1: What happens if I forget my password on the DVR system?


Because this is a sensitive question, we require customers to call us directly for support.

2: I cannot see my recordings under playback.

Step 1: Make sure that you scheduled a recording within the Record Setup->Record Schedule menu.

Step 2: If recording settings are on from step1, go under "System Setup" in the main menu and go to "System Info". Scroll down to where it says "Disk Size". If it says 0MB or if the number looks awkward (i.e. way over the range of your Hard Drive capacity), than your hard drive has problems and needs repair. Replace or fix your hard drive, and it should work again.

3: Is there a way to erase data on the 3400 system?

The only way is to call APEC tech support team and erase the data on site. There is no way you can do it from Internet or on the local site without special cable and program.

4: Can I delete my old recorded files?

No, you cannot. The reason is for security purpose. The system will automatically erase old data when the hard drive reach its maximum capacity. The software will automatically recycle and erase old data with new data. If in the case that you don't want old data to be erased, choose the time frame of that data and go to "menu" and choose "Lock File". This option will lock your file so that when the system starts to write over old data, it will not erase/write over the file you locked.

5: How do I setup a PTZ camera on the DVR3400 system?

Setting Up the PTZ:

a) Assign an address to each PTZ using the dipswitch. Different cameras have different dipswitch locations. Please refer to your camera users manual to locate the dipswitch

b) Run a pair of wires from the D+ and D- connection on camera 1 to D+ and D- connection on camera 2.

c) Run a pair of wires from the D+ and D- connection on camera 1 to the D+ and D- connection on "RS232 to RS485 Converter".

d) Connect RS232 to RS485 Converter to the com port on the back of the machine. The com port is located to the right of the keyboard ps/2 port.

e) Connect the video feed to the corresponding channel of the camera's assigned address. Ex. If your camera address is 5, please connect the video cable into channel 5 of the dvr.

f) Press the Menu button on the ADR 3400. Then go System Setup--> Serial Ports. Select Com 1 Device and use the Arrow Button on the remote until PTZ Camera is selected. Go to Com 1 Baud Rate and use the Arrow Button until the the correct Baud Rate is selected.

Note: Different PTZ cameras have different Baud Rates. Please refer to your users manual to identify the Baud Rate of your PTZ camera.

Note: If your PTZ is a Pelco Brand PTZ please set Flow Control to No Hit OK to save the settings and press cancel to return to the previous menu.

g) Go to "PTZ" submenu. Highlight PTZ Device and use the Arrow Buttons to select the make and model of your PTZ Camera. Then go down to the corresponding channel that you have plugged your PTZ into and change the selection from no to yes.

To Control PTZ:

a) Press Menu, then go to System Setup-->Video. Select the correct channel with the PTZ camera Sroll down to PTZ Control and hit OK. This menu allows control of the PTZ through remote.

5: How do I view remotely via internet if I have a MAC/Apple computer?

6: I am using IE 7.0 and am getting an error message when downloading the browser plugins (DCS.exe) to access my DVR remotely for the first time.

Your machine requires a new firmware batch update before you can successfully install the DCS.exe file for the plugins. You can download the batch file from below link. Upon completing the download, use the file to revise firmware either remotely or copy file onto a CD and directly insert it into your DVR and go to "Revise Firmware" under the "Maintenance" menu option.

IE 7 batch file

1: Can I adjust the date and time of system while running the Site Server.

If the Site Server is not doing video recoding, you can change the date and time of system without problem. If the Site Server is doing video recoding, please close Site Server before changing the data and time of system.

2: My DVR machine is firewall protected. How many TCP ports should be open to outside for the remote viewing?

TCP port 80, 18082 and 18083 should be open to outside for remote viewing. TCP port 80 is for web server by default. TCP port 18082 is for narrow-band video streaming and TCP port 18083 for broadband video streaming. TCP port 18000 should be open to outside if you want to enable the voice communication.

3: I can see the video at Remote Viewer but I cannot hear anything from the voice communication.

Make sure the machine ruing Remote Viewer has a unique global IP address. Since the voice communication adopts UDP/IP protocol, DVR machine and the machine running Remote Viewer should have unique global IP addresses to reach each other.

4: How to upgrade version 1.3 to version 1.43?

Please follow below steps to upgrade version 1.3 to version 1.43.

Step 1: Close the Site Server program, Record Player program and other application utilities. Make sure they are closed completely. (You can check them out from the Task Manager.)

