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C-Series: Why Isn’t My Camera Streaming in the VMS?

  • Updated

 

This article applies to the following cameras:

C-08

C-12
 

Purpose of This Article

This article explains a known issue where cameras may fail to stream video in a Video Management System (VMS) when the camera’s time and time zone settings are not correctly synchronized with the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or Network Video Recorder (NVR). It outlines the symptoms, causes, and resolution steps to help you quickly restore video streaming.

Root Cause

Modern VMS platforms require accurate time synchronization between cameras and recording servers. If the camera’s time zone or clock time does not align closely with the DVR/NVR:

  • Authentication or streaming handshakes may fail.

  • The VMS may treat the stream as invalid due to mismatched timestamps.

  • Certain firmware versions may enforce stricter time synchronization requirements than others.

Resolution Steps

Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

  1. Verify Camera Date/Time/Time Zone

    • Access the camera’s web interface via a web browser (Edge or Chrome) or the C-Series Camera Configuration Tool (CCT). 

    • Ensure the time zone matches the DVR/NVR’s configured time zone.

    • Confirm the camera time is within 2-3 minutes of the DVR/NVR clock. chgdattim1.png

  2. Choose the Correct Synchronization Mode

    • If possible, configure the camera for NTP (Network Time Protocol) to ensure ongoing synchronization.

    • If using Manual mode, carefully align the date, time, and time zone with the DVR/NVR.

  3. Reboot the DVR/NVR

    • After correcting the camera settings, reboot the DVR/NVR to refresh synchronization.

  4. Test Streaming

    • Drag the camera into a live video pane in the VMS.

    • Confirm video is streaming properly.

Additional Notes

Firmware Sensitivity:

  • Older firmware (e.g., version 2.1.5) may be more forgiving, allowing larger mismatches between camera and DVR time.

  • Newer firmware (e.g., versions 3.1.0 and 3.2.2) typically requires the camera time to be within approximately 3 minutes of the DVR’s UTC equivalent.

Crash Recovery:

  • If the VMS client crashes when saving new camera time settings, simply restart the client and reattempt streaming after correcting the camera’s clock.

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C-Series: Changing Camera Date/Time (Manual)

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