Operator’s
Manual
M500

This document does not contain export-controlled information© 2020 FLIR Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No parts of this manual, in whole or in part, may becopied, photocopied, translated, or transmitted to any electronic medium or machine readable form without theprior written permission of FLIR Systems, Inc.Names and marks appearing on the products herein are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of FLIR Systems, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, trade
names, or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of theirrespective owners.
This product is protected by patents, design patents, patents pending, or design patents pending.
Photographs and images appearing in this manual may have been modified for illustrative purposes using
commercial image editing software and may not always reflect an actual product configuration.
The contents of this document are subject to change without notice.
For additional information visit https://www.flir.com/ or write to FLIR Systems, Inc.
FLIR Systems, Inc.
6769 Hollister Ave.
Goleta, CA 93117
Phone: 888.747.FLIR (888.747.3547)
International: +1.805.964.9797
maritimecamerasupport@flir.com
Proper Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)The European Union (EU) has enacted Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
2002/96/EC (WEEE), which aims to prevent EEE waste from arising; to encourage reuse,recycling, and recovery of EEE waste; and to promote environmental responsibility.
In accordance with these regulations, all EEE products labeled with the “crossed out wheeledbin” either on the product itself or in the product literature must not be disposed of in regularrubbish bins, mixed with regular household or other commercial waste, or by other regularmunicipal waste collection means. Instead, and in order to prevent possible harm to theenvironment or human health, all EEE products (including any cables that came with the product) should be
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To identify a responsible disposal method where you live, please contact your local waste collection or recycling
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Business users should contact their supplier or refer to their purchase contract.
Document History
Version
Date
Comment
100
December 2017
initial release
August
2020
110
July
2018
added cryocooler controls, additional visible camera features,and GUI language choices

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Contents
M500 Overview
General Information..............................................................................7
Additional References ....................................................................7
Documentation Conventions ..........................................................8
Warnings and Cautions ........................................................................8
System Description ..............................................................................9
Standard Features ..........................................................................9
M500 Components: ......................................................................10
Multiple Cameras, Joysticks, and Other Devices: ........................10
Thermal Video Display .......................................................................11
Video Screen Icons ......................................................................11
Position indicator icons ..........................................................12
Scene Preset icons ...............................................................12
Active Camera Icons .............................................................12
On-Screen-Display (OSD) Menu ...........................................12
M500 System Startup
System Startup and Shutdown ...........................................................13
Park Mode ..........................................................................................13
The Bootup Process ...........................................................................13
Powering the Camera...................................................................13
Powering the JCU II......................................................................14
JCU II Power Menu ............................................................................14
Standby States..............................................................................14
M500 Joystick Control Unit
Introduction.........................................................................................16
JCU II Joystick....................................................................................16
Tilting the Camera ........................................................................16
Rotating the Camera ....................................................................16
Zooming the Camera....................................................................16
JCU II Buttons ....................................................................................17
Power Button .........................................................................17
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Home Button ..........................................................................17
Scene Button—IR imaging only .............................................18
Color Button—IR Imaging only ..............................................18
Focus Buttons ........................................................................18
Camera Button ......................................................................18
User Buttons ..........................................................................18
Display Camera and JCU II IP Address .................................19
Button Summary...........................................................................19
M500 System Configuration
Overview ............................................................................................20
Main Menu..........................................................................................20
Immediate Action Menu Buttons...................................................21
Tracker: .................................................................................21
Park camera: .........................................................................21
InstAlert/Exit InstAlert mode: .................................................21
IceAlert/Exit IceAlert mode: ...................................................21
Surveillance: ..........................................................................22
Scan Width: ...........................................................................22
Scan Speed: ..........................................................................22
NMEA: ...................................................................................22
Spotlight: ................................................................................22
Image and Settings Configuration Menus ....................................23
Image... ..................................................................................23
Settings… ..............................................................................23
Help… ....................................................................................23
Image Menu .......................................................................................24
Polarity—IR camera only: ......................................................24
Stabilization: ..........................................................................24
Autofocus ...............................................................................24
Color: .....................................................................................24
VIS low light mode: ................................................................25
IR/Daylight zoom link: ............................................................25
Mirrored view: ........................................................................25
Settings Menu ....................................................................................25
Save current settings as start-up defaults: ............................25
Restore settings from defaults: ..............................................25
Advanced image... .................................................................25
User interface… .....................................................................25
Surveillance… .......................................................................26
NMEA… .................................................................................26
Calibration & diagnostics Menu ....................................................26
IR test pattern: .......................................................................26
Activate spotlight test: ............................................................26
Activate pan and tilt test: .......................................................26
Reset IR Lens: .......................................................................26

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Set Az & El zero reference: ...................................................26
Advanced Image Menu.................................................................27
IR eZoom, VIS eZoom: ..........................................................27
VIS low light mode: ................................................................27
VIS wide dynamic range: .......................................................27
VIS electronic stabilization: ....................................................27
VIS defog: ..............................................................................27
InstAlert highlight, IceAlert highlight ......................................28
IR cooler: ...............................................................................28
User Interface Menu .....................................................................28
Interface Language: ...............................................................28
Display icons: ........................................................................28
Help text: ...............................................................................29
Icon & text color: ....................................................................29
Tracking box: .........................................................................29
Pilot mode: .............................................................................29
User button 1, User button 2, User button 3: .........................29
NMEA Data.........................................................................................29
NMEA Settings .............................................................................30
Radar cursor (RSD): ..............................................................30
Next Waypoint (BWC): ..........................................................31
Radar target (TTM): ...............................................................31
Video Tracking Mode
Overview ...........................................................................................32
Joystick Operation .............................................................................34
Video Tracker Errors ..........................................................................34
Online Tracker Help............................................................................35
M500 Reference Information
Introduction.........................................................................................36
Acronyms ...........................................................................................36
List of Icons ........................................................................................37
System Specifications ........................................................................40
Troubleshooting Tips ..........................................................................41
Video not displayed on monitor .............................................41
Cleaning ................................................................................41
Video not switching between thermal and visible ..................41
Noisy image ...........................................................................41
Image too dark or too light .....................................................42
Performance varies with time of day .....................................42
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1

M500 Overview

General Information
This manual describes the operation of the M500 cameras. If you need help or have additionalquestions, please call to speak with our support experts; refer to contact information listed on theback cover of this manual.

This manual includes the following topics:•

System description•

Using the Joystick Control Unit•

System startup and shutdown•

Using Video Tracking mode•

Using the on-screen-display (OSD) menus for controlling the M500•

Helpful reference information such as acronyms, parts lists, a table of icons, and a comparisonof model features

Additional References
The M500 system comes with a complete documentation set, available on the FLIR website, that
includes this manual as well as other information. All documents are in PDF format and can beviewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader:•

M500 Installation Guide (FLIR Doc. # 432-0012-01-12) contains information about how to
install the camera, video setup configurations, password management, and other configuration
setting.

•

M500 Quick Start Guide (FLIR Doc. # 432-0012-01-11) is a double-sided card that shows thefunctions executed by the Joystick Control Unit.