Step 2: Uninstall version 1.3. (The un-installation process does not remove DVR settings and video recordings.)

Step 3: Install version 1.43 programs. Please be sure to install version 1.43 to the directory where version 1.3 installed (If version 1.3 installed at the default location, just install version 1.43 to the default location.). Please not restart the DVR machine before all device drivers are updated (During the updating of device drivers, DOS windows are invoked and then closed automatically. Please wait until no more DOS window is invoked)

Step 4: After restarting the DVR machine, version 1.43 runs automatically. All settings and video recordings are kept the same as in version 1.3.


5: Should I update capture device driver while upgrading version 1.3 to version 1.43?

The version 1.43 Site Server installer updates the capture device driver automatically. The updating process of capture device driver takes place at the last step of installation. During the driver updating, prompts DOS windows for a while. Please be sure not to pres the OK button to restart DVR machine before all device drivers are updated (It means no more DOS window displays.)

6: How many bps (bits per second) of Internet bandwidth should I prepared for viewing smooth live video at Remote Viewer?

320x240 video frame received by Remote Viewer through Internet is 15K bits in average. If you like to view four cameras in 5fps displaying rate, you need to have at least 15 K bits x 4 cameras x 5 fps = 300K bps bandwidth. Be sure the remote DVR machine has the enough outgoing Internet bandwidth also.

7: Install one capture card is OK. If I install more than two capture cards, the DVR machine boots fail.

It may be caused by the conflict of PCI cards. Please remove net card and sound card from the motherboard first and try again (If the mother board built-in the net chip and sound chip, please turn them off in the BIOS settings.) If everything works fine after removing these cards (or turn off these built-in chips), it means the motherboard¡¦s compatibility for PCI cards is not well designed. You can keep using the motherboard for DVR machine if you do not need the network and audio features. Otherwise, please select another motherboard.

8: How much free disk space should be kept for Windows system?

DVR program always keeps certain volume of free disk space for Windows system automatically. When writing video recording, it checks if the free disk space is larger than 100 M bytes. When writing profile data, it checks if the free disk space is larger than 30 M bytes. At least 500 M bytes of free disk space are suggested for the Windows system after installing the DVR system.

9: My DVR machine is located in a LAN environment with a virtual IP address. Is there any way that people from outside can remote watch the live video of the DVR machine through Internet?

Yes! Consult your IT personnel to forward TCP ports 80, 18082, 18083 and 18000 of a global IP address to the DVR machine.

10: Can I use thirty-party remote control utility to control the DVR machine?

Suggest not install any remote control utility in the DVR machine because some thirty-party remote control programs may make the Window system unstable. Installing the remote control utility temporarily for problem solving is acceptable.

11: The DVR machine keeps showing warning message that COM ports are not available.

The I/O Box device driver checks the availability of COM ports while launching DVR. If the current COM ports are occupied by other program utilities or no COM port is available, the I/O Box device driver shows warning message. You can follow below steps to remove the I/O Box device driver.

Step 1: Close the Site Server program.

Step 2: Rename or delete the file "i7k_iorw.dll". The file is at the program folder. The default program folder is "C:\Program Files\DVR\DVR 2400\Bin".

Step 3: Restart the Site Server program.


12: How to enable event email contain event snapshot picture.

Be sure to enable it only if you need the function for your daily operation. During the sending mail with picture, the DVR Site Server performance may be affected. You can follow below steps to enable the function.

Step 1: Close the Site Server program.

Step 2: Open the LiveTag.Ini file at the program folder. The default program folder is "C:\Program Files\DVR\DVR 2400\Bin".

Step 3: Change the statement "ATTACH_PICTURE=0" to "ATTACH_PICTURE=1".

Step 4: The statement "XDIMENSION=96" and "YDIMENSION=80" each represent the width and height of snapshot picture. You can change the size to get a better visible size but please keep them to be 16 times.

Step 5: Save the changes back to the file Livetag.Ini.

Step 6: Restart the DVR Site Server program.

Step 7: Enable the email notification for a test camera, and try an event by manual trigger the email sending.

Step 8: Check your email client for the event email and the event snapshot.


13: When I enable the audio recording, how much disk space does the audio record take?

The audio record stores audio data in 8 bits, 8K Hz, ADPCM format by default. In average, the audio data size for one channel is 330M bytes a day. The following is the time/size table.
Period Audio channel X 1 Audio channel X 2 Audio channel X 3
One day 330M bytes 2.3 G bytes 9.7 G bytes
One Week 660M bytes 4.5 G bytes 19.4 G bytes
One Month 1G bytes 6.8 G bytes 29 G bytes


14: When I change the "Disconnect camera" option, the I/O device may have wrong status or false alarms for a while.

