Frequently Asked Questions
-
Ensure that the computer you are using to connect to the SpeedSentry unit has the correct Ethernet settings. The IPV4 domain should be set to the same domain as the default Ethernet domain that the unit is delivered with. Please refer to the procedures delivered with your Unit to get the full procedure to configure your Ethernet settings.
​
-
Is the Ethernet card on the laptop working> There is normally a set of green and orange flashing lights at the Ethernet port, if these are not flashing, the port may be out of order.
​
-
Switch the SpeedSentry unit on and off. Occasionally the Ethernet protocol does require resetting, restarting the unit with the key switch or fuse will achieve this.
-
Ensure that the computer you are using to connect to the SpeedSentry unit has the correct Ethernet settings. The IPV4 domain should be set to the same domain as the default Ethernet domain that the unit is delivered with. Please refer to the procedures delivered with your Unit to get the full procedure to configure your Ethernet settings.
​
-
Is the Ethernet card on the laptop working> There is normally a set of green and orange flashing lights at the Ethernet port, if these are not flashing, the port may be out of order.
​
-
Switch the SpeedSentry unit on and off. Occasionally the Ethernet protocol does require resetting, restarting the unit with the key switch or fuse will achieve this.
All SpeedSentry units have an “M” bracket at the rear with holes for 2 or more steel straps. Either a strapping tool or hose clamps can be used through the strap holes to mount directly to any pole. Be aware that a strapping tool puts a lot of force on a pole, this may cause damage if Fibreglass or plastic poles are used.
-
All camera compatible and standard size SpeedSentry units have a key switch which can be used to reset the unit. In the off position, the key is retained by the key switch, it can only be removed in the on position.
​
-
b) On the smaller units, the fuse can be unscrewed and re-inserted to reset the unit.
SpeedSentry displays have a 30 degree field of vision to prevent stray light polluting the environment at night. The display should be facing the oncoming traffic directly – if some parts of it are not as bright as others, try moving the display left and right until the numbers are of a uniform brightness.
You need two pieces of software and the custom SpeedSentry download cable to connect to a standard display sign. In addition to the download cable, you should have installed the latest FTDI drivers for your cable and have the correct Houston Radar software to access the radar statistics. See our downloads page for these programs.
-
A solar panel should always face North and be free of dirt or dust.
​
-
Ensure that there is no shade on the solar panel, not even on a portion of it. A SpeedSentry solar panel requires at least 3 hours of full sunlight to recharge the internal battery.
SpeedSentry solar power units should run for 24 hours under normal conditions. Please be aware that prolonged rain or cloudy conditions can cause the battery not to be fully recharged, so it is possible that solar units will start to run out of power after prolonged periods of no full sunlight, especially in winter.
-
Check the power to the unit. The most common cause of problems is that the street light the unit is mounted onto has tripped for some reason, and the unit is not recharging at night.
​
-
For a solar powered unit, ensure that the panel is clean, facing North and bear in mind that prolonged adverse weather conditions could mean that the unit is not fully recharging during the day, so it may switch off in the early morning until the sun comes up.
Why is the unit not responding?
SpeedSentry units are designed to interface with the widest possible range of computers. Any computer running Windows 8 or better should be capable of interfacing with a SpeedSentry unit. For camera units, older computers may lack the video processing resources to properly display larger video files.
What computer do I need to interface with a SpeedSentry unit?
What computer do I need to interface with a SpeedSentry unit?
Why is the display showing random speeds, or is not consistent?
SpeedSentry display units use Doppler radar to measure the speed of incoming vehicles. By default, these are sensitive units and have to be set correctly to ignore false returns from the outside environment. The most common cause is that there are a number of vehicles in a line approaching the display. If there is a much larger vehicle somewhere in the line, the radar will lock onto that one by default and will show that speed, even though it may be not be the first vehicle in line. The SpeedSentry user manual contains a detailed explanation of this phenomenon. Please contact your local service agent or assistance with setup if there is a persistent problem.
Why is the display showing random speeds, or is not consistent?