Ctronics No Continuous Recording? A Troubleshooting Guide
One of the most valuable features of a Ctronics security camera is its ability to record footage continuously, ensuring you have a complete 24/7 record of events. When this feature fails and you only get motion-triggered clips—or worse, no recordings at all—it can undermine your sense of security.
This guide is designed to help you diagnose and solve the common reasons why your Ctronics camera has stopped recording continuously. We will walk you through settings, SD card issues, and other potential causes.
## The First and Most Common Cause: Incorrect Recording Mode
Before you start worrying about faulty hardware, it's essential to check the camera's settings. In most cases, the camera is simply not set to the correct recording mode.
- Open the Ctronics App: Launch the app you use to manage your camera (e.g., 'CTRONICS' or 'HiP2P').
- Go to Camera Settings: Select your camera and navigate to its settings menu (often represented by a gear icon).
- Find Recording Schedule/Plan: Look for a menu item labelled 'SD Card Record', 'Record Plan', or 'Recording Schedule'.
- Select Continuous Recording: Inside this menu, you will likely see options for 'Motion Detection Recording', 'Scheduled Recording', and 'Continuous Recording' (sometimes just called 'Record'). Ensure you have selected the option for continuous or 24/7 recording.
- Save Your Changes: Make sure to apply or save the new settings before exiting the menu.
Often, a software update or accidental tap can change this setting without you realising it.
## Symptom: Continuous Recording is On, But It's Not Working
If you've confirmed the settings are correct, the next most likely culprit is the microSD card itself. Continuous recording is very demanding on storage media.
### microSD Card Health and Specifications
- Card Type: For continuous HD video recording, you must use a high-quality microSD card. Look for cards that are Class 10 and have a U3 speed rating. Cards designed for 'high endurance' are ideal as they are built for constant rewriting.
- Card Health: microSD cards have a finite lifespan. After months of continuous recording, the card can wear out and develop bad sectors, leading to failed recordings. If your card is more than a year or two old, consider replacing it.
- Counterfeit Cards: The market is flooded with counterfeit SD cards that falsely report their capacity and speed. These will fail under the strain of continuous recording. Always buy from reputable retailers and brands.
### How to Format Your SD Card
Corrupted data on the card can also halt recordings. It's good practice to format the SD card directly from the Ctronics app.
- Navigate to the 'SD Card' settings in the app.
- Look for a 'Format' or 'Initialise' button.
- Confirm the action. Warning: This will permanently erase all footage currently on the card, so be sure to back up any important clips first.
## Symptom: Recording Stops and Starts Randomly
If you notice significant gaps in your continuous recording timeline, it could point to a power or firmware issue.
- Power Supply: Ensure the camera is connected using the original power adapter and cable it came with. An unstable or underpowered supply can cause the camera to reboot, interrupting the recording process.
- Firmware Update: Manufacturers release firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Check within the camera's settings in the app for a 'Device Update' or 'Firmware Version' section. If an update is available, install it.
- Check the Timeline: When you review footage, does the gap correspond to a time when the camera might have lost power or Wi-Fi? A brief network outage won't stop SD card recording, but a power outage will.
By methodically checking your settings, ensuring you have a suitable SD card, and verifying a stable power supply, you can resolve the vast majority of continuous recording issues with your Ctronics camera.