13  Using the Main Menu

Use the Main Menu to access the full feature set of the recorder.
To open the Main Menu:
  1. Click on the Main Menu button (icon ) on the Taskbar from the live viewing screen.
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  2. Hover over one of the options in the menu to browse options in full view. Click to make a selection. If prompted, enter the user name (default: admin) and your secure password.

13.1  Main Menu Overview

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  1. Username: Displays the name of the user account that you are currently logged into the system with.
  2. Settings: Configure options for display, recording parameters, network settings and more. See 13.2 Settings Menu for full instructions on using the Settings menu.
  3. Playback: Search for and view video recordings and snapshots. See 8 Playback for full instructions on using the Playback menu.
  4. Device: Configure HDD recording mode or format HDD. See 12 Storage for full instructions on using the Device menu.
  5. System: Configure system date and time, user profiles, and system information including logs. See 13.3 System Menu for full instructions on using the System menu.
  6. Advanced: Perform firmware upgrades, restore unit to default settings, configure system warnings and more. See 13.4 Advanced Menu for full instructions on using the Advanced menu.
  7. Restart: Restarts the recorder. You must enter the user name (default: admin) and your secure password before the unit restarts.
  8. Shut down: Shuts down the recorder. You must enter the user name (default: admin) and your secure password before the unit shuts down.
  9. Log in / Log out: Log in or log out of the unit. This is useful for switching between users.

13.1.1  Copying Channel Settings to Another Channel

Many parts of the recorder menu allow you to customize settings for only one channel at a time. In these cases, you can use the Copy function to copy your settings for one channel to others or all channels of the recorder.
To copy channel settings to another channel:
  1. Set your preferences for one channel and click Save.
  2. Use the dropdown next to Copy to select the channel you wish to copy settings from. Use the dropdown next to To to select another channel or select All to copy to all connected channels, then click Copy.
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  3. Click Save to save your settings.

13.2  Settings Menu

Configure options for display, recording parameters, network settings, and preferences for snapshots and motion detection.

13.2.1  Changing a Camera’s On-Screen Display (OSD)

By default, the channel name, date and time are shown overtop of your video recordings.
To change a camera’s OSD:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Camera.
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  2. Select the channel for the camera you want to modify.
  3. Enter a channel name of your choice (e.g., Back Yard Camera). This name will appear on the camera image in live viewing and in recordings.
  4. Click Setup next to OSD Position. Click-and-drag the channel name to reposition it.
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  5. Click Save.

13.2.2  Enabling / Disabling Cameras

Enable or disable wire-free cameras.
To enable / disable cameras:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Camera.
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  2. Select the channel for the camera you want to enable / disable.
  3. Select Enable or Disable.
  4. Click Save.

13.2.3  Camera Firmware

In order to troubleshoot certain issues, technical support may ask you for the firmware version of your Wire-Free cameras. Use the procedure below to determine the current version.
To check camera firmware:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Camera.
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  2. Select the channel for the camera you want to check firmware for.
  3. Click Check Firmware. The current firmware version number will appear in the text box to the left.

13.2.4  Recording Time for Motion Detection

When a Wire-Free camera detects motion, the camera will stream live video and record for a set period of time before returning to standby mode. You can choose how long each camera records for when motion is detected.
To configure recording time:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Camera.
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  2. Select the channel for the camera you want to configure recording time for.
  3. Select a period of time the camera will record video for when motion is detected.

13.2.5  Changing the Display Resolution

To optimize display, you can change the output resolution of your recorder to match the maximum supported resolution of your monitor.
To change the recorder’s output resolution:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Display.
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  2. Use the dropdown next to VGA/HDMI Resolution to select the resolution of your monitor or TV.
  3. Click Save.

13.2.6  Menu Transparency

You can set a custom transparency level for the on-screen menus and the taskbar.
To adjust menu transparency:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Display.
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  2. Click-and-drag the slider next to Transparency to adjust the transparency of the taskbar and menu screens.
  3. Click Save.

