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  • Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    The SS300 was our original ultra low power, ultra small Doppler speed measurement radar. It could measure from about 1.3 mph to 105 mph.

    We were then approached by a customer that required speed measurement below the 1.3 mph lower speed limit of the SS300. We developed the SS300U (Ultra low speed) version that shifted the speed measurement range lower to measure from 0.25 mph to 16 mph.

    Subsequently, another customer wanted to measure even lower speeds and also mount the radar close to trains (i.e. a large target that may overload the radar receiver). We developed the SS300ULG (ultra low speed, Low Gain) that could measure from 0.13 mph to 11.2 mph. This product has lower gain in the radar receiver so that it would not overload when mounted up close to large targets. It also had other features that improved the measurement quality, ability to specify filtering (with a time constant) to minimize the jumping of output speeds (due to different parts of the train being measured) and also ability to decimate output rate of the speed.

    The SS300 and SS300U have been superseded by the next generation SS400 and SS400U which feature even better performance and wider speed measurement ranges.

    However, the SS300ULG is still in production and the recommended product if you want to measure very low speed up close to large targets (e.g. slow moving trains).

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    The SS400 has a built in primary clock backup battery that will keep time when the main power is removed.

    The external pack that was required in the stats enabled SS300 radars is no longer required.

    Here is a photo of the SS400 battery that keeps time when main power is removed.

    clock battery

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    There could be a few reasons for this issue. Please check the following:

    1. Ensure you have a ‘Link’ light on the PC’s Ethernet port when you plug in the RJ45 connector from the SpeedLane. If not, check the cable or the power to the SpeedLane.
    2. Ensure you have waited at least 45 seconds for the SpeedLane Pro to boot up and auto configure the IP address on the Ethernet interface
    3. Ensure you have started the “Connector To Radar” window on the PC side Houston Radar Stats Analyzer Pro program AFTER you have powered up the radar and plugged in the Ethernet cable. The “Connect To Radar” window only searches for the radar on initial startup. If this window was already open, close it and relaunch it.
    4. Ensure your PC’s Ethernet port is set to acquire an IP address automatically. This ensures that Windows assigns it an “Autoconfigured IP Address” in the “link-local” 169.254.x.x range. This is the only address range that we can search for the SpeedLane Pro Radar.
    5. Check that your PC’s Ethernet port has an address in the 169.254.x.x range. You can do this by starting the Windows “cmd” (command prompt) terminal and then typing “ipconfig” (without the quotes) and checking that your Ethernet Adapter has an Autoconfiguration IPV4 address. If your IP address is not in this range, change your adapter settings to “Automatically Acquire IPV4 address” (in network adapter properties).

    The video below shows how to make a direct Ethernet connection from Stats Analyzer to connect to the unit when you receive it from the factory.

     

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    The SpeedLane Pro by default listens on TCP/IP port #5125. We do not support UDP ports.

    If the SpeedLane is behind an external cellular modem connected to the modem via Ethernet, please ensure that an external TCP/IP port on this modem is port forwarded to the SpeedLane port #5125.

    You may also change the port # the SpeedLane will listen on. You require SpeedLane Pro firmware version #2.0.123 or later.

    You must set user variable PR to the desired port #.

    PR=0: User-defined TCP Port Number functionality is disabled. We accept incoming connections on Port 5125 (default).
    PR=21,22,23,5125,10000,10001,80,8080: Invalid! These ports are already in use and ignored.
    PR=7001: We accept incoming connections on Port 5125 (default) and Port 7001 (User-defined).
    Note: Once you set this variable, reboot for settings to take effect. If you are connected remotely, type reset in the ASCII command terminal.

    To set the variable, type set:PR=<value you want> in the ASCII command terminal.

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    We have a comprehensive training video on the SpeedLane Pro. The embedded video below is queued to start where it illustrates the Installation Wizard.

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Vipin Malik.
    • This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Vipin Malik.
    • This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Vipin Malik.
    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    The recommended setback from the radar pole to the edge of the 1st lane to be measured is at least 20 feet.

    If you have less setback than this then one option is to mount the radar on the back of the pole as shown in the picture below.

    This is achieved as follows:

    • Loosen the 4 hex bolts that hold the tube clamps in place till they are loose and the tube rotates freely.
    • Holding the tube fixed, rotate the clamps a 180 degree so that they back of the mounting plate is now pointed on the opposite direction (now faces front- same direction as the camera).
    • Gently tighten the hex bolts to prevent the clamps from sliding around.
    • Mount the SpeedLane on the back of the pole. Do NOT flip the tube over as that will invert the camera image and the radar direction. The “Houston Radar SpeedLane Pro” on the camera sticker should still be upright.

    Short Setback Mounting

     

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    As long as the radar was aligned properly when it was installed, you can always adjust the lanes later during traffic hours.

    As a refresher, here are some basic rules for alignment:

    • Ensure SpeedLane is level to the road. If road is level, the SpeedLane level sensor should read 0 degrees (or at most +/- 1 deg).
    • Ensure SpeedLane is pointed across the road. You can use lane markers and check if they are parallel to the bottom or top of the photo in the camera snapshot.
    • Ensure all lanes to be measured are visible in the camera snapshot. The red “+” (target cross hair) in the camera snapshot should be pointed anywhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of all the lanes to be measured.

    If the setup is correct, the short video below shows you how to adjust the lanes using the traffic “peaks” in the range plot to adjust the lane boundaries for proper detection.

     

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    “Ghost” targets are targets the radar detects that are reflections of an actual target. Just like a mirage in the desert they are an artifact of propagation of electromagnetic waves and their properties (refraction for desert mirages, reflection for ghost targets in side-fire radars).

    Whether or not ghost targets are rejected depend on the sophistication of the radar target tracking algorithm. The latest algorithm in firmware versions 2.0.x and greater feature very sophisticated proprietary target processing and is very successful in rejecting ghost targets.

    A side-fire radar measures the range to a vehicle on the road. This range is measured by measuring the amount of time (as a shift in carrier frequency) the radar waves (electromagnetic waves) takes to travel from the radar antenna to the target and bounce back to the radar antenna.

    Under certain installation conditions, this reflection can happen multiple times. The first time the real target is detected. When the second reflection arrives at the antenna a second target is potentially detected. What causes the second reflection? A good reflector on the road. An example would be a barrier, wall, structure at right angles to the radar beam. Right angles cause good reflections that are returned back to the antenna. This effect is used to great benefit to measure the distance to the side of the vehicle. However, it causes problem when this same reflection double reflects from the target side, off a wall (say behind the radar or in front of the target (see image below) and back to the vehicle and then back to the radar.

    The image below shows a double reflection from a large target in lane 3 creating a ghost target in lane 5. Note, the range to the ghost will always be greater than the range to the original target as the double reflection requires more travel time (hence distance). Also, large metallic surfaces or right angles are required for double reflections.

    In this case, the latest algorithm in firmware version 2.0.x in the SpeedLane Pro successfully rejects the ghost.

     

    Here is another example of a double reflection. The 1st one is from the side of the truck that creates the correct target in lane 5 on the far side.

    The ghost is created by a double reflection from the bed of the truck. The right angle created by the bottom far edge of the open bed of the truck is a perfect reflector and causes the ghost in the 6th lane. The reason is that the 1st reflection is bounced from the inside wall of the open bed and then reflected back off the far wall. This causes the ghost to be created in the 6th lane. Again, the advanced target processing of the SpeedLane Pro algorithm version 2.0.x (or greater) rejects this ghost.

     

    There are a couple of helpful configuration options available to the user to further reject ghosts. For example, if ghosts are being detected on lanes travelling in the opposite direction, an option is available to reject targets travelling in opposite direction to the lane direction.  In almost all cases, the ghost will be detected to be traveling in the same direction as the original target. This is a direct consequence of the phenomenon that creates ghosts in the first place.

    Navigate to the Radar Setup->Advanced options and turn on the “multi-path” rejection check boxes. If you use the Installation Wizard then these should be enabled automatically at the end of the setup process. Only in rare setups would you not want to turn these on. Please contact us if you are having detection issues in your setup and we will be more than happy to guide you.

