8  Using the System

Use the system’s graphical on-screen display to navigate menus and configure options and settings.

8.2  Using the Quick Menu

The Quick menu gives you access to the system’s key functions. To access the Quick Menu, right-click the screen during live view.
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The Quick Menu has the following options:
  • View: Select a camera in full-screen or select a multi-channel display.
  • Pan/Tilt/Zoom: Access controls for PTZ cameras (not included).
  • AutoFocus: Access zoom/focus controls for auto-focus cameras (not included).
  • Camera Setting: Configure image settings for cameras.
  • Info: Opens the system information window.
  • Sequence: Click to start/stop sequence mode.
    In sequence mode, the system will automatically cycle through connected cameras every few seconds. A icon will appear to show that sequence mode is on.
    Click the icon to pause sequence mode on the channel that is currently shown (icon changes to icon ). Click again to resume sequence mode. Right-click and select Sequence to return to normal viewing mode.
  • Disable Beep: Disable beeping alarms.
  • Device Search: Open the Device Search menu to manage IP cameras over the local network.
  • Main Menu: Open the Main Menu. See 14 Using the Main Menu .

8.3  Adjusting Camera Image Settings

Use the Camera Setting menu to adjust image settings for your cameras.
    To adjust image settings:
  1. Right-click on the channel you would like to configure and select Camera Setting. Enter the system password if prompted.
  2. Configure the following settings as needed:
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    • Mirror: Select Enable to flip the image horizontally.
    • Flip: Select Flip 180° to flip the image vertically, or select No Flip for the default orientation. You can also select the options, Clockwise 90° or Anticlockwise 90°.
    • Corridor Mode: Not supported.
    • 3D NR: Select Enable to turn on the camera’s noise reduction feature. Noise reduction will ensure a cleaner image, especially at night, and may reduce the amount of disk space required to store video.
    • Backlight Mode: Select one of the following:
      • Backlight Mode: Adjusts the lighting levels in the picture so you can see objects in the foreground if there is a strong light source behind them.
      • WDR: The camera compensates for changes in brightness across the image to enhance the picture quality of both light and dark areas.
      • HLC: The camera dims the brightest areas of the image to make them clearer.
      • Off: Disable this function.
    • Scene Mode: This mode allows you to adjust white balance levels for the camera. Select Auto for the camera to automatically adjust the white balance. Select Sunny or Night to use preset white balance levels. Select Customized to manually set blue and red levels.
    • Day&Night: This setting sets the camera’s day/night mode. Select Color for the camera to use color mode at all times. Select Auto for the camera to automatically determine whether to use color or black and white mode. Select Black&White for the camera to use black and white mode at all times.
    • Saturation: Adjust the vibrancy of colors in the image.
    • Brightness: Adjust the image brightness.
    • Contrast: Adjust the image contrast.
    • Hue: Adjust the color hue of the image.
  3. Click OK to save changes.

8.4  Using the Navigation Bar

The Navigation Bar gives quick access to certain functions and menus.
    To open the Navigation bar:
  • In live view, hover the mouse cursor over the bottom of the screen to open the Navigation Bar. Move the mouse cursor away from the bottom of the screen to close the navigation bar. The Navigation Bar has the following options:
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    1. Main Menu
    2. Collapse
    3. Select Display Layout
    4. Sequence Control: Click to start/stop sequence mode.
    5. PTZ: Click to open PTZ controls.
    6. Camera: Click to open camera image settings.
    7. Search / Playback: Search and playback recorded video. See 11 Playback .
    8. Alarm Status: View alarms in progress. See 14.2.4 Event Info .
    9. Channel Info: Click to access status information about connected cameras.
    10. Remote Device Search: Manage IP cameras over the network.
    11. Network: Configure network settings for your system. See 14.3.1 Network .
    12. HDD Manager: Manage hard drives connected to the system. See 14.3.19 Formatting the Hard Drive .
    13. USB Manager: Click to access options for connected USB thumb drives (not included). You can backup video, logs, or system configurations and install firmware upgrades.
    14. System Upgrade: Check for firmware upgrades. The system must be connected to the Internet to check for or receive updates.
    15. Warning Light and Siren — Deterrence cameras only: Click to activate warning lights and sirens for all connected deterrence cameras. Click again to deactivate.

8.5  Using the Camera Toolbar

The Camera Toolbar is used to perform actions on a specific channel.
    To access the Camera Toolbar:
  • Move the mouse to the top of the channel display. The Camera Toolbar has the following options:
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    1. Instant Playback
    2. Zoom
    3. Real-time Backup
    4. Snapshot
    5. Mute/unmute audio
    6. Camera Warning light — Deterrence cameras only
    7. Camera Siren — Deterrence cameras only

8.5.1  Using Instant Playback

Instant Playback is used to playback the last 5~60 minutes of video from the selected channel. You can also access Quick Playback in split-screen mode, while still viewing live video from the other channels.
    To use Instant Playback:
  1. Move your mouse to the top of the channel display and click icon .
  2. Right-click to exit Instant Playback.

8.5.2  Using Digital Zoom in Live Display

  1. Move your mouse to the top of the channel display and click icon to activate digital zoom. A check mark will appear in the icon to indicate digital zoom is activated.
  2. Click and drag inside the channel to zoom in.
    • Click and drag to pan the zoom area.
    • Right-click to zoom out and select a new zoom area.
    • Click icon to disable digital zoom. Note that the channel will remain at the same zoom level until you right-click inside it.

8.5.3  Using Real-time Backup

Real-time backup allows you to save footage from the live display to a USB thumb drive (not included) or external hard drive (not included).
    To use Real-time Backup:
  1. Insert the USB thumb drive or external hard drive into one of the USB ports on the system.
  2. Move your mouse to the top of the channel display and click icon to start Real-time Backup.
  3. Click icon again to end Real-time Backup. The file is saved to your USB device.

8.6  Activating Deterrence Features Manually (Deterrence Cameras Only)

The camera’s deterrence features deter suspicious activities from occurring by flashing a warning light and/or sounding a siren from the camera. You can manually activate these features using the camera toolbar.
    To activate deterrence features manually:
  1. From live view, hover near the top of a channel to reveal the camera toolbar.
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    Deterrence Icons
  2. Click the deterrence icons to activate / deactivate the following deterrence features:
    • Click the icon to activate (icon ) / deactivate (icon ) the camera warning light.
    • Click the icon to activate (icon ) / deactivate (icon ) the camera siren.

8.7  Using the Virtual Keyboard

The Virtual Keyboard is used to input text or numeric values in certain menus.
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  1. Backspace.
  2. Enter capital letters.
  3. Confirm entry.

8.8  Adjusting Camera Zoom & Focus

Auto-focus cameras (not included) have a motorized lens. The motorized lens allows you to control the zoom and focus settings using the menus on your system.
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    To adjust the camera’s zoom focus:
  1. Click on the channel where the motorized lens camera is connected.
  2. Right-click and then click AutoFocus. Log into the system with your user name and password.
  3. Adjust the zoom and focus using the following options:
    • Use the sliders to adjust the Zoom or Focus settings for the camera.
  • Click the AutoFocus button to automatically focus the camera at the current zoom level.
  • Click Reset to return the camera to the default zoom and focus levels.
  • Click Refresh to refresh the settings shown on the system if someone has used the manual lens controls on the camera.
  1. Right-click to exit and save changes.