Anisca Vision OpenWRT Camera User Manual

Intended Use

The Anisca Vision OpenWRT Camera is a specialized, local first, surveillance device designed for automated monitoring and analytics. The camera:

Automatically captures and uploads snapshots to Microsoft Azure Blob Storage at configurable intervals
Provides real-time monitoring via web interface live view
Operates autonomously once configured - no manual intervention required
Extracts simple local analytics like motion in a ROI and color/brightness metrics

More use cases are possible after setup of the optional cloud connection:

AI Data Analytics from uploaded images including:
- People counting and occupancy monitoring
- Brightness and lighting condition analysis
- Change detection and motion analysis
- Environmental monitoring
Timelapses from continuous image sequences

Primary Applications

Retail analytics (customer counting, dwell time)
Office occupancy monitoring
Construction site progress documentation
Environmental monitoring (weather, lighting changes)
Security and surveillance with historical data
Traffic and pedestrian flow analysis

The camera is designed as a “set and forget” solution - configure once, then let it continuously collect visual data for your analytics needs.

Quick Start

What You Need

PoE switch supporting up to 13W per port (or 5V USB power for WiFi only models)
Ethernet cable with supplied rubber grommet (PoE models)
Microsoft Azure account with Blob Storage

Installation

Connect camera to PoE switch using supplied ethernet cable (or USB power for WiFi models)
Important: Use the rubber grommet to protect ethernet connection from moisture (PoE models)
Camera will automatically get IP address via DHCP
Hostname will be the camera’s serial number (e.g., e438191ae89e)

Warning

Always use the supplied rubber grommet for moisture protection, especially outdoors.

Accessing the Camera Web Interface

Changing the Default Password

Method 1 - With DHCP (Recommended)

Check your router’s web interface for connected devices
Look for device with hostname matching camera serial number (e.g., e438191ae89e)
Open web browser and navigate to that IP address
Login with username root and default password e438191ae89e.
Change the password under System → Administration in the top menu.

Method 2 - Without DHCP (Direct Connection)

Set your computer IP to 192.168.123.251
Set subnet mask to 255.255.255.0
Leave gateway and DNS empty
Navigate to 192.168.123.250 in web browser
Login with username root and default password e438191ae89e.
Change the password under System → Administration in the top menu.

Multiple Camera Warning

Danger

Multiple Camera Warning: ALL cameras use the same default IP address 192.168.123.250. If you have multiple cameras on the same network:

Option 1: Use DHCP (recommended) - each camera gets unique IP automatically
Option 2: Configure manually by turning cameras on one at a time, setting unique static IPs for each

Never power on multiple unconfigured cameras simultaneously on the same network!

Note

The camera runs OpenWRT (Version 22+) firmware with LuCI web interface and customised camera software. It is straightforward to install your own software and scripts via SSH using the command opkg install.

Live View

Viewing the Live Feed

To view the camera’s live feed:

Open camera web interface in your browser
Click Services → Camera in the top menu
Live video stream will display automatically
Use this to verify camera positioning and image quality

Stream Information

Live stream URL: http://camera-ip:8080/?action=stream
Snapshot URL: http://camera-ip:8080/?action=snapshot
Stream runs on port 8080

Tip

Use Chrome or Firefox browsers for best compatibility.

Camera Configuration

Access camera settings via Services → Camera → Camera Settings

Upload Settings

Upload Interval: Configure how often images are uploaded (5-3600 seconds)

Default: 60 seconds
Quick presets: 10s, 30s, 1min, 5min, 10min
Lower intervals = more frequent uploads = higher bandwidth usage

Camera Controls

The camera provides extensive image quality controls:

Camera Hardware Controls
Setting	Range	Description
Brightness	-64 to 64	Overall image brightness
Contrast	0 to 64	Image contrast level
Saturation	0 to 128	Color saturation intensity
Hue	-40 to 40	Color hue adjustment
Gamma	72 to 500	Gamma correction
Gain	0 to 100	Image sensor gain
Sharpness	0 to 6	Image sharpness level
Backlight Compensation	0 to 2	Compensation for backlighting

Additional Controls

Auto White Balance: Automatic color temperature adjustment
Auto Exposure Priority: Automatic exposure control

Azure Storage Configuration

Configure Azure Blob Storage for automatic uploads to a container:

Required Information

Storage Account Name: Your Azure storage account name
Container Name: Target container within storage account
SAS Token: Shared Access Signature token with write permissions

Setup Steps

In camera web interface, go to Services → Camera → Camera Settings
Scroll to Azure Storage Settings
Fill in the three required fields:
- Storage Account Name: yourstorageaccount
- Container Name: your-container
- SAS Token: ?sv=2023-01-03&st=... (include the leading ?)
Save settings

Getting Azure SAS Token

Log into Azure Portal
Go to your Storage Account
Navigate to Security + networking → Shared access signature
Configure permissions:
- Allowed services: Blob
- Allowed resource types: Container, Object
- Allowed permissions: Write
- Start/End time: Set appropriate validity period
Generate SAS token and copy the complete token (including ?)