DVR program reads I/O device signals from the video chip on the video capture card. When users change the option "Disconnect camera" on the "Preference/Camera" page, the video chip has to be reset. During the reset, the I/O status is reset, too. Tough the reset period is very short but it may produce false alarms. To avoid the I/O device false alarm, please avoid changing the ¡§Disconnect camera¡¨ option frequently, especially in the scheduled tasks.

15: Cannot uninstall DVR immediately after closing the DVR application. It shows the fax service is still running

Please click "Retry" and then wait for 1~2 minutes and Retry again until the internal fax service is closing, and then it will continue to finish the un-installation process.

16: What happens if I forgot my password?

Due to the sensitivity of such question, we require you to directly call our tech support for help.

17: How do I view remotely from a MAC computer?

Because of the difference in operating system, to view remotely with MAC, java must be bypassed from the front page of the remote view page. To do so, enter in your browser: http://enter_your_ip_here/livevua.htm

18: How do I install the record player?

Default is set at the main directory of where you installed your DVR. Just go to search directory and it should direct you to the data you need.

19: What do I do if I have the error message "Live.exe encounter error and need to be closed or restart" ?

This due to hardware conflict with DVR software. The problem is incompatible hardwares (video card, motherboard, or hard drive, etc...). All older version from 1.3 or 1.4, please do not upgrade to 2.0. The latest one you can update is 1.5. If you want to remove the DVR software, make sure you remove it completely. Please do not using Add/Remove function in windows. You can use the uninstall software in the driver folder that comes with your DVR installation CD.

1: What happens if I forgot my password?

Due to the sensitivity of such question, we require you to directly call our tech support for help.

2: How Do I backup into an .avi file?

Step 1: When you are playing back your recorded videos, find the starting time and ending time you want to backup.

Step 2: Then press "play" until you find the starting time. DO NOT hit stop, instead, press "pause" on where you want to begin.

Step 3: Right click on the video/camera you want to backup, and choose "save as .avi"

Step 4: Another menu will pop up to let you choose the start and end time. Choose the desired time frame, and press "OK"

Step 5: Now you have the backup file as .avi extension, and you can use almost players like windows media player to play file.

3: How do I install the software?

Step 1: Do not use windows automatic software installation. Unzip and Install the "3rdPartyApp" files first. You must install everything within this zip folder. If you are prompt to restart, then go ahead and reboot your system.

Step 2: Once again, you may be prompted by windows to install new software. Hit cancel. Go back to the CD and install "Client for 8500" zip file. Install everything in this folder.

Step 3: Lastly, install everything in the "PDR8500FINAL" zip folder. Restart computer again after, and the software should automatically load up at start.

4: I cannot see an image on the screen after installation.

Please make sure that you have installed the "Indeo Video Codec v5.0". This is somewhere inside the "tools" folder of the software CD. Close the program and restart again after installation.

Please turn off the unnecessary IRQ in BIOS configuration setting such as COM ports, USB, or Sound first. The primary partition in Windows 98 and ME is 2047MB(approach to 2 GB), Windows 2000 and XP is 4096MB(approach to 4 GB). Once the installation done, please shut down the Power Option in Control Panel, and set the cache mode of CD-ROM as “Never Read before running”. In addition, please install the latest drivers for the VGA card, chipset of the motherboard, and Microsoft Direct X (For the salability of your system, please install the authorized drivers downloaded from the official websites or supports.) Finally, please adjust the resolution to 800*600 16bits ( SDVR is 1024*768 16bits) and the refresh rate to 60 Hz or default. Please contact with the technical supports of your organization when you have any problem of installation.

6. Why can’t PDR work with the camera I installed?

This problem probably is made by incorrect driver installation. Please uninstall the current driver and re-install the correct driver for the model you have. If the driver is correct, please switch the capture card to another PCI slot and remove the unnecessary applications.

7.I always get flop over on the screen of PDR

Please make sure if there is any damage or burn-in of cameras, cables, or sockets of system. Otherwise, please update the motherboard, VGA card, Direct X, or PDR.

8.Why can’t I convert the file I get from playback?