Refer to the FLIR Web page for up-to-date documentation:
https://www.flir.com/

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Warnings and Cautions

Documentation Conventions
For safety, and to achieve the highest levels of performance from the M500 system, always follow
the warnings and cautions in this manual when handling and operating the M500 system.
Warning: Warning notices are used to emphasize that hazardous voltages, currents,
temperatures, or other conditions that could cause personal injury or death exist with thisequipment, or may be associated with its use.
Caution: Caution notices are used where equipment might be damaged if care is not taken or an
operation might have an unexpected outcome.
Note: Notes call attention to information that is especially significant to understanding andoperating the equipment.

Warnings and Cautions
Warning: Do not use the M500 system as the primary navigation system. Use it in conjunction
with other navigation aids and a primary manual navigation system.
Warning: Ensure power is removed before accessing power wires during installation or removal ofsystem components. Damage to equipment or injury to personnel may result.
Warning: Use of insufficient wire gauge can result in fire.
Warning: The M500 system is not designed to operate in an enclosed environment in thepresence of flammable gases. Failure to follow this warning may result in explosion or fire.
Warning: The M500 camera body is a remotely and automatically controlled device. Ensure
camera motion has been disabled before cleaning surfaces that can cause pinch hazards.
Caution: Do not open the M500 unit for any reason. Disassembly of the M500
(including removal of the cover) can cause permanent damage and will void the warranty.
Caution: Be careful not to leave fingerprints on the M500 optics.
Caution: The M500 requires a power supply of 12 Vdc to 24 Vdc nominal, 5.5 A maximum @24 Vdc, 11 A maximum @ 12 Vdc. Absolute voltage range: 12 Vdc to 32 Vdc. Operating thesystem outside of the specified input voltage range or the specified operating temperature range
can cause permanent damage.
Operating temperature range–20 °C to +55 °C (–4 °F to +131 °F) per IEC 60945

Storage temperature range–50 °C to +80 °C (–58 °F to +176 °F)

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System Description

System Description
The multi-sensor M500 is a stabilized maritime thermal and high definition (HD) visible-lightcamera system for use on most types of vessels. The mid-wave infrared (MWIR) thermal camera
with 14X optical zoom provides excellent nighttime visibility and situational awareness, without any
form of natural or artificial illumination. The HD visible-light camera with 30X optical zoom provides
daytime viewing.

LED spotlight

HD visible-light camera

Thermal camera

Joystick Control Unit
(JCU II)

Figure 1-1: M500 Pan/Tilt Camera System

Standard Features•

Cryogenically cooled thermal camera with On/Off cooler control,
14x continuous optical zoom•

HD visible-light camera,
30x continuous optical zoom•

High intensity LED spotlight•

Active gyro-stabilization•

Radar integration to follow specific radar targets (NMEA 0183 serial communications)•Dual, independent H.264 network video streams•

HD-SDI (Serial data interface)•

Analog video

The thermal camera, HD visible-light camera, and spotlight are aligned to view or illuminate atarget for quick identification providing enhanced navigational abilities in a variety of conditions.

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System Description

M500 Components:•

Main camera body, also known as the pan/tilt camera unit•

Joystick Control Unit (JCU II), compatible with the MU, MV, M400, and M500 camera systems•

Ethernet switch with power over Ethernet (PoE) to power the JCU II and network to the camera•

Analog and/or digital video monitors (customer supplied)•

Personal computer (PC) to control and configure the system (customer supplied)

The M500 camera body and JCU II are network devices. In some installations, additional M500
cameras and/or additional JCU II may also be used.
The camera body’s pan/tilt mechanism allows the operator to rotate 360° in azimuth, tilt +/– 90° inelevation. The camera body houses the two cameras, and the LED spotlight. The cyrocooler
requires approximately six minutes to cool the thermal sensor before IR video is usable.
Note: If the IR video is not required as an instant on feature, use the cooler On/Off control tolower power usage and extend the cooler lifetime. See “IR cooler:” on page 28.
The JCU II is the primary control for the camera. The JCU II is used to wake the system or put it instandby, select the active camera, operate the pan and tilt movement of the camera, zoom theactive camera, control the M500 modes and features, and configure the system settings by meansof OSD menus.
The JCU II has buttons, an LCD display, and the joystick. The joystick can be moved left and rightor forward and back, and rotated in either direction. “M500 Joystick Control Unit” on page 16
describes the functions of the JCU II in detail.
The M500 uses on-screen icons to indicate the camera position (azimuth and elevation) andvarious system settings that have been enabled. These symbols are introduced in “Thermal Video
Display” on page 11 and are further explained throughout this manual in the discussion of related
functions.

Multiple Cameras, Joysticks, and Other Devices:
More than one JCU II can be used to control the camera, and more than one display can be used
to view the video. A personal computer (PC) on the same network as the camera, can use a web
browser to view video, control, and configure the system. The camera’s web server uses password
protected accounts to control access to camera functions. Using a PC is described in the M500
Installation Guide.
Also, a single JCU II can be used to select and control more than one camera. In this case, amenu on the JCU II lists available cameras. In the LCD display of the JCU II, the name of thecurrently selected camera is displayed. When more than one JCU II is installed in the network, acamera will respond to commands from any JCU II that has the camera selected.
Typically, a JCU II and a video monitor are mounted in close physical proximity, as a pair, so you
can immediately see the changes on the video screen when you use the JCU II to change thecamera position (pan or tilt).
Contact FLIR Systems, Inc. for more information regarding available accessories including PoE
equipment, video distribution amplifiers, cables, connectors, mounting hardware, etc. Contact
information is listed on the back of this manual.

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Thermal Video Display

Thermal Video Display
The infrared (IR) imaging thermal camera relies on the fact that all objects, even very cold objects
like ice, emit thermal energy in the portion of the infrared spectrum that the camera can see.
Therefore, unlike an illuminated infrared camera, the thermal imaging camera does not need an
additional active illumination source and images are based on directly radiated energy rather thanreflected energy.
When the thermal camera is in white-hot mode, the warm objects in the scene are shown as white,or lighter shades of gray, and cold objects are shown as black or darker shades of gray. When thevideo polarity is switched, this is reversed.
This is why hot objects such as parts on a running outboard motor appear white (or black or red
depending on the video image mode selected), while the water or other cold objects appear dark(or cool). Scenes with familiar objects will be easy to interpret with some experience. The camera
automatically optimizes the image to provide the best contrast in most conditions.

Video Screen Icons
Depending on the system settings, various symbols are shown on the screen. Some of these icons
are always shown on the screen, and some appear momentarily or only when certain functions areenabled or executed. The icons can be shown as white or red. See “Display icons:” on page 28 fora description of menu options and the displayed icons.
The following figures illustrate some of the icons displayed by the system, as well as an exampleof the OSD menu that is shown when the Menu button is pressed. Using the menus is described in“M500 System Configuration” on page 20.
A complete list of all of the icons used in the system and a brief description of how they are used
can be found in “List of Icons” on page 37.

Scene Preset

Position indicators

Active Camera

Figure 1-2: On-screen Icons

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Thermal Video Display

Position indicator icons
The azimuth position indicator shows the direction the camera ispointing relative to the vessel. The shaded triangle shows theapproximate camera field of view (FOV).
The elevation position indicator shows the vertical tilt of thecamera above or below the horizontal plane of the vessel.

AzimuthElevation

Scene Preset icons
The Scene button on the JCU II cycles through four preset
automatic gain control (AGC) settings, which change the image
brightness and contrast settings. Regardless of the scene setting,the thermal camera automatically adjusts to the scene to provide abalanced, high-quality image. However, you may prefer an image
that has more or less contrast than the default one provided, andthe Scene button provides that type of fine adjustment.