Warning

Keep your SAS token secure. Set appropriate expiration dates and minimal required permissions.

S3 Storage Configuration

Note

Currently S3 storage is not supported.

Privacy Polygon Configuration

The privacy polygon feature allows you to blackout specific areas of the camera image for privacy protection.

Step-by-Step Setup

Install Camera in Final Position

Mount the camera in its final installation location and ensure it’s properly positioned.

Capture Reference Image

Open camera web interface and go to Services → Camera
View the live stream to see the current camera view
Right-click on the live image and select “Save image as” or take a screenshot
Save the image to your computer

Create Polygon Coordinates

Open https://www.image-map.net/ in your web browser
Upload your saved camera image to the website
Select “Polygon” tool from the toolbar
Click around the area you want to blackout to create a polygon shape
The website will automatically generate coordinate values

Copy Coordinates to Camera

Copy the generated coordinates from image-map.net
Return to camera web interface Services → Camera → Camera Settings
Scroll to Privacy Settings
Paste coordinates into Privacy Polygon field
Format should be: x1,y1 x2,y2 x3,y3 x4,y4
Save settings

Example Usage

If you want to blackout a rectangular area, coordinates might look like: 100,100 200,100 200,200 100,200

Tips and Notes

You can create multiple polygons by adding more coordinate pairs
Test the privacy mask by viewing the live stream after saving settings
Leave the field empty to disable privacy masking
Coordinates are relative to the camera’s image resolution

Additional Settings

Customer and Camera Information

Customer Name: Identifier for your organization. This is the folder name of all the snapshots of this camera in the Azure Blob Storage container.
Camera Name: Unique identifier for this camera (defaults to serial number). This is the folder name of the camera and filename of the latest snapshot of this camera.

Audio Settings

Enable Audio Recording: Toggle audio capture on/off
Audio Duration: Length of audio clips (seconds)

Note

Audio recording is disabled by default and may not be available on all models.

Monitoring

If you would like your camera to ping a remote URL (like Uptime Kuma’s “push monitor”), you can set the following parameters:

Uptime API URL: For external monitoring services
Uptime Ping URL: Health check endpoint

Version Information

The camera settings page displays current software version information:

AVI Scripts Version: Current installed version
Last Updated: When the scripts were last updated
Commit Hash: Git commit hash of current installation

This information is automatically updated when running the install script.

User Manual Access

Documentation: Link to latest user manual and documentation
Support: Contact information and support resources

Software Updates

OpenWRT Firmware Update

Download Latest Firmware

Visit https://www.octanis.ch/anisca-vision-openwrt-camera
Download the latest firmware image file (.bin format)
Save to your computer

Access Flash Firmware Interface

Open camera web interface
Navigate to System → Backup / Flash Firmware
Click on “Flash new firmware image” section

Upload and Verify Firmware

Click “Choose File” and select downloaded firmware image
Click “Upload” to upload the firmware
Click “Verify” to check firmware integrity

Flash Firmware

After successful verification, click “Proceed” to flash firmware
DO NOT TURN OFF THE CAMERA OR UNPLUG ETHERNET CABLE
Wait for the flashing process to complete (usually 2-5 minutes)
Camera will automatically reboot

Update Camera Scripts

After firmware update, you need to update the camera application scripts:

Connect to camera via SSH: ssh root@camera-ip
Run the install script: curl -fsSL "https://install.anisca.io?$(date +%s)" | sh
This updates all camera-specific software and version information

Danger

Critical Warning: Never disconnect power or ethernet during firmware update. This will permanently damage the camera requiring factory repair.

AVI Scripts Update

To update only the camera application scripts (without changing OpenWRT):

Connect to camera via SSH: ssh root@camera-ip
Run: curl -fsSL "https://install.anisca.io?$(date +%s)" | sh
The script will update all components and version information automatically

For more information, see: https://github.com/o16s/avi_scripts

Security

Defense in Depth Security

To ensure secure operation of your camera, implement these essential security measures:

Password Security

Change Default Password Immediately

Navigate to System → Administration in the web interface
Change the default password to a strong, unique password
Use at least 12 characters with mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
Save the new password securely

Danger

Never leave the camera with default credentials. This is a critical security vulnerability.