As long as you pause the action when you are using playback function, you can convert the file to pictures, AVI format, backup files, or print it by right click the mouse. If your OS is Windows XP Professional with SP1 or Windows XP Home Edition, please download Indeo Video 5 plug-in from Microsoft.

9.Why can’t PDR send an e-mail or alert to me ?

The detect mode must be set according to your own demand in order to send e-mail or alert the user by setting.

10.Why can’t I use the remote monitoring program?

Please make sure if your Internet connection works and gets a value IP. IF you use the remote client program, please check if you connect the Internet via routers, firewall, or proxy servers and setup the TCP port 2000 of these equipments for the client program (The default port is 2000, please refer to configuration of remote monitoring). In addition, PC Anywhere or other remote controlling programs might have conflicts with PDR, please remove these remote controlling programs while the conflicts occur.

11.Why does XITAMI always show the homepage of copyright declaration?

There is a “WEB” folder within installation CD, please run “SETUP” in the subdirectory named “WEBSERVER. After it, please run “SETUP” in another subdirectory named “WEBCAMERA”.

12.How is the image quality of remote detect system?

The quality of image of remote client program can reach 2~5 frames per second via a broadband Internet connection (Depends on the construction of Internet), but the quality of image only can reach 1~3 frames per second by using web browser.

13.Why can’t it reboot automatically after I set reboot everyday?

Please ensure if there is any 16-bit program or DOS program running on background or change APACHE to XITAMI. If Windows XP pauses on ”Saving your setting”, Please upgrade and install Service Pack 1 for your windows XP, or change your OS to another one.

14.Why does my PDR server always crash down?

Please check if the symptom of system crash down appears regularly or not. The crash down might occur because of the instability of software or hardware when this symptom appears randomly. As long as this situation occurs, please check the hardware or re-install the OS. However, if the system crash down regularly, the system might be over heat and you should clear the dust within your PC or setup a heat fan on any component which can heat so much such as CPUs, hard disks, VGA cards, video capture cards.

15.What is the sequence of PDR installation?

After install the OS, shut down the PC and install the video capture card. When the hardware installation wizard shows up after boot, please insert the PDR installation CD to CD-ROM and select correct path you want to install in order to install the driver. Finally, click the “SETUP” in the folder and complete the entire install procedure. If you need the remote motion function, please install Web program last.

16.How can I remove PDR completely?

Run uninstall in PDR or use “Add or Remove Software” in Control Panel to remove PDR. In addition, PDR can be uninstalled by running “SETUP” of PDR.

17.What else of software do I need to install before install PDR?

Direct X 8.1 or above is only one software we strongly recommend to install before you install PDR. This can guarantee the image quality of VGA card installed in your system and improve the performance.

18. Why my PDR show out PINK screen as my first run PDR program?

If the PDR screen show out PINK screen that means your system configuration selection of VGA card is wrong, please refer to “System Configuration” to see more details.

19. Why my MPEG4 Stream Client site access show out Green screen?

The Green screen out as you access by MPEG4 stream means your CPU type selection of PDR server is incorrect. Please check & reinstall your PDR server installation and select the correct type you really use.

20.If PDR server enable remote monitoring function which on the back of firewall or IP share device that you need to enable several port for the Client access or remote control purpose.

1) IE webpage broadcasting : PORT:80 (If you set another port that you should open the exactly port if firewall or IP share device for function working.)

2) PTZ control (SPEED DOME): PORT:1072

3) MPEG4 Stream : if you set beginning port 2000 the you also should enable the next port 2001 to mark it work, if 3000 then you should enable 3000 & 3001 both and so on.

4) PDA or GPRS mobile phone access : if you set beginning port like port 2000 then you should also open out next 16 ports of it from 2001 to 2016 as well and so on.

21. What to do if I have the following Error Messages?

Number
System Message
Explanation
How to solve it?

-1
CoCreateInstance(CLSID_FilterGraph ...
DirectX Installation error.
Use DXDIAG detect fault or reinstall DirectX.

-6
if (nVideoNumber == 0) ...
System resource be occupied.
Please remove other DVR, DVD or VCD software to release system resource.

-9
if (InitData.fVideoBufferEvent == NULL) ...
System resource critical not enough.
Please disable other application program.

-11
PIC Init. fail.
Hardware not match with software.
Might install wrong model or the protect IC already fail or not exist.

-100
if (!blFilterOK) ...
Program inactive..
Reinstall DirectX and Main program to solve it.

-101
Pin connect error ...
DirectX install fail.
Use DXDIAG detect error and reinstall DirectX.

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