOV length and GOV structure. See  
also VOP.  
Fixed iris - See Autoiris.  
Focal length - Measured in millimeters, the focal length  
of a camera lens determines the width of the horizontal  
field of view, which in turn is measured in degrees.  
GOV length - The GOV length determines the number of  
images (VOPs) in the GOV structure.  
See also GOV and VOP.  
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - FTP is an application  
protocol that uses the TCP/IP protocols, used to exchange  
files between computers/devices on networks.  
GOV structure - The GOV structure describes the  
composition of an MPEG-4 video stream, as regards the  
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type of images (I-VOPs or P-VOPs) included in the stream,  
and their internal order. See also GOV and VOP.  
connection between the communication end-points,  
packets can be sent via different routes and do not need  
to arrive at the destination in the correct order.  
Half-duplex - See Full-duplex.  
Once the data packets have arrived at the correct  
destination, another protocol - Transmission Control  
Protocol (TCP) - puts them in the right order.  
See also TCP.  
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - HTML is the set  
of "markup" symbols or codes inserted in a file intended  
for display in web browser. The markup tells the browser  
how to display the page's words and images for the user.  
IP address - An IP address is simply an address on an IP  
network used by a computer/device connected to that  
network. IP addresses allow all the connected  
computers/devices to find each other and to pass data  
back and forth.  
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - HTTP is the set of  
rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound,  
video, and other multimedia files) on the web. The HTTP  
protocol runs on top of the TCP/IP suite of protocols.  
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol over SSL) - HTTPS  
is a protocol used by web browsers and servers to encrypt  
and decrypt user page requests and the pages returned by  
the server. The encrypted exchange of information is  
governed by the use of an HTTPS certificate (issued by a  
Certificate Authority), which guarantees the authenticity  
of the server.  
To avoid conflicts, each IP address on any given network  
must be unique. An IP address can be assigned as fixed,  
so that it does not change, or it can be assigned  
dynamically (and automatically) by DHCP.  
An IP address consists of four groups (or quads) of  
decimal digits separated by periods, e.g. 130.5.5.25.  
Different parts of the address represent different things.  
Some part will represent the network number or address,  
and some other part will represent the local machine  
address. See also IP (Internet Protocol).  
Hub - A (network) hub is used to connect multiple devices  
to the network. The hub transmits all data to all devices  
connected to it, whereas a switch will only transmit the  
data to the device it is specifically intended for.  
Infrared (IR) - Infrared radiation is radiation at a longer  
wavelength than visible light, which means it cannot be  
seen by the naked human eye. As infrared radiation can  
be detected as heat, this can be shown on a screen or  
captured by a digital camera, with hotter objects showing  
up brighter against colder surroundings (e.g. a human  
body against a colder background).  
IEEE 802.11 - A family of standards for wireless LANs.  
The 802.11a standard supports 1 or 2 Mbit/s transmission  
on the 5 GHz band. IEEE 802.11b supports data rates up  
to11 Mbit/s on the 2.4 GHz band, while 802.11g allows up  
to 54 Mbit/s on the 2.4 GHz band.  
Image compression - Image compression minimizes the  
file size (in bytes) of an image. Two of the most common  
compressed image formats are JPEG and GIF. See also  
MPEG and Motion JPEG.  
As color cameras can "see" infrared radiation as well as  
visible light, these cameras are equipped with an IR-cut  
filter, to prevent distortion of the colors the human eye  
can see. To use the camera in very dark locations or at  
night, this filter can be removed, to allow infrared  
radiation to hit the image sensor and thus produce  
images. An infrared lamp can be used for improved  
illumination for night surveillance, while not producing  
any extra visible light.  
Interlacing - Interlaced video is video captured at 50  
pictures (known as fields) per second, of which every 2  
consecutive fields (at half height) are then combined into  
1 frame. Interlacing was developed many years ago for  
the analog TV world and is still used widely today. It  
provides good results when viewing motion in standard  
TV pictures, although there is always some degree of  
distortion in the image.  
Inputs/Outputs (I/Os) - The digital I/Os on, for example, a  
network camera can be used to connect any device that  
can toggle between an open and a closed circuit.  
