Race Cameras: Start and pair

Start and pair

1. Install Python 3.9+ and the camera dependencies described below.
2. Run Launch Camera Station.command on Mac or Launch Camera Station.bat on Windows. Give this machine a unique station ID (24 characters maximum); keep that same ID when restarting.
3. For control from a different computer, choose LAN access and supply a TLS certificate and private key for the station hostname/IP. Certificates must be trusted by Central Control. The station binds port 8877 and prints a pairing key. Keep its terminal open.
4. On the timing machine open Cameras. Enter the station’s reachable HTTPS address, its pairing key, and the central receiver’s HTTPS address as visible from the camera machine. Press Pair camera station.
5. Choose the paired station. Set camera ID/checkpoint, RTSP/SRT/NDI/RTMP source settings, ROI/FPS/confidence/timing offset, then Connect and detect bibs. Central Control starts the capture process on this machine. Stop a feed with Disconnect. Camera detections enter Central Control’s Camera review queue; they never auto-approve.

The station application must be launched once before Central Control can communicate with it. Pairing starts its camera capture sessions remotely; it does not boot a powered-off computer or install the app. No OS daemon/scheduler is installed.

The local station browser provides the same source controls, previews and archive replay. Login username is station, password is the printed pairing key. The pairing key persists in camera_station.pairing-key beside the local database. Pairing/upload tokens are held in memory; re-pair after either application restarts. Reconnect existing active feeds after re-pairing to use the newly issued upload token.