IP Camera never loads

A user set a channel to be an IP camera but when trying to view live video they only see "Loading..."

Solution

1. Collect some background Information:

   • 3VR software version

   • 3VR hardware type

   • Camera make and model

   • Camera IP address

   • Camera video port (if applicable)

   • Ask how the camera is connected to the 3VR (locally connected to the secondary NIC or through the network)

   • Get the camera's firmware version (if possible) and ask what driver they are using in SystemManager

2. Run Camera Connection Test:
   Launch SystemManager. Disable the channel and then click the Test Camera Connection link.

   1. If the camera connection test FAILS:

      1. Check the IP address, username, and password are set correctly. Verify this information by opening the camera in a web browser and logging in.

      2. If the IP address, username, and password are correct, make sure that the 3VR can ping the camera. To do so, select the SmartRecorder name, then on the right-hand click  Test Server Connectivity. In the dialog that pops up, select the "From SmartRecorder" tab and type in the IP address of the camera. 

      3. If the ping is unsuccessful then go into the Network Settings dialog and check the network settings on both the primary and secondary NIC card. Check that the status of both network adapters is "Up (connected)". If the status is "Down (disconnected)" make sure the primary and secondary network cables are plugged in to the correct ports (If the ping is successful, got to step 3 below)

      4. If the ping is successful, check the Network Camera: Network Port field. If an incorrect value is entered, the ping will succeed but video will not load. Leaving this field blank defaults to 80.

3. ) If Test Camera Connection SUCCEEDS but you still can't get video, verify:

   1. The input system is running and not halted.

   2. The camera settings were not changed from the default. To make sure, change the camera driver to something different and then return back to the original driver.

   3. The video mode is selected and the resolution is set and not empty or is using CIF resolution

   4. If the IP camera is a video distributor / encoder (Ioimage, Axis 241q etc) make sure that the "Network Camera; Video Server Port" is filled in. A video distributor / encoder accepts multiple video inputs (analog or IP), and then outputs that to a single NIC.

4. If everything looks correct but you are still not getting video, here a few things you can try:

   1. AXIS Camera:

      1. If the camera is an Axis and the firmware version is 4.47 or later, it may be encountering a bug with password encryption.

         1. Log into the Axis camera and click "Setup"

         2. Click "Basic Configuration/1. Users"

         3. Below "User List" there should be "HTTP/RTSP Password Settings, check to see if it's "Encrypted Only" or "Encrypted & Unencrypted"

         4.  If it is, then change it to "Unencrypted Only"

      2. All other Cameras:

         1. Reset the camera to factory default settings. 

         2. Use the default username to log in. Here are some of the default user names and passwords, by manufacturer: