Troubleshooting: I-Pro Camera Not Recording Continuously
I-Pro cameras are trusted for their professional-grade surveillance capabilities, and continuous, 24/7 recording is a critical feature for many users. When this function fails, it can create significant security gaps. This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the common reasons why your I-Pro camera might have stopped recording continuously.
## Initial Diagnosis: Camera Configuration Settings
The most common reason for a lack of continuous recording is a simple misconfiguration in the camera's settings. You'll need to access your camera's web interface by typing its IP address into a browser.
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Check the Recording Mode:
- Navigate to the "Recording" or "Schedule" section.
- Look for the recording mode setting. It is often labelled as "Mode" or "Type".
- Ensure this is set to "Continuous," "Always," or "24/7." Do not have it set to "Event," "Motion," "Alarm," or "Manual."
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Verify the Recording Schedule:
- Within the same section, you should see a timetable or schedule grid, usually showing hours of the day and days of the week.
- Make sure the entire grid is selected or enabled for continuous recording. A common mistake is to have only certain hours or days scheduled, leading to gaps in the footage.
## Investigating the Storage Medium
Whether you are recording to an internal SD card or a network location, the storage medium is the next critical component to check.
### For SD Card Recording
If you are recording locally to a microSD card inside the camera:
- Check Storage Status: In the camera's web interface, find the "Storage" or "SD Card" status page. It should tell you the card's capacity, how much space is used, and its overall health.
- Is the Card Full?: If the card is full, recording will stop unless the "Overwrite" or "Circular Recording" option is enabled. Ensure this feature is turned on to allow the camera to automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for new recordings.
- Card Health: SD cards have a limited lifespan, especially under the constant writing required for 24/7 surveillance. The status page might report errors. If you suspect the card is failing, try reformatting the SD card through the camera's interface. If problems persist, replace it with a new, high-endurance microSD card designed for surveillance applications.
### For NVR or VMS Recording
If your I-Pro camera is part of a larger system recording to a Network Video Recorder (NVR) or Video Management Software (VMS):
- Check NVR/VMS Settings: Log in to your NVR/VMS and check the recording settings for that specific camera. The settings on the NVR/VMS often override the camera's internal settings. Ensure it is configured for continuous recording there.
- Storage Pool Capacity: Verify that the NVR's hard drive array has sufficient free space. If the entire storage pool is full, all cameras will stop recording.
- Camera Stream Profile: I-Pro cameras often support multiple video streams (e.g., a high-resolution primary stream for recording and a lower-resolution secondary stream for live viewing). Ensure your NVR is configured to pull and record the correct primary stream from the camera.
## Network and Connectivity Issues
A stable network connection is essential for continuous recording, especially when using an NVR or VMS.
- Use a Wired Connection: For 24/7 recording, a wired Ethernet connection is strongly recommended over Wi-Fi. Wireless connections are more susceptible to interference and dropouts, which will interrupt the recording stream.
- Check for Network Congestion: A high-resolution video stream consumes significant bandwidth. If your network is congested, the video stream may be interrupted. Ensure your network switches and routers can handle the load from all your cameras.
- Firmware Updates: Finally, check for firmware updates for both your I-Pro camera and your NVR/VMS. Manufacturers regularly release updates that fix bugs and improve stability, which can often resolve persistent recording issues.
By methodically checking the camera's configuration, the health of your storage medium, and the stability of your network, you can identify and fix the root cause of most continuous recording problems with your I-Pro camera.