Stop Arm Camera 2: Retrofit Post-Installation Testing

Once the Stop Arm Camera 2 is installed, connect to the Ranger DVR to view the camera’s live images and verify that the stop arm trigger is working correctly.

Connect to the Ranger DVR

To connect to the Ranger DVR, the device’s Wi-Fi configuration must be set to “Access Point Mode,” and you must have the device’s network name and password. As a retrofit installation, the DVR's default Wi-Fi configuration was likely changed during the initial installation.

• For basic DVR installations, the Wi-Fi name is often changed to the bus name and configured with a custom password for security purposes.
  
• For installations where the Wi-Fi connection is used to offload videos automatically, the Wi-Fi will be reconfigured to "Client Mode" and connected to a building's Wi-Fi network.

Follow the instructions below based on the use to allow camera testing.

Unique Network name and Password

1. Turn the bus key and verify the status LED on the DVR or the event marker button lights solid green.
2. On a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, enable the Wi-Fi and locate and select the Ranger’s network.
   
   • • Most commonly, the six characters unique to the device are changed to the unit ID. For example, Byron Center Schools bus 12 may be set to "BCS12" or "PV_Ranger_BCS12".
     • However, the network name may be changed to anything. 
3. Type in the Wi-Fi password when prompted.
   • • The default Wi-Fi password is doesitall
     • If the default password does not work, it was changed during the initial installation.
     • Request the Ranger's network password, or
     • Recover it from the DVR by connecting to the device via Ethernet.
       • 1. To Recover the password via Ethernet you will need a laptop computer and Ethernet Cable. 
         2. Temporarily disconnect the camera connection from the DVR LAN port.
         3. Connect an ethernet cable from a laptop to the DVR's LAN port.
         4. Follow the instructions below in Connect to the Ranger via Ethernet to get to the DVR's web interface on the laptop. 
         5. On the web interface, click on "Settings" (top right corner of the page) and select "Network" from the drop-down.
         6. If prompted, log in with username admin and password doesitall
         7. Make note of the "Unit SSID," which is the device's network name.
         8. Check the "Show Password box" and make note of the password which displays. 
            
       • Disconnect the laptop from the DVR and reconnect the camera's ethernet cable to the DVR's LAN port.
4. Continue with the instructions to View and Test Camera

Wi-Fi Configured to "Client Mode" for Building Connection

If the Ranger is set to automatically offload to a cloud or server via Wi-Fi (such as CloudConnect) it is configured to “Client Mode." To be able to complete the camera testing, the DVR's Wi-Fi will be temporarily set to “Access Point" to allow testing, then returned to "Client Mode". 

1. Temporarily disconnect the camera connection from the DVR LAN port.
2. Connect an ethernet cable from a laptop to the DVR's LAN port.
3. Follow the instruction below in Connect to the Ranger via Ethernet to get to the DVR's web interface on the laptop. 
4. On the web interface, click on "Settings" (top right corner of the page) and select "Network" from the drop-down.
5. Locate the "Wi-Fi Mode" option, change it to "Access Point Mode."
6. Scroll down and hit the blue "Apply" button.
7. Make note of the "Unit SSID," which is the device's network name.
8. Check the "Show Password box" and make note of the password which displays. 
   
9. Disconnect the laptop from the DVR and reconnect the camera's ethernet cable to the DVR's LAN port.
10. On the laptop, tablet, or smartphone enable the Wi-Fi an locate and select the Ranger’s Wi-Fi by its name (as noted from 6 above)
    • • The default Wi-Fi name will begin with “PV_Ranger_xxxxxx”. The last 6 characters are unique to the DVR unit.
11. Type in the Wi-Fi password when prompted. (as noted from step 7 above)
    • • The default Wi-Fi password is doesitall
12. Open up a web browser on the device and type 192.168.1.254 to open the Ranger’s webpage.
13. Continue with the instructions to View and Test Camera
14. Once the testing is complete, reconfigure the device's Wi-Fi to "Client Mode"
    1. 1. On the web interface, click on "Settings" (top right corner of the page) and select "Network" from the drop-down.
       2. In the "Wi-Fi Mode" option, change it to "Client Mode."
       3. Scroll down and hit the blue "Apply" button.

15. Once the device's Wi-Fi changes to "Client Mode" you device will be disconnected.

Connecting to the Ranger via Ethernet

To recover the network name and password or configure the Ranger's "Access Point" mode via Ethernet you will need a laptop computer and Ethernet Cable. 

1. Turn on the key of the bus and observe the status LED on the front of the DVR or the event marker button. When the light goes solid green to indicate recording, continue to the next step.
2. On a Windows laptop, locate and configure the Ethernet settings.
   • Please note that these instructions are written based on Windows 11:
     
     1. Search for and open the “Control Panel.”
     2. Select “Network and Internet” > “Network and Sharing Center.”
     3. From the left panel, select “Change Adapter Settings.”
     4. Right-click on “Ethernet” and select “Properties.”
     5. From the list, locate and click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” (not the checkmark next to it).
     6. Click the “Properties” button under the list.  
     7.  Select “Use the following IP address.”
     8. In the text box next to “IP address” type: 192.168.10.1
     9. Click ok and close the windows.
3. Unplug the Stop Arm Camera 2 Ethernet cable from the Ranger’s port.
4. Plug the Ethernet cable from the Ranger into the computer.
5. Open any browser and type 192.168.10.254 in the search bar.

View and Test the Camera

1. From the Ranger web interface, click on "Settings" (top right corner of the page) and select "Stop-Arm Camera" from the drop-down.
   1. • If the page does not load correctly, check the Ranger's firmware version to verify it's been updated. Firmware version 1.12.6 or newer is required to use the Stop Arm Camera.
      • For detailed instructions to update the firmware, see PD-1902 Ranger DVR: Firmware.
        
2. If prompted, log in with username admin and password doesitall
3. Once the stop arm page loads, it will display live images from each of the three lenses of the Stop Arm Camera 2. 
4. Verify all three images are clear and visible.
5. If the DVR had previously been installed with an older Dual-Lens Stop Arm Camera, click the "Update (Reset)" button to clear out the previous configuration. 
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and locate the "Installation Testing" instructions. Follow the instructions as they appear on the page. 
   • • If SARM does not appear in the bottom left corner of the camera image when the arm is deployed, the camera is not being triggered correctly. Troubleshoot the camera's red trigger wire connection. 
       
       
     • When you press the [Create Install Test Report] button, a color-coded note will appear under it: 
       
     • The "Install Test Report" button will create a file under the "/Install" in the Ranger DVR's disk. 
     • This report verifies the camera's functionality, containing still images from each of the connected cameras and a ".txt" file confirming the camera's connectivity, firmware versions, and the overall status of the DVR, and should be saved as an installation record.
       
7. Once the testing is complete, if the Ranger was temporarily set to "Access Point Mode" return the configuration back to "Client Mode."
   • Otherwise, the DVR will be unable to connect to Wi-Fi and offload data. 
     1. On the Ranger's web interface, click on "Settings" (top right corner of the page) and select "Network" from the drop-down.
     2. If prompted, log in with username admin and password doesitall
     3. Select the "Client Mode."
     4. Scroll down and hit the blue "Apply" button.