R230 Camera Setup – Rhombus Support

Topics included in this article:

Overview
Prerequisites
Waterproofing
Connecting the Camera
Mounting Guide
- Universal Drop Ceiling Mount
Aiming the Lens
Registration Methods
- Mobile App
  - Bluetooth Registration (For Wi-Fi)
- Web Console
Helpful Links
Contact Support or Sales

Overview

The R230 is Rhombus' all-purpose dome camera with WiFi capabilities for easy and flexible deployments. This article covers the general setup steps for connecting and mounting the R230.

Prerequisites

Before you can register a Rhombus camera, you will need:

Rhombus Console Account
Mobile phone with downloaded Rhombus App (Android or iOS)
Camera connected to network and power
Provided Waterproofing Kit (reference this article for details on installation)

Waterproofing

Following the waterproofing guidelines is essential to ensure your product is covered under our End User License Agreement and Hardware Warranty. Failure to complete the waterproofing steps as outlined in the product manual may void your warranty and limit our liability for related damages. For more information, refer to our EULA.

Use the included accessories to waterproof the cable connection, installing them as shown below. Ensure that the O-ring is in place (and not twisted) between the pigtail and the housing, and lock the housing and pigtail together with a quarter-turn. Using an Ethernet cable without a boot or strain relief is best for fitting easily within the housing. After mounting the camera, ensure the two dome screws are firmly tightened to prevent water ingress.

R230_wp(edit).png

For more information on waterproofing, visit our Preventing Water Damage article.

Connecting the Camera

To complete registration, a camera needs power and should be connected to a local network that has access to the internet. Rhombus recommends using a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch or PoE injector to accomplish this.

Ensure the switch has power.
Configure the network to comply with Rhombus requirements. Reference our Network Setup Guide for more details on network configuration.
Connect the camera to the PoE switch for power and ethernet. It should automatically boot up and begin the registration process.

Mounting Guide

Below are the steps for mounting the R230 on a wall or ceiling:

1. Open the dome by unscrewing two housing screws with the included Torx tool.

2. Use two included round-head self-tapping screws to mount the base to the surface.

3. Use two included anchors when mounting to softer materials.

4. Replace the dome and tighten two housing screws with the included Torx tool.

When removing the dome, do not pull on the pigtail.
It is critical that the dome housing does not cover the Ambient Light Sensor. This determines transitions between night and day.
For best nighttime performance, ensure that the four IR LEDs are not blocked. If some of them are blocked, nighttime performance may be degraded.

IMG_7761 (1).JPG

Universal Drop Ceiling Mount

The universal drop ceiling mount allows all Rhombus dome/fisheye cameras (except for the R360S*) to be mounted to drop ceiling T-Bar grids. The included T-Bar clip allows for easy mounting to the standard 15/16" grid as well as the 9/16" grid. This section covers how to properly install the universal drop ceiling mount.

1. Locate the 1/4"-20 nut in the center tabs.

2. While holding the nut in place, thread the T-Bar clip through the nut until tight.

3. Fully open the T-Bar clip.

Note: Depending on ceiling accessiblity, the next two steps can be performed in reverse order.

4. Mount the universal ceiling mount to the T-Bar by twisting the clip onto the T-Bar and closing the clip.

5. Remove the dome to access the camera mounting holes. Use the screws provided with the camera to secure it by inserting them into the holes that match the mounting pattern listed in the table below.

Mounting Pattern	Compatible Cameras
A	R100/R120/R200 (also compatible with A100)
B	R400
C	R230/R360
D	R170

6. Optionally, an additional screw can be inserted into the recessed hole to help reduce tampering with the camera.

Note: Some trimming may be required to ensure ceiling tiles fit flush over the T-Bar clip when using a 9/16" T-Bar.

Aiming the Lens

The lens can be vertically angled 180 degrees and rotated 90 degrees.

Registration Methods

Once you have powered up your camera and connected it to the internet, it can be registered. Ensure the camera has the correct LED status that indicates it's ready to be registered.

Camera Model	Connected to Rhombus Servers	Not Connected to Rhombus Servers	Registration Failure
R230	Blinking Blue	2 Blue [Pause] 2 Blue [Repeat]	Slow blinking Red IR LEDs

A full explanation of all LED statuses can be found here.

If the camera does not auto-register when brought online, you can register a camera from the Rhombus Mobile App or via the Rhombus Web Console.

Mobile App

App Download: Android or iOS

1. Log in to the app, tap "Menu" in the bottom right corner, then tap "Register Devices." This will launch the registration wizard, which will guide you through the registration process step by step.

2. Tap "Register via QR Code."

3. Select the location where you'd like the camera to be registered. If you haven't created a location within your console yet, tap "Add New Location" at the bottom of this page.

Note: If you can't find the appropriate location, filter the results by tapping the "filter" button in the top right. Learn more about managing locations here.

Select Location.PNG

4. Select Ethernet or Wi-Fi for the camera connection type.

4a. If you choose Wi-Fi, enter the SSID and password for the Wi-Fi network this camera should connect to.

5. The last screen will display a QR code. Once the camera has powered on, show the QR code to it (a few inches from the lens is good).

Note: If you do not hear a click, try moving the phone toward and away from the camera.

Bluetooth Registration

When registering via Wi-Fi, the R230 can also register via Bluetooth.

1. Open the mobile app, tap "Menu" in the bottom right corner, then tap "Register Devices." This will launch the registration wizard, which will guide you through the registration process step by step.

2. Tap "Register via Bluetooth."

3. Select the location where you'd like the camera to be registered. If you haven't created a location within your console yet, tap "Add New Location" at the bottom of this page.

Note: If you can't find the appropriate location, filter the results by tapping the "filter" button in the top right. Learn more about managing locations here.

Select Location.PNG

4. Tap the R230 from the list of nearby devices, then tap "Next."

Note: Multiple devices can be registered via Bluetooth simultaneously.

4. Select Wi-Fi for the camera connection type, enter your Wi-Fi credentials, and tap "Next."

Ensure your wireless network supports the requirements listed in the Supported Wi-Fi Network and Authentication Protocols article.

Note: These credentials are case-sensitive.

5. Ensure the "Use DHCP" toggle is enabled, then tap "Next." After a few minutes, the camera will complete its registration.

Web Console

1. To register a camera from the web console, navigate to the "Devices" tab, and click "Register Camera."

If this is the first camera you are registering, you'll need to add a location first, either during this wizard or by selecting the Locations tab and choosing "Add Location."

2. When the registration window populates, the first prompt asks you to enter your mobile number to receive a link to download the mobile app. If you would prefer to register via the web console, you can ignore this first step, and click "Next" at the bottom right.

3. Select the location where this camera will be registered, and click "Next."

4. Select Ethernet or Wi-Fi for the camera connection type.

4a. If you choose Wi-Fi for the camera connection type, enter the SSID and password for the Wi-Fi network this camera will connect to.

5. Select which roles will have access to these devices. You can choose between no access, view-only access, or full management permissions.

6. Select a policy to assign to these cameras, and click "Next." (If you would prefer to have different policies applied to multiple cameras, leave the policy selection blank.)

7. The final screen will display the QR Registration Code. Show this QR Code to any camera that is powered and connected to the internet, and it will register accordingly.