To view interlaced video on e.g. a computer monitor, the  
video must first be de-interlaced, to produce progressive  
video, which consists of complete images, one after the  
other, at 25 frames per second. See also Progressive scan.  
For example, if a door switch is used as an input device,  
opening the door could trigger the upload of video images  
and the sending of notification messages.  
IP (Internet Protocol) - The Internet Protocol is a method  
transmitting data over a network. Data to be sent is  
divided into individual and completely independent  
"packets." Each computer (or host) on the Internet has at  
least one address that uniquely identifies it from all  
others, and each data packet contains both the sender's  
address and the receiver's address.  
An output might, for example, be used to automatically  
start a siren when there is a motion detection trigger.  
ISMA (Internet Streaming Media Alliance) - ISMA's goal  
is: "To accelerate the adoption and deployment of open  
standards for streaming rich media content such as video,  
audio, and associated data, over Internet protocols."  
The Internet Protocol ensures that the data packets all  
arrive at the intended address. As IP is a connectionless  
protocol, which means that there is no established  
I-VOP - See VOP.  
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JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - Together  
with the GIF file format, JPEG is an image file type  
commonly used on the web. A JPEG image is a bitmap,  
and usually has the file suffix '.jpg' or ".jpeg." When  
creating a JPEG image, it is possible to configure the level  
of compression to use. As the lowest compression (i.e. the  
highest quality) results in the largest file, there is a  
trade-off between image quality and file size.  
MPEG-2 - The designation for a group of audio and video  
coding standards, and is typically used to encode audio  
and video for broadcast signals, including digital satellite  
and Cable TV. MPEG-2, with some modifications, is also  
the coding format used by standard commercial DVD  
movies.  
MPEG-4 - MPEG-4 is a group of audio and video coding  
standards and related technology. The primary uses for  
the MPEG-4 standard are web (streaming media) and CD  
distribution, conversational (videophone), and broadcast  
television.  
kbit/s (kilobits per second) - A measure of the bit rate,  
i.e. the rate at which bits are passing a given point. See  
also Bit rate.  
LAN (Local Area Network) - A LAN is a group of  
computers and associated devices that typically share  
common resources within a limited geographical area.  
Most of the features included in MPEG-4 are left to  
individual developers to decide whether to implement  
them or not. This means that there are probably no  
complete implementations of the entire MPEG-4 set of  
standards. To deal with this, the standard includes the  
concept of "profiles" and "levels", allowing a specific set  
of capabilities to be defined in a manner appropriate for a  
subset of applications.  
Linux - Linux is an open source operating system within  
the Unix family. Because of its robustness and  
availability, Linux has won popularity in the open source  
community and among commercial application  
developers.  
Multicast - Bandwidth-conserving technology that  
reduces bandwidth usage by simultaneously delivering a  
single stream of information to multiple network  
recipients. See also Unicast.  
Lux - A standard unit of illumination measurement.  
MAC address (Media Access Control address) - A MAC  
address is a unique identifier associated with a piece of  
networking equipment, or more specifically, its interface  
with the network. For example, the network card in a  
computer has its own MAC address.  
Multiplexer - A multiplexer is a high-speed switch that  
provides full-screen images from up to 16 analog  
cameras. Multiplexers can playback everything that  
happened on any one camera with no interference from  
the other cameras on the system.  
Manual iris - This is the opposite of an autoiris, i.e. the  
camera iris must be adjusted manually to regulate the  
amount of light allowed to reach the image sensor.  
Network camera (Network video camera) - A network  
camera is a camera and computer combined in one  
intelligent unit. It captures and sends live video directly  
over an IP network such as a LAN, intranet or the  
Internet. Users can view and/or manage the camera using  
a web browser or application software from any local or  
remote computer on a network. The camera allows  
multiple authorized viewers from different locations to  
simultaneously access images. A network camera is  
sometimes known as an IP camera.  
Mbit/s (Megabits per second) - A measure of the bit rate,  
i.e. the rate at which bits are passing a given point.  
