Camera Maintenance

Servicing and deployment checklists

Printable PDF checklists with steps what to do on a remote site.

• Camera system replace / deploy checklist (commandline/text terminal instructions)
• GUI commands checklist (Web GUI, missing some steps not implemented in the GUI)
• Camera system servicing checklist - replacing HDDs on site

Checklist for refurbish, repair, upgrade before shipping or heading on a trip

Parts of this checklist are also useful in the field, when a major troubleshooting and/or repair is conducted on-site rather than in lab.

• Checklist for configuration and testing in lab (requires some knowledge of the camera system)

General User Interface via the web

When servicing cameras, the GUI is your first port of call. It can be used to

• Check hard drive storage space
• Check GPS status
• Format HDDs
• Run testing software

For full instructions on it's use, see Using the GUI for Regular Maintenance.

Physical HW maintenance

You will also occasionally be required to:

• Installing lens and DSLR in the DFNEXT observatory type
• Fitting the outer blower ducting on a DFNEXT or DFNSMALL observatory
• Physically replace the hard drives
• Clean the Lenses and Applying Hydrophobic Lens Coating
• Nikon DSLR settings
• Focusing the DSLR
• Focusing the video lens
• Format the CF Card
• Replacing the embedded PC
• Replacing hard drives, incl what models are recommended

This is recommended minimal toolkit. This is a comprehensive servicing kit we use on field trips in Australia.

Manual Maintenance using commandline (Todo: move this link and recategorise content within)

If you are ever required to perform any manual maintenance, use the following links for information on the following topics, or see the general Manual Maintenance page.

• Replace the Hard Drives
• Update Software, Update Software Page 2 Todo: fix duplication here
• Connecting to the PC with a keyboard and monitor
• Finding network interface MAC address
• Configure the local time zone

Advanced Usage

• Microcontroller Commands

• Which camera type do I have?

DFNSMALLs

• DFNSMALL observatories BIOS configuration - including jumpers - for Commell LE-37D PC
• DFNSMALL observatories BIOS configuration - Advantech - including BIOS update - for Advantech MIO 5250 PC

DFNSKITs

• DFNKIT embedded PC BIOS configuration - including jumpers - for Commell LE-37D PC

DFNEXTs

• DFNEXT onservatories BIOS configuration - including jumpers - for Commell LE-37G PC

FireOPALs

• FireOPAL observatories specific configurations (6-core Mini ITX PC BIOS)