Table of Contents
Troubleshooting Kit
This is the equipment to have in the van before a site visit. The Pre-Flight Checklist covers what to confirm about the site itself before you set off.
Console Access
If a TetherBox is not reachable over the network, you have to plug a screen and a keyboard into the unit itself, so carry both on every visit.
- A screen, either an HDMI monitor or a USB-C to HDMI adapter that lets you use your laptop as a screen
- USB keyboard
- HDMI adapters, all of them. Models differ in what video output they have:
- Micro-HDMI (Type D), on Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 TetherBoxes
- Mini DisplayPort
- DVI
- Laptop with an Ethernet port, or a USB Ethernet adapter
Spare Drives
Carry a spare drive imaged and ready, so that you can swap out a failed one on the day. See Replacing a TetherBox Drive for the procedure.
| Unit | Drive |
|---|---|
| TetherBox | MicroSD, 64 GB or larger |
| TetherBox Pico | 2.5" SSD, 128 GB or larger |
| TetherBox Giga | 2.5" SSD, 128 GB or larger |
Tip: Image the spares with the current TetherBox software before they go in the van, and re-image them every few months. Installing Operating System covers the process.
Power Supplies
An underrated supply causes instability and periodic reboots.
| Unit | Supply |
|---|---|
| TetherBox (USB-C) | 5 V, 2.5 A minimum |
| TetherBox Pico | 19 V, 3.43 A minimum (older units 12 V, 2.5 A minimum) |
| TetherBox Giga | A suitable ATX or compatible power supply |
Network
- Patch leads, two or three each at 0.5 m, 2 m and 5 m
- Cable tester and a crimping tool with spare RJ45 connectors
- PoE tester, and a PoE injector for powering a single camera off the switch
- Spare PoE switch, 8 port
- 4G or 5G hotspot, for separating a site Internet fault from a TetherBox fault
Hand Tools
- Philips and flathead screwdrivers
- Wire cutters and strippers
- Multimeter
- Label maker
Software on the Laptop
- IP scanner, such as Fing or Advanced IP Scanner
- ONVIF Device Manager, for checking a camera's ONVIF support
- VLC, for playing a stream directly from a camera. See Testing with VLC.
- Manufacturer tools for the common brands: Dahua ConfigTool, Hikvision SADP
Before You Set Off
These are checks on the kit itself. What to confirm about the site is in the Pre-Flight Checklist.
- Boot the spare drive once, to confirm it works and carries current software.
- Charge the laptop and the phone.
- Check that every adapter listed above is in the bag, not only the one used last time.
Related Articles
- Pre-Flight Checklist - what to confirm about the site before the visit
- TetherBox Went Offline - diagnosing a unit that has stopped reporting
- TetherBox Troubleshooting - general diagnostics
- Tunnelling to Network Devices - reaching a device on the customer's LAN afterwards
- Hardware Specifications - sizing the unit and its storage
