Top 10 IP CCTV troubleshooting tips
As opposed to traditional ‘plug and play’ analogue systems, IP CCTV requires a bit more technical know-how during installation and set-up. Even though Innovate Security can do this for you, it helps to understand the basics should anything go wrong.
With this in mind, here are 10 IP CCTV troubleshooting tips for you to reference and refer to in the future. After overcoming any problems, you can enjoy the remote monitoring and maintenance benefits that IP CCTV provides.
- Check power and connection
Some problems are as simple as making sure the camera is powered up and connected to the network. Thankfully, modern IP CCTV systems will feature LED indicators to show whether everything is working properly.
- Reboot the camera
The most common troubleshooting solution among IT experts is to reboot the device or equipment and the same goes for IP CCTV. By restarting the camera you can flush the cache, allow settings to recalibrate, and enable connections to renegotiate.
- Discover the camera
In order to discover the camera, you should type ‘cmd’ into Windows search to open a DOS command prompt. From there, you can find the camera by typing ‘ping’ followed by its IP address.
- Correct username and password
If you can ping the camera but are unable to connect it with the VMS, web browser, or discovery tool, you may not have the correct username or password. If the default details have been changed or you simply can’t remember, you may need to perform a factory reset.
- Check ARP tables
By checking ARP tables, which are typically printed on the camera housing, you can cross reference MAC and IP addresses for any discrepancies. It’s a good idea to keep a record of the MAC and IP addresses too.
- Check the cabling
A high number of connection issues are because of cabling problems, which is why you should always double check. If you see any kinks, frays, shorts, or bad terminations you should replace with a new cable.
- Confirm IP addresses are not conflicting
There is a chance that two different devices will be assigned the same IP address, which will then cancel out network access to both. The ARP command in tip #3 can be used to identify the IP and MAC addresses of devices connected to the network.
- Upgrade the firmware
Even if the camera has power and is online, problems can arise if the firmware needs updating. However, be aware that further issues are caused by upgrading firmware, so make sure you can revert to older versions.
- Perform a factory reset
Although performing a factory reset will remove all of the camera’s settings and configuration, it might be the only available option.
- Seek help from an expert
Before taking the drastic step of performing a factory reset, consider asking for help from an IP CCTV expert. Here at Innovate Security, we have years of industry experience and can troubleshoot your problems until a solution is found.