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Video Insight

Video Insight Support | Video Server FAQ's

Video Insight supports Analog cameras based on the NTSC and PAL standards. The cameras connect to the PC with the supplied video card. The following are the most common questions we receive concerning cameras. If you have any other issues, please contact technical support.

Common Support Questions:

How do I connect cameras?

Attach the included adapter cable to the back of the card with the 15 pin connector. Attach the cameras to the cable with the BNC adapters. Each cable supports 8 cameras with cameras 1- 8 on the top of the card and cameras 9-16 on the bottom. You will need at least 1 camera attached for the program to function correctly.

You can view uncompressed live video by connecting a standard TV monitor to the RCA jack on the back of the card. From the View menu, you have the ability to control which camera is shown or setup so the system will cycle the cameras.

What do I do if I am not getting a camera signal?

If your camera is connected to the card correctly and you still do not see a live picture: (try each of these suggesting before proceeding to the next)

  1. Restart the application
  2. Ensure you have enabled the camera in the Tools/Camera/Setup.
  3. Ensure the camera has been giving frames greater than "0" in the Tools/Camera/Frame Settings Menu/
  4. Test the camera with a TV monitor, ensuring you have power and the proper connectors.
  5. Move the camera to another BNC connector.
  6. Swap the BNC adapter.
  7. As a last resort, run the database repair "Repair.bat". Please visit our Database Repair instructions for more information.
How come I can't see any video on the camera I just added?

Restart the application and make sure you have assigned frames to the camera from the Tools/Cameras/Frame Settings.

How come a camera will black out after the server has run for a period of time, and reappears after the server is restarted?

This is usually a result of to much heat. Even though you might have cooling fans, the card is still getting to hot. Try adding an additional cooling fan in the PC.

How come a camera I know works is out?

This might be a cabling issue related to ground loop. Try discounting the camera. Restarting the application and reconnecting the camera.

How do I perfect the video quality/ image?

Image quality is a result of many factors including, images settings inside of video insight, quality of the camera and composition of the image itself. Some suggestions to improve the image: (try each of these suggesting before proceeding to the next)

  1. The larger the image, the better the resolution. The default image size is 320x240 but with the Tools/Camera/Setup you can change this resolution to 640x480 on an individual camera.
  2. By increasing the "Bytes per Frame" the picture quality improves. The default image size is 10,000 and increasing the size to 15,000 can make a noticeable difference. Keep in mind that the large the image size the more disk space is used.
  3. Adjusting the lenses' aperture, to increase or decrease the focal length can dramatically change the image quality.
  4. You may be able to reduce any electrical interference/ noise by shielding the BNC connectors with electrical tape.
How do I adjust the Brightness and Contrast?

You can adjust the Brightness and Contrast with the Video Settings menu. Access the menu by right mouse clicking on the camera name in the Left Tree Navigation.

How do I keep more history?

The Video Server uses all available disk space and will delete the oldest files to make room for the latest recording. The amount of history will depend on the number of cameras, the size of each image, the number of frames per second and the amount of motion. To increase the recorded history: (try each of these suggesting before proceeding to the next)

  1. Increase the size of the hard drive
  2. Decrease the number of frames per second in the Tools/Cameras/Frame Settings menu.
  3. Adjust the motion detection to be more sensitive and use the Pre and Post Motion recording to ensure you record all the relevant motion.
  4. For additional information on Motion Detection, please visit the Motion Detection Optimization section.
What if I am using Black and White Cameras?

If you are using black and white cameras, it might be necessary to adjust the video settings to not try and recognize colors. As show on the picture to the right, adjust the Blue, Red and Hue to the far left for each black and white camera. If you have more than one black and white camera, it can be useful to connect them to the same frame settings group. For example, if you have the V120 and 4 black and white cameras, connect them to camera ports 4,8,12, and 16. This isolates the black and white on one group and allows the card to not look for colors.

How do I setup a PTZ Camera?

Video Insight allows you to control up to 16 PTZ cameras per server. A PTZ camera needs a signal to control the movements. The server communicates with the cameras via the servers RS232 (serial) ports. Most PTZ cameras use either RS232/RS482 or RS485 for this communication. Cameras can be connected in a daisy chain by assigning each camera an ID as illustrated in the following diagram. The PTZ setup dialogue box can be accessed via the Tools/Cameras/PTZ Setup menu.

Steps in setting up a PTZ:

  1. Open the PTZ dialogue box.
  2. Select the PTZ camera from the drop down list.
  3. Select the Camera type - most cameras use Pelco D as their communication protocol.
  4. Select the Serial port you have connected the PTZ control wiring to.
  5. Select the Baud Rate required to communicate with the camera.
  6. Select the Unique ID that you have assigned to each camera.
  7. Click Add.
Why did my PTZ stop working?

Try power cycling the PTZ and the RS485 converter.

Why do I need a RS232 to RS485 Converter?

You will need to convert the standard RS232 signal to a RS485 signal with a converter. These devices plug into the serial port and then provide the connection between the PTZ and the Video Insight Server. Most signal converters cost less than $100. Consult your camera's manual for instructions on how to set the ID on your camera.

RS485 is a standard communication method between Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras and Video Insight to control the movement. You typically connect a RS485 converter to the serial port of your PC. This converter is then attached to PTZ cameras in the following method: A single RS485 can control 32 PTZ cameras at the following distances with a 24 gauge wire: Baud Rate Maximum Transmitting Distance 2400bps 1800m. The RS485 standard requires termination resistors with 120 ohm impedance at both ends of the connection. The resistor is typically already set on the camera to assume that it's the last camera and in most circumstances you will not need termination.

Can I use NTSC or PAL Cameras?

Cameras sold in North America are typically based on the NTSC standard. Video Insight's default camera signal is NTSC but can be changed in the Server setup menu to accept PAL cameras.