Support.

Videstra provides a variety of support options for our clients. Beginning with online commissioning of your new system, our goal is to make sure your system is up and running smoothly from day one.

Support hours: Monday thru Friday: 9:00am – 5:30pm CST.

Please check out the knowledgebase/documentation below. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or need more help, please call our support line at (608) 999-9003

Knowledgebase / Documentation / Training

Best Practices White Papers Manuals Training Frequently Asked Questions

Best Practices White Papers

Best Practices - Camera Installation/Deployment
In this article we are going to review the steps you can take to assure the quickest recovery from issues that can force you to lose access to video from your cameras.
Best Practices - Failover Strategies
As you integrate live local cameras (aka Micro-Local cameras) and shared camera feeds into a live newscast, the Videstra system is designed to streamline and unify the workflow to ensure the best possible on-air product. One area that remains a risk, though, is an often-unreliable Internet connection between cameras and the station or Videstra CloudShare systems. The Videstra system is designed to manage these risks. This paper provides a high-level technical background on these processes.
Best Practices - Diagnosing Remote Issues
With an investment in one or more tower and rooftop cameras (we call them Micro-Local cameras there are going to be some high expectations from viewers as well as station management. Adding reliability and security to these cameras doesn’t have to be complicated.
Best Practices – Remote Internet Service Checklist
It seems all the good locations for Micro local Cameras are somewhat Internet challenged. Before you can deploy a camera at some far-flung location there are some guidelines that can be helpful when getting your service set up.
Best Practices - Camera Installation/Camera Security
Network security is a non-optional element of today’s IT infrastructure. Attacks on networks occur hourly – in fact, it’s guaranteed your network is under attack as you are reading this article. The only reason it’s failing is because your IT department has safeguarded it!
Best Practices – Considerations when Choosing Micro-Local Cameras
Newer and better models of small security cameras have become ubiquitous. Ranging from extremely cheap to a few thousand dollars, it seems every camera maker is offering some type of small, IP connected security camera.
Best Practices – Videstra DOT Camera Manager
Videstra’s solution for Traffic cameras is flexibly designed so it can be implemented in a variety of ways based on how any given state or regional DOT authority grants access to their cameras. Unfortunately, there is no national standard for doing so and each state does things differently. This means we must approach each state one-by-one. This is often successful, and sometimes, well, not so much. You’re reading this white paper because you want to know how to access your state’s DOT cameras.
Best Practices – Camera Settings
Camera used as Micro Local Cameras are typically manufactured for the security market. The objective of a security camera is different from those of cameras built to use on live television. There are several features and settings that work well in a security setting, are not optimal for an on-air camera. Unfortunately, since most of these cameras are sold for security purposes – the factory defaults are always best for security use – not on-air.

