Controlling a PTZ Camera Using a Batch Script - EmpireTech/Dahua

[Make-n-it]

This guide will walk you through the process of controlling your PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera using a simple batch script. This script has been tested with an Empire Tech PTZ Camera and should work with Dahua cameras as well. By running this script, you can move the camera to a specific preset position without logging into the camera's web interface or using any control software. It’s particularly useful for integrating with automation tools like StreamDeck.

What the Script Does

The batch script leverages the curl command to send an HTTP request to the camera’s CGI API, instructing it to move to a specific preset position. This example script is configured to move the camera to preset 5.

How It Works

Minimizing the Script Window: The script checks if it is already running in a minimized state. If not, it re-runs itself in a minimized window to keep your screen clean.

Sending the Command: The core of the script is the curl command, which sends a request to the camera's API to move it to a preset position.

Batch Script Start
@echo off
rem Check if the script is already running minimized
if "%1"=="minimized" goto run

rem Re-run the script minimized
start /min cmd /c "%~f0" minimized
goto :eof

:run

:: Move the camera to preset 5
curl --digest -u username:password "http://192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/ptz.cgi?acti ... 2=5&arg3=0"

Batch Script End


What You Need to Change

Username and Password:

• Replace username:password with your camera’s login credentials.
  Example: admin:mysecurepassword

Camera IP Address:

• Replace 192.168.1.1 with the actual IP address of your camera.
  Example: 192.168.0.100

Preset Position:

• The arg2=5 part specifies the preset position to which the camera will move. Change the number 5 to the desired preset number.
  Example: To move to preset 3, change arg2=5 to arg2=3.

Usage

Create the Batch File:

• Copy the script into a text file and save it with a .bat extension, e.g., MoveCamera.bat.

Run the Script:

• Double-click the batch file to execute it. The camera will move to the specified preset position.

Integration with StreamDeck:

• You can assign this batch file to a button in StreamDeck for quick and easy camera control.

Conclusion

This simple batch script is a powerful tool for controlling your PTZ camera with ease. By customizing the username, password, IP address, and preset values, you can quickly adapt it to your setup. Whether you’re using it for home security, live streaming, or any other purpose, this script offers a convenient way to automate your camera movements.

[TimG]

Very interesting. Thank you for posting it.

[Pogo]

Pretty cool, but...

Considering the limitations of such a single batch file for a single static preset, I'm not understanding why you wouldn't just point the camera to the desired position and tighten it down with a screwdriver in the first place since there doesn't seem to be any obvious means to move it back to its original or home position without additional batch files in the mix to handle any additional movement.

The real question is how would one effectively use such an approach for an active or tracking PTZ camera..., easily. It would seem that the number of batch files required would rapidly become rather cumbersome, not to mention integrating any number of other significant considerations such as scheduling, etc.

I presume StreamDeck is the central component to all of this, somehow in favor of just executing everything via ONVIF / other common PTZ protocols instead?