Is Your Abode Camera Not Recording 24/7? Here's a Fix
The Abode security system offers robust protection, and for users with compatible cameras and plans, the continuous video recording (CVR) feature provides an uninterrupted 10-day video history. This is a step above simple motion clips, ensuring you never miss a moment. However, if you're expecting a 24/7 timeline and only seeing motion-activated clips, it's likely due to a configuration or subscription issue.
This guide will walk you through the necessary checks to enable and troubleshoot 24/7 recording on your Abode cameras.
Signs That CVR Isn't Working
Let's first identify the problem. If CVR is not active on your camera, you will notice:
- No Timeline View: When you view your camera in the Abode app, you only see a live feed and a list of event clips. There is no continuous, scrollable timeline to review past footage.
- Gaps in History: Your recordings consist only of short clips triggered by motion, with clear time gaps in between them.
- Upgrade Prompts: The Abode app or web interface may display messages prompting you to upgrade your plan to unlock 24/7 recording.
- Feature is Greyed Out: In the camera's settings, the option to enable 24/7 recording might be visible but greyed out and unselectable.
How to Enable and Troubleshoot Abode 24/7 CVR
Follow these critical steps to get your continuous recording up and running.
1. The Most Important Step: Check Your Abode Plan
Continuous video recording is a premium feature that requires significant cloud storage and is not available on Abode's free plan.
- Required Plans: To use 24/7 CVR, you must be subscribed to either the Abode Standard Plan or the Abode Pro Plan.
- How to Check: Log into your account on the Abode website (my.goabode.com) or open the Abode mobile app. Navigate to the account or billing section to view your current subscription plan.
- Solution: If you are on the Basic (free) plan, you will need to upgrade to one of the paid plans to enable the feature. This is the most common reason for CVR not being available.
2. Ensure Your Camera is Compatible
While most modern Abode cameras support CVR, it's always wise to double-check. The Abode Cam 2, IOTA All-in-One, and Outdoor Smart Camera are all CVR-compatible. If you have an older or third-party camera integrated with your system, it may not support the feature. A quick check of the camera's specifications on the Abode website will confirm its capabilities.
3. Enable CVR in the Camera's Settings
Once you've confirmed you have a compatible plan and camera, you need to turn the feature on for each individual camera.
- Using the Web App: Log in to your account on the Abode website.
- Navigate to Cameras: Find the main 'Cameras' tab.
- Select Settings: Click the settings icon for the camera you wish to configure.
- Toggle CVR On: You should see an option for "24/7 Recording" or "CVR". Make sure this toggle is switched to the ON position.
- Save Changes: Be sure to save any changes you make.
4. Evaluate Your Internet Connection
CVR places a constant demand on your home network. It requires a stable and reasonably fast upload speed to continuously send video data to the cloud.
- Check Upload Speed: Run an internet speed test from a device connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your camera. Abode recommends a minimum of 1 Mbps of upload speed per camera that has CVR enabled. So, for two cameras, you'd want at least 2 Mbps of available upload bandwidth.
- Assess Wi-Fi Signal: A weak Wi-Fi signal will cause the video stream to drop, creating gaps and unreliability in your 24/7 recording. In the camera's settings, check for a signal strength indicator. If it's poor, try moving the camera closer to your Wi-Fi router.
- Consider a Wired Connection: If your camera supports it (like the Abode Cam 2 with a power-over-ethernet adapter), a wired Ethernet connection is always more stable and reliable for CVR than Wi-Fi.
5. Power Cycle the Camera
If you have the right plan and the settings are correct, but it's still not working, a simple reboot can sometimes resolve a temporary glitch.
- Unplug the camera from its power source.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- Plug the camera back in and allow a few minutes for it to reconnect to the network and sync with the Abode service.
By ensuring you have the correct subscription plan and a strong network connection, you can enjoy the enhanced security and peace of mind that comes with Abode's 24/7 continuous video recording.