Commonly used to give the "speed" of a network. A LAN  
might run at 10 or 100 Mbit/s. See also Bit rate.  
Monitor - A monitor is very similar to a television set, but  
lacks the electronics to pick up regular television signals.  
Motion JPEG - Motion JPEG is a simple  
compression/decompression technique for network video.  
Latency is low and image quality is guaranteed, regardless  
of movement or complexity of the image. Image quality is  
controlled by adjusting the compression level, which in  
turn provides control over the file size, and thereby the bit  
rate.  
Network connectivity - The physical (wired or wireless)  
and logical (protocol) connection of a computer network  
or an individual device to a network, such as the Internet  
or a LAN.  
Network video - Network video (often referred to as  
IP-Surveillance for specific applications within security  
surveillance and remote monitoring) is a system that gives  
users the ability to monitor and record video over an IP  
network (LAN/WAN/Internet).  
High-quality individual images from the Motion JPEG  
stream are easily extracted. See also JPEG and GIF.  
Megapixel - See Pixel.  
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) - The Moving  
Picture Experts Group develops standards for digital video  
and audio compression. It operates under the auspices of  
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).  
The MPEG standards are an evolving series, each designed  
for a different purpose.  
NTSC (National Television System Committee) - NTSC is  
an analog color encoding system used in television  
systems in Japan, the United States and other parts of the  
Americas. NTSC defines the video signal using 525 TV  
lines per frame, at a refresh rate equal to 30 frames per  
second. See also PAL.  
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NVR (Network Video Recorder) - A dedicated Network  
Video Recorder (NVR) can be used to gather data streams  
from remote network cameras and video servers and store  
them on a hard disk. An NVR can be a standard  
networked PC, or a dedicated video recording hard disk  
server with its own software application.  
Progressive scan - Progressive scan, as opposed to  
interlaced video, scans the entire picture, line by line  
every sixteenth of a second. In other words, captured  
images are not split into separate fields as in interlaced  
scanning.  
Computer monitors do not need interlace to show the  
picture on the screen, but instead show them  
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) - This is a  
designation for companies that manufacture equipment  
that is then marketed and sold to other companies under  
their own names.  
progressively, on one line at a time in perfect order i.e. 1,  
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc., so there is virtually no "flickering"  
effect. In a surveillance application, this can be critical  
when viewing detail within a moving image, such as a  
person running. A high-quality monitor is required to get  
the best from progressive scan. See also Interlacing.  
PAL (Phase Alternating Line) - PAL is an analog color  
encoding system used in television systems in Europe and  
in many other parts of the world. PAL defines the video  
signal using 625 TV lines per frame, at a refresh rate equal  
to 25 frames per second. See also NTSC.  
Protocol - A special set of rules governing how two  
entities will communicate. Protocols are found at many  
levels of communication, and there are hardware  
protocols and software protocols.  
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) - A small handheld  
computer, which usually provides at least a calendar, an  
organizer and a notepad.  
Proxy server - In an enterprise that uses the Internet, a  
proxy server acts as an intermediary between a  
workstation user and the Internet. This provides security,  
administrative control, and a caching service. Any proxy  
server associated with a gateway server, or part of a  
gateway server, effectively separates the enterprise  
network from the outside network and the local firewall.  
It is the firewall server that protects the enterprise  
network from outside intrusion.  
PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) - An early standard for  
securing electronic mail. The PEM-format is often used  
for representing an HTTPS certificate or certificate  
request.  
Ping - Ping is a basic network program used  
diagnostically to check the status of a network host or  
device. Ping can be used to see if a particular network  
address (IP address or host name) is occupied or not, or if  
the host at that address is responding normally. Ping can  
be run from e.g. the Windows Command prompt or the  
command line in Unix.  
PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) - A PTZ-enabled camera can be  
remotely controlled so as to change the view from the  
camera. Panning is the movement of the camera along its  
horizontal axis, tilting is the movement of the camera  
along its vertical axis, and zooming is the adjustment of  
the zoom lens to magnify the view.  