Night

HarborDay

Contrast

Active Camera Icons
At any given time, either the thermal camera (IR) or the HD
visible-light camera is designated as the Active camera. The Active
camera responds to commands such as zoom or focus that could
apply to either camera. Pressing the CAMERA button on the
JCU II toggles the active camera between the thermal camera andthe HD visible-light camera.

ThermalVisibleOn-Screen-Display (OSD) Menu
The OSD menu appears when the Menu button on the JCU II is pressed. Menu entries are
selected using the joystick and the joystick buttons. Pressing the Menu button again removes themenu from the screen.

Figure 1-3: OSD Menu

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2

M500 System Startup

System Startup and Shutdown
The M500 camera does not have an on/off switch. Instead, its power state is controlled by theJCU II. Generally, the camera is never completely off but in a Park mode or standby state waiting
for a “wake” command from the JCU II.
The M500 system is connected to power through a circuit breaker, which functions as the primary
on/off switch for the system. To completely shut down the system, first park the camera and thenturn off the circuit breaker. In normal operation, the camera will have power and will be in one offour states:•

Bootup, or powering on•

Powered on and fully functional•

Park mode, powered on with video turned off•

Standby, a low-power state waiting for a wake command

Park Mode
When the system is in Park mode, the camera does not generate a live video signal. After thebootup is complete or when done using the system, Park the camera from the OSD menu to keep
the system ready to use at a moments notice.

The Bootup Process
The bootup process is slightly different depending on whether the system has been completely
turned off or is being wakened from a standby state. Most of what happens, however, is the same.

Powering the Camera
During bootup, a series of screens are shown as various
components are activated. How the screen looks will varydepending on the particular configuration settings of yourinstallation. In general, the following sequence occurs:
1. If starting from a full shutdown, make sure the monitor isturned on, then power on the system.
2. The FLIR splash screen is shown, then live video from thevisible camera is shown with boot progress indications.
3. When the bootup is complete (about 6 minutes), themonitor shows the welcome message, and icons and the OSD menus are enabled.
Important: Do not turn on the JCU II until the message “Welcome System is ready for use” isshown. Fully establishing a connection may take up to four minutes. Please be patient while thesystem verifies each component.

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JCU II Power Menu

Powering the JCU II
When the JCU II is receiving power, the Power button will
be lit amber. When the button is pressed forapproximately three seconds, the JCU II will turn on andsearch for cameras on the network.

Power

On the LCD screen, Starting, then Searching… isshown. When a camera is found, the message changes
to Connecting…, which continues to flash until theprocess completes and is replaced by the camera ID,
such as M500. When more than one camera is found on
the network, the JCU II attempts to reconnect to the last
camera it was connected to, or if it has not connected to acamera, it will prompt the user to select a camera.

Scroll up
or down

LCD
screenSelectcameraJCU II Power Menu
The JCU II LCD screen generally shows the ID of the camera that is connected to the JCU II. The
various functions are accessed from a set of menus, with each menu entry selectable in the JCU II
display. When powered on and connected to a camera, pressing and holding the Power button
causes the JCU II to enter the Power Menu.
Use the JCU II joystick to scroll up and down (push fore
and aft), and select an entry by clicking the left joystick
button. (JCU II with newer software may use either theleft or right joystick button to select items in the power
menu.)In the JCU II display, a down arrow (v) indicates you
can access additional menu choices by moving thejoystick down. An up arrow (^) indicates the last menu
entry is displayed, and the other choices must beaccessed by moving the joystick up. A double arrow
indicates you can move up or down in the menu.
Depending on the configuration of the camera network,
multiple cameras, or multiple JCU II, the Power Menu
can show the following menu options:
Assign JCU?
JCU Stndby?
Camera Stndby?
System Stndby?
Global Stndby?
Calibrate JCU?
CancelStandby States
When finished with the camera, Park the camera from the OSD menu to keep the system ready touse at a moments notice on a command from the JCU II. When in Park mode, the system does not
generate a live video signal.
To initiate other standby modes, press and hold the Power button. After a brief countdown, thePower Menu is shown. Scroll down with the joystick and press the left joystick button to select an

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JCU II Power Menu

option from the menu. The menu options available will reflect the available hardware on thecamera network.
•

JCU Stndby?—select to power down the JCU II.

•

Camera Stndby?—select to power down the camera, leaving the JCU II powered
to connect to a different camera.

•

System Stndby?—select to power down the camera and the JCU II.

•

Global Stndby?—select to power down all the cameras and all the JCU II present on the
network.

Troubleshooting Tip: If the JCU II does not have power, it may be connected to a Power over
Ethernet (PoE) switch that has not been powered on, or it may be connected to a network switchthat does not provide PoE power.
Troubleshooting Tip: If this is the first time the JCU II has been used to connect to the camera, orif the camera was not powered before the JCU II, v Select Camera is shown on the LCD
screen. Scroll down with the joystick to select a camera to control. When the ID of the camera
appears, press the left joystick button to select it. The camera ID will blink momentarily to indicate
it has been selected.

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3

M500 Joystick Control Unit

Introduction
The Joystick Control Unit (JCU II) is the primary method ofcontrolling the M500 camera. Use it to move the camera, zoom thecamera, switch between infrared and visible-light cameras, adjust
image settings, and access the on-screen menus.
This chapter describes how to use the JCU II buttons to operate thecamera features. Some of these features vary depending on thespecific way the system has been configured. Table 3.1 on page 19
summarizes the actions of each button.
Refer to the various configuration settings and how they affectoperation in Chapter 4, "M500 System Configuration," on page 20.

JCU II Joystick
The JCU II joystick can be moved left or right, forward andback, and twisted in either direction. The joystick movement
is translated to control the pan/tilt position of the camera andthe zoom setting of the camera.
The right and left joystick buttons on the top of the joystick
are used to select and navigate when in the on-screendisplay menus and the JCU Power Menu.
Video Tracking—Use the right joystick button to enable andengage video tracking with the M500 system. Use the left
joystick button to stop tracking.

Back

Enable/Engage
Video Tracking

Tilting the Camera
The camera has two tilt modes: Gaming and Pilot. When in Gaming mode (the default), moving
the joystick forward tilts the camera up; moving the joystick back tilts the camera down.
When in Pilot mode, moving the joystick forward causes the camera to tilt down; moving thejoystick back causes the camera to tilt up.
See “User Interface Menu” on page 28 for details about this settings.

Rotating the Camera
Use the joystick to rotate the camera to the left and right. Push the joystick to the right and thecamera will pivot to the right. Push the joystick to the left and the camera will pivot left.

Zooming the Camera
Twisting the joystick causes the camera to zoom in (clockwise) or zoom out (counterclockwise).

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JCU II Buttons

JCU II Buttons
All of the buttons on the JCU II perform multiple functions. In most cases, each performs one
function when it is pressed briefly (short press) and a different function when it is pressed and held(long press). The descriptions of the buttons in this section assume that the JCU II is powered on(not in standby) and connected to an M500 camera system.
Power Button

Power button

Short Press—When the JCU II is powered on, a shortpress of the Power button cycles through the four levels ofbrightness (including off) for the JCU II display. The JCU II
controls are back lit to make them easier to see at night.
Use this button to adjust the brightness of the back lighting.
Long Press—When the JCU II is in standby, pressing andholding the Power button is used to “wake up” the camera.
When the JCU II is powered on, it is used to access theJCU II Power Menu to perform functions such as selecting
another camera or placing the system in standby. Refer to“JCU II Power Menu” on page 14.

