Configuring Open ALPR Watchman for License Plate Recognition

Configuring Rekor Scout for License Plate Recognition

• Note 12/09/21: Open ALPR Watchman was rebranded as Rekor Scout.

• Washify will normally configure these settings for us because they need to enter their credentials to activate the license. The doc is here just in case they don't have time to finish the config, or we need to verify the config was set correctly.

• Are you here due to an issue with Open ALPR Watchman not starting correctly after a reboot?

• If so, please ensure that a shortcut to Rekor Scout has NOT been placed in the Windows Startup folder at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup

• Washify has described that some techs will put the shortcut there, but by doing so it makes it more likely that the software will malfunction. Now on to the good stuff.

Downloading and Activating the Program

• 1) Log into the machine

• 2) Paste the following link into the browser

• A) https://deb.openalpr.com/windows-agent/openalpr-agent-latest.exe

• 3) Run the program after it finishes downloading

• 4) Activate using the following credentials:

• A) Username: support@washify.com

• B) Password: In Bitwarden under Rekor Scout (ALPR)

Configuring the Program Settings

• The following are the settings necessary for Rekor to work with Washify POSX and X-Station Kiosk software.

• 1) Open Rekor

• 2) Go to Configure -> Data Destinations

• 3) Select Local queue and click next

• 4) Leave web server port settings as is (port 8355) and uncheck web server debug

• 5) Click Apply

• 6) Click Finish

• 7) Go to Configure -> Agent Settings

• 8) On the ALPR Settings screen:

• A) CPU Cores: Max (usually 4)

• B) Max Image Storage (GB): 1 GB

• C) Max Video Storage (GB): 0 GB

• D) Motion Detection: unchecked

• E) Vehicle Classification: unchecked

• F) Auto-start on boot: checked

• 9) Click Advanced

10) Scroll through the list and configure the following settings...

• A) Maz FPS:Disable

• 1) This is limited by the frame rate on the camera so there's no need to set it here.

• B) Hardware Acceleration: Disabled

• C) Plate Groups Max Plates to Group

• 1) POSX Terminal: 3

• 2) X-Station Kiosk: 7

• D) Plate Groups Minimum Confidence: 80

• 1) You can adjust this down in order to read more complex plates.

• 2) Chances are you can set it and forget it at 80 though

• E) Plate Groups Minimum Plates to Group: 2

• 1) Increase this setting to deal with cross reads

• F) Use beanstalkd: 1

• 1) Required in order to interface with Washify software

• G) User Data: Off

• H) Web Sockets Enabled: 1

• 2) I notice this setting getting flipped back to 0 pretty often with no explantation

• 3) If your hopping in to fix an issue with ALPR reading. Check this setting first.

Setting up a Camera

• 1) Open Rekor

• 2) Under cameras in the top left, select Add

• 3) In the top right, select IP Camera (manual)

• 4) Enter in the following information under Stream URL

• A) rtsp://root:carwash@vvv.xxx.yyy.zzz:554/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h264&streamprole=AutoLicensePlateStream

• B) Where vvv.xxx.yyy.zzz is the ip adress of the lane's camera

• 1) Lane 1: 192.168.35.121

• 2) Lane 2: 192.168.35.122

• 3) Lane 3: 192.168.35.123

• 5) Click Test and make sure the video feed comes up

• 6) Click Save and name the camera cobblestoneXXxstationlaneY where XX is the site number and Y is the lane number