Ikan PTZ teleprompters troubleshooting

Common PTZ teleprompters errors & problems

What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.

• Ghosting / faint double reflection of the text on the glass

  Likely cause: A beamsplitter is directional; reversing it or using low-grade glass produces a secondary reflection off the wrong surface, which reads as ghost text.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• How to control the OTTICA PTZ camera while it is behind the prompter glass

  Likely cause: The whole point of a PTZ prompter is remote operation; the OTTICA exposes IP VISCA and serial control plus preset recall, so it is driven entirely from the control position with the camera hidden behind the glass.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Need to update OTTICA PTZ camera or controller firmware

  Likely cause: Ikan distributes OTTICA firmware per product page rather than one universal build, so matching the SKU avoids bricking; the controller uses a separate USB-micro update path.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• No image on the teleprompter monitor

  Likely cause: Ikan teleprompter monitors have per-input select buttons; a mismatched input or bad 12V supply is the most common no-image cause.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• PTZ camera body or lens is visible in shot / double image / light leak through the glass

  Likely cause: The enclosed hood blocks ambient light from hitting the camera side of the glass; any gap lets light leak and makes the lens/rig show up in the reflection or as a ghost.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• PTZ camera cannot pan/tilt fully or the frame edge clips when panning

  Likely cause: PTZ prompting only works because the glass and hood are oversized relative to a standard prompter; panning beyond that window puts the lens behind the hood wall.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Reading text too dim / hard to see under studio lights or sunlight

  Likely cause: The high-bright panel exists specifically to overcome ambient light on the beamsplitter; the reflection brightness is a fraction of panel output (70/30 or 65/35 split), so panel backlight must be high in bright environments.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Script text reads backwards / mirrored the wrong way in the beamsplitter reflection

  Likely cause: A beamsplitter reflects the image, so the monitor must send a horizontally-flipped picture for the reflection to read correctly.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Tally light not lighting during live switch

  Likely cause: The tally indicator reads the tally flag embedded in the SDI stream; it needs both a tally-capable monitor SKU and a switcher configured to send SDI tally.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

• Teleprompter tips forward or is front/back heavy after mounting the PTZ camera

  Likely cause: The sliding base rail moves the combined center of gravity of camera + prompter over the tripod pivot, so the design balances by position instead of counterweight.

  Step-by-step fixGet the fix →

Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.

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