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Site-survey checklist

Use this on a first pilot. It pairs with the pilot playbook — do S1 (recorded clip) before any network setup.

What to collect from the store

Section titled “What to collect from the store”
  • Camera — brand/model (a photo of it) and how many.
  • Recorder — is there a DVR/NVR box? Photo + brand.
  • Camera / NVR login — username + password. (You’ll change any default.)
  • Router login — admin username + password (needed to port-forward).
  • Internet — ISP name + connection type → to check CGNAT.
  • Angle — does a camera actually see the entrance/door, not just the counter? (Confirm on the recorded clip.)
  • Power + spot — only needed later for S3; note it anyway.

The 5-minute reachability test (on-site)

Section titled “The 5-minute reachability test (on-site)”
  1. Join the store’s Wi-Fi.
  2. Find the camera’s local IP — scan the LAN (e.g. nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24, or check the router’s device list).
  3. Build the RTSP URL for the brand (see the playbook table).
  4. Open it in VLC → Open Network Stream, or run ffprobe rtsp://….
  5. Stream opens → note whether you used the main or sub stream (prefer sub).
  6. Check CGNAT (router WAN IP vs whatismyip). Not CGNAT → you can port-forward.

Angle check (the #1 thing)

Section titled “Angle check (the #1 thing)”

The camera must see people crossing the entrance line. A pastry/retail camera usually points at the register — that counts transactions, not footfall. If the entrance isn’t in frame, flag it before promising numbers; you may need the owner to re-aim a camera or pick a different one.

Message to send the owner

Section titled “Message to send the owner”

Plain, non-technical — translate to French/Tunisian Darja as needed:

Hi [name], thanks again for being open to try it! To set it up I’ll just need a few small things — nothing you have to buy or change:

  1. Come by for ~30 minutes to look at your camera and connect to your Wi-Fi.
  2. The login for your camera/recorder (and your Wi-Fi router login) — if you don’t have them, the person who installed the cameras usually does.
  3. Before that, if it’s easy: from your recorder, save a few hours of yesterday’s video to a USB stick — I’ll show you your real visitor numbers with zero setup.

That’s it — no new hardware, no cost, and your video stays private (I only keep anonymous counts, no faces). When’s a good time this week?