Pixel (Picture Element) - A pixel is one of the many tiny  
dots that make up a digital image. The color and intensity  
of each pixel represents a tiny area of the complete image.  
P-VOP - See VOP.  
PoE (Power over Ethernet) - Power over Ethernet  
provides power to a network device via the same cable as  
used for the network connection. This is very useful for  
IP-Surveillance and remote monitoring applications in  
places where it may be too impractical or expensive to  
power the device from a power outlet.  
Quad view - A Quad view displays images from up to  
four cameras on a single screen; where the images from  
each camera take up approximately a quarter of the  
display area.  
Remote monitoring - Network video gives users the  
ability to gather information at all key points of an  
operation and view it in realtime. This makes the  
technology ideal for monitoring equipment, people and  
places, both locally and remotely. Application examples  
include traffic and production line monitoring, and the  
monitoring of multiple store locations.  
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) - A protocol that uses a  
serial interface for communication between two network  
devices. For example, a PC connected by a phone line to a  
server.  
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) - A protocol  
(set of communication rules) that allows corporations to  
extend their own corporate network through private  
"tunnels" over the public Internet. In this way a  
corporation can effectively use a WAN (Wide Area  
Network) as a large single LAN (Local Area Network). This  
kind of interconnection is known as a virtual private  
network (VPN).  
Resolution - Image resolution is a measure of how much  
detail a digital image can hold: the greater the resolution,  
the greater the level of detail. Resolution can be specified  
as the number of pixel-columns (width) by the number of  
pixel-rows (height), e.g. 320x240.  
Alternatively, the total number of pixels (usually in  
megapixels) in the image can be used. In analog systems  
it is also common to use other format designations, such  
as CIF, QCIF, 4CIF, etc.  
Pre/post alarm images - The images from immediately  
before and after an alarm. These images are stored in a  
buffer for later retrieval.  
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RS-232 - A long-established standard that describes the  
physical interface and protocol for low-speed serial data  
communication between devices. This is the interface that  
e.g. a computer uses to talk to and exchange data with a  
modem and other serial devices.  
protect people, property and assets. Such systems are  
therefore an especially attractive option for companies  
currently using CCTV.  
Server - In general, a server is a computer program that  
provides services to other computer programs in the same  
or other computers. A computer running a server program  
is also frequently referred to as a server. In practice, the  
server may contain any number of server and client  
programs. A web server is the computer program that  
supplies the requested HTML pages or files to the client  
(web browser).  
RS-422 - A serial data communication protocol that  
specifies 4-wire, full-duplex, differential line, multi-drop  
communications. It provides balanced data transmission  
with unidirectional/non-reversible, terminated or  
non-terminated transmission lines. RS-422 does not allow  
multiple drivers, only multiple receivers. Maximum  
recommended range is 4,000 feet (1200 meters).  
Maximum recommended baud rate is 10Mbit/s.  
Sharpness - This is the control of fine detail within a  
picture. This feature was originally introduced into color  
TV sets that used notch filter decoders. This filter took  
away all high frequency detail in the black and white  
region of the picture. The sharpness control attempted to  
put some of that detail back in the picture. Sharpness  
controls are mostly superfluous in today's high-end TVs.  
The only logical requirement for it nowadays is on a VHS  
machine.  
RS-485 - An upgraded version of RS-422 that supports  
up to 32 devices on the same connection. RS-485 is an  
electrical specification of a two-wire, half-duplex,  
multipoint serial connection. It enables the configuration  
of inexpensive local networks and multidrop  
communications links. It offers high data transmission  
speeds (up to 10Mbit/s), and as it uses a differential  
balanced line over twisted pair (like RS-422), it can span  
relatively large distances (4000 feet or 1200 meters).  
RS-485 only specifies the electrical characteristics of the  
driver and the receiver. It does not specify or recommend  
any data protocol.  
Simplex - In simplex operation, a network cable or  
communications channel can only send information in  
one direction. See also Full-duplex.  
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - Used for sending  
and receiving e-mail. However, as it is "simple," it is  
limited in its ability to queue messages at the receiving  
end, and is usually used with one of two other protocols,  
POP3 or IMAP. These other protocols allow the user to  
save messages in a server mailbox and download them  
periodically from the server.  
