Annke System Not Recording? A Guide to Solving the Problem
Discovering that your Annke security camera system hasn't been recording is a serious issue. Footage is useless if it's never captured. This guide will help you troubleshoot the most common reasons for recording failure on Annke DVRs and NVRs and get your system working again.
Step 1: Check the Hard Drive (HDD)
The hard drive is where your footage is stored. If there's a problem with it, recording will fail. This is the first place you should look.
- Log in to your Annke system using a connected monitor and mouse.
- Navigate to the HDD Settings: Right-click on the main screen and go to the Main Menu. Find the HDD or Storage section.
- Check the Status: You will see your installed hard drive listed. Pay close attention to its status.
- Normal: The drive is detected and should be working.
- Uninitialized / Unformatted: The drive is detected but not ready to record. This is normal for a new drive. Select the drive and click the "Init" or "Format" button. Warning: This will erase all data on the drive.
- Error / Not Found: The system cannot communicate with the drive. This could be a sign of a failed drive or, more simply, a loose connection. If you're comfortable, power down the system, open the case, and check that the SATA data and power cables are securely connected to the hard drive. If the error persists after checking cables, the drive may need replacing.
Step 2: Review the Recording Schedule
If the hard drive status is "Normal," the next step is to ensure you've actually instructed the system to record.
- Go to the Record Menu: In the Main Menu, find the Record or Schedule section.
- Enable the Schedule: Make sure there is a checkmark in the "Enable Schedule" box.
- Check the Recording Mode: You will see a grid for the week. You can set different recording types:
- Continuous (Green): Records 24/7 without interruption.
- Motion (Yellow): Only records when motion is detected.
- Alarm (Red): Records when an external alarm is triggered.
- Configure the Grid: If the grid is completely blank, no recording of any type will happen. To record on motion, for example, you must select "Motion," and then "paint" the grid yellow for the days and times you want it to be active. For 24/7 continuous recording, paint the whole grid green.
- Copy to Other Cameras: Use the "Copy" function to easily apply the same schedule to your other cameras, then click "Apply" to save the changes.
Step 3: Verify Motion Detection Settings
If you are using motion-activated recording, you must ensure the feature is enabled and configured correctly.
- Go to the Event Menu: In the Main Menu, navigate to the Event or Alarm section.
- Select Motion Detect: Choose the "Motion Detect" tab.
- Enable and Configure: Select your camera from the list. Make sure the "Enable Motion Detection" box is ticked.
- Link Action: Crucially, look for a setting called "Trigger Actions" or "Linkage Action." You must ensure that the "Record Channel" box is ticked for the camera you are configuring. This tells the system to start recording when it detects motion. If this is not checked, motion will be detected, but no video will be saved.
Step 4: Final Checks
- Recording Icon: On the live view screen for each camera, look for a small recording symbol (often a green filmstrip or a red dot). If this symbol is present, the camera is actively recording. If it's missing, it confirms a problem with your schedule or HDD.
- Playback: Use the Playback feature to check for recent recordings. If settings were wrong, you won't see old footage, but after fixing the settings, new footage should start appearing.
By methodically checking the hard drive, schedule, and motion detection linkage, you can resolve the vast majority of recording issues on your Annke security system.