This article will describe the primary aspects of setting up the Samsung SNP-6200RH PTZ camera. A download link to the first release version (2.6) of the device profile can be found at the bottom of this post, along with a link to the icon file.

 

The device is rather peculiar in it's behavior. It accepts the conventional HTTP authentication format:

<user name>:<password>@<ip address>/path/to/remote/resource

But it only accepts this format only for image retrieval. Any attempt to use this format to send PTZ commands will result in the camera responding with

"Error 400 - Bad Request"

 

 

The "conventional" HTTP authentication URL format is generated by RacePoint, for image retrieval, when the IP address, user name and password are entered into the dialogue box at "Tools-->Settings-->Security Camera" as seen in the following two images.

 

 

As of RP-6.0.3-ER3, the URLs generated by RacePoint for PTZ commands, are also generated from the information entered above, BUT that information can be overridden by the value entered into the "Host address" field. With other cameras, it's not uncommon to see the "conventional" HTTP authentication URL format used here, but in the case of the Samsung SNP-6200RH, this is NOT correct.

 

 

Instead, we want to override the "conventional" HTTP authentication URL format, generated by RacePoint, with just the IP address of the camera.

 

 

DON'T UPLOAD YOUR PROJECT YET!!

If you upload your project now, the camera will allow RacePoint to retrieve images, but it'll respond to PTZ commands from RacePoint with the "Error 401 - Unauthorized". That's because we're not yet able to send any authentication credentials and truthfully, we can't do that from the RacePoint configuration. At least, not for PTZ control of this, specific camera.

 

 

We CAN however, store the authentication credentials on the System Host, in the RPM users Keychain. The AVC process started by the RacePoint software, which is responsible for sending the PTZ commands to the camera, will then behave the same as any browser software, when it recieves the "Error 401" response from the camera. That is to say that the AVC process will then check the Keychain for credentials.

To make this happen we need to do two things.

1. Store the appropriate credentials on the System Host in the RPM users Keychain.
2. Allow the AVC process to access that Keychain.

 

The easiest way to store the login credentials in the Keychain, is to screen share with the host and then use Safari to load the cameras configuration UI.

REMEMBER TO TICK THE CHECKBOX!!!

 

 

Don't worry about installing the plug-in... we don't need it. Just close Safari now, but DON'T close your screen share with the host yet.

 

 

You can check that the credentials are stored in the Keychain, by opening /Applications/Utilities/Keychain.app

 

 

Now, upload your configuration to the host and wait for the iPad to load it's UI. When the system is active and fully settled, select "Environment-->Camera" on your iPad. Then select the Camera that corresponds to your Samsung SNP-6200RH.

 

 

Touch the interface to bring up the PTZ controls and then try to Pan or Tilt the camera.

 

 

This will prompt the following dialogue box to appear on the desktop of the System Host. Click "Always Allow", then retest the PTZ controls from your iPad.

 

 

Reboot the host to ensure that it retains the appropriate log in credentials.

 

 

 

NOTES:

• If you edit or delete the log in credentials from the Keychain you will need to restart RP before you'll be prompted again to allow the AVC process, access to the Keychain.

• Default Pan/Tilt values are set to 5 degree steps. These values can be changed by Inspecting the camera in your RacePoint layout. The "Initial" value is the value sent to the camera for each press of the Pan/Tilt/Zoom buttons in on the Savant UI.