RTCP (Real-Time Control Protocol) - RTCP provides  
support for real-time conferencing of groups of any size  
within an intranet. This support includes source  
identification and support for gateways like audio and  
video bridges as well as multicast-to-unicast translators.  
It offers quality-of-service feedback from receivers to the  
multicast group as well as support for the synchronization  
of different media streams.  
SMTP authentication - An extension of SMTP, where the  
client is required to log into the mail server before or  
during the sending of email. It can be used to allow  
legitimate users to send email while denying the service to  
unauthorized users, such as spammers.  
RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) - An Internet  
protocol for the transport of real-time data, e.g. audio and  
video. It can be used for media-on-demand as well as  
interactive services such as Internet telephony.  
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - SNMP  
forms part of the Internet Protocol suite, as defined by the  
Internet Engineering Task Force. The protocol can support  
monitoring of network-attached devices for any  
RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) - A control  
protocol, and a starting point for negotiating transports  
such as RTP, multicast and Unicast, and for negotiating  
codecs. RTSP can be considered a "remote control" for  
controlling the media stream delivered by a media server.  
RTSP servers typically use RTP as the protocol for the  
actual transport of audio/video data.  
conditions that warrant administrative attention.  
Sockets - Sockets are a method for communication  
between a client program and a server program over a  
network. A socket is defined as "the endpoint in a  
connection." Sockets are created and used with a set of  
programming requests or "function calls" sometimes  
called the sockets application programming interface  
(API).  
Router - A device that determines the next network point  
to which a packet should be forwarded on its way to its  
final destination. A router creates and/or maintains a  
special routing table that stores information on how best  
to reach certain destinations. A router is sometimes  
included as part of a network switch. See also Switch.  
SSL/TSL  
(Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security) - These  
two protocols (SSL is succeeded by TSL) are cryptographic  
Security surveillance - Network video's advanced  
functionality makes it highly suited to the applications  
involved in security surveillance. The flexibility of digital  
technology enhances security personnel's ability to  
cols that provide secure communication on a  
proto  
network. SSL is commonly used over HTTP to form  
HTTPS, as used e.g. on the Internet for electronic financial  
transactions. SSL uses public key certificates to verify the  
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identity of the server.  
Control Protocol (TCP). The advantage of UDP is that it is  
not required to deliver all data and may drop network  
packets when there is e.g. network congestion. This is  
suitable for live video, as there is no point in  
re-transmitting old information that will not be displayed  
anyway.  
Subnet & subnet mask - A subnet is an identifiably  
separate part of an organization's network. Typically, a  
subnet may represent all the machines at one geographic  
location, in one building, or on the same local area  
network (LAN). Having an organization's network divided  
into subnets allows it to be connected to the Internet with  
a single shared network address.  
Unicast - Communication between a single sender and a  
single receiver over a network. A new connection is  
established for each new user. See also Multicast.  
UPnPTM - A set of computer network protocols that allows  
the automatic peer-to-peer detection of devices on the  
network. UPnP is promoted by the UPnP Forum.  
The subnet mask is the part of the IP address that tells a  
network router how to find the subnet that the data  
packet should be delivered to. Using a subnet mask saves  
the router having to handle the entire 32-bit IP address; it  
simply looks at the bits selected by the mask.  
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - An "address" on the  
Switch - A network device that connects network  
segments together, and which selects a path for sending a  
unit of data to its next destination. In general, a switch is  
a simpler and faster mechanism than a router, which  
requires knowledge about the network and how to  
determine the route. Some switches include the router  
function. See also Router.  
network.  
USB (Universal Serial Bus) - A plug-and-play interface  
between a computer and peripheral devices (scanners,  
printers)  
Varifocal lens - A lens that provides a wide range of focal  
lengths, as opposed to a lens with a fixed focal length,  
which only provides one.  
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - TCP is used along  
with the Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit data as packets  
between computers over the network. While IP takes care  
of the actual packet delivery, TCP keeps track of the  
individual packets that the communication (e.g. requested  
a web page file) is divided into, and, when all packets  
have arrived at their destination, it reassembles them to  
re-form the complete file.  
