Mobotix Camera Missed Recordings? Here's How to Fix It

How to Fix Missed Recordings on Your Mobotix Camera

A security camera that fails to record critical moments is a significant liability. Mobotix cameras are professional-grade devices, but missed recordings can still occur due to issues with storage, network, or configuration. If you're discovering gaps in your video timeline or that specific events were not captured, this guide will provide you with a structured approach to troubleshooting and resolving the problem.

Missed recordings can manifest in several ways:

• Gaps in continuous footage: There are blank periods in the timeline where no video was saved.
• Failure to trigger on events: You know motion occurred, but the camera did not start recording.
• Corrupted or zero-byte files: The recording was triggered, but the resulting video file is unplayable.
• Recording stops altogether: The camera records for a period and then ceases to record new footage.

Step 1: Investigate the Storage Medium

The first place to look is the device where the video is being stored, whether it's an internal MicroSD card or a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

## For Internal MicroSD Card Storage:

1. Check Card Health: SD cards have a finite lifespan and will eventually fail, especially under the constant writing load of a security camera.
   • Log in to the camera's web interface.
   • Navigate to Admin Menu > Storage > SD Card Diagnostics.
   • Run the built-in tests to check for errors. If it reports problems, the card needs to be replaced.
2. Use the Right Card: For Mobotix cameras, it is crucial to use a high-endurance or industrial-grade MicroSD card. Standard consumer-grade cards will fail quickly.
3. Formatting: Ensure the card was formatted by the camera itself for optimal performance. If you suspect issues, you can reformat the card from the camera's storage menu (this will erase all existing footage).

## For NAS / Network Storage:

1. Check Network Connectivity: A primary cause of missed recordings on a NAS is network instability.
   • Log in to the camera's web interface and check the system messages (Admin Menu > System Information > System Messages). Look for any errors related to "network connection lost" or "storage server unreachable."
   • Ensure the Ethernet cable connecting the camera to the network is secure and undamaged.
   • Ping the camera's IP address from another computer on the network to check for packet loss, which would indicate a poor connection.
2. Verify NAS Credentials and Status:
   • Confirm that the NAS is powered on and functioning correctly.
   • Double-check that the username, password, and storage path configured in the Mobotix camera's storage settings are still correct. The NAS password may have been changed, revoking the camera's access.
   • Ensure the storage volume on the NAS is not full.

Step 2: Review Recording and Event Settings

If the storage medium is healthy, the problem likely lies in the camera's configuration.

## 1. Check Recording Schedule

• Navigate to Setup Menu > Recording > Recording Schedule.
• Ensure that the schedule is enabled for the times you expect the camera to be recording. You might have inadvertently set it to not record during nights or weekends.

## 2. Fine-Tune Event Triggers (for Event-Based Recording)

If you are missing motion-triggered events, your settings may not be sensitive enough.

• Go to Setup Menu > Event Control.
• Video Motion Detection (VMDA): This is the most common event trigger.
  • Select your VMDA window and click 'Edit'.
  • Try increasing the sensitivity or decreasing the minimum object size.
  • Be aware that making it too sensitive can lead to a large number of false alarms. It requires careful balancing.
• Event Logic: Check the overall event logic in Setup Menu > Event Logic. Ensure that the trigger (e.g., VMDA) is correctly linked to the action (e.g., Start Recording).

## 3. Pre-Event and Post-Event Buffering

• In the recording settings, you can define how many seconds of video are stored before an event is triggered (pre-event buffer) and how long recording continues after the motion stops (post-event time).
• If your recordings seem to start too late, increase the pre-event buffer. If they stop too soon, increase the post-event time.

Step 3: System Checks and Maintenance

Finally, ensure the camera's core system is running correctly.

## 1. Check System Time

• Verify that the camera's date and time are correct. If the time is wrong, it can cause recordings to be written with incorrect timestamps, making them difficult to find. Use an NTP server (Admin Menu > Time and Date) to keep the clock synchronised automatically.

## 2. Update Firmware

• Mobotix regularly releases new firmware that can resolve bugs related to recording and storage. Check the Mobotix support website for the latest firmware for your model and update it via the web interface. This can often solve persistent and unexplainable issues.

By systematically checking the storage, configuration, and system health, you can identify and rectify the cause of missed recordings and restore the reliability of your Mobotix security system.