Manuals

Videstra: Latest Release Notes
Videstra VestraView Client & V-Manager Server Release Notes VestraView Client/Server. This is the full release notes for all versions of Videstra up to the most current release.
Configureing Mapbox with Videstra
As of version 2.3.20 Videstra uses Mapbox for mapping services in our DOT Traffic Camera Selector. This document shows you how to set up your account with Mapbox and how to set it up for use in Videstra.
V-Streamer Installation and Operations
Videstra® V-StreamerTM V4 With VestraView EssentialsTM Installation & Operations Manual
Adding a Camera to Videstra
This guide is meant as a non-exhaustive and simple guide to adding cameras to your VestraView system. This is, is a simple process provided you have the preliminary information required and the proper Videstra licenses in place.
Axis Q61 Series Setup Guide
This document is intended as a step-by-step guide to preparing your Axis Q61 series cameras for use with VestraView by Videstra and the V-Manager. It is recommended you place all cameras on your bench(es) and power them all prior to going through these steps. Connecting them to a DHCP capable network makes the process easier, however manually setting the IP Address is possible (see steps).
Bolin SD520 Setup Guide
When installing the Bolin SD 520 we recommend a sturdy Non-Penetrating Roof Mount (NPRM) or a permanently attached pole (see illustration on next page). The pole should be fully grounded. An ungrounded pole will only have the camera and the demarc installation as a path to ground. It is best to avoid this.
Bolin Mini-NEMA Enclosure
Your Bolin SDP Cameras each come with a specially created outdoor IP66 rated NEMA enclosure with pole mounts suitable for towers or non-penetrating roof mount poles to host the cameras umbilical cable. There are several connectors on this umbilical cable, however only the RJ45 connector will be used in a typical Videstra® managed Micro Local camera installation where video is accessed through IP.
Port Forwarding for the CloudShare™ Service
For the Videstra Camera CloudShare to work we need to allow an outside (public) service to connect to the camera(s) you want to share. This means the camera must either be on a public IP Address (see the chart in Appendix A), or two incoming ports must be opened to the camera. The port numbers are unimportant, but they must be open for TCP/UDP connections for the RTSP and HTTP protocols.
Automation with Ross OverDrive or GV Ignite
The Videstra Production Automation Interface lets you connect any source (h.264 camera) to any destination (V-Streamer output) via automation driven by Ross OverDrive™ or Grass Valley Ignite™. The Videstra interface works by emulating an Evertz Quartz router (supported by both Grass Valley and Ross). The Videstra Production Automation interface allows configuring both physical and virtual sources that include cameras and PTZ presets (a single camera can become multiple discrete sources). This powerful capability adds tremendous value and flexibility to your Micro-Local cameras under full automation.
Web Publishing with Videstra
Videstra VestraView has many tools designed to automatically publish compelling and relevant content to your digital properties including fully branded content that will engage your on-line visitors and create sponsorship opportunities.
Weather Icons when web publishing images, timelapse, and live streams
Create your own Weather Icons for use in Videstra Web Publishing. The default Videstra Web Publishing icons may not suit your needs or stations graphic standards. There are a few options for the icons provided by Videstra, but only with different color orbs behind each (or no orb).
Secure FTP for Web Publishing with Videstra
The previous version of this utility was called VxFTP and needed to be called each time an image was uploaded to an FTP server. Since the V-Manager can update web postings of camera images as often as every minute – with several cameras this mean that many copies of VxFTP would be loaded into memory and each would consume a large amount of the available CPU.
Videstra System Security Considerations
This document outlines the details of the Videstra system your IT Department will want to know when deploying on your internal network. This provides details on Operating Systems, Ports, Shares and user accounts necessary for the day-to-day use of Videstra clients and the Videstra server.
Using the Timelapse Scheduler with Videstra
With Videstra you can schedule timelapse generation to occur on a regular basis – with special settings for current sunrise and sunset. This document provides a full explanation of how to use the timelapse scheduler with Videstra.
Managing overlay for your V-Streamer SDI outputs
Videstra lets you add overlays directly to the SDI outputs on your V-Streamer. Overlays can be enforced, dynamic, and as of version 2.3.20 we now support scheduled overlays that can automatically change base on daypart.
Compass icons for web publishing images from Axis Cameras
Beginning with version 2.3.20 you may now include a small compass icon for images published from Axis cameras on your web page. This shows the direction the camera is pointing.
Timelapse Clock options with Videstra web publishing
This document explains how to customize the timelapse clock that can appear on timelapse movies you publish to your web site with Videstra

Training

VestraView™ – The Basics [Running Time 5:24]
Just getting started with VestraView by Videstra? This is where to start. This covers the basics of using VestraView on a day to day basis for selecting and using your cameras.

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VestraView – The Timelapse Factory™ [Running Time 5:14]
With VestraView by Videstra you can create on-demand timelapse from any camera the system is managing. It’s simple and very powerful! Nothing to plan ahead – check out how to do it with our Timelapse review.