Video camera - See Network camera and CCTV video  
camera.  
Video decoder - A network video decoder converts digital  
video and audio streams back into analog signals, which  
can then be displayed on standard TV sets, analog  
monitors and video switches.  
Video encoder (video server) - A video encoder/server  
digitizes analog video signals and sends digital images  
directly over an IP network, such as a LAN, intranet or the  
Internet. In effect, it turns an analog video system into a  
network video system and enables users to view live  
images using a web browser or application software on  
any local or remote computer on a network.  
TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means that  
a connection is established between the two end-points  
and is maintained until the data has been successfully  
exchanged between the communicating applications.  
Telnet - Telnet is a simple method with which to access  
another network device, e.g. a computer. The HTTP  
protocol and the FTP protocols allow you to request  
specific files from remote computers, but do not allow you  
logon as a user of that computer. With Telnet, you log on  
as a regular user with whatever privileges you may have  
been granted for specific applications and data residing  
on that computer.  
Video management software - Video management  
software supplies the means for monitoring, analyzing  
and recording network video. In its simplest form, it offers  
live viewing, storage and retrieval of video sequences.  
Advanced applications may also provide support for  
recording of live video from multiple devices, different  
recording modes, search functions, remote access via a  
web browser, control of PTZ devices, etc.  
Time-lapse recorder - This type of video recorder is  
commonly used in the security industry and has the  
ability to record up to one week of video on a single tape.  
The most commonly used timing is the 24-hour mode.  
Having to change tapes only once a day and retaining  
large amounts of information are perceived as key  
advantages in using this particular mode of recording.  
VMD (Video Motion Detection) - Video Motion detection  
defines activity (motion) in a monitored scene by  
analyzing image data and differences in series of images.  
This detection can, for example, be used to trigger an  
alarm event in a network camera and start the upload of  
images from the camera.  
TVL (TV Lines) - A method of defining resolutions in  
analog video.  
Video switcher - An analog video switcher sequentially  
displays full screen images, from one camera after  
another, typically at 3-5 seconds intervals. Other camera  
sources are not recorded while the image source from one  
camera is displayed on screen.  
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - UDP is a  
communications protocol that offers limited service for  
exchanging data in a network that uses the Internet  
Protocol (IP). UDP is an alternative to the Transmission  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Glossary  
80  
VPN (Virtual Private Network) - This creates a secure  
"tunnel" between the points within the VPN. Only devices  
with the correct "key" will be able to work within the  
VPN. The VPN network can be within a company LAN  
(Local Area Network), but different sites can also be  
connected over the Internet in a secure way. One common  
use for VPN is for connecting a remote computer to the  
corporate network, via e.g. a direct phone line or via the  
Internet.  
VOP (Video Object Plane) - A VOP is an image frame in  
an MPEG-4 video stream. There are several types of VOP:  
- An I-VOP is a complete image frame.  
- An P-VOP codes the differences between images, as long  
as it is more efficient to do so. Otherwise it codes the  
whole image, which may also be a completely new image.  
WAN (Wide-Area-Network) - Similar to a LAN, but on a  
larger geographical scale.  
W-LAN (Wireless LAN) - A wireless LAN is a wireless  
local area network that uses radio waves as its carrier:  
where the network connections for end-users are wireless.  
The main network structure usually uses cables.  
Web camera (Webcam) - A camera that requires a  
constant connection (via e.g. USB) to a PC for its  
operation. See also Network camera.  
Web server - A program that allows web browsers to  
retrieve files from computers connected to the Internet.  
The Web server listens for requests from browsers and  
upon receiving a request for a file sends it back to the  
browser. The primary function of a Web server is to serve  
pages to other remote computers.  
WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) - A wireless security  
protocol, specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard, which is  
designed to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN)  
with a level of security and privacy comparable to that  
usually expected of a wired LAN. Security is at two  
different levels; 40-bit and 128-bit encryption. The higher  
the bit number, the more secure the encryption.  
WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) - Part of the  
Microsoft Windows NT Server, WINS manages the  
association of workstation names and locations with IP  
addresses, without the user or administrator having to be  
involved in each configuration change.  
WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access - Pre-Shared Key) -  
This wireless encryption method uses a pre-shared key  
(PSK) for key management. Keys can usually be entered as  
manual hex values, as hexadecimal characters, or as a  
Passphrase. WPA-PSK provides a greater degree of  
security than WEP.  
Zoom lens - A zoom lens can be moved (zoomed) to  
enlarge the view of an object to show more detail.  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Index  
81  
E
Index  
Email server 52  
Emergency recovery 62  
Enable ARP/Ping 49  
Event servers 39  
Event types 32  
External video 31  
External video sources 11  
A
Action 39  
Action buttons 30  
Active/Inactive 11  
Administrators 17, 45  
Advanced TCP/IP settings 50  
Alarm 39, 43, 58  
Allowed IP addresses 45  
AMC Viewer Toolbar 12  
Anonymous viewers 45  
ARP/Ping 49  
F
Factory default settings 56  
Frame rates 19, 70  
FTP server 39  
Full duplex 23, 24  
Audio input 24  
Audio mode 23  
G
Generic HTTP 59  
Generic TCP/IP 59  
Audio output 25  
Audio settings 23  
Audio transmission 16  
AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service 50  
AXIS Media Control (AMC) 14  
H
Half duplex 23, 24  
Host name 50  
HTML examples 30  
HTTP API 35  
B
Backup 54  
HTTP API requests 30  
HTTP port number 51  
HTTP server 39  
HTTPS 46  
Bandwidth 13, 71  
Basic TCP/IP settings 49  
Buffers 41  
C
I
CGI links 30, 35  
Click-in-image 35  
COM Port RS-485 59  
Constant bit rate 13  
Control button 7, 56  
Customize 28  
I/O Ports 54  
I/O terminal connector 7  
Installing PTZ devices 32  
Internal video sources 11  
IP address filtering 45  
L
D
Line Out 7  
Date & Time 48  
DC power 58  
Digital input 58  
DIP switch 7  
DNS configuration 50  
Line/Mic In 7  
Live view config 27  
Live View page 17  
Logs & Reports 54  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Index  
82  
Restart 54  
Restore 54  
RS-232 connector 8  
RS-485 58  
RTP 14, 53  
M
Maximum bandwidth 51  
Motion detection 42  
Motion JPEG 13, 16  
MPEG-4 13, 16  
MPEG-4 clients 16  
MPEG-4 protocols 14  
MPEG-4 settings 53  
Multicasting 14  
RTSP 14, 51  
S
Scheduled event 39  
Security 45  
Sequence mode 11, 31  
Services 49  
Simplex 23  
N
Network settings 49  
Network traffic 51  
SMTP settings 52  
Snapshot 11  
O
SOCKS server 52  
Specifications 66  
Streaming MPEG-4 14  
Support 54  
Synchronization 16  
System options 45  
Operators 46  
Output buttons 11  
Overlays 19  
Overview 5  
Own home page 29  
Own web files 28  
T
P
TCP server 39  
Pan/Tilt/Zoom 34, 59  
Pinout - I/O connectors 58  
Port status 44  
TCP/IP settings 49  
Transistor output 58  
Trigger buttons 11  
Triggered event 39  
Troubleshooting 61  
Ports & Devices 53  
Post-trigger buffer 41  
Preset positions 36  
Pre-trigger buffer 41  
PTZ commands 30, 35  
PTZ control queue 37  
Pulse 11  
U
UDP 14  
Unicasting 14  
Upgrade Server 54  
UPnP 53  
Push-to-talk 24  
User-defined links 30  
Users 45  
Q
QoS 52  
Quad stream 11, 20  
V
Variable bit rate 13  
Video input 7  
Video Output 7  
Video source 11, 19  
R
Recovery 62  
Referrals 46  
Relative and absolute PTZ drivers 34  
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AXIS 241QA/AXIS 241SA - Index  
83  
Video streams 13, 15, 19  
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