User's Manual

Table Of Contents

Helios Installation Guide

quality site survey, please refer to the MicroPower documentation titled “Site Survey

Guidelines”.

With unobstructed line-of-sight between the hub and camera antennas, the system can

reliably transmit video up to 1/2 mile in distance. However, obstacles such as trees,

buildings, fences, etc. will impact the wireless performance in terms of maximum

transmission distance and data rate speeds. Once a video link is established, if

obstructions are present, or the distance between the antennas is too great, then the

video streams may experience dropouts and/or reduced camera frame rates. A wall or

tree may not cause any significant performance impact at short ranges, yet can

completely block a signal at long distances. Additionally, for best extremely short range

performance, the minimum distance between the video hub antenna and the wireless

Camera antenna should be 25 feet (unless signal attenuators are installed).

For further education and guidelines on RF effects, refer to MicroPower document “A

Guide to Optimizing Your RF Setup”.

Since the wireless camera is powered by solar energy, the critical impact of sun direction

and shadows on the panels cannot be overstated. It is advisable that the camera be

positioned in such a way that two or more of the built-in solar panels receive adequate

direct sunlight during the peak charging hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

When selecting a location for the wireless camera that will be installed in the Northern

Hemisphere, the auxiliary solar panel must be mounted on the SOUTH side of a pole or

structure, facing SOUTH. With the camera’s built-in solar panels, it is also preferable to

mount the camera on the South side of the pole, to minimize shadows created by the

pole, and to ensure good light coverage across all of the panels as the sun moves across

the sky. For East or West facing cameras, try to mount the camera on the South side of

the pole, and point the camera in the desired direction. For optimum solar

performance, always try to avoid the North side of the pole.

(In the Southern Hemisphere below the equator, the directional considerations are

reversed)

Areas with insufficient direct sunlight will eventually produce camera outages, such

areas include, but are not limited to:

• Solar panels shaded under a roof eave

• Underneath a tree canopy or foliage which does not receive adequate sunlight

• Next to a tall building that casts a shadow over the camera during peak charge

times. (Particularly during the important mid-day charging period)

• A camera mounted such that the pole that it is attached to, or other area objects

(wires, cables, etc.) cast shadows across multiple solar panels during peak charge

times.