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    We now stock and offer an inexpensive Icotek “split cable gland”. This will allow you to thread the M12 connector end through the cable gland and then tighten the cable gland to make a splash proof seal. We recommend that you point this gland downwards and make a drip loop on the cable to prevent water from running down the cable and attempt to make it through the gland. The gland has ingress protection rating of IP54.

    Here is a direct link to the product where you will find images, installation video and specifications.

    tek.com/us/product-catalog/cable-glands/qvt/

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    Yes! The SpeedLane (Pro) saves all per vehicle as well as interval data (which is per lane per defined interval of time) data in an on-board SQLite DB. You may run SQL queries that correspond to the SQLite feature set from our Windows program (Houston Radar Advanced Stats Analyzer) “Custom SQL Query Window”. Alternatively, you may request a “C” or “C#” SDK to integrate this capability into your host/system/computer to automate this process.

    Here is an example of a query that will return you the fraction of vehicles in Lane #1 over the latest interval. Interval times are user configurable via the setup GUI in 1 minute increments starting from a minimum value of 1 minute.

    WITH

            total AS ( SELECT sum(Volume) as laneTotals FROM intervals WHERE IntervalNo=(SELECT MAX(IntervalNo) FROM intervals)),

            laneVolume AS (SELECT Volume FROM intervals WHERE IntervalNo = (SELECT MAX(IntervalNo) IntervalNo FROM intervals) AND Lane=1)

    SELECT

            1.0*Volume/laneTotals as fixed1

    FROM total, laneVolume

    Please contact us to request our SpeedLane SDK Users guide for a complete database schema and further examples if you would like to implement this functionality.

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57
    in reply to: Top Speed #270

    This radar is designed to measure speeds up to 100mph (161km/h). Speeds above this limit may occasionally be detected, but the detection range drops off sharply above it.

    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    We recommend using the “Live Data” functionality of the Houston Radar Android App (and upcoming Apple iOS app) to verify proper installation.

    All Houston Radar Armadillo Trackers feature wireless Bluetooth capability. This allows them to connect to any Android phone or tablet via the free Houston Radar Android App available in the Play store. (An option to connect to iOS devices will be available in the future. This feature will need to be installed at the factory and be a paid option you may order.)

    Please note the following re. this feature:

    Incoming vehicles are typically logged after they pass the unit (or sometimes close to when they are about to pass the unit)
    Outgoing vehicles are logged once they are no longer being tracked by the unit. For an unobstructed road this can be as little as 75 feet for a sedan to over 400 feet for a large truck.
    When comparing manual counts against the tally being kept in this screen, it’s recommended that you use some interval of time (say 1 minute or 5 minutes- at least 30 to 50 vehicles in the tally) to compare counts. Sometimes the internal algorithm will “keep” a target in memory before confirming it much later when it will show up in the tally. So occasionally you will see the tally count jump by more than the number of vehicles that pass in a short instance of time. This is the unit “deciding” to log these vehicles it was confirming internally.

     

    Live Data Screen

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Vipin Malik.
    • This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Vipin Malik.
    • This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by Vipin Malik.
    Vipin Malik
    Keymaster
    Post count: 57

    Yes. If your SpeedLane Pro features the Ethernet option, you may plug the RJ45 connector directly into the Windows PC Ethernet RJ45 connector to connect via Ethernet.

    Follow the steps below:

    1. Ensure you have the latest version of the Houston Radar Stats Analyzer Pro software installed on your Windows PC (sorry, Mac is not supported).
    2. Power up the SpeedLane Pro. Wait about 45 seconds for the unit to boot up and auto configure an IP address.
    3. Plug in the RJ45 connector at the end of the SpeedLane Pro cable to the RJ45 connector on the PC. Ensure Link light comes on. Activity light may not flash.
    4. Launch the Houston Radar Stats Analyzer pro by clicking on the shortcut on your desktop (look for our company ‘swirl’ icon on your desktop)
    5. Click on “Connect to Radar” button. Wait for the window to pop up.
    6. Pull down the “Connect to Radar On…” pull down menu. You should have a “Localnetwork:<speedlane unique name here>” entry.
    7. Click on connect to radar. You will get a “Radar Found” message. Click ok on the two pop-up boxes. You are connected.
Viewing 13 posts - 16 through 28 (of 28 total)