13.2.7  Configuring Manual Recording

The system will automatically record video when motion is detected by a camera. You can also use manual recording to record a video file with a custom start and stop time. By default, manual recording is enabled on all channels.
To enable / disable manual recording:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Recording > Recording.
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  2. Select the channel you want to enable / disable manual recording for.
  3. Select Enable or Disable from the dropdown.
  4. Click Save.
  5. (OPTIONAL) Use the Copy function to copy your settings to another or all connected cameras. See 13.1.1 Copying Channel Settings to Another Channel for details on using the copy function.

13.2.8  Changing Recording Resolution

The Wire-Free cameras are capable of recording at 720p (1280×720) or 1080p (1920×1080) video resolution.
To change recording resolution:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Recording > Resolution.
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  2. Select 1920 × 1080 (1080P) or 1280 × 720 (720P).
  3. Click Save.

13.2.9  Configuring Basic Network Settings

The basic network menu allows you to change port numbers if needed and configure the network protocol type (DHCP or static).
To configure basic network settings:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Network > Network.
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  2. Select DHCP (default — recommended) or Static.
  3. Click the fields next to Client Port and HTTP Port to change port numbers if required.
  4. (FOR STATIC IP ONLY) Click the fields next to IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway and DNS to edit as required.
  5. Click Save.

13.2.10  Setting up Email Notifications

You can configure the system to send email notifications about important activity from your security system. To have the option of using Lorex’s free email server (recommended) or using a different one.

13.2.10.1  Email Notifications — Using the Lorex server (recommended)

  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Network > Email.
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  2. Select Default from the dropdown next to Email to enable the default Lorex mail server.
  3. Click to enter up to 3 email addresses that will receive email notifications from the system.
  4. Use the dropdown next to Interval to set the minimum amount of time between email notifications. This can be used to limit the number of notifications you receive throughout the day.
  5. Click Save.
    Email notifications are now enabled. The default schedule is set to send email notification whenever motion is detected or a system warning occurs. To configure the schedule for email notifications, see 13.2.11 Setting an Email Schedule .

13.2.10.2  Email Notifications — Using your own server information

  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Network > Email.
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  2. Select Enable from the dropdown next to Email to enable email notifications using a custom mail server.
  3. Use the dropdown next to Encryption to select an encryption type.
  4. Click the field next to SMTP Port to enter the SMTP port.
  5. Click the field next to SMTP Server to enter the URL used by your mail server.
  6. Click the field next to User Name to enter your user name for the mail server.
  7. Click the field next to Password to enter your password for the mail server.
  8. Click the field next to Sender Email to enter the sending email address. This can be any email of your choice.
  9. Click to enter up to 3 email addresses that will receive email notifications from the system.
  10. Use the dropdown next to Interval to set the minimum amount of time between email notifications. This can be used to limit the number of notifications you receive throughout the day.
  11. Click Save.
    Email notifications are now enabled. The default schedule is set to send email notification whenever motion is detected or a system warning occurs. To configure the schedule for email notifications, see 13.2.11 Setting an Email Schedule .

13.2.11  Setting an Email Schedule

The email schedule determines the time periods that the system will send out email notifications. You can set separate schedules for motion events and system warnings per channel.
Prerequisites:
To set an email schedule:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Network > Email Schedule.
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  2. Use the dropdown next to Channel to select a channel to set the email schedule for.
  3. Select Motion to edit the motion notification schedule (represented by yellow bars), or Warning to edit the system warning notification schedule (orange bars).
  4. Click or click-and-drag over existing bars to remove sections from the recording schedule. For blank areas of the schedule, click or click-and-drag to add sections to the recording schedule.
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  5. Click Save.
  6. (OPTIONAL) Use the Copy function to copy your settings to another or all connected cameras. See 13.1.1 Copying Channel Settings to Another Channel for details on using the copy function.

13.2.12  Configuring DDNS Settings

The primary connectivity option for this recorder uses to connect to your system over the Internet without requiring port forwarding or DDNS registration.
Lorex DDNS is available as an optional connectivity option. See 17 DDNS Setup (Advanced) for details.
Prerequisites:
To configure DDNS settings:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Network > DDNS.
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  2. Select Enable from the dropdown next to DDNS.
  3. Select LOREXDDNS from the dropdown next to Server.
  4. Click the field next to Domain Name to enter the URL shown under My DDNS Devices in your Lorex account (for example, www.tomsmith.lorexddns.net).
  5. Click the field next to User Name to enter the Username shown under My DDNS Devices in your Lorex account
  6. Click the field next to Password to enter the Password shown under My DDNS Devices in your Lorex account
  7. Click Save.

