How to Fix Pixelated and Blurry Video on Uniview Cameras
A pixelated or blurry video feed from your Uniview (UNV) security camera can make it impossible to identify important details, defeating its purpose. This issue is usually not a sign of a faulty camera but rather a misconfiguration of its video stream settings. This professional guide will help you understand the key settings and how to adjust them for a crisp, clear image.
We'll focus on the relationship between resolution, bitrate, and frame rate, which are the core components of video quality.
### Understanding the Core Video Settings
To fix the problem, it's helpful to know what each setting does.
- Resolution: This is the size of the image, measured in pixels (e.g., 1920x1080 or 4K). Higher resolution means more detail, but it also requires more bandwidth and storage.
- Frame Rate (fps): This is the number of individual images captured per second to create a moving video. Higher fps (like 25 or 30) results in smoother motion but requires more data.
- Bitrate (Kbps/Mbps): This is the amount of data the camera uses to encode the video stream per second. This is often the main cause of pixelation. If the bitrate is too low for the chosen resolution and frame rate, the camera is forced to over-compress the image, resulting in a blocky, pixelated appearance, especially during motion.
## Step 1: Adjusting the Mainstream for High Quality
The mainstream is the high-quality feed used for recording and full-screen viewing.
- Log in to your Uniview camera's web interface using its IP address in a web browser.
- Navigate to Setup -> Video & Audio -> Video.
- You will see settings for Mainstream and Substream. Select Mainstream.
- Set Resolution: Choose the desired resolution. For good detail, 1080p (1920x1080) or higher is recommended.
- Set Frame Rate: For most security applications, 15-20 fps is sufficient and saves bandwidth.
- Adjust Bitrate Control:
- Change the Bitrate Control from VBR (Variable Bitrate) to CBR (Constant Bitrate). This can provide a more consistent quality.
- Increase the Bitrate: This is the most critical step. There will be a recommended range for your selected resolution. If the image is pixelated, the current value is too low. For a 1080p stream at 20fps, a bitrate of 4096 Kbps (4 Mbps) is a good starting point. For 4MP or 4K, this will need to be significantly higher (e.g., 8192 Kbps or more).
- Click Save. The video stream will refresh, and you should see a noticeable improvement in quality.
## Step 2: Checking Network and Hardware
If adjusting the settings doesn't fully resolve the issue, consider these factors.
### Network Connection:
- Viewing Remotely: If you are viewing the camera over the internet and your connection is slow, your viewing software (or the substream) might be automatically lowering the quality to provide a smooth feed.
- Local Network: A faulty Ethernet cable or a weak Wi-Fi signal between the camera and the NVR can cause packet loss, which appears as a blocky or stuttering image. Always use a high-quality network cable for best results.
### Low-Light Performance:
- At night, the camera's sensor becomes more sensitive, which can amplify digital "noise". This noise can look like pixelation.
- In the camera's Image settings, look for Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) options. Setting this to a higher level can help clean up the low-light image.
- Ensure the camera's infrared (IR) illuminators are working correctly and are not blocked or dirty.
By optimising your camera's bitrate to match its resolution and ensuring a stable network connection, you can eliminate pixelation and achieve the clear, detailed video feed your Uniview camera is capable of providing.