Vivotek Camera Not Recording? Troubleshooting Steps

Is Your Vivotek Camera Failing to Record?

It can be incredibly frustrating when you discover your Vivotek security camera hasn't been recording footage. Whether it’s for your home or business, reliable recording is non-negotiable. This guide will walk you through the most common reasons for this issue and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to get your camera recording again.

First Steps: Initial Checks

Before diving into complex settings, let's cover the basics. These simple checks often resolve the problem without needing to dig deeper into the camera's configuration.

1. Check Power and Connections: Ensure your Vivotek camera and, if you use one, your Network Video Recorder (NVR) are both powered on. Check that all Ethernet and power cables are securely connected at both ends.
2. Reboot Your System: A simple restart can often clear temporary glitches. Power down your camera and NVR. Wait for about 60 seconds before powering them back on.
3. Check for Firmware Updates: Log in to your camera's web interface and check for any available firmware updates. Manufacturers release updates to fix bugs and improve performance, which can sometimes resolve recording issues.

## Diagnosing the Recording Problem

If the initial checks didn't solve it, we need to investigate the storage and settings. The root of the problem usually lies with the storage medium (SD card or NVR hard drive) or the recording configuration.

### Storage Issues: SD Cards and NVR Hard Drives

The most common culprit for recording failures is the storage itself.

For SD Card Users:

• Corrupted SD Card: SD cards have a limited lifespan and can become corrupted. Try removing the SD card and testing it in a computer to see if it's readable.
• Full Storage: If the card is full and not set to overwrite old footage, recording will stop. Check the storage status in the camera's settings.
• Compatibility: Ensure you are using a high-quality, compatible SD card. Vivotek recommends Class 10 or higher video surveillance cards for reliability.
• Formatting: Sometimes, the card simply needs to be reformatted. You can do this through the Vivotek web interface under the storage settings. Be aware that this will erase all existing footage on the card.

For NVR Users:

• Hard Drive Status: Log in to your NVR and check the health status of the hard drive(s). Most NVRs have a S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) tool to check for disk errors.
• Drive Not Initialised: A new or reset hard drive may need to be initialised or formatted by the NVR before it can be used for recording.
• Insufficient Space: Just like with SD cards, if the hard drive is full and not configured to overwrite, all recording will cease.

### Incorrect Camera and NVR Settings

If your storage seems fine, the next place to look is your recording configuration.

• Recording Schedule: Double-check the recording schedule for your camera. It's possible it's set to record only during specific times or not at all. You might have accidentally disabled the 24/7 or motion-detection recording schedule.
• Motion Detection Configuration: If you're using motion-triggered recording, ensure the detection zones and sensitivity are correctly configured. If the sensitivity is too low or the zones are incorrect, the camera may not be triggering recordings as you expect.
• Camera Not Properly Assigned: Within the NVR settings, ensure the Vivotek camera is correctly added and assigned to a channel that is enabled for recording.

## Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Recording Issues

Let's walk through the process of fixing this.

1. Verify Storage Health: Access your camera or NVR's storage menu. Check the status of your SD card or hard drive. If it shows an error, is unformatted, or is not recognised, this is your primary problem.
2. Format the Storage Medium: If you're confident you don't need the footage on it, format the SD card or NVR hard drive. This provides a clean slate and resolves many common errors.
3. Set Up Overwrite Functionality: In the storage settings, enable the 'overwrite' or 'recycle recording' feature. This ensures that once the storage is full, the oldest footage is automatically deleted to make space for new recordings, preventing interruptions.
4. Confirm Recording Schedule: Go to the 'Recording' or 'Schedule' section in your camera or NVR's settings. Ensure that the schedule is enabled for the times you need. For continuous recording, the schedule should be active 24/7. For motion recording, ensure that is the type of recording selected in the schedule.
5. Test Motion Detection: If using motion-triggered recording, go to the live view and walk in front of the camera. Check the system logs or playback timeline to see if a recording was triggered. If not, you may need to increase the sensitivity or adjust the detection area.
6. Default and Reconfigure: As a last resort, you can perform a factory reset on the camera. This will return all settings to their defaults. You will need to set up the camera again from scratch, including network settings and recording configurations. This often resolves persistent issues caused by misconfiguration.