13.2.13  Configuring Motion Detection Settings

When one of your cameras detects motion, you have the option of having an alarm sound, or receiving notification via email.
To configure motion detection:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Settings > Motion.
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  2. Select the channel you want to configure motion detection options for.
  3. Use the dropdown next to Buzzer to choose whether the DVR should emit an alarm when motion is detected by the selected channel.
  4. Check the box next to Send Email to receive an email when motion is detected by the selected channel.
  5. Click Save.

13.3  System Menu

Change general system information such as date, time and region, edit passwords and permissions, and more.

13.3.1  Changing the Date and Time

If you need to change the date and time after completing the setup wizard, follow the steps below.
To change the recorder’s date and time:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > General.
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  2. Select the correct date from the calendar.
  3. Enter the correct time. Use the dropdown to select AM or PM if using 12-hour time format.
  4. Select a date format for date stamps on recordings.
  5. Select a time format for time stamps on recordings.
  6. Click Save.

13.3.2  Changing On-Screen Language

Change the language of on-screen text for the recorder.
To change language:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > General.
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  2. Use the dropdown next to Language to set the desired language for the recorder’s on-screen display.
  3. Click Save. The system language will update only once you exit the main menu.

13.3.3  Changing Video Output — NTSC and PAL

Manually switch between NTSC and PAL video output.
To change the video output:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > General.
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  2. Use the dropdown next to Video Format to select either NTSC or PAL.
  3. Click Save. The system will reboot to properly set the new video output mode.

13.3.4  Configuring Menu Time-out Option

By default, system menus are set to time-out after a set time period, taking you back to the main menu if there is no activity.
To configure or disable menu time-out:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > General.
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  2. Select a time period from the dropdown next to Menu Timeouts.
    • 30s–10min: Menus will disappear after the set time period if there is no activity on the system.
    • OFF: Menus will never time-out due to inactivity.
  3. Click Save.

13.3.5  Configuring Daylight Savings Time (DST)

Customize settings for Daylight Savings Time (DST) based on your region or preference.
To configure Daylight Savings Time:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > DST.
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  2. Select Enable from the dropdown next to DST.
  3. Select the time difference to use for DST from the dropdown next to Time Offset.
  4. Use the dropdown next to Daylight Saving Time to select a mode of entry for effective dates:
    • Select Week to choose DST time changes that are relative to the day of the week (for example, on the second Sunday of March).
    • Select Date to choose a specific date and time for each DST time change (for example, on March 13th at 2:00AM).
  5. Enter the desired Start Time and End Time for Daylight Savings Time. System time will move forward an hour at the start time, and back an hour at the end time.
  6. Click Save.

13.3.6  Configuring NTP

Network Time Protocol (NTP) allows the recorder to sync with an NTP time server to ensure that system time is always accurate.
Prerequisites:
  • The recorder must be connected to a router or switch on your network using the included Ethernet cable. A constant connection to the Internet is required to use NTP.
To configure NTP:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > NTP.
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  2. Select Enable from the dropdown next to NTP.
  3. Select the desired NTP server from the dropdown next to Server Address (we recommend using the default ntp.lorexddns.net ).
  4. If needed, use the dropdown next to Time Zone to set the correct region.
  5. Click Update Now to sync with the NTP.

13.3.7  View System Information

View system information such as device ID, IP address, MAC address, model number, firmware version and more.
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    To view system information:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > General > NTP.
    OR
    From live view, click icon on the Taskbar along the bottom of the screen.

