Troubleshooting
Problem: At night, all I see is white.
Solution: The camera is most likely looking through a window. At night, the infrared light
the camera uses to see in the dark can 'bounce back' off a reflective surface (such as glass,
water, spider webs, some ceramics and so on) and effectively blind the camera. If you want
to see outside, mount the camera outside - we made it weatherproof for a reason!
Problem: I see only a blank screen where my image should be.
Solution: Check the wiring to the camera, and ensure the camera is being supplied power
from the included power adapter. Try using a different video lead, or connecting the camera
to a different television or monitor. Be sure there are no devices interrupting your signal,
such as a DVR or VCR that isn't outputting the signal correctly.
Problem: I can't see anything at night.
Solution: The maximum range of the night vision is just that, the maximum range. If there's
nothing in this range, you won't see anything. Also, some dark objects (like the proverbial
black cat) may not reflect enough light to be seen except as a silhouette if the background is
brighter. Some objects which can easily be seen in visible light don't reflect much infrared
light.
Problem: Everything looks blurry/soft.
Solution: You probably need to adjust the focus (the knob on the right). This is simply a
matter of removing the dome cover, and turning the control knob one way until you find
the best focus point or it won't turn any more. Detailed instructions for setting the focus
are described in the Adjusting Zoom and Focus section. Then, turn it back the other way. If
there is no "sweet spot" then this indicates that you might be trying to focus on something
outside the "depth of field" - objects need to be at least a certain distance from the camera
for you to be able to focus on them. Typically, this will be only a few feet (about 1m) but this
distance can increase dramatically if the lens is zoomed in, or in low light conditions. Be
sure to replace the dome cover securely once you've set the focus!
Advanced Feature: On Screen Display (OSD)
The OSD is an optional use, advanced feature that allows you to change settings for:
Wide Dynamic Range (reduces the difference between light and dark areas of a scene)
3D Noise Reduction (reduces digital image "noise" in low light images)
Back Light Compensation (adjusts the image if strong light source is in the scene
background)
Auto White Balance (another way of adjusting the image to compensate for different lighting
and colour conditions in a camera scene)
Numerous other image tuning and camera setting options.
The camera will work perfectly well if you never attach the OSD controller - it will regulate
all its settings automatically and will suit most applications.
The OSD controls are many and varied so if you would like to make some changes or have a
particular need for your camera that requires some fine tuning, simply read the OSD guide
included in your pack or you can download the guide to the OSD from our website:
www.swann.com/osdpro
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