Is Your Vivotek Camera Failing to Record Continuously?
One of the most fundamental features of a professional surveillance system is the ability to record footage 24/7. While motion-based recording is useful for saving storage space, no continuous recording means you could miss crucial moments before or after an event, or miss an event entirely if it fails to trigger the motion sensor. If you've set up your Vivotek camera but find gaps in the timeline, this guide is for you.
We'll walk you through the common configuration errors and hardware issues that can prevent your Vivotek camera or NVR from recording continuously, ensuring you achieve a complete and unbroken video record.
Understanding the Recording Chain
For continuous recording to work, several components must be configured correctly. The instructions are sent from a central point, which is either the camera itself (for recording to an SD card) or a Network Video Recorder (NVR).
- Camera with SD Card: The camera's internal settings dictate the recording schedule.
- Camera with NVR: The NVR takes control. The schedule set on the NVR overrides any schedule set on the camera.
A mistake at any point in this chain—from the schedule to the physical storage medium—can disrupt the process.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Let's diagnose why your continuous recording isn't working as expected.
1. Verify the Recording Schedule
This is the most common point of failure. A system that only records on motion is almost always due to an incorrect schedule setting.
- If Recording to an NVR: Log into your Vivotek NVR. Navigate to the main settings menu and find the 'Recording' or 'Schedule' section. Here, you will see a grid representing the days of the week and the hours of the day. You must select the camera in question and set the entire grid to 'Continuous' or 'Regular' recording. Many systems default to 'Motion' (or 'Event') recording, which is what you need to change.
- If Recording to an SD Card: Log into the camera's web interface directly using its IP address. Find the 'Configuration' or 'Settings' menu, then look for 'Recording' and 'Schedule'. Just like with the NVR, ensure the schedule for the SD card recording is set to 'Continuous' for all times.
2. Check Your Storage Medium
The health and type of your storage medium are critical for the constant writing required by 24/7 recording.
- SD Card Health: Standard microSD cards are not designed for the constant read/write cycles of surveillance. They will fail prematurely. You must use a high-endurance or surveillance-grade microSD card. If you have gaps in your recording, the card may be failing. Try formatting the card via the camera's web interface. If the problem persists, replace the card.
- NVR Hard Drive (HDD): Similarly, use surveillance-grade HDDs in your NVR. A standard desktop HDD is more likely to fail under 24/7 operation. Check the NVR's storage management page for the health status (S.M.A.R.T.) of the drives. Look for any errors or warnings.
- Storage is Full: What happens when the storage is full? Your system should be configured to overwrite or recycle the oldest footage to make space for the new. If this setting is disabled, recording will simply stop. Check this setting in the NVR or camera's storage configuration menu.
3. Review Network and Power Stability
- Network Connection (NVR users): For an NVR to record continuously from a camera, it needs a stable, permanent network connection. If the camera's network connection drops, the NVR cannot pull the video stream, creating a gap in the footage. Ensure all Ethernet cables are secure and that your network switches or routers are functioning correctly.
- Power Supply: Intermittent power loss to the camera or NVR will obviously stop recording. Ensure you are using the correct power supply (e.g., PoE switch or DC adapter) and that it is reliable. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is recommended for serious surveillance setups.
4. Update Firmware
Bugs in the camera or NVR firmware can occasionally cause recording issues. Check the Vivotek website for the latest firmware versions for your specific models. A firmware update can often resolve unexpected behaviour and improve system stability.
By methodically checking your recording schedule, verifying the health of your storage, and ensuring stable power and network connectivity, you can easily diagnose and fix the vast majority of issues preventing continuous recording on your Vivotek system.