Standby

Powered on

Menu Button

Press the Menu button to access the system on-screen-display (OSD) menus. In most cases,
there is no need to modify the factory default configuration settings of the system. Refer to “M500
System Configuration” on page 20.
When the OSD menu is shown, use the joystick up, down, left, and right tonavigate through the menu entries. The buttons on top of the joystick areused as select and back buttons.
•

Joystick Up – move up in a vertical menu•

Joystick Down – move down in a vertical menu•

Joystick Right/Left – move to the next menu or menu choice•

Menu – Exit Menu•

Right joystick button – select a menu or menu choice•

Left joystick button – back to the last menu or exit OSD menu

Back

SelectHome Button
Short Press—A short press of the Home button moves the camera to its
home position. The home position is a programmable preset position that
operators can use as a reference. When the Home button is pressed, the icon
is shown briefly on the video monitor.
Long Press—Pressing and holding the Home button sets the home position. First use the joystick
to point the camera’s line of sight to the a new home position. Press and hold the Home button
until the home symbol flashes on the video monitor; the new home position is set.

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JCU II Buttons

Scene Button—IR imaging only
The M500 thermal sensor automatically adjusts to changing
conditions providing optimized high-contrast images. The preset
automatic gain control (AGC) settings offer the most balance
and image quality for specific conditions. Experiment with thedifferent settings to find out which settings work best in different
conditions. The Scene button only effects the IR camera.
Short Press—A short press of the Scene button cycles throughthe four preset AGC settings, which change the image gain and level settings. The icon for eachscene preset is shown on the video monitor display.
Night

HarborDay

Contrast

Color Button—IR Imaging only
Short Press—Pressing the Color button cycles through the preset color palettes of the active IR
camera. See “Color:” on page 24 for these additional options.
Long Press—Press and hold the Color button to invert the thermal camera video polarity (forexample, changing from black-hot to white-hot).
Focus Buttons
The M500 thermal camera can be focused either
manually or automatically. The visible-light camera
is always focused automatically.
The manual focus buttons are effective only whenthe IR camera is the Active Camera.
the – button will move the focus nearer
the + button will move the focus farther away
During the manual focus operation, the OSD focus
bar will change accordingly.

Manual focus
buttons

Camera Button
Switch the Active Camera shown on the main video output. The buttons on the JCU II are effective
only on the Active Camera, except as noted.
User Buttons
The User buttons are programmable one-touch buttons toaccess the most often used functions. Configure the short-press
action of this button from the User Programmable Button menu
entry (see page 29).
Short Press—

User 1 – Auto Focus
User 2 – Stabilization on/off
User 3 – SpotlightLong Press—Press and hold a user button to open the OSD menu to reprogram a function.

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JCU II Buttons

Display Camera and JCU II IP Address
Press the Color button while pushing the joystick forward; the IP address of the JCU II and thenthe camera will display on the JCU II screen.

Button Summary
Table 3.1 summarizes the action of each button on the JCU II.
TABLE 3.1 Summary of Button Actions

ButtonActionColor Short

Cycle through the thermal palettes of the IR thermal imaging sensor.

Power Short

Change JCU II back light illumination level

Power Long

Display JCU II Power Menu

Home Short

Return to home position

Home Long

Set home to current position

Menu Short

Display or exit menus

Scene Short

Cycle through four preset scene settings

User 1

Auto Focus (can be reprogrammed)

User 2

Horizontal and Vertical Stabilization on/off (can be reprogrammed)

User 3

Spotlight on/off (can be reprogrammed)

Color + Joystick Forward

Display JCU II and camera system IP address

Right Joystick Button

When in OSD, select a menu or menu choice
Enable video tracking, then again to select a target

Left Joystick Button

When in OSD, back to the last menu or exit OSD menu
Stop tracking a target or disable video tracking

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4

M500 System Configuration

Overview
This chapter describes how to configure the system options using on-screen-display (OSD)
menus. Operating the M500 camera does not require modifying any of the factory configuration
settings. However, the OSD menus allow setting the following:•

Choose configuration options that match personal preferences such as Joystick Mode or
default color scheme. Save the default configuration that will be active after a power cycle.

•

Enable or disable specialized modes such as Tracker, InstAlert, IceAlert, NMEA messaging, or
operating the camera in Surveillance mode.

After making updates, most changes persist. However, a few settings revert to the factory default
when the system is rebooted. Refer to “Save current settings as start-up defaults:” on page 25.
Not all options can be used at the same time. The way the various options interact is also
described in the following sections.

Main Menu
Use the Menu button to turn the OSD menu on or off. When the OSD menu is shown, the joystickis used to navigate through the menus and select various menu entries.
Active menu item—Press right joystick button to selectAdditional
menu items

End of menu symbol
Menu will loop to
the other end

Figure 4-1: OSD Main Menu

Use the joystick to navigate through the menus and select options.
Press the Menu button to exit the menus.
Note: During navigation in the OSD menu, camera zoom isdisabled, but manual focus/Auto focus is still enabled.

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Immediate Action Menu Buttons
Some features are directly accessible from the main menu. Selecting one of the menu buttons
below invokes the action immediately and closes the OSD menu.

Tracker: When the Tracker is enabled pressing the Menu button will open the Tracker
contextual menu. You can set the Tracking box to show or not show when the Tracker is engaged(actively tracking a target).

Park camera: the camera drives to its predefined Park position remaining fully active (noStand-by) except that the video is turned off. To exit Park and return to normal operation,command a move with the joystick or press the Home button. The camera will return to Home
position. The Park position can be reconfigured by an admin user through the web browser
interface. See the M500 Installation Guide.
InstAlert/Exit InstAlert mode: When the camera is placed in InstAlert mode, a special
search palette is invoked so that a set percentage of the hottest temperatures in the image arehighlighted in Red-Orange shades, while colder temperatures are all in shades of gray. Especially
useful for locating people or running boats in the dark. After invoking the mode, pressing the Menu
button will show the InstAlert settings menu. The Highlight setting controls the percentage of thehottest temperatures to display in Red-Orange.

IceAlert/Exit IceAlert mode: Conversely to InstAlert mode, when the camera is placed in
IceAlert mode, a special search palette is invoked so that a set percentage of the coldest
temperatures in the image are highlighted in Blue-Green shades, while warmer temperatures are
all in shades of gray. Especially useful for locating ice in the dark. After invoking the mode,pressing the Menu button will show the IceAlert settings menu. The Highlight setting controls thepercentage of the coldest temperatures to display in Blue-Green.

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Surveillance: When the camera is in surveillance mode, it pans continuously left and right,
until it is taken out of surveillance mode or until the JCU II is used to move the camera. The
camera does not automatically resume panning; enable surveillance again by pressing a
programmed User button or selecting it again in the main menu.
When Surveillance is selected from the Settings menu or the Menu button on the JCU II is pressed
when in Surveillance mode, the following OSD menu is shown.