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VestraView – Camera Presets [Running Time 4:40]
Most cameras managed by Videstra support presets. These are quick methods to move a camera to one of up to 100 preset positions. This short video reviews how you manage presets in your Videstra system.

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VestraView – YouTube Panels [Running Time 3:45]
VestraView allows you to set up a dedicated panel for use with YouTube Live Streams. This will only work with those streams marked as LIVE on YouTube. This short video explains how to set one or two up.

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VestraView – Using and Managing Overlay Images [Running Time 4:22]
Your Videstra system can provide overlays for any of your cameras or streams it is managing. This saves you switcher and/or downstream resources. This video explains how you can set up both dynamic and enforced overlays for any source.

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VestraView – Using the Clip Factory™ [Running Time 3:52]
Axis cameras in your Videstra system can be set to record live video 24×7 in a loop that lasts more than 3 days. This is full, high-resolution video. With the Videstra Clip Factory, you can reach into this loop and pull several minutes of video from any time-period within the past 3 or 4 days. This video gives you a good overview of how this is done.

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VestraView – Automated System Backups [Running Time 2:25]
We all know it not if your computers fail, it’s when. Since fortune favors those who are prepared Videstra has developed an automatic backup system that can mean the difference in recovery time from minutes, to days.

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VestraView – DOT Favorites [Running Time 3:24]
The Videstra DOT Interface (not available in all states) can give you access to hundreds, if not thousands of cameras along the highways and byways of your state. Setting up favorites for those cameras most interesting to your viewing area can save time and frustration. This video explains how.

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V-Streamer – Removing the Video Card [Running Time 2:42 ]
Removing the AJA Video Card from your V-Streamer will rarely be necessary, but if the need arises here is a short video showing you a simple process that makes it easy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic parts of the Videstra System?

The system consists of a V-Streamer 4-Channel Hardware Decoder, a V-Manager Windows 10 LTSC Lenovo Tiny Server (with the V-Manager Server Software) and one or more VestraView Clients (software) installed on Windows computers around the station.

Can I use a V-Streamer by itself with my tower and rooftop cameras?

Videstra offers a version of the V-Streamer called V-Streamer Essentials reserved for small television markets (120+). This manages up to six cameras with a limited feature set. V-Streamer Essentials does not require the V-Manager software or Windows 10 server hardware. All functionality is provided by a web-based interface hosted directly on the V-Streamer.

What features of the VestraView System are included?

The basic VestraView system comes with the following licenses:
A total of 25 camera licenses. You may use these for Axis, Bolin, Sony, Truen cameras, or, using the VestraView Flex Panel(s) with nearly any camera capable of delivering H.264 or H.265 video via RTSP, RTMP, HLS or SRT protocols.

The basic system also gives you the Videstra Timelapse Factory(tm) for on-demand or scheduled time lapse movies and the Videstra Clip Factory(tm) for downloading up to 20 minute live recordings from Axis cameras from any time period within the past 3 days.

You also get full web publishing capabilities that include up-to-the-minute still images published from any camera and/or time lapse GIF or WEBM movies. The basic VestraView system also include 5 concurrent client licenses.

What features cost extra?

There is an additional one-time charge to activate the DOT capabilities of the Videstra system and there is a small monthly fee to publish cameras live to a website (Live-to-Web). There is an additional a one-time fee to add the N7k production automation interface to control Videstra with Ross OverDrive or Grass Valley Ignite. The DOT, Live-to-Web and N7k automation can be added at any time.

What is Videstra CloudShare?

Videstra CloudShare lets stations within a group share cameras with each other. Cameras owned by a station remain in full control of the owning station and cameras used by affiliates are provided as view-only streams. All stations can create timelapse movies from their own or shared cameras.

Can I have unique branding and sponsorship branding on my cameras that are published to the web?

Yes – Images, Timelapse movies and Live-to-Web can have their own unique branding containing station and/or sponsor graphics embedded into the images or streams.

Can I put weather Information on my web-published content?