13.3.8  Logs — Searching and Backing Up

The system log shows you important system events, such as motion alarms and system warnings. You can easily create a backup file of the system log for a set time period to a USB flash drive (not included).
Prerequisites:
  • To back up system log events, you must connect a USB flash drive to one of the recorder’s USB ports.
To search and back up the system log:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > System > Log.
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  2. Click the field next to Start Date to choose the starting date for your search from the on-screen calendar.
  3. Click the field next to End Date to choose the end date for your search from the on-screen calendar.
  4. Select the type of events you would like to search for from the dropdown next to Log Type, or select All to see the entire system log for the selected time period.
  5. Click the field next to Start Time to enter the starting time for your search (24-hour format). The search will begin at this time on the start date.
  6. Click the field next to End Time to enter the starting time for your search (24-hour format). The search will end at this time on the end date.
  7. Click Search.
  8. Browse system log events from your search period:
    • Video events can be played back instantly by clicking icon in the Playback column. Right-click to return to your search results.
    • Use the icon / icon buttons in the bottom-right corner of the menu to move between pages of system log events.
  9. Click Backup to create a backup of the system log for your search period.
  10. The backup drive menu appears. Navigate to the folder you want the backup file to be saved in, then click OK to begin. The progress bar at the bottom of the window shows you the progress of the backup.
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13.4  Advanced Menu

Perform firmware upgrades, manage system events and warnings, load default settings, and save/load current system settings.

13.4.1  Manual Firmware Upgrade

The system supports automatic firmware upgrades over the network to ensure your unit is always up-to-date. It is recommended to always use automatic upgrade unless directed to perform a manual upgrade by technical support.
Prerequisites:
  • Save the .bin firmware upgrade file in the root folder of a USB flash drive (not included), and connect the drive to one of the USB ports on your recorder.
To manually upgrade the recorder’s firmware:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Advanced > Maintenance.
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  2. Click Firmware Upgrade.
  3. The drive menu appears. Navigate to and select the .bin firmware file, then click OK.
  4. A confirmation window appears. Click OK to confirm.
  5. Allow 5-10 minutes for the system to upgrade and reboot.

13.4.2  Restoring Default Settings

Reset the recorder settings to their out-of-box state. You can choose to reset all settings at once, or just settings on specific menus. Restoring default settings will not delete recordings and snapshots saved to the hard drive.
To restore default settings:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Advanced > Maintenance.
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  2. Click Load Default.
  3. Select the menus you would like to restore to default settings:
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    • Click All to select all menus.
    • Click Clear to deselect all menus.
  4. Click Save to confirm. The recorder will reboot automatically.

13.4.3  Exporting System Settings

You can export the main menu settings you have configured to a USB flash drive (not included). Exporting system settings lets you to quickly apply your settings to another recorder.
Prerequisites:
  • You must connect a USB flash drive to one of the recorder’s USB ports..
To export system settings:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Advanced > Maintenance.
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  2. Click Save Settings.
  3. The drive menu appears and displays the contents of the USB flash drive. Navigate to the folder you want the system settings file to be saved in, then click OK to begin. The progress bar at the bottom of the window shows you the progress of the backup.
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13.4.4  Importing System Settings

Once you have created a system settings export (see 13.4.3 Exporting System Settings for details), you can import the settings on another recorder.
Prerequisites:
  • You must connect a USB flash drive to one of the recorder’s USB ports.
  • The connected USB flash drive must have a system settings file saved on it. See 13.4.3 Exporting System Settings for full instructions on saving settings to a USB flash drive.
To import system settings:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Advanced > Maintenance.
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  2. Click Load Settings.
  3. The drive menu appears and displays the contents of the USB flash drive.
    • Navigate to the system settings file you want to import, then click OK to begin.
    • A warning message appears to inform you the system will reboot in order to properly import your saved settings. Click OK to proceed.

13.4.5  Configuring System Warning Settings

Set preferences for system warnings including video loss, hard drive errors, and warnings when the hard drive is full.
To configure system warning settings:
  1. From the live viewing screen, click icon > Advanced > Warning.
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  2. Use the dropdown next to Warning Type to select the system warning you would like to configure.
  3. Check boxes next to features you would like to activate when the selected event occurs.
  4. Use the dropdown next to Buzzer to have the recorder make an alarm sound when the selected system warning occurs, or select OFF to have the recorder remain silent.
  5. Click Save.
  6. (OPTIONAL) Use the Copy function to copy your settings to another or all system warning types.