photosentinel X-A3 Mini 24MP Professional system User Guide

photosentinel X-A3 Mini 24MP Professional system

CONTACT US
If you run into issues not covered or resolved by this quick start guide, additional information can be found on our website, or by contacting our international support team:

• Web:  photosentinel.com/support
• Email: support@photosentinel.com 

CREATE AN INSTALLATION

Before setting up your hardware, you will need to create an installation by following the steps outlined at photosentinel.com/kb/create-installation. The installation will allow you to select a Cloud Services plan, configure your system and view your photos on an online gallery.
Note: Once the installation has been created, monthly service fees will apply. We recommend setting up your installation close to the date of installing on-site.

TEST BEFORE INSTALLING
The controller integrates with a cellular network to transfer photos and data. You may need to manually configure the equipment to work with your local network. To save time, money and stress at the installation site, we recommend
you set up and test the system before you travel to install it.

SYSTEM ALERTS
System Alerts and Notifications let you know if your system is behaving unexpectedly or has a critical issue. Alerts are enabled by default, and you will receive Notifications at the email address and/or mobile number listed in your User Details. To learn how to change Alerts and Notification preferences, or to understand more about the Alerts System, head to photosentinel.com/kb /alerts-system.

QUICKSTART FOR THE MINI

1. Log into the photoSentinel Control Hub and configure your photoSentinel for testing.

2. Insert your SIM card and check that the microSD card is already installed in the controller.

3. Switch the photoSentinel controller ON.

4. Switch the controller into Camera Bypass mode, switch on the Fujifilm X-A3 and set up the camera. Switch the camera off again at the completion of setup.

5. Switch the photoSentinel controller to Normal mode. The system will power on the camera and take a photo, and upload it over the cellular network. Allow 5-10 mins for upload. (See LED guide over page.)

6. View the photo on the web gallery to ensure it has been uploaded.

7. Repeat steps 4-6 until you’re happy with the photo that is uploading.

   • 1A

   • Log in to setup.photosentinel.com.au with your username and password.

   • If you have not yet created an installation, follow the instructions on page 3.

   • Select your installation from the dropdown menu, then navigate to the Config page.

   • For testing, set both the photo frequency and upload/connection frequency to ten minutes.

   • 4a

   • Check the camera’s onboard time and date settings are correct.

   • Adjust any other settings you wish to. The Fujifilm X-A3 comes set up for long-term time-lapse shooting, but you may have some settings you wish to change.

   • Frame your photo.

   • Take a photo and view it in playback to make sure the camera is saved to the micro SD card in the controller.

   • Switch the Fujifilm X-A3 off. It should remain off for normal photos sentinel operation.

   • 5a
     The photos sentinel controller will attempt to connect to the cellular network for the first time using a series of pre-programmed APNs. If it finds a working APN, it will connect and upload a photo. If, after trying all the pre- programmed APNs, the system still does not connect, you will need to manually program in your network’s APN. For how to set your APN, see pages 6-8.

   • 6a

   • • Go to setup.photosentinel.com.au

   • On the Galleries page, click on your photos sentinel unit to go to the photo gallery.

8. Place the provided silica gel sachet into the photos sentinel Mini housing. Double-check the window is clean.

9. Check that the photos sentinel is in Normal mode and is switched on.

10. Replace the camera unit back into the housing and tighten the four screws.

11. In Control Hub adjust the photo interval and connection settings to the desired ongoing regime for your project.

    • 7A
    • Go to setup.photosentinel.com.au
    • Select your photos to sentinel from the dropdown menu, then navigate to the Config page. The most common regime is to set the photo interval and upload/connection settings to the same frequency to ensure consistent syncing of operations.

Setup Complete

SHOOTING WITH THE MINI

• To perform a one time auto-focus on the camera, point it at the subject and push the Fn button next to the trigger button. This will auto-focus the camera once, and then leave the camera in manual focus.
• To operate in photos sentinel NORMAL mode, the camera power switch on the Fujifilm X-A3 must remain OFF.
• To change camera settings in CAMERA TEST mode, turn the Fujifilm X-A3 camera power switch to ON, adjust camera settings, and then switch the camera back off.

SET THE CELLULAR NETWORK APN
The Access Point Name (APN) allows a SIM card to connect to the internet. To find your APN, either do an online search (your SIM card provider + APN) or call your network provider’s help desk. As one provider can have multiple APNs, make sure you get the APN for your particular network plan. If it’s unclear which APN is for your service, you may have to try multiple APNs to find the right one.

There are two ways to set the APN.

SMS the APN to photos sentinel

1. Make sure the photos sentinel is OFF and insert the SIM card.
2. Using your phone, send an SMS to the photos sentinel SIM card with the following format: APN=your.APN (where your.APN is replaced by the relevant APN).
3. Turn the photos sentinel ON and check the LED indicator light sequence for successful connection (see opposite).

Export the APN via Control Hub and microSD card

1. Insert the micro SD card into your computer (using microSD-to-SD, or microSD-to-USB converter).
2. Log into setup.photosentinel.com.au, select your unit from the dropdown and then navigate to the Config page.
3. Scroll down to Advanced Settings and enter the relevant APN.
4. Click on Export Settings to File at the bottom of the page.
5. Save the downloaded file (default.xml) to the root directory of the microSD card.
6. Ensure the photoSentinel is OFF and insert the microSD card.
7. Switch the photoSentinel ON (Normal mode) and it will install the new APN. Check the LED light sequence for successful connection (see opposite).

APN SETUP

LED INDICATOR LIGHT SEQUENCE

Successful Connection

If the LED indicates a successful connection, log into setup.photosentinel.com.au and check that the photo has been uploaded.

Unsuccesful Connection

If the LED indicates an unsuccessful connection, try another APN or check the guide on the next page for other initial SIM card issues.

COMMON CONNECTION SETUP ISSUES

Below are troubleshooting tips for common issues that may occur when trying to connect your photos sentinel to the cellular network for the first time.

inserting the SIM card into a mobile phone and disabling the PIN in your settings, or ask to have it removed at purchase.
SIM card hasn’t been activated| Some SIM cards require activation before they can be used.| Contact your network provider to activate the SIM card.
Cellular network is not WCDMA| photos sentinel uses the common cellular technology WCDMA (aka UMTS/HSDPA). Some providers use a different, incompatible cellular technology.| Check that your network is WCDMA. If not, you’ll need to change your network to one that is WCDMA.
Provider needs IMEI number| The network provider may have locked the SIM card to a certain device and it needs to be unlocked.| Ask your provider to remove the IMEI lock on the SIM card. If they need the IMEI number of your photos sentinel unit, you can find it on your unit’s Status page in Control Hub.
SIM card is device-locked| Some network providers lock their SIM cards to particular devices.| Contact your network provider to get the SIM card unlocked.
SIM card requires a username and password| Very occasionally, an APN will require a username and password, particularly if the SIM card is on a corporate plan.| Find out the username and password, and contact photos sentinel headquarters to arrange for these to be added to your photos sentinel.

References

• Alerts System
• How to Create an Installation
• Knowledge Base | Your Timelapse Questions Answered | photoSentinel
• Login

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