Hanwha Vision (Wisenet) Camera Not Recording? Troubleshooting Guide
When your Hanwha Vision (formerly Samsung Wisenet) security system fails to record, it compromises the integrity of your entire surveillance setup. Whether you're using standalone cameras with SD cards or a full Network Video Recorder (NVR) system, a lack of recorded footage is a critical issue. This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the most common causes for recording failures.
## Step 1: Verify Storage Status and Health
The most frequent culprit for recording issues is the storage medium itself. Whether it's a micro SD card in the camera or hard disk drives (HDDs) in an NVR, you need to ensure they are functioning correctly.
- Check Storage Capacity: Log into your NVR or camera's web interface. Navigate to the Storage or Device Management section. Here, you will see the status of your installed HDDs or SD card. Is the storage full?
- Enable Overwriting: If the storage is full, the system will stop recording unless 'overwrite' is enabled. This feature allows the system to automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for new recordings. Ensure this setting is turned on.
- Health Status (S.M.A.R.T.): For NVRs, the system often provides a S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) status for the hard drives. If the health check shows 'Errors' or 'Failing', the drive needs to be replaced immediately.
- Formatting: If you have installed a new SD card or HDD, it must be formatted by the Hanwha device before it can be used for recording. There will be a 'Format' button in the storage management section. Warning: Formatting will erase all data on the drive.
## Step 2: Review the Recording Schedule
Your Hanwha system's recording behaviour is governed by a schedule. If this is misconfigured, the camera won't record when you expect it to.
- Access the Schedule: In the system's setup menu, find the Record or Schedule section.
- Check the Timetable: The schedule is usually displayed as a grid representing the hours of the day and days of the week. Different colours typically represent different recording modes (e.g., green for continuous, yellow for motion/event).
- Ensure it's Configured: Is the grid empty? If so, no recording has been scheduled. You need to apply a recording mode (like Motion) to the desired days and times. Make sure you click Apply or Save to confirm the changes.
## Step 3: Check Event and Motion Detection Settings
If you have configured your system to record only on motion, incorrect settings here will result in no footage being captured.
- Motion Detection Area: Go to the Event settings for the specific camera. Ensure that the motion detection grid is enabled and that the detection area is drawn correctly over the scene you want to monitor. If no area is defined, no motion will be detected.
- Sensitivity Levels: The sensitivity setting determines how much change in the scene is required to trigger a recording. If sensitivity is too low, small or distant movements will be ignored. If it's too high, you'll get false alarms from things like shadows or rain. Adjust this setting and test it by walking through the detection area.
- Link to Recording: In the event settings, you need to ensure that the motion detection event is linked to the 'Record' action. There is usually a checkbox or trigger setting that says 'Record Channel' which must be enabled.
## Step 4: Verify Network Connectivity (for NVRs)
If your cameras are connected to an NVR, a stable network connection is essential for recording.
- Camera Status: In the NVR's camera registration menu, check the status of the camera in question. Does it show as connected and online?
- Ping the Camera: If a camera is showing as disconnected, you can use the NVR's network tools to 'ping' the camera's IP address to check for a response.
- Check Cables and Ports: Ensure the Ethernet cable connecting the camera to the NVR or network switch is securely plugged in and not damaged.
By methodically checking these four key areas—storage, scheduling, event configuration, and network—you can effectively troubleshoot and solve the vast majority of 'not recording' issues with your Hanwha Vision security system.