Understanding 24/7 Recording on Samsung Smart Cameras
The ability to record footage continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is a crucial feature for many security camera users. However, not all Samsung smart cameras offer this functionality, which can lead to confusion. This guide clarifies which Samsung cameras support 24/7 recording, what you need to enable it, and how to troubleshoot common problems.
## Event-Based vs. Continuous Recording: The Key Difference
It's important to understand the two main types of recording used by smart cameras:
- Event-Based Recording: This is the most common method. The camera remains in a low-power standby mode and only begins to record a clip when it detects motion or sound. This method saves storage space and, for battery-powered cameras, conserves battery life.
- Continuous (24/7) Recording: The camera records everything without interruption, 24 hours a day. This provides a complete record of events but requires significantly more storage space and a constant power supply.
Many Samsung cameras are designed primarily for event-based recording. The 24/7 recording feature is typically reserved for their more advanced, wired camera models.
## What Is Required for 24/7 Recording?
To enable continuous recording on a compatible Samsung camera, you will generally need three things:
- A Compatible Camera Model: First and foremost, the hardware itself must support this feature. Check the product page or user manual for your specific model to confirm if "continuous video recording" is listed.
- A High-Endurance MicroSD Card: 24/7 recording writes a massive amount of data to the storage medium. You must use a high-quality microSD card specifically designed for this kind of workload, often labelled "high endurance" or "for video monitoring." Using a standard microSD card will likely lead to it failing prematurely. The card must be inserted correctly into the camera's SD card slot.
- A Constant Power Source: Continuous recording is not feasible on battery power. The camera must be plugged into a reliable mains power outlet.
## How to Enable and Troubleshoot 24/7 Recording
If you have a compatible camera and the necessary hardware, follow these steps to enable the feature and troubleshoot any issues.
### Enabling the Feature in SmartThings
The setting is managed through the Samsung SmartThings app.
- Open the SmartThings app and select your camera from the device list.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Look for a menu option such as "SD card recording" or "Recording settings".
- Within this menu, you should see options for "Record on events" and "Record continuously".
- Select "Record continuously".
- You may also see an option to "Overwrite old recordings". It is highly recommended to enable this, so the camera automatically deletes the oldest footage to make room for new video when the card is full.
### Troubleshooting Common Problems
Symptom: The "Record continuously" option is missing or greyed out.
- Cause: This is the most common issue and almost always means your camera model does not support 24/7 recording.
- Solution: Verify the specifications for your camera. If it doesn't support it, you will be limited to event-based recording.
Symptom: Recording stops after a certain period.
- Cause 1: SD Card is Full. If you do not have the "overwrite" feature enabled, the camera will stop recording once the microSD card's capacity is reached.
- Solution 1: Enable the overwrite feature or manually format the SD card through the SmartThings app.
- Cause 2: SD Card is Corrupted or Failing. Constant writing can wear out even high-endurance cards eventually.
- Solution 2: Try reformatting the card from the app. If that fails, remove the card, test it in a computer, or try a brand new, high-endurance card.
- Cause 3: Power Interruption. Even a brief power cut will stop the recording.
- Solution 3: Ensure the camera is connected to a stable power source.
By understanding your camera's capabilities and ensuring you have the right hardware and settings, you can effectively utilise Samsung's 24/7 recording feature for complete peace of mind.