Scan Width: In surveillance mode, the Scan Width determines the range of horizontal azimuth(pan) covered by each scan. The choices are:
Small: The camera scans from approximately 20o left and right of center(40o total).
Medium: The camera scans from approximately 40o left and right of center(80o total).
Large: The camera scan covers 80o to the left and right of center(160o total). The default scan width is wide.
Note: The center of the scan pattern is determined by the direction the camera is pointing whensurveillance is enabled. The scan pattern is not centered about the home position, unless thecamera is in the home position when surveillance is enabled.
Scan Speed: In surveillance mode, the scan speed determines how quickly the camera scansback and forth. The choices are fast, medium, and slow. The scan speed is affected by the zoom
state (scans at a slower rate when zoomed in).
NMEA: Select this option to enable or disable the processing of messages using the NMEA
interface. The factory default setting is disabled. All messages are ignored when NMEA Mode isdisabled even if the specific message types are enabled. See “NMEA Settings” on page 30.
Spotlight: Select this option and then select one of the active spotlight modes (On, Flash,
SOS). The Spotlight turns on in the selected mode. A user programmable button (UPB) can be
programmed as Spotlight on/off or as Signal Light to control the light. When set to Signal Light, the
UPB will turn on the Spotlight when pressed and turn off the Spotlight when released.

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Main Menu

Image and Settings Configuration Menus
The final three main menu buttons provide choices for system settings and information.

End of menu symbol
Menu will loop to
the other end

Image... See “Image Menu” on page 24.
Settings… See “Settings Menu” on page 25.
Help… Refer to the help menus for camera operation andconfiguration information.
User guide...
About…
User guide...

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Image Menu
When Image is selected from the main menu, the following OSD menu items are shown.

Polarity—IR camera only: Inverts the colors representing hot and coldin the infrared imagery. When using the IR camera the color palettes
described below are available. Inverting the polarity reverses the color mapof the thermal image.
Color Palette

Polarity

Inverted

GrayscaleWhite-HotBlack-Hot

Redscale

Red-Hot

Red-Cold

FusionFusionFusion-Invert

Stabilization: Off, Vertical, Horiz & vertical
Select this option to enable or disable the two-axis mechanical gyrostabilization. Gyro Stabilization is automatically turned off when the camera
in Park mode or in standby, but the system restores the setting when thecamera is returned to service.
Autofocus
This button causes the DLTV camera to toggle the autofocus mode. Clicking
the button a second time reinstates the autofocus mode and causes an
autofocus operation. This button causes the IR camera with a zoom lens toperform an autofocus operation.
Color: Grayscale, Redscale, Fusion
Cycle through the available color palettes. Inverting the polarity reverses thecolor map of the thermal image.
Color Palette

Polarity

Inverted

GrayscaleWhite-HotBlack-Hot

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Settings Menu

Color Palette

Polarity

Inverted

Redscale

Red-Hot

Red-Cold

FusionFusionFusion-Invert

VIS low light mode: On/Off
Select this option to turn On/Off VIS low light mode. This function
works in conjunction with the setting of the Advanced image low
light mode (refer to “Advanced Image Menu” on page 27). If theadvanced setting is Auto, this button will only change the state of
the low light mode for about 5 seconds.
IR/Daylight zoom link: On/Off
When the zoom link is off, the active camera zoom setting will notaffect the zoom setting of the secondary camera.
Mirrored view: On/Off
Select this option to revert the video image which makes the scene
appear as if viewed in a mirror.

Settings Menu
When Setup is selected from the main menu, the following OSD menu is shown.

Save current settings as start-up defaults: Select this option to store the current camera
settings described below for start-up or anytime Restore settings from defaults is selected.
Restore settings from defaults: Revert to the stored values of the following settings.
Active Camera

Scene

Color

Home position

Polarity

Stabilization

Icon display

Help text

Mirrored View

Joystick mode

UPB assignments

NMEA auto movement settings

InstAlert settings

IceAlert settings

Advanced image... See “Advanced Image Menu” on page 27.
User interface… See “User Interface Menu” on page 28.

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Settings Menu

Surveillance… See “Surveillance:” on page 22.
NMEA… See “NMEA Settings” on page 30.

Calibration & diagnostics Menu

IR test pattern: (On/Off)
Activate spotlight test: Click to run.
Activate pan and tilt test: Click to run.
Reset IR Lens: Click to run.
Set Az & El zero reference: Icons on the video show the direction the camera is facing in
relation to an outline of a ship. The M500 camera has a “forward” direction adjustment which has
been set at the factory. After the camera is installed, both the azimuth and elevation should be set
to account for variations required during installation so that the icons on the video show the
expected angular position of the camera. The azimuth direction should be directly toward the frontof the vessel; the elevation may be set to the horizon or another user preferred reference.
1. Using the JCU II, point the camera directly ahead and choose an elevation reference point.
For example, place the horizon in the center of the video.
2. Press the Menu button to turn the OSD menu on.
3. Navigate to Set-up Menu, Calibration &diagnostics…, then select Set Az & El zeroreference.
4. Select Set origin to set the azimuth and elevation
offsets.
5. Verify that the icons on the video correspond to thedirection the camera is pointing.

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Settings Menu

Advanced Image Menu

IR eZoom, VIS eZoom: (On/Off)The IR camera will extend past the 14x optical zoom with an additional
8x eZoom (to 112x). After the lens reaches the maximum optical zoom,
the zoom scale shown on the display changes as shown at the right.
The scale will change back to 14x when the eZoom is decreased tozero.
The visible camera will extend past the 30x optical zoom with anadditional 12x eZoom (to 360x). The VIS eZoom and scale when thevisible camera is selected works in a similar manner as the IR camera.

eZoom

Opticalzoom

VIS low light mode: (Auto/Manual)
When set to manual, use the VIS low light mode button on the Main menu to turn low light mode
On/Off. When set to Auto, this setting will override the Main menu button within about five seconds(refer to “VIS low light mode:” on page 25).
VIS wide dynamic range: (On/Off)When set to On, image processing provides clearer, more detailed images in high-contrast or
backlit environments by enhancing shadows and blown-out highlights in accordance with theintensity difference.
VIS electronic stabilization: (On/Off)When set to On, image processing compensates for camera vibration by slightly decreasing theimage near the edges of the frame allowing a centered image to appear more stable.
VIS defog: (On/Off)When set to On, a foggy or low contrast scene will appear clearer.

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Settings Menu

InstAlert highlight, IceAlert highlight (0 – 100)
The highlight settings control the range of temperatures to show colored. The hottest range oftemperatures will be shown in red when in InstAlert mode (InstAlert highlight) and the coldest
range of temperatures will be shown in blue when in IceAlert mode (IceAlert highlight). All othertemperatures are shown in grayscale.
To change a numeric setting, using IceAlert for example:
1. Select IceAlert highlight with the right joystick
button.
2. Twist or move the joystick left or right to change
the value.
3. Set the value by clicking the right joystick button.
Navigating away from the menu item before
setting the value will reset it to the previous setting.
IR cooler: (On/Off)The IR cooler requires approximately six minutes to cool the thermal sensor before IR video isusable. If the IR video is not required as an instant on feature and if the IR camera is not going to
be used for an extended period of time (4 - 6 hours), the cooler should be turned off to lower powerusage and extend the cooler lifetime.

