18685 – Exacq

This article applies to the Axis I8116-E Network Video Intercom using firmware 11.8.66.

ExacqVision does not currently support SIP calling functions. However, this device can be integrated for interactive operation with ExacqVision as detailed here.

In the example that follows we will step through an example scenario wherein pressing the door station call button brings the door station camera to the attention of the ExacqVision operator to trigger a door lock.

The following topics are discussed:

Wiring an electric door strike to the door station
Adding the device to ExacqVision
Enabling Two-Way Audio
Adding Associations
Creating custom Views
Creating an Event Monitoring profile

You will combine several features and functions within the ExacqVision Client. It is recommended that users acquaint themselves with the ExacqVision Client prior to use. We provide User Training Videos on these topics.

Wire a Door Strike

The simplest configuration is that of a single electric door strike, or maglock, wired directly to the door controller.

The Axis I8116-E can be wired in a number of different ways, using PoE, external power sources, A9801 Relay, A9161 Network I/O Relay, or an Axis access control system. For more information on the many wiring and hardware configurations please refer to the manufacturer’s website or documentation.

Add the Device

You will want to use a web browser to log into the device and perform the initial setup, which at this state usually means setting a non-default username/password, and possibly setting a static IP address.
The call button should be enabled by default.
The device’s default settings create a ‘VMS’ entry under the Contact List menu. This ‘VMS’ contact will already be listed in the Recipients field. If you do not see this, enter it now.
If you do not already know the IP address of the door station, you will need to discover it on the network. 
- If using the Find IP Cameras tab on the Add IP Cameras page, note that you may find the device listed twice. Ignore results with a 169.254.x.x address. You will ant to use the IP address in the same range as your ExacqVision VMS, however this result may be discovered with ‘Onvif’ displayed in the ‘Type’ column. Access the discovered IP address in your web browser to set the username and password.
Add the device manually by clicking the New button under the IP Camera List in the top half of the page. Select AXIS VAPIX from the Device Type Selector. Enter the IP address in the same range as your ExacqVision VMS, then enter the username and password credentials before clicking Apply to add the device. The device should display a ‘Connected’ status in the IP Camera List before continuing.

Enable Two-Way Audio

Expand the Add IP Cameras node from the navigation tree.
Select the Audio Inputs/Outputs node nested beneath the Add IP Cameras node.
The resulting list displayed will show each door station device listed twice. Note the column, titled Audio. One of these rows shows ‘Audio,’ while the other displays ‘Audio Output.’ For easier identification we can apply our own labels here. We change ‘Audio Output’ to ‘Talk’ and change ‘Audio’ to ‘Listen.’
Find the Record Enable column. Place a check in the box for both of these rows for the device. This enables two-way audio functions within ExacqVision
Press the Apply button to save your changes. Use the Talk and Listen buttons to verify audio is functioning and adjust the audio gain as desired in the door station’s web browser interface.

IMPORTANT: Client workstations intended for use with two-way audio devices MUST have a microphone enabled. Two-way audio menus and controls are disabled or hidden until a microphone is recognized by the operating system. Each client workstation used for two-way audio must have its own microphone.

Add Associations

You have the option of using soft triggers and audio controls from the top toolbar in live view, but these will open dialogues showing all system options. Controls that are used frequently and directly related to the specific camera being displayed in a panel may be easier for operators to use when added as Association buttons within the camera panel.

Select the Associations node from the navigation tree.
The panel along the left lists existing cameras. Find and click to select the door station.
From the Available Controls panel, we select the ‘Listen’ option we relabeled earlier and click Add. There will be two controls labeled ‘Talk’ that we relabeled earlier. Select and add the one showing the microphone icon.
So that your ExacqVision operators can unlock the door remotely, find and add the control labeled ‘Door.’
Note: This control may be relabeled from within the door station’s web browser interface, but is labeled ‘Door’ by default for us.
You should now have three Associated Controls listed. You may wish to edit the Button Style listed. ‘Sustained’ requires a click on, and another click to turn off. ‘Momentary’ functions only while a user is pressing down the button which will also prevent a user from accidentally forgetting to lock the door or leaving a microphone on. You may refer to the User Manual or Associations training video for more information on customizing your Associations.
Click Apply to save your changes when done.

Create Custom Views

In our example we will create a View to display when triggered, rather than changing a single video panel. Learn more about these two options in the Event Monitoring training video. To make this work, we will create two custom Views to use later when creating an Event Monitoring profile. Refer to the Views training video if you need more details on performing these steps.

