10 Foolproof Ways To Troubleshoot A CCTV Camera

It is undeniable how every organization’s CCTV installation in the Philippines has helped improve their business site’s safety and security. But like every technological advancement, surveillance cameras are also susceptible to technical problems when they’re not installed properly. And these issues can cause serious security problems for your company if it remains unfixed for a significant amount of time. That said, it’s essential to learn about the basic troubleshooting techniques when your newly bought security cameras aren’t working.

Here are 10 common troubleshooting techniques you should know to help you fix CCTV problems immediately.

1. Check The CCTV’s Connection

When it comes to CCTV camera infrastructure installations, it’s important to make sure that all the connections you made are correct. That’s why it’s ideal to follow the instructions that are found in the user manual keenly. These manuals or quick guides usually come with the security camera product you purchase. So all you have to do is to examine whether all the connections are in the right place. Moreover, it’s also crucial to check if the router you’re using is working properly during installations. That way you’ll be able to identify if the technical issues you’re experiencing are rooted in a network connection problem. You can also use a network cable to test your CCTV camera’s connection.

2. Examine the Condition of Your Cables

One of the common causes of connection issues in surveillance cameras is cabling problems. So if your new CCTV camera isn’t working properly, it can be that you have problems with your network cable. In some instances, these cable problems can also cause your surveillance camera’s lights or IR LEDs to malfunction during the nighttime—so if your IR LED isn’t turning on, then make sure to check your cable’s condition. Furthermore, it’s also advisable that you connect another cable to your surveillance camera to check whether or not the issue has been solved.

“EVERY IT EXPERT KNOWS THAT THE GOLDEN RULE IN TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS TO REBOOT THE DEVICE.”

3. Configure The Camera Settings

More often than not when CCTV security cameras are newly installed, the users forget to configure its settings. This is usually because they’re unaware that CCTV camera features like 24/7 recording, motion detection alerts, and night video recordings need to be manually enabled in some systems.

Failing to set up your camera’s settings beforehand may seem like a simple problem, but this can cause your company inconvenience. That’s why it’s fundamental that you check your camera’s settings, especially when they’re newly installed. In addition, you can also download computer software or mobile app to adjust your surveillance camera settings remotely. By doing this, you’ll be able to configure your camera settings conveniently.

4. Reboot The Security Camera

Every IT expert knows that the golden rule in troubleshooting information technology is to reboot the device. And this process is also effective when it comes to non-functional surveillance cameras. Rebooting CCTV cameras enable you to release its cache to flush and recalibrate its settings. Moreover, it can also help your connections to revise themselves. In order to reboot your CCTV system, it is necessary to plug off the power supply directly for a few seconds before you plug it on again.

5. Inspect If IP Address Conflicts Are Present

If you’re new to IP security cameras, it’s important to take note that it’s necessary for this type of camera to have its own unique IP address in order for it to function properly. A duplicate IP address can cause issues as your camera sends and receives data through the internet. That’s why it’s important to check if there are IP address conflicts present during installations.

There are two ways you can check if this is the issue you’re experiencing. And both of them involve opening the DOS command prompt of the computer where your camera is connected. You can either type in the command arp –a or type the ping [camera IP address] –t command. That said, if your IP address is 192.168.0.998, then you should type in ping “192.168.0.998 –t”. If the results include the terms “unreachable” or “timed out”, that will be your indication that your IP security camera isn’t connecting to your network. In the event this happens, just change your camera’s IP address to fix it.

6. Update to the Latest Firmware

Although CCTV camera systems have the capability to effectively enhance your business establishment’s security, you can’t deny the fact that there is no perfect system. Because of this, it became a norm for most surveillance camera brands and manufacturers to release firmware updates regularly. With these updates, they are able to add new features to the current system and fix the issues and glitches that they overlooked.

7. Keep Your Client Software Up-To-Date

Aside from updating to the latest firmware, it’s also necessary to keep your client software up-to-date if you want to avoid future incompatibility issues. The compatibility of your software and firmware can create a huge impact on your security camera’s ability to grant remote access. That’s why if you’re experiencing incompatibility issues, check if your software and firmware are up-to-date. That way you’ll be able to solve this problem and enjoy the features of your CCTV camera remotely.

8. Reset the CCTV Camera to Its Factory Default

Another way that you can troubleshoot your CCTV camera system is by resetting it to its factory default. This can be done by pressing the reset button that comes with the camera or by inserting a needle into its reset function pinhole.

Although this action removes all the settings and configurations you previously made, it is designed to be the most workable method to fix video surveillance camera problems. So if you choose to fix your security cameras with this easy method, just make sure that you don’t forget to enable all the features and your CCTV cameras will work just the way you want them.

9. Refer to the FAQs for Security Cameras

Sometimes when you’re experiencing problems with your security cameras, all you have to do is to ask the right questions. Most of the time, questions and problems regarding CCTV cameras are usually answered and solved by FAQs or frequently asked questions you can easily access online. In fact, most CCTV manufacturers integrate FAQ sections in their websites to better serve their clients. So if you’re having trouble with your newly installed security camera, you can refer to the FAQs that you find on their official website. Just see to it that you search for the right keywords regarding your problem in order to get the right troubleshooting techniques.

10. Seek The Help of a Tech Support Team

Other than the ones mentioned above, you can also seek the help of professional technicians from reputed managed IT services in the Philippines to fix your security camera problems. This method is often the last resort of most companies, but it’s the most reliable troubleshooting technique there is. With their help, complicated problems can be solved with ease as long as you explain the problem properly. There are plenty of companies out there that offer tech support services to their clients and one of them is House of IT.

Additional CCTV Camera Troubleshooting Tips

The troubleshooting techniques mentioned above are the ones that are frequently used for common security camera problems—and it has helped numerous companies over the years. As an added bonus, here are additional troubleshooting tips you can use for these cases below:

11. For Unfocused and Fuzzy Videos:

In some instances, the videos that surveillance cameras capture after installation are fuzzy and unfocused. To fix this problem, you may have to readjust the focus of your CCTV camera’s lens. This can easily be done by turning the focus ring on your camera until the video becomes sharper. If your camera doesn’t have a focusable lens, then the fuzzy and unfocused video indicates that there is a defect in your existing lens. In these cases, you can ask your CCTV camera’s provider or manufacturer to fix or replace your camera.

12. For Grainy Picture:

It is normal for the infrared videos produced by your CCTV cameras to be slightly grainy or noisy. But when it’s already excessive, it can be an indicator of an existing problem. It can be a power interference, a DVR malfunction, or a poorly terminated cable. But regardless of the reason behind it, this has to be fixed for your own benefit. One way to do that is by ensuring that there are no video cables running alongside the power cables. And if that doesn’t work, you can also check if all the connections between your camera and DVR are secure.

13. For Poor Night Vision:

Cameras that are used to capture videos during the night usually use IR LEDs to illuminate the area that it’s capturing. But if you have turned them on and there’s still no improvement, then it’s time for you to contact your camera’s provider or manufacturer. That way, you’ll be able to ensure whether your security camera is capable of functioning the way that it’s expected. Moreover, you can also add an additional infrared illuminator to your camera to provide the illumination you need at night.