Common Problems with CCTV Systems, and How to Fix Them
For those who don’t understand technology, CCTV North Wales can sometimes cause confusion when problems do arise. Here are some of the most common problems that occur with CCTV North Wales, and the best course of action to take in order to fix them.
Verify Camera Power & Connection
Sometimes the issues can be something as simple as a disconnected or loose fitting lead, and it might even be the case that the network is currently down. Internet protocol (IP) cameras generally have LED indicators that are used for transmitting data across the network, but this might be hidden within the camera.
If the LED indicators on the camera aren’t lighting up, you should check to see if the camera is powered externally (plugged into the wall). Should your camera be powered via electricity and not battery, you will need to check that the camera is receiving the appropriate wattage as a complicated camera such as a pan-tilt-zoom, will require more watts than a normal plug will supply.
Discover & Ping Camera
Find out your camera’s IP address by checking the camera’s directory. Once you find your address you will be able to ‘ping’ it using your laptop or smartphone to test the strength of the connection.
Type ‘cmd’ into your search engine and this should open a DOS command prompt; when this pops up, you will be asked to type in ‘ping’ and your IP address.
You might either see ‘request time out’ or ‘destination host unreachable’ appear on the screen. If it does, check to see if the device you are using it on the same network as your camera, if you don’t see the camera on the network, attempt to connect using your browser.
Know Username & Password
If you can ping your camera, but still find yourself unable to connect then it’s possible that you have typed in the wrong login or password. If this is the cause, you will want to refer back to the manual.
Check ARP Tables
Check the address resolution protocol (ARP) tables, usually located on the outside of the camera. It is possible to cross reference MAC and IP address using the ARP.
Confirm No IP Conflict
If you have more than one camera, you will need to make sure that they have different IP addresses, as them having the same address can stop you from accessing one or all of the cameras.
Upgrade Firmware
Ensure that your camera is up to date. You need to do this by connection to VMS and accessing the camera’s web page.
Reboot Camera
Sometimes this is the first thing we try – turn the system off for 10-20 seconds and then try inputting your setting again.
Check Cabling
Make sure that the cables are straight and firmly intact, because if there are knots or loose cables this could be the source of your problems.
Factory Reset Camera
This can be an extremely drastic thing to do as you can lose all your history, but this process will help to troubleshoot any issues. A factory rest can be done by simply pushing a paperclip into the pinhole reset button located at the back of the camera.