User Interface Menu

Interface Language: (English/Español/Türkҫe) Set the language used in the OSD menu,
display icons, and help text.
Display icons: Minimal, Custom, Full
Selecting Minimal turns off most of the on-screen icons except when their corresponding controls
are actively in use. The pan position (azimuth) icon, tilt (elevation) position icon, and the FLIR logo
are always displayed. Other icons such as home and scene display on the screen only
momentarily when they are changed. Selecting Full maximizes the display of the on-screen icons.
Some icons such as home are only displayed momentarily. Refer to M500 Installation Guide for
configuring which icons are selected in each setting.

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NMEA Data

Help text: (On/Off) Help text can be displayed to provide contextual information to the user.
Unlike feedback or notification text which is always shown, the help text is controlled by thissetting.
Icon & text color: (Red/White) Icons and text can be displayed either in white or in red.
Tracking box: (Show /Hide) Select whether to display the tracking box when video tracking is
engaged.
Pilot mode: (On/Off) In managing the elevation (tilt) of the camera, the joystick can be used in
one of two modes.
Pilot mode Off: Moving the joystick forward causes the camera to tilt up. Moving the joystickback causes the camera to tilt down. This is the factory default mode.
Pilot mode On: Moving the joystick forward causes the camera to tilt down. Moving the joystickback causes the camera to tilt up.
User button 1, User button 2, User button 3: The User
buttons are programmable one-touch buttons on the JCU II toquickly access common settings or functions. Use this menu toselect a function to associate with each User button from thefollowing choices: Stabilization (vertical only, vertical andhorizontal), Surveillance, Icon Levels, Spotlight, Polarity,
InstAlert on/off, IceAlert on/off, Mirrored view on/off, Signal
Light, or Autofocus.

NMEA Data
This section describes how to configure and use the set of NMEA interface functions supported by
the M500. The NMEA interface allows the M500 to communicate with radar, GPS, or other devices
using the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 0183 protocol. NMEA 0183 (or NMEA
for short) is a combined electrical and data specification for communication between marine
electronic devices.
Additional information regarding the protocol can be found on the NMEA Web site:
http://www.nmea.org/content/nmea_standards/nmea_standards.asp.
When NMEA is being used, the M500 acts as a listener and receives messages from the main
control unit that is monitoring various sending devices in the system, such as radar, GPS, or
independent input ports. The M500 connects to the other equipment through the M500 Connection
box.

The NMEA protocol allows the camera to automatically point toward vessels and otherobjects that show up on the display and to track their movement. The M500 can receive
three types of NMEA messages.
•

Radar Cursor Tracking, which is implemented using the NMEA Radar System Data (RSD)
sentence format•

Slew to Waypoint, which uses the NMEA Bearing and Distance to Waypoint, Great Circle(BWC) sentence format•

Radar Tracking, which uses the NMEA Tracked Target Message (TTM) sentence format

Even though you can only choose three types of messages to enable through the NMEA interface,
the M500 uses additional messages to perform the calculations needed to respond to these three.

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NMEA Data

If your system is not responding as expected, verify that the NMEA device sending messages issending the following additional message types:•

HDT Heading, True•GGA Global Positioning System Fix Data•

VHW Water Speed and Heading•

OSD Own Ship Data•

TLL Target Latitude and Longitude

Any combination or all three messages can be enabled; when more than one type is enabled, thesystem processes RSD first, then BWC, and finally TTM. For example, if the unit is listening to
BWC or TTM messages and looking at a particular target and it receives an RSD message, it waits
until the end of the dwell time and then move on to the RSD message, ignoring all other input.
Note: Using the joystick to pan or tilt the camera always takes priority over processing of an
NMEA message.
Each message type has a unique icon associated with it. Depending on the Icon Display Mode,these icons either always display or display momentarily when a message is received. In bothcases, they flash on and off when the message is received.
Additional settings such as target dwell time affect how the messages are processed. Dwell time
determines how long the camera remains on a particular target. The ability of the M500 toaccurately track a target depends on the quality of the data sent from the radar unit.
The ability of the radar to effectively track a target is influenced by several factors, such as themake and model of the radar unit, the radar update rate, the relative angular rate of the target, theangular rate of the boat heading and the velocity of the target being tracked.
Note: It is important to enter the accurate offset location of the camera above the water line toensure the unit’s pointing accuracy for close-in targets. Refer to the M500 Installation Guide.
While you can choose to track a large number of targets, in practical terms the number of targets islinked to the dwell time. Since the camera looks at each target for a minimum of 10 seconds before
moving on to the next target, when the number of targets become too large, the system will take
too long to cycle through them all for the information to be of any real use.

NMEA Settings
Configure how the NMEA interface works with settings on the NMEA Menu. Select NMEA from
Menu/Settings or when in NMEA mode, select Menu to see the following OSD menu.

Radar cursor (RSD): When this option is enabled, you can control the camera
by using the cursor on the radar display screen to highlight a target. The camera will
track (point toward) whatever target is selected by the cursor. Moving the cursor to adifferent target will move the camera to the new target (see note below). The camera

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NMEA Data

will continue to follow the cursor until this option is disabled from the main menu. This function is
implemented with NMEA RSD messages.
When the camera is in this mode, an icon is either briefly or continuously displayed, depending on
the setting of Icon Display Mode.
Note: The camera points toward the cursor position for the dwell time period (a minimum of 10
seconds). If the cursor is moved during that time, the camera will not move immediately to the newposition. It will ignore all other RSD messages (produced when the cursor is moved to anotherposition) until the dwell time expires. Then it will respond to the next RSD message received.
Next Waypoint (BWC): When this option is enabled, the camera will move to apreselected waypoint when that waypoint gets to within approximately 3 mile (5 km),based on waypoint location information from the NMEA BWC messages. When thecamera is in this mode, an icon is either briefly or continuously displayed, dependingon the setting of Icon Display Mode.
For example, while en route the operator could designate a buoy, an island or any other landmark
as a navigation waypoint and the camera will point toward it automatically when in range. The
camera will remain on the target for the specified dwell time. If an additional BWC message is
received, the camera will point to the newer BWC heading for an additional dwell time period.
Radar target (TTM): When this option is enabled, the camera tracks selected
radar targets using data from NMEA Target Tracking Messages (TTM) provided by
the radar unit. When the camera is in this mode, an icon is either briefly or
continuously displayed, depending on the settings of Icon Display Mode.
While it is possible to select up to 100 targets to be tracked by M500 (refer to the radar or GPS
documentation on how to designate a target), typically the operator selects five or less. Oncetargets are selected, the camera will point toward each sequentially, and track it using position
data sent from the radar unit.
The camera points at each target for a preset amount of dwell time (10 seconds by default) before
moving on to the next target. The dwell time is determined by the setting of Radar Target Dwell.
Due to the way radar operates, it is possible to lose a target momentarily. To ensure that the
tracking process continues after the momentary loss of a target, the TTM function maintains thelast known position of the target in its queue for 60 seconds after receiving the last valid message.
After the 60 seconds has lapsed, that target is removed from the queue.