Network Access Control

Block All Internet Access Except Azure

The camera should only communicate with Microsoft Azure services, if the cloud connectivity is desired. Configure your firewall/router to:

Only allow outbound connections to:

*.blob.core.windows.net (Azure Blob Storage)
*.core.windows.net (Azure endpoints)
Port 443 (HTTPS) for secure uploads

Router/Firewall Configuration

Create a dedicated VLAN for IoT devices including the camera
Apply strict egress filtering allowing only Azure domains
Block all other outbound internet traffic from camera IP

Example firewall rules:

# Allow Azure Blob Storage
ALLOW camera_ip -> *.blob.core.windows.net:443
ALLOW camera_ip -> *.core.windows.net:443

# Block all other internet access
DENY camera_ip -> * (internet)

# Allow local network access for management
ALLOW local_network -> camera_ip:80

Network Segmentation

Place camera on isolated network segment
Restrict access to management interface to specific admin IPs
Monitor network traffic for unexpected connections

Additional Security Measures

Regular Updates: Keep firmware updated via System → Software
Access Logging: Monitor who accesses the camera web interface
Physical Security: Secure camera mounting location
Backup Configuration: Save camera settings after configuration

Why These Measures Matter

Password Protection

Prevents unauthorized access to camera controls
Stops malicious configuration changes
Protects your Azure credentials stored in the device

Network Restrictions

Prevents camera from being used in botnet attacks
Blocks data exfiltration to unauthorized services
Reduces attack surface by limiting accessible services
Ensures data only goes to your intended Azure storage

Technical Specifications

System Specifications

Model	AVI-1-1
Architecture	MediaTek MT7628AN
CPU	ramips/mt76x8
Firmware	OpenWrt 22+
Power Consumption	14.0W
Network Interface	PoE variant: 100Mb Ethernet / WiFi variant: 802.11bgn WiFi
Operating Temperature	0°C to 50°C
Upload Interval	5-3600 seconds (configurable)

Camera Variants

Common Features

Both models feature:

120° wide-angle lens for broad coverage
PoE power (IEEE 802.3at) or 5V USB
Configurable image quality controls
Weather-resistant housing (IP65 when properly installed)

Troubleshooting

Web Interface Access Issues

Cannot Access Web Interface

Verify PoE switch shows power indicator for camera port
Check ethernet cable connection
Try accessing default IP: 192.168.123.250
For multiple cameras: Ensure only one camera is powered on, or use DHCP
Ensure computer and camera are on same network

Video Stream Issues

No Live Video Stream

Use Chrome or Firefox browser (Safari may have issues)
Check that port 8080 is accessible
Check network bandwidth and stability
Restart camera via web interface System → Reboot
Verify camera lens is not obstructed

Azure Upload Issues

Azure Upload Not Working

Verify all three Azure fields are filled correctly:
- Storage Account Name (no special characters)
- Container Name (must exist in storage account)
- SAS Token (include leading ?, check expiration date)
Check internet connectivity from camera’s network
Confirm Azure storage account is active and accessible
Check firewall rules - ensure Azure domains are allowed
Review upload interval setting (minimum 10 seconds)

Image Quality Issues

Poor Image Quality

Clean camera lens with soft, lint-free cloth
Adjust camera controls: brightness, contrast, saturation
Check lighting conditions and backlight compensation setting
Verify camera is properly focused (fixed focus lens)

Network Configuration Issues

Multiple Cameras on Same Network

Use DHCP for automatic IP assignment (recommended)
OR configure cameras sequentially with static IPs
Never power multiple unconfigured cameras simultaneously

Factory Reset

If camera becomes unresponsive:

Locate small reset button on camera housing
Press and hold reset button for 10 seconds while camera is powered
Release button and wait for camera to reboot (about 2 minutes)
Camera will return to default settings
Remember to reconfigure all settings after reset

Anisca Vision OpenWRT Camera User Manual

Intended Use

Primary Applications

Quick Start

What You Need

Installation

Accessing the Camera Web Interface

Changing the Default Password

Method 1 - With DHCP (Recommended)

Method 2 - Without DHCP (Direct Connection)

Multiple Camera Warning

Live View

Viewing the Live Feed

Stream Information

Camera Configuration

Upload Settings

Camera Controls

Additional Controls

Azure Storage Configuration

Required Information

Setup Steps

Getting Azure SAS Token

S3 Storage Configuration

Privacy Polygon Configuration

Step-by-Step Setup

Install Camera in Final Position

Capture Reference Image

Create Polygon Coordinates

Copy Coordinates to Camera

Example Usage

Tips and Notes

Additional Settings

Customer and Camera Information

Audio Settings

Monitoring

Version Information

User Manual Access

Software Updates

OpenWRT Firmware Update

Download Latest Firmware

Access Flash Firmware Interface

Upload and Verify Firmware

Flash Firmware

Update Camera Scripts

AVI Scripts Update

Security

Defense in Depth Security

Password Security

Change Default Password Immediately

Network Access Control

Block All Internet Access Except Azure

Router/Firewall Configuration

Network Segmentation

Additional Security Measures

Why These Measures Matter

Password Protection

Network Restrictions

Technical Specifications

System Specifications

Camera Variants

Common Features

Troubleshooting

Web Interface Access Issues

Cannot Access Web Interface

Video Stream Issues

No Live Video Stream

Azure Upload Issues

Azure Upload Not Working

Image Quality Issues

Poor Image Quality

Network Configuration Issues

Multiple Cameras on Same Network

Factory Reset

Support & Warranty

Technical Support

Warranty Information