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TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDES
This section of the website is designed to
help do-it-yourselfer's install their new cameras. We have tried to think of all
the possible situations you could encounter and how to fix them. As always, if
you are really stuck you can call us here at 1-800-292-7748 and get tech
support. You can jump to any section you wish with the
following links:
Most common user errors: Plugging
the camera cable into the wrong port on the VCR and not putting the VCR on
the correct channel.
HARDWIRED
CAMERA TO A VCR
1. All
of our hardwired cameras come with their own power supply (AC transformer) that
needs to be plugged for the camera to receive power. No camera will work without
the power plugged in.
2. Since
this is an external video source, the VCR must be configured to use it's
external video input. This is the exact same thing as connecting you camcorder
to your home VCR. The actual wording varies from VCR to VCR,
but you are looking for the input (line, auxiliary, video) channel on your VCR. Most
VCRs made in the last 5 years or so have an actual input button on the remote
itself. If you click that button you will automatically go to the correct
channel. Older VCRs are a different story. Some do not have a remote or an input
button on the remote itself. In some cases older VCRs can be switched to their
input mode by simply placing a tape in the slot or pressing channel down and
going below channel 2. If none of these suggestions
work, consult the VCRs manual on how to switch it to its input (line, auxiliary,
video)
channel.
3.
Make sure the cable is plugged into the VIDEO IN
port and not the coax in
or the video out of the VCR. Normally this is a RCA plug (small circular plug
normally colored yellow) located on the back panel of the VCR.
4. The TV needs to be on channel 3 or 4
depending on how the VCR is setup.
WIRELESS
CAMERA TO VCR
1.
Since
this is an external video source, the VCR must be configured to use it's
external video input. This is the exact same thing as connecting you camcorder
to your home VCR. The actual wording varies from VCR to VCR,
but you are looking for the input (line, auxiliary, video) channel on your VCR. Most
VCRs made in the last 5 years or so have an actual input button on the remote
itself. If you click that button you will automatically go to the correct
channel. Older VCRs are a different story. Some do not have a remote or an input
button on the remote itself. In some cases older VCRs can be switched to their
input mode by simply placing a tape in the slot or pressing channel down and
going below channel 2. If none of these suggestions
work, consult the VCRs manual on how to switch it to its input (line, auxiliary,
video)
channel.
2. Make
sure the AC transformer for the receiver is firmly plugged into the wall and the
receiver itself. Make sure the receiver is on.
3. Make
sure the cable is plugged into the VIDEO IN port and not the coax in or
the video out of the VCR. Normally this is a RCA plug (small circular plug
normally colored yellow) located on the back panel of the VCR.
4. The TV needs to be on
channel 3 or 4 depending on how the VCR is setup.
5. Many
of our wireless products can transmit their signals on one of 4 different
frequencies ("channels"). It is very important that the receiver and
the camera are set to the same channel in order for them to work correctly. The
first step is to determine if your product has the ability to transmit on
different channels. In most cases, either on the bottom or in the battery
compartment, you will find a small red button. This button is the toggle switch
for the cameras transmitting frequency. The easiest way to "tune" a
product in is to setup the camera in the location you want to monitor, then to
go back to the receiver and begin scrolling through the channels until the
picture shows up on the TV.
6. If
you still do not have a picture (or the picture is fuzzy) the camera may be out
of range for the receiver. In most cases, 2 walls and about 50-80 feet is about
as far as they are going to reasonably transmit. Take the camera and plug it in
in the same room as the receiver (you may have to re-tune it after you unplug
it. See the previous step for help in tuning it in.) If you can now see the
picture, the camera was just too far out of range and either the camera or the
receiver needs to be moved closer together.
QUAD
SYSTEM TO VCR
1.
Since
this is an external video source, the VCR must be configured to use it's
external video input. This is the exact same thing as connecting you camcorder
to your home VCR. The actual wording varies from VCR to VCR,
but you are looking for the input (line, auxiliary, video) channel on your VCR. Most
VCRs made in the last 5 years or so have an actual input button on the remote
itself. If you click that button you will automatically go to the correct
channel. Older VCRs are a different story. Some do not have a remote or an input
button on the remote itself. In some cases older VCRs can be switched to their
input mode by simply placing a tape in the slot or pressing channel down and
going below channel 2. If none of these suggestions
work, consult the VCRs manual on how to switch it to its input (line, auxiliary,
video)
channel.
3.
Make sure the cable is plugged into the
VIDEO
IN port and not the coax in
or the video out of the VCR. Normally this is a RCA plug (small circular plug
normally colored yellow) located on the back panel of the VCR.
4. The TV needs to be on channel 3 or 4 depending on
the VCR is setup.
5.
Unplug all the cameras and look at the picture on the TV. You should see
a black (or blue) screen divided into 4 sections. The picture should not be fuzzy, wavy or
distorted in any manner. If the quad screen appears distorted in any way the VCR
is on the wrong channel or the connection to the VCR is not stable. Please go back and double check that the VCR is on its
input channel.
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