Troubleshooting Guide for Vivotek Cameras Not Recording 24/7
One of the most critical features of a professional surveillance system is the ability to record footage continuously, 24/7. If you've discovered your Vivotek camera is not recording around the clock, it can create significant gaps in your security coverage. This issue is typically not a hardware fault but rather a matter of configuration in the camera's settings or the Network Video Recorder (NVR).
This guide will provide a detailed, step-by-step process to diagnose and resolve the reasons why your Vivotek camera is not performing continuous recording.
## Common Reasons for a Lack of 24/7 Recording
Vivotek cameras are powerful and highly configurable devices. This flexibility means that a single incorrect setting can change the recording behaviour. The most common reasons for a lack of continuous recording are:
- Recording Mode is Event-Based: The camera is set to record only when motion is detected, not continuously. This is often the default setting.
- Incorrect Recording Schedule: The schedule that tells the camera when to record has not been configured for all hours of the day.
- Insufficient Storage: The designated storage (NVR hard drive or camera's SD card) is full and not set to overwrite old footage.
- Incorrect Stream Configuration: The video stream assigned for recording is not configured correctly.
- Network Issues: Unstable network connectivity between the camera and the NVR can interrupt recording.
## Step-by-Step Configuration Check
To fix this issue, you will need to access your Vivotek camera's web interface. You can do this by typing the camera's IP address into a web browser on the same network.
### Step 1: Verify the Recording Mode and Schedule
This is the most common cause of the problem. You need to ensure the camera is explicitly told to record continuously.
- Log in to the Web Interface: Enter the camera's IP address in your browser and log in with your administrator username and password.
- Navigate to Recording Settings: The exact path may vary slightly by model, but it is typically found under Configuration > Recording > Recording Settings or a similar menu.
- Check the Recording Schedule: In this section, you will see a timetable, often a grid representing the days of the week and the hours of the day.
- Set to Continuous: Ensure that the entire grid is set for Continuous Recording. Often, different colours represent different recording types (e.g., green for continuous, red for event). Make sure the schedule is set for continuous recording 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Apply and Save: Remember to save your changes before exiting the menu.
### Step 2: Check Your Storage Capacity and Settings
24/7 recording, especially in high definition, consumes a large amount of disk space. If the storage medium is full, recording will stop.
- For NVR/VMS Recording: Access your Network Video Recorder or Video Management Software. Check the status of the hard drives. Is there adequate free space? Crucially, you must ensure the storage is configured to overwrite or recycle the oldest recordings when the disk becomes full. If this is turned off, recording will cease once capacity is reached.
- For SD Card Recording: If you are recording directly to an SD card in the camera, log in to the camera's web interface and navigate to the storage settings. Check the card's capacity and ensure the 'overwrite' or 'cyclic recording' option is enabled.
### Step 3: Review Video Stream Configuration
Vivotek cameras can produce multiple video streams simultaneously (e.g., one high-resolution stream for recording, one low-resolution for mobile viewing). You need to ensure the stream being used for recording is active and correctly configured.
- Navigate to Media Settings: In the camera's web interface, go to Configuration > Media > Video.
- Check the Recording Stream: Identify which stream profile (e.g., Stream 1, Stream 2) is being used for recording in your NVR or recording settings.
- Ensure it's Enabled: Make sure this stream is enabled and has a valid resolution, frame rate (FPS), and codec (e.g., H.264, H.265) selected. An improperly configured or disabled stream cannot be recorded.
### Step 4: Examine Network Stability
While less common for causing a complete stop to 24/7 recording, a highly unstable network connection between the camera and the NVR can lead to frequent recording dropouts and significant gaps.
- Check Network Cables: Ensure all Ethernet cables are securely connected.
- Ping the Camera: Use a computer on the same network to run a continuous ping test to the camera's IP address. Look for packet loss or high latency, which would indicate a network problem.
## If the Problem Persists
If you have meticulously checked all the settings above and the camera is still not recording 24/7, consider the following:
- Firmware Update: Check if your Vivotek camera and NVR have the latest firmware installed. Updates can often fix bugs that may affect recording.
- Consult the Manual: Refer to the specific user manual for your camera model for detailed instructions on recording setup.
- Contact Vivotek Support: If you're unable to resolve the issue, Vivotek's technical support can provide expert assistance tailored to your specific hardware and software versions.