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5Video Tracking Mode

Overview
To enable Video Tracking mode press the right joystick button; a tracking box is shown on thevideo. Manually center the target in the tracking box by pointing the camera using the joystick.
Press the right joystick button again to engage the target and begin tracking. When a target isselected, the tracking box is no longer shown and the Tracking icon is shown on the display.
To show the tracking box after engaging a target, select show tracking box (refer to “Tracker:” onpage 21). The tracking box can be resized (hold the right joystick button and twist the joystick).
Acquisition is easiest when the target has clear contrasts, rigid edges, and a predictable rate of
motion. For example, it is easier for the system to track a boat in the open ocean than when the
shoreline is in the background because the boat has a clearer contrast.
The tracker uses a gray scale frame from either the IR or the visible camera. The visible camera
color frame is converted to a gray scale frame for the tracker. Because of this conversion, what isseen on the visible camera as very distinct, may sometimes appear less so to the tracker.
Once a target is being tracked by one of the cameras, that camera will continue to provide video tothe tracker even if the active camera is changed. In other words, a target can be tracked using the
IR camera while the visible camera video is being shown. If the target is lost (acquisition gate
reappears), manually reacquiring the target will begin tracking using the current active camera.
Consider the following in order to maintain an active tracking session:•

Very fast turns by the target that change the aspect ratio of the target may cause confusion•

Very fast turns by the tracking vessel or heavy swells may challenge the ability of thecamera to keep the target in view. Stabilization modes are recommended.

Acquisition state—Use the joystick to move the camera. Zoom in to more clearly focus on thetarget and initiate tracking by pressing the right joystick button.

Acquisition
gate

Joystick Buttons: Left - Exit Video Tracking mode
Right - Acquire target, engage tracking

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Overview

Tracking state—When the target is acquired, the acquisition gate disappears and the tracking
icon is shown. To show the tracking box after engaging a target, select show tracking box (refer to“Tracker:” on page 21).

Tracking
icon

Joystick Buttons: Left - Cancel tracking

Figure 5-2: Video Tracking Mode—Tracking state

Seeking state—In the seeking state, orange cross-hairs will be shown within the acquisition gate
and flash at 2 Hz, while trying to acquire the target. After the seek period times out, the system will
return to the acquisition state and you will need to reacquire the target manually.

Acquisition gate andTracking cross-hairs

Joystick Buttons: Left - Cancel tracking to reacquire target
Right - Reacquire target

Figure 5-3: Video Tracking Mode—Seeking state

While a target is being tracked the system may lose and reacquire the target automatically. For
example, if the target you are tracking is a small boat that is temporarily obscured by a large wave,
the tracker will seek to predict where the target will be next based on its previous rate of change,
and attempt to reacquire it.

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Joystick Operation

Joystick Operation
When the Video Tracking mode is enabled bypressing the right joystick button, the behaviorof the joystick changes so that tracker-specificfeatures can be controlled.
When acquiring a target, use the JCU II to:•

Point the camera at the area containing a
possible target(normal pan and tilt joystick operation).

•

Begin tracking a target(press right joystick button again).

•

Resize the acquisition gate
(hold right joystick button and twist to
resize gate).

Once you engage tracking, use the JCU II to:•

Resize the tracking gate
(hold right joystick button andtwist to resize gate).

Exit Video
Tracking•

Disengage Video Tracking(press left joystick button).

•Re-acquire a target or acquire a new target(press right joystick button).

SelecttargetVideo Tracker Errors
If the red cross hairs are seen it means one of
two things:
Communications error with the imx6•

In the case of a Comms error, Nexus will
reset the imx6 which may take 1-2 minutes, itwill do this 5 times before giving up•

If the Tracker reconnects in any of the 5 times
all operations will return to normal•

During the error period attempting to enter
Track mode will show the box with red crosshairs

Tracker reports a problem capturing frames from one of the cameras•

Tracking on the other camera should behave as normal•

Attempting to Track on the camera that has an error will give the red box

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Online Tracker Help

Online Tracker Help
Refer to the Tracker tab on the OSD Help / User guide page
(shown) for instructions on using the video Tracking mode.
•

The Tracking mode is enabled by selecting the rightjoystick button.

•

Acquire a target using the joystick to pan and tilt.

•

Starting tracking by selecting the right joystick button again.

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6

M500 Reference Information

Introduction
This chapter includes a glossary of acronyms, a list of symbols used in on-screen-display (OSD),
and a number of lists and tables that summarize system information and show how features varyby camera model.
It also includes a set of tips for troubleshooting issues.

Acronyms
Table 6.1 lists each acronym that is used in this manual and its meaning.
TABLE 6.1 Acronyms

Acronym/TermDefinition

AGC

Automatic Gain Control

ANSI

American National Standards InstituteAPI

Application Programming Interface

B/WBlack and WhiteDLTV

Daylight TV, used to reference visible-band cameras

EAR

Export Administration Regulations

EMI

Electromagnetic Interference

FFC

Flat Field Correction

FLIR

Forward Looking Infrared

FoV

Field of View

FPS

Frames per Second (refresh rate)

HFoV

Horizontal Field of View

ICD

Interface Control Document

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IP

Internet Protocol

IR

Infrared or thermal

JCU

Joystick Control Unit

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display

LSZH

Low Smoke Zero Halogen

MFD

Multifunction display

MWIR

Mid-wave infrared

NMEA

National Marine Electronics Association

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List of Icons

TABLE 6.1 Acronyms

Acronym/TermDefinition

NTSC

National Television System Committee

OSD

on-screen-display

P/T

Pan/Tilt

PAL

Phase Alternating Line

PoE

Power over Ethernet

SCTE

Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers

SDK

Software Developer’s Kit

UPnP

Universal Plug and Play

Vdc

Volts, Direct Current

VIS

Visible (visible-band camera reference)

List of Icons
Table 6.2 lists the icons that may be shown on the screen during various operations, with a brief
description of their meaning. Some icons display permanently and some only display briefly. The
display of some icons is affected by settings on the Display Icons menu (see page 28).

TABLE 6.2 Video Display Icons

Icon

Name

Description

ThermalcameraDaylight
cameraAzimuth(Position)

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Shows the azimuth (or direction) of the camera relative to thevessel. The shaded triangle shows the approximate camera
field of view (FOV).

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List of Icons

TABLE 6.2 Video Display Icons (Continued)

Icon

Name

Description

Elevation (Tilt)

Shows the vertical tilt of the camera. The shaded triangle
shows the approximate camera position.

Focus Scale

Shown when autofocus is invoked to indicate the progress ofthe operation.

Home

Indicates the camera is in the home position; the icon
flashes when a new home position is set.

Lock zoom

Lock the zoom of cameras to the active payload, wheneverpossible.

Mirrored View

Polarity

Color Palette

Spotlight(continuous)
Spotlight (SOS)

Spotlight (Flash)

NMEA BWS
Message

Receiving NMEA messages using Bearing and Distance toWaypoint, Great Circle (BWC) sentence format has beenenabled; this is also known as slew to waypoint.

NMEA RSD
Message

Receiving NMEA messages using the Radar System Data
(RSD) sentence format has been enabled; this is also known asradar cursor tracking.

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TABLE 6.2 Video Display Icons (Continued)

Icon

Name

Description

NMEA TTM
Message

Receiving NMEA messages using the NMEA Tracked Target
Message (TTM) sentence format has been enabled; this is also
known as radar tracking

Power down

The camera is shutting down.

Scene: NightOne of four scene presets (automatic gain control settings)
optimized for use on the open water at night.

Scene: Docking

One of four scene presets (automatic gain control settings)
optimized for use when the boat is docking at night.

