Vivotek Can't Save Locally? A Guide to SD Card Recording
Using a microSD card for local storage in your Vivotek camera is an excellent way to ensure you have a backup of your recordings, especially in case of a network outage. However, when the camera fails to save footage locally, it can be a frustrating experience. This issue is typically related to the SD card itself, the camera's configuration, or the recording settings.
This guide, written in British English, will walk you through the troubleshooting steps to resolve issues with saving footage locally on your Vivotek IP camera.
## Common Symptoms of Local Storage Failure
- The camera's web interface shows "No SD Card" or "SD Card Error."
- The SD card is recognised, but no new recordings are being saved.
- The camera stops recording once the SD card is full.
- You are unable to play back footage from the SD card.
- The camera fails to format the SD card.
## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Vivotek Local Storage
Follow these steps methodically to diagnose and solve the problem. You will need to access your camera's web browser interface to check these settings.
### 1. Check SD Card Compatibility and Health
The choice of SD card is the most critical factor for reliable local recording.
- Use a Recommended Card: Vivotek strongly recommends using industrial-grade or high-endurance microSD cards. Standard consumer-grade cards are not designed for the constant writing and rewriting of surveillance footage and will fail quickly.
- Check Compatibility: Ensure the card's capacity (e.g., 64GB, 128GB, 256GB) is supported by your specific camera model. Check the camera's datasheet on the Vivotek website.
- Test the Card: If you suspect the card is faulty, remove it from the camera and test it in a computer with a card reader. See if you can read and write files to it.
### 2. Format the SD Card Using the Camera
It is crucial that you format the SD card inside the camera, not on your computer. This ensures the correct file system and block size for stable recording.
- Log into your Vivotek camera's web interface.
- Navigate to Configuration > Storage > Storage Management.
- You should see the SD card listed. Select it.
- Click the Format button and wait for the process to complete. This will erase all data on the card.
- After formatting, the status should show as "Normal" or "Ready."
### 3. Configure the Recording Settings
Just because a card is installed doesn't mean the camera will automatically record to it. You must tell it when and how to record.
- In the web interface, go to Configuration > Recording.
- Check the Recording Settings. You need to have an active recording schedule.
- For continuous recording, set up a schedule for 24/7.
- For motion-based recording, you must first configure motion detection windows under Configuration > Event > Motion Detection, and then link this event to a recording action.
- Ensure that the destination for your recording schedule is set to the Local storage (i.e., the SD card).
### 4. Enable Cyclic Storage (Overwrite)
If your camera stops recording when the card is full, it's because the overwrite feature is disabled.
- Go to Configuration > Storage > Storage Management.
- Look for a setting called Cyclic Storage, Overwrite, or Recycle.
- Enable this option. This setting instructs the camera to automatically delete the oldest footage to make room for new recordings, allowing for continuous operation.
### 5. Update Camera Firmware
Firmware updates often include bug fixes and improvements for storage handling and SD card compatibility.
- Go to the Vivotek website and find the support/downloads page for your camera model.
- Download the latest firmware file.
- In the web interface, navigate to Configuration > Maintenance > Firmware Upgrade and follow the instructions to upload and install the new firmware.
By ensuring you have a compatible, correctly formatted SD card and the right recording settings configured, you can resolve most issues with local storage on your Vivotek camera.