Select the Views node from the navigation tree.
Click the New View button, then enter a descriptive name. In this example, we name our view ‘East Entry.'
Select a layout for the view from the layout toolbar above. This view may have a single panel layout showing only the camera view from the door station, or you may use a multi-panel layout displaying the door station and other cameras showing the entry from different angles.
Use the Available Items panel to find your door station camera and drag it to the empty panel in the layout. If using a multi-panel layout, fill the other panels as you like.
Because the Associations are already displayed, an ExacqVision operator may easily enable/disable each when viewing in Live mode. However, if you’d like the Microphone or Speaker to be on automatically upon the view changing, you may also drag one of these onto the layout as well. Only one may be active.
Click Apply to save you changes when done.
Since we are changing the entire view displayed in Live mode, we will also want to create a view that is displayed when the door station is not in use. Repeat the steps above to create another view titled ‘Default View.’

Create an Event Monitoring Profile

Next you will create the Event Monitoring profile that changes the view displayed while in Live mode.

Select the Event Monitoring node from the navigation tree.
Click the New button under the Profiles panel to begin creating a new profile.
Enter a descriptive Name under the Profile Configuration panel. Our example will name this ‘East Entry’ for the door where it is being placed.
The option you select for the Show Event List menu will depend on your intended use.
- Never is the less obtrusive option as it hides the Event List from popping up in our view. The trade off for this is you will probably want to set Timeout later so the View changes back to the default display after a given amount of time. Without this, the displayed View will remain on the door station camera.
- On Event will pop open the Event List window which some users do not like. However, the benefit of this is the ExacqVision user can decide when to return to the default View and the View will not change in the middle of being used simply because a timer ended. When the event is cleared the Event List window will disappear.
- Always will always be displayed whether or not the door station is being utilized.
Checking the Show Newest Event box is optional. This feature is most useful when many possible events are included in an Event Monitoring profile. An example may be a site with multiple door stations, in which case checking this box will change the view to display the station with the most recently pressed Call Button.
As mentioned previously, this example will use ‘View’ from the Type field. Refer to the Event Monitoring training video for more on the ‘Video Panel’ option, which does not require creating custom Views.
Under Client Actions in the middle of the window is where you will create the actions that occur when triggered by various events. Our first row, currently labeled ‘Unknown’ should already be highlighted because we are creating a new profile.
From the Event Type panel list below, select ‘Default’.
From the Action Type panel list, select Switch View. Note that you could also opt to make your default display a Tour, which is covered in the Tours training video.
From the Action Target panel list, select the default View you created earlier.
Click the New button under the Client Actions panel in the middle of the window. This adds a new row to configure.
With the newly created row highlighted, select Input Trigger from the Event Type list.
The door station has already named the input for you. Locate the door station in the list. It has several inputs, select the one labeled ‘Call button’. Do not enable the ‘Lasts at Least’ checkbox.
From the Action Type list, select Switch View.
From the Action Target list, select the door station View you created earlier. In our example we named this ‘East Entry’.
Your next choice will depend on the option you selected from the Show Event List, in step 4, above.
- If you chose Never and want the Live view to return to your default view after a set number of seconds, uncheck the Confirm box and set your Timeout as desired.
- If you chose On Event or Always and want to allow your ExacqVision users to acknowledge the event to return to the default view, leave the Confirm box checked.
Click the Apply button to save your changes when done.

Handling Calls From ExacqVision

Using the ExacqVision Client software, browse to Live mode.
By default, the panel along the left side of the window displays a list of Live Cameras. Using the options at the bottom select Views to update this panel to Live Views.
The Live navigation panel lists System Views, User Role Views, User Views, and System Tours, which includes any Views created earlier in the process of configuring our profile. Towards the bottom is a list of Event Monitors.
Find the name of the Event Monitoring profile you created. Again, our example was named ‘East Entry’. Drag this profile to the cameras panel to the right.
You should now be viewing your default View. When the Call Button on the door station is pressed the View will change to display the door station camera view you created earlier.
The Association icons we added earlier can be seen at the bottom corner. The door station will continue to ring until an ExacqVision user presses the Talk button or the configured ring timeout is reached.
Press the Talk button to transmit audio from your client workstation microphone to speak to door station users. Press the Listen button to hear door station users speaking.

Note: Audio from Talk and Listen actions may be buffered, presenting a delay. Practice with the system to gain a feel for this on your network.
If you have correctly wired a door strike, maglock, or other electronic locking mechanism to the door station, pressing the icon for the output will unlock the door.

Note: Door controls may be customized within the door station’s web browser interface. <br

Door Station Visitor Operation

A visitor using the door station may simply press the Call Button to activate the Event Monitoring profile, as created above.
The use case detailed in this article does not prevent the door station from being used for SIP calls.

Once a SIP server has been configured within the door station’s web browser interface, a SIP call may be initiated by pressing the Call Button.

Note: When used together with SIP, any press of the Call Button will continue to trigger an Event Monitoring profile configured to do so.