Scene: Day

One of four scene presets (automatic gain control settings)
optimized for use on the open water during the day.

Scene: Contrast One of four scene presets (automatic gain control settings)
optimized for providing visibility to small moving objects.

VerticalStabilization

Indicates the gyro stabilization setting is vertical only (pointmode), which improves camera image stability while keeping
the camera pointing in the same position relative to the vessel
as it turns.

Vertical andHorizontal
Stabilization

Indicates the gyro stabilization setting, which improves camera
image stability, while keeping the camera pointing in the same
direction even as the vessel turns.

Zoom scale

Shown to indicate the progress of the zoom position of theactive camera.

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System Specifications

System Specifications
Table 6.3 lists details about physical characteristics, power usage, and environmental features ofthe M500 camera.
TABLE 6.3 Specifications

Physical Characteristics
Camera Size

32.4 cm (12.75 in) diameter by 46 cm (18.1 in) tall

Camera Weight

12.22 kg (27 lb), depending on the camera model

Joystick Size

9.1 X 14.2 X 8.13 cm (3.6 X 5.6 X 3.2 in)
7.4 cm (3 in) above platform including joystick

Joystick Weight0.45 kg (1 lb)

Power
Camera Input Power

24 Vdc, 2.5 A typical, 5.5 A max
12 Vdc, 5 A typical, 11 A max
Absolute range 12 Vdc to 32 Vdc

JCU II Input PowerPower over Ethernet (PoE) per IEEE 802.3af

Consumption

50 W nominal, 132 W maximum

Environmental
Operating temperature
range–20 °C to +55 °C (–4 °F to +131 °F) per IEC 60945

Storage temperature range–50 °C to +80 °C (–58 °F to +176 °F)

Automatic Window defrost

Standard

Sand/dust

IEC 60945

Water Ingress

IP X6

Shock

15 g vertical, 9 g horizontal

Vibration

IEC 60945

Lightening Protection

IEC 60945

Salt Mist

IEC 60945

Wind

100 knot (115 mph)

EMI

IEC 60945

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Troubleshooting Tips

Troubleshooting Tips
This section includes information that may help with common issues that may arise during
operation of the M500 system.
Video not displayed on monitor
The camera will not display video if it is in standby mode. Power cycle the camera and allow thesystem to complete the bootup cycle prior to JCU II connection. Ensure the JCU II is assigned tothe camera, the camera ID appears in the JCU II display, and the camera responds to JCU II input(for example, pan/tilt movements).
If the camera will not produce an image, check the video connection at the camera and at thedisplay. If the connectors appear to be properly connected but the camera still does not produce
an image, ensure that power has been properly applied to the camera and circuit breaker is set
properly. If a fuse was used, be sure the fuse is not blown.
Check the wiring at both the electrical panel and at the termination to the JCU II. Ensure that thecontacts are clean, dry and free from corrosion. If maintenance on the wiring connection isrequired, have an authorized service representative make the appropriate repairs.
If the camera still does not produce an image, contact the FLIR dealer or reseller who provided thecamera, or contact FLIR directly (contact information is provided on the rear cover of this manual).
Cleaning
Warning: The M500 camera body is a remotely and automatically controlled device. Ensure
camera motion has been disabled before cleaning surfaces that can cause pinch hazards.
If the camera lens has become smudged or dirty, clean it with low-pressure fresh water and a soft
cloth. Improper care of the camera window can cause damage to its anti-reflective coating,degrade the camera’s performance, and void the camera warranty.
The camera housing has a durable marine coating. Rinse the camera housing with very lowpressure fresh water to keep it clean. If the front window of the camera gets water spots, wipe itwith a clean lens cloth folded in fourths and dampened with fresh water.
Video not switching between thermal and visible
On dual payload models, the display can be switched between the thermal camera and the visible
camera either by pressing and holding the Scene button, or, if the User Programmable Button is
set to Switch IR/VIS Video, pressing the User button. If neither of these operations causes thedisplay to switch from the thermal camera to the visible-light camera, be sure the proper input
channel is selected on the display, and be sure the cable labeled VIS/IR is connected to thedisplay.
Noisy image
A noisy image is usually attributed to a cable problem—too long or inferior quality—or the cable ispicking up electromagnetic interference (EMI) from another device. Although coax cable has builtin losses, the longer the cable is or the smaller the wire gauge/thickness, the more severe thelosses become; and the higher the signal frequency, the more pronounced the losses.
Unfortunately this is one of the most common and unnecessary problems that plagues video
systems in general.

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Cable characteristics are determined by a number of factors such as core material, dielectricmaterial and shield construction, among others and must be carefully matched to the specificapplication. Moreover, the transmission characteristics of the cable will be influenced by thephysical environment through which the cable is run and the method of installation. Use only highquality cable and ensure the cable is suitable to the marine environment.
Check cable connector terminations. Inferior quality connections may use multiple adapters thatcan cause unacceptable noise.
Image too dark or too light
By default, the M500 thermal camera uses an automatic gain control (AGC) setting that has
proven to be superior for most applications. However, a specific environment may benefit from adifferent AGC setting. For example, a very cold background (such as the sky) could cause thecamera to use a wider temperature range than appropriate. Try to keep the ocean, and not the skyor the boat, as the predominant object in the image. Refer to “Home Button” on page 17 for
information about how to make adjustments to the image.
Performance varies with time of day
You may observe differences in the way the camera performs at different times of the day, due tothe diurnal cycle of the sun. Recall that the camera produces an image based on temperature
differences.
At certain times of the day, such as just before dawn, the objects in the image scene may all beroughly the same temperature, compared to other times of the day. Compare this to imagery rightafter sunset, when objects in the image may be radiating heat energy that has been absorbed
during the day due to solar loading. Greater temperature differences in the scene generally willallow the camera to produce high-contrast imagery.
Performance may also be affected when objects in the scene are wet rather than dry, such as on a
foggy day or in the early morning when everything may be coated with dew. Under these
conditions, it may be difficult for the camera to show the temperature the object itself, rather thanof the water coating.
Eastern or Western exposure
While a boat is under way, the camera may inevitably end up pointing directly east or west, andthis may cause the sun to be in the field of view during certain portions of the day. We do notrecommend intentionally viewing the sun, but looking at the sun will not permanently damage thesensor. In fact the thermal imaging camera often provides a considerable advantage over a
conventional camera in this type of back-lit situation.
However, the sun may introduce image artifacts that will eventually correct out and it may take time
for the camera to recover. The amount of time needed for recovery will depend on how long thecamera was exposed to the sun. The longer the exposure, the longer the recovery time needed.
Multiple Cameras and/or JCU IIs on a single network
You can configure your system with multiple cameras and multiple JCU IIs on the same network.
More than one JCU II can be used to control a given camera. The camera will respond tocommands from both JCU II's in the order the commands are received across the network.
Unpredictable behavior may result from users sending conflicting commands from separate
JCU II's (for example, one user pans left and the other user pans right). In general, the camera will
respond to the last command received and there is no way to set priority, given that IP networks
use a “best effort” delivery protocol.

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FLIR Systems, Inc.
CS World Headquarters
FLIR Systems, Inc.
6769 Hollister Ave.
Goleta, CA 93117
USA

PH: +1 888 747 3547, Option 5maritimecamerasupport@flir.com

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