Yes. In conjunction with OpenWeather.org the Videstra system can embed weather information from each specific location. This includes many weather stats and icons.

Can the Videstra system be controlled by production automation systems?

Videstra offers an automation interface compatible with both Ross OverDrive and Grass Valley Ignite. The automation system appears to these systems as an Evertz video router. The Evertz router capability must be available on the automation system before this interface can be used. Note that there may be additional costs required through Ross or Grass Valley. Sources are any camera available on your system, destinations will be any V-Streamer output channel (1 to 8). A special feature called Virtual Routes is also available that can be any Axis, Sony, Bolin, or Truen camera and an associated preset.

Do you provide keyboards and monitors with the V-Streamer and V-Manager Server?

No – these devices are normally placed within the engineering racks at a television station and the monitor and keyboard functions are provided by a station KVM system.

Can I install IT provided anti-virus system on the V-Manager Windows 10 Server?

Yes. The welcome letter provided with the system explains how the Videstra system works within your IT policies.

It is important to understand that some AV solutions such as ZScaler will require exceptions, otherwise RTSP streams will be blocked and some PTZ access to cameras may not function.

Can I install VNC on the V-Manager?

Yes. Numerous Videstra customers do this.

Which IP-based cameras are compatible with Videstra?

Most camera models from Axis, Bolin, Truen and Sony are managed natively. Other cameras, from dozens of other manufacturers including Canon, Hikvision, Panasonic, Mobotix, are supported with our exclusive Flex Panel™.

Does the Videstra system support audio?

Yes. Incoming streams which contain AAC/AACLC and G711 offer audio embedded into the synchronous HD-SDI stream.

Does the Videstra system support overlays in the HD-SDI video?

Yes. Set up any panel to support either fixed (permanent) or user-selectable overlay graphics. The graphics support semi-transparency.

Does the Videstra system support MJPEG video streams?

No. Only H.264 or H.265 video streams are supported. Motion JPEG (aka MJPEG) is an older streaming format which requires too much bandwidth to be usable from cameras deployed over limited data connections.

Does the V-Streamer support IP Video output?

No. Not yet. Only HD-SDI at 720P, 1080i and 1080P 50/60/59.94 Hz is supported.

Does the V-Streamer support 4K resolution?

For input from a Micro-Local camera any resolution is supported from the H.264/265 stream (including 4K). The HD-SDI output is only available as 720P, 1080i or 1080P. Regardless of the input the output will be scaled to the appropriate HD-SDI resolution.

Can the V-Streamer be GENLOCKED to house sync?

Yes. The V-Streamer can be GENLOCKED to tri- or bi-level analog sync. The V-Streamer supports up to a full frame (vertical and horizontal increments) of sync offset.

What is Clip Factory™ and how is it different from Timelapse Factory?

Clip Factory is available for Axis cameras only. Axis cameras can record live video in a never-ending continuous loop. The loop can be as long as 96 hours. With Clip Factory you can review index images (1 minute thumbnails) to find points within the recorded loop to download. Download from 1 to 20 minutes of live recorded video from any time-period within the last 72 hours (3-days).

While Clip Factory gives you access to live recorded video, Timelapse Factory is available for all cameras (not just Axis) and creates only time lapse movies.

Can I schedule time lapse creation for use on-air?

Yes. With version 2.3.6 and later of VestraView you can set up a time lapse schedule that will create a time lapse that covers from 30 minutes to 5 hours prior to the time they are schedule to run. The Timelapse Scheduler can then automatically transfer the time lapse to a weather graphics system (such as The Weather Company Max), a traffic system (such as Max Traffic), or to a writable share on an accessible network.

I know images for time lapse are, by default, captured every minute, but can I set the system to capture images more often?

Yes. Videstra calls this HTR, High Temporal Resolution. Time lapse video will be ultra-smooth. Images can be captured in 15 second, 30 second, or 1 minute intervals.