Mobotix Camera Not Recording 24/7? A Configuration Guide
A key strength of Mobotix cameras is their powerful, decentralised architecture, allowing for robust and reliable continuous recording. However, if you've discovered gaps in your video timeline or realised your camera is only recording clips of motion events, your system is not providing the complete surveillance record you expect. A failure to record 24/7 can leave you vulnerable, without crucial footage when you need it most.
This issue is almost always related to configuration rather than a hardware fault. This guide will walk you through the common setup pitfalls and show you how to correctly configure your Mobotix camera for true continuous, 24/7 recording.
Why Isn't My Mobotix Camera Recording Continuously?
Unlike many other systems, Mobotix cameras are highly customisable, which also means a single incorrect setting can change the recording behaviour. Here are the most common reasons for a lack of 24/7 recording:
- Incorrect Recording Mode: The camera is likely set to "Event Recording" instead of "Continuous Recording." This is the most frequent cause.
- Storage Target Not Configured: The camera does not have a valid or active storage location (like an internal MicroSD card or a network-attached storage (NAS) device) assigned for recording.
- Storage Target is Full: The designated storage medium is full, and the camera is not configured to overwrite the oldest footage.
- No Active Arming Schedule: The camera's master "Arming" schedule might be disabled or configured only for specific times, effectively turning off all recording outside of those hours.
- Software Glitch: A rare bug or temporary glitch in the camera's firmware could be interrupting the recording process.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enable 24/7 Recording
You will need to access your Mobotix camera's web interface from a browser on the same network to perform these steps.
1. Access the Setup Menu
- Log into your camera: Open a web browser and enter the IP address of your Mobotix camera.
- Enter your credentials: Provide your administrator username and password.
- Open the Setup Menu: Click on the "Setup Menu" button to access the camera's main configuration area.
2. Check and Configure the Recording Mode
This is the most critical step.
- Navigate to Recording Settings: In the setup menu, go to the "Recording" section.
- Verify Recording Mode: Look for the primary recording setting. You will likely see options for "Continuous Recording" and "Event Recording." Ensure that "Continuous Recording" is selected.
- Apply Changes: If you make a change, be sure to click the "Set" or "Apply" button to save the new configuration.
3. Verify the Storage Target
The camera needs to know where to save the footage.
- Go to Storage on MxFFS: This section manages the camera's recording destinations. This could be the internal MicroSD card or a connection to a NAS.
- Check the Status: Ensure your desired storage target is listed and its status is "Active" or "OK." It should also show the correct capacity and the amount of free space available.
- Enable Overwriting: Crucially, there should be an option for "Ring Buffer" or "Overwrite." This must be enabled. This function tells the camera to automatically delete the oldest recordings to make space for new ones once the storage is full. Without this, recording will simply stop.
4. Review the General Arming Schedule
The camera's master arming setting must be active for recording to take place.
- Go to Arming & Recording: Find this section in the setup menu.
- Check the Master Switch: There is a main "Arming" setting for the entire camera. Ensure this is set to "Armed."
- Review the Schedule: Below the master switch, you can define a schedule. For 24/7 recording, the schedule should be active for all hours of all days. You can use the default, always-on schedule or create a custom one that is fully enabled.
5. Reboot the Camera
After making and saving these configuration changes, it's good practice to reboot the camera to ensure all new settings are properly loaded.
- Navigate to Reboot: Find the reboot option in the administrative menus.
- Perform a Reboot: Execute the command. The camera will take a few minutes to restart.
After the reboot, the camera should immediately begin recording continuously to your designated storage target. You can verify this by checking the live view for a recording symbol and reviewing the playback timeline in MxManagementCenter or the browser for a solid, unbroken recording bar.