How to Use the Pro/Mini in Offline Mode

The photoSentinel Pro and Mini systems can be configured to capture photos without uploading to the server. This may allow you to continue utilising your older equipment following the shutdown of the 3G network and the supporting photoSentinel infrastructure. This page is available even if you don’t have any active installations or user accounts – no login required.

Note that this does not apply to the Mach II and Tempo systems which are required to connect to the network via cell signal (4G) or LAN (Ethernet).

How to configure a Pro/Mini for offline use

1. You will need a microSD card (no faster than a class 4, non-UHS card) in the controller.
2. Format the microSD card from the camera’s Menu settings.
3. Set the correct time and date on the camera, then turn the camera’s ON/OFF switch to OFF, then back ON again to save the settings on the camera.
4. Navigate to the Pro/Mini Offline Config Page in your browser.
5. Select the desired configuration regime settings on the page, then click the ‘Export Settings to microSD card’ button at the bottom of the 'Pro/Mini Offline Config' page.
6. Save the default.xml file that is downloaded from the Export process to the base (root) directory on the microSD card that will reside in the controller. Ensure that it is named exactly default.xml and doesn't have other characters.
7. Insert the microSD card into the controller.
8. Ensure that the camera is configured to save JPG images to the card that is in the controller (if the camera has two slots, the SD ribbon that goes to the controller should connect to the slot that JPG images will be saved to). If JPG images aren’t coming through to the microSD card, the controller won’t be able to determine the time (as in this mode it determines the time from the photos on the card) and so photo taking will not be scheduled correctly.
9. Please note that with this configuration, you will not see any status updates.
10. Calculate the size of photos with the shooting regime to ensure that you have enough space on the card/s. If the microSD card fills up while in 'Never Connect' mode, it will not delete photos automatically. Even if you have two slots, this may impact the shooting regime for the other card, as the up-to-date time will not be readable for the controller. You will need to plan for site visits to the unit to periodically copy the images off the microSD card if it will fill up before the project's end date.
11. Also calculate the voltage requirements to determine whether you need to connect to AC or solar power for the duration of the job. A fully charged Li-ion battery will typically operate for 5 days on a standard regime of 8 hours per day, with one shot every 15 minutes. The battery charge on your job may last longer or shorter depending on environmental factors, the condition of the battery, and the camera settings being used. Since status updates are not possible, we would also recommend planning for site visits to regularly check that the system is functioning correctly and has sufficient voltage.
12. Test your regime ahead of the actual project. Ideally capture photos of a clock that is set to the correct time for the project location (which should be the same as the camera's time), so that you can confirm that the images are being captured at the expected times.