How to Enable 24/7 Continuous Recording on Your Ctronics Camera
It can be unsettling to check your security camera's playback history only to find significant gaps in the timeline. Many Ctronics cameras are configured by default to record only when motion is detected to conserve storage space. However, for complete peace of mind, you may want to enable 24/7 continuous recording.
This professional and helpful guide will walk you through the necessary steps to configure your Ctronics camera to record around the clock, ensuring you never miss a moment.
## Understanding Recording Modes
Before changing any settings, it's important to understand the different recording modes available on most Ctronics cameras:
- Motion Detection Recording: This is often the default setting. The camera only saves video clips when it detects movement. This saves a lot of storage but means you won't have footage of the moments leading up to or after an event.
- Scheduled Recording: This allows you to set specific times for the camera to record, either continuously or based on motion.
- Continuous Recording (Normal/Plan Record): This is the 24/7 mode. The camera records constantly, writing video to the storage device (SD card or NVR) without interruption.
## Configuring 24/7 Recording via the Ctronics App
The most common way to change settings is through the mobile app (such as Ctronics Pro or HiP2P). The exact menu names may vary slightly depending on your camera model and app version, but the process is generally the same.
- Launch the App and Select Your Camera: Open the app and tap on your camera from the device list to view the live feed.
- Access Camera Settings: Look for a gear icon (⚙️) or a '...' menu, usually in the top-right corner, and tap it to enter the camera's settings menu.
- Find the Recording Schedule: Navigate to a section named 'Record Plan', 'Schedule Recording', or 'SD Card Plan'. This is where you control when and how the camera records.
- Set Up the 24/7 Schedule:
- You will likely see a timetable grid for the week. You need to select the time periods you want to record.
- Choose the 'Normal', 'General' or 'Continuous' recording type. Some apps use a colour code, where green might mean normal recording and yellow means motion detection.
- Set the schedule to run for all 24 hours (00:00 - 24:00) for every day of the week. Make sure you save your changes.
## Essential SD Card and Storage Management
Recording high-definition video 24/7 requires a robust storage solution.
### Choosing the Right SD Card
- Endurance is Crucial: Standard microSD cards are not designed for the constant writing process of a security camera and can fail quickly. You must use a high-endurance microSD card specifically made for dash cams or security cameras.
- Capacity Matters: A larger card will hold more footage before it needs to be overwritten. A 32GB card might only hold a day or two of continuous HD footage, while a 128GB card could hold a week or more.
- Speed Class: Ensure the card is at least Class 10 / U3 to handle the data rate of HD video streams without errors.
### Enable Loop Recording
This is a critical setting. Loop Recording, sometimes called 'Overwrite', allows the camera to automatically delete the oldest video files to make space for new ones when the SD card becomes full. If this is disabled, recording will simply stop once the card is at capacity. This option is usually found in the 'SD Card Management' or 'Storage Settings' section of the app.
## Using an NVR for Superior 24/7 Recording
For the most reliable and long-term 24/7 recording solution, connecting your Ctronics camera to a compatible ONVIF Network Video Recorder (NVR) is the best option.
- Massive Storage: NVRs use desktop-sized hard drives, offering terabytes of storage, which can hold weeks or even months of continuous footage from multiple cameras.
- Centralised Management: You can manage the recording schedules for all your cameras from a single NVR interface.
- Increased Reliability: Hard drives in NVRs are generally more durable and reliable for continuous operation than microSD cards.
To do this, you would add your Ctronics camera to the NVR's device list and then use the NVR's scheduling interface to set up 24/7 recording, similar to how you would in the app.
By following these steps, you can take full control of your Ctronics camera's recording behaviour and ensure it's capturing everything you need, whenever you need it.