Avigilon Installation Difficulties? Expert Tips Guide

Overcoming Common Avigilon Installation Challenges

Avigilon, a Motorola Solutions company, provides high-performance security solutions, including advanced cameras and the powerful Avigilon Control Center (ACC) software. While the systems are robust and reliable once installed, the initial setup can sometimes present challenges for even experienced installers. This guide provides practical advice for overcoming the most common installation difficulties.

A successful installation is built on careful planning, a solid understanding of networking principles, and familiarity with Avigilon's ecosystem. This article will serve as a reference for troubleshooting issues related to camera discovery, power, and software configuration.

Challenge 1: Camera Discovery and Network Configuration

One of the most frequent hurdles is getting new cameras to appear in the ACC software. If your cameras are not being discovered, it's almost always a networking issue.

Symptoms:

• The camera does not appear in the "Connect/Disconnect Devices" list in ACC.
• The Avigilon Camera Configuration Tool cannot find the device on the network.
• The camera has an IP address that is different from your network's subnet.

Solutions:

• Verify Network Subnet: Avigilon cameras come with a default IP address in the 169.254.x.x range (a zero-configuration address). Your ACC server and the camera must be on the same IP subnet to communicate.
  1. Connect the camera and a laptop to a separate, isolated network switch.
  2. Set a static IP address on your laptop in the same range (e.g., 169.254.1.10).
  3. Use the Avigilon Camera Configuration Tool to discover the camera.
  4. Once discovered, change the camera's IP address from its default to a static IP that fits within your main security network's range (e.g., 192.168.1.100).
• Check for Firewalls: Ensure that no firewalls on the network or on the ACC server itself (including Windows Firewall) are blocking the ports required for camera discovery and communication.
• Confirm Physical Connection: Check Ethernet cable integrity and ensure the link lights are active on both the camera and the switch port it's connected to.

Challenge 2: Power over Ethernet (PoE) Issues

Avigilon cameras are typically powered via PoE, which simplifies wiring. However, power-related problems can be a source of frustration.

Symptoms:

• The camera does not power on at all (no status lights).
• The camera powers on, but the IR illuminators do not work at night.
• The camera reboots intermittently.

Solutions:

• Check PoE Standards: Avigilon cameras have specific power requirements. They may require PoE (802.3af), PoE+ (802.3at), or even high-power PoE++ (802.3bt). Check the camera's technical datasheet for its exact power budget (in watts) or its required PoE class.
• Verify Switch Capability: Ensure that the port on your PoE switch or the midspan injector you are using can supply the required amount of power. An underpowered port is a very common reason for a camera to fail to boot or operate correctly.
• Cable Length and Quality: The maximum length for an Ethernet cable run is 100 metres (328 feet). Exceeding this length can cause a voltage drop, leading to insufficient power. Use high-quality, solid copper Cat5e or Cat6 cabling.

Challenge 3: Software Licensing and Activation

The ACC software requires proper licensing to connect cameras and enable features.

Symptoms:

• You are unable to connect a new camera, even if it's discovered.
• ACC software reverts to a grace period or limited functionality mode.
• An "Activation Failed" error message appears.

Solutions:

• Use the Correct License Key: You need one camera channel license for every camera you wish to connect to the server (with some exceptions for multi-imager devices). Ensure you have enough available licenses.
• Online Activation: The simplest method is online activation. The ACC server must have an internet connection (at least temporarily) to contact Avigilon's licensing server. Enter your 27-character license key in the ACC Client's licensing setup page.
• Offline Activation: For servers on closed networks, you must use the offline method. This involves generating a license.key file from the ACC software, taking that file to a computer with internet access, uploading it to the Avigilon licensing portal, and downloading an activation file to bring back to the server.

Challenge 4: Focusing and Image Quality

A poorly focused camera can render even the highest-resolution sensor useless.

Symptoms:

• The video image appears soft, blurry, or out of focus.
• The camera struggles to maintain focus, especially when switching between day and night modes.

Solutions:

• Use Autofocus Tools: Most modern Avigilon cameras have powerful autofocus capabilities. After you have set the camera's field of view (zoom), trigger the autofocus function from the camera's web interface or the ACC client.
• Fine-Tune Manually: For critical scenes, you may want to refine the focus manually. Zoom in digitally on a high-contrast area of the image and make small, precise adjustments to the focus ring or remote focus controls until the image is perfectly sharp.
• Clean the Lens: Before finalising the installation, ensure both the camera's lens and the inside of the dome bubble or lens cover are perfectly clean and free of dust, smudges, or fingerprints.

By addressing these common installation challenges with a structured, methodical approach, you can ensure a smooth, efficient, and successful deployment of your Avigilon security system.