Mobotix Camera Won't Sync: Solving Time & Data Issues

How to Solve Mobotix Camera Synchronisation Problems

Accurate time and data synchronisation is critical for the proper functioning of a Mobotix security camera. An incorrect timestamp can render video evidence useless and disrupt event logic. If your Mobotix camera won't sync, this professional guide will help you troubleshoot the root cause, focusing on network settings and Network Time Protocol (NTP) configuration.

Ensuring your camera has the correct time is a foundational step for a reliable security system.

### Step 1: Configure the Network Time Protocol (NTP) Server

Manually setting the time is a temporary fix; the camera's internal clock will eventually drift. Using an NTP server automates this process and ensures accuracy.

1. Log in to your Mobotix camera's web interface.
2. Click on the Admin Menu.
3. Navigate to the Time & Date section.
4. In the "Time Server" or "NTP Server" settings, you will find a field to enter server addresses.
5. Enter a reliable NTP server. For most users, pool.ntp.org is an excellent choice. You can also use a local time server if your network has one (e.g., the IP address of your domain controller).
6. Set the Timezone: Crucially, you must select the correct timezone for your geographical location. If you set the NTP server correctly but have the wrong timezone, the time will still be off by a fixed number of hours.
7. Click Set and then reboot the camera for the settings to take full effect.

## Step 2: Verify Essential Network Settings

For the NTP synchronisation to work, your camera must be able to reach the server on the internet. This requires correct basic network settings.

1. Check Gateway and DNS Servers:

• In the Admin Menu, go to Ethernet Interface.
• Default Gateway: This must be the IP address of your network's router. Without a gateway, the camera does not know how to send traffic outside of the local network.
• DNS Server: The Domain Name System (DNS) server translates a name like pool.ntp.org into an IP address. This should be the IP address of your router or a public DNS server like 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare). If the DNS is incorrect, the camera cannot find the NTP server.

2. Test the Network Connection:

• After configuring the network, use the Test Current Network Configuration tool within the Ethernet Interface menu.
• This test will attempt to ping the gateway, DNS servers, and the Mobotix update server. A successful test confirms that your camera has a working connection to the internet.

## Step 3: Check Firewall Restrictions

If your network and NTP settings are correct but the time still won't sync, a firewall may be blocking the required communication.

• NTP Port: NTP uses UDP port 123.
• Check the firewall on your router or network. Ensure that there are no outbound rules that block traffic on UDP port 123 from the camera's IP address. This is a common issue on corporate or more secure networks.

## Multi-Camera Synchronisation

If you have multiple Mobotix cameras, you can set one camera to act as the NTP server for the others.

• Master Camera: Configure one camera to sync with an external NTP server (e.g., pool.ntp.org).
• Client Cameras: In the other cameras' Time & Date settings, enter the IP address of the "Master" camera as their NTP server. This ensures all your cameras are perfectly synchronised with each other, which is vital when reviewing footage from an event captured by multiple cameras.

By systematically verifying your NTP, network, and firewall settings, you can resolve the vast majority of time synchronisation issues with your Mobotix cameras.