USERS MANUAL HDA SERIES 8 CHANNEL www.NightOwlSP.
Thank you for choosing Night Owl Security Products! By purchasing a Night Owl product, you receive a one (1) year warranty covering manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. Make the most of your warranty by completing the registration form online. In addition to warranty and technical support benefits, you will have access to our multitude of free instructional “How to Videos”. You can also view our instructional videos by clicking the “How to Videos” tab within your product’s page on our website.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents 3
Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: FCC WARNINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 2: SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 CHAPTER 3: SPECIFICATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 3.1 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 3.2 Package Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 3.2.1 DVR Diagram . . . . . . .
7.1.1 Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 a. Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 b. Privacy Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 7.1.2 Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 a. Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 b. Capture Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 7.1.3 Network. . . . . . .
7.5.4 Log. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 7.6 Advanced Menu .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 7.6.1 Maintain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 7.6.2 Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 7.6.3 Auto Upgrade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 CHAPTER 8: REMOTE ACCESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 1 FCC WARNINGS Chapter 1: FCC Warnings 7 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 1: FCC Warnings FCC This equipment has been tested and found to comply within limits for Class B digital devices pursuant to Part 15 of Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules. FCC Compliance Statement These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against frequency interference in residential installation.
CHAPTER 2 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Chapter 2: Safety Instructions 9 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 2: Safety Instructions Use the provided power adapter. Do not use this product with a power source that applies more than the specified voltage. Never insert metal into the DVR case or its openings. Inserting metal into the DVR case may cause electric shock. Do not operate in wet or dusty areas. Avoid placing the DVR in areas such as a damp basement or dusty attic. Do not expose the DVR to rain or use near water. If the DVR accidentally gets wet, unplug it and contact technical support immediately.
CHAPTER 3 SPECIFICATIONS Chapter 3: Specifications 11 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 3: Specifications 3.1 System Requirements Please be sure that your PC/MAC complies with the following specifications: • PC Operating System: Windows® 7, Windows® 8/8.1, and Windows® 10 • PC Browser: IE® 8 and above, Google Chrome and FireFox • MAC Operating System: MAC OS X® 10.7 • MAC Browser: Safari® 7.1 and above Please be sure that your mobile device complies with the following specifications: • Android: 5.0 and above • iOS: 7.1 and above 3.
REAR VIEW Images used are for reference only. Your product may vary slightly. 1. Video Inputs – video inputs allow for the connection of BNC cameras. 2. Audio Output – audio output allows for the connection of an amplified speaker. 3. Audio Inputs – audio inputs allow for the connection of audio enabled cameras by connecting the white RCA plug to one of the audio inputs. After making the audio input connection, be sure to enable the audio function in the DVR’s menu interface.
3.2.2 Camera Diagram CAMERA NOTE: To ensure all the cameras are functioning properly, please test each one before installing them. To test: attach the camera side of a BNC cable to each camera while the DVR side is connected to the DVR and camera power adapter.
3.2.3 Mouse and Remote Diagram MOUSE Live Viewing: Double-click the left button on any camera view in split-screen mode to bring it to full screen display. Double-click again to return to split-screen mode. Right-click to show the control bar at the bottom of the screen. Right-clicking again will hide the control bar. In Setup: Left-click to make a selection. Right-click to cancel setup or return to previous screen. To Enter Values: Move the cursor to a blank field and click the mouse.
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CHAPTER 4 CAMERA INSTALLATION Chapter 4: Camera Installation 17 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 4: Camera Installation 4.1 Video/Audio NOTE: To ensure all the cameras are functioning properly, please test each one before installing them. To test: attach the camera side of a BNC cable to each camera while the DVR side is connected to the DVR and camera power adapter. 1. Locate an included 60 ft. camera cable. 2. Connect a camera to one end of the cable by matching the BNC connectors (yellow) and DC power connectors (red). 3.
4.2 Power 1. Locate the included power splitter. 2. Connect the power splitter to the remaining DC power connectors (red) of the cables. 3. Plug the power splitter into the labeled camera power supply, then plug the camera power supply into an available wall outlet or UPS. Keep in mind, Night Owl always recommends utilizing a surge protector to minimize the risk of damage caused to your DVR in the event of a power surge.
4.3 Mounting the Cameras Camera distance from DVR. The further the camera is from the DVR or monitor, the higher the chances of signal degradation. The camera’s power supply should be located as near to the camera as possible Connect all cameras locally before final placement to when the distance exceeds 200 ft. ensure that all components function properly. as the power level will drop over extended distances resulting in video degradation.
3. Using a drill bit slightly smaller than the included screw anchors, drill into the mounting surface using the guide marks you placed in the previous step. 4. Insert the screw anchors. 5. Line up the camera base holes with the screw anchors. Holding the base in place, insert screws and tighten until secure. 6. Once the base is screwed in place, make sure that the camera is securely mounted by placing gentle pressure on the mount. 7.
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CHAPTER 5 DVR INSTALLATION Chapter 5: DVR Installation 23 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 5: DVR Installation 5.1 Connecting to a TV (via HDMI) 1. Locate the included HDMI cable. 2. Plug one end of the cable into the HDMI port on the back of the DVR. 3. Connect the other end of the cable to an available HDMI input on your TV or monitor.
4. Select the appropriate video input channel on your TV or monitor to view the DVR. If your TV does not have an HDMI port, you will need to purchase a VGA cable. For a VGA connection, attach one end of the VGA cable to the DVR VGA port and the other end to your TV VGA port. For a BNC-to-RCA connection, attach the yellow RCA video connector of the cable to a yellow Video Input port on your TV.
2. Plug the DVR power adapter into the power input on the rear of the DVR. 3. Plug the other end of the DVR power adapter cable into an available wall outlet. If you are using an uninterruptable power supply (UPS), plug the adapter cable into one of its output sockets. Keep in mind, Night Owl always recommends utilizing a surge protector to minimize the risk of damage caused to your DVR in the event of a power surge.
CHAPTER 6 GETTING STARTED Chapter 6: Getting Started 27 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 6: Getting Started 6.1 Startup Wizard When your DVR is powered on it will display the Night Owl logo while initializing. Scan or click the QR code to view our Startup Wizard video which shows the quick and easy steps in detail. After initialization, you will be prompted to use the Startup Wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to: • Create a system user name and password. • Connect your DVR to a router that is hard wired. The DVR cannot connect wirelessly to a router.
6.2 Night Owl HD Mobile App The Night Owl HD Mobile App allows you to access your DVR remotely on an Apple or Android smart device. You can easily configure motion activated push notifications to alert you when one of your cameras detects motion. Additionally, you can live view your cameras from within the app. Once you have downloaded Night Owl HD and connected your DVR to your router, you can network your DVR by scanning the QR code which is located on the top of the DVR. 6.
Device ID: the value in the field should match the value in the parentheses on the right. These numbers verify which device you are currently viewing. User: enter the User name you created in the Startup Wizard or User Menu. Password: enter the Password you created in the Startup Wizard or User Menu. If the password is incorrect you will be prompted to try again. Keep in mind the password is case sensitive and must be 8 characters long. 6.3.
7. Recording: indicates when a camera is currently recording. 8. Multi-view: various layout options for viewing multiple channels at once. 9. Auto Sequence: start/stop the slideshow sequence of each channel. 10. Volume: mute or adjust the system volume. 11. PTZ: open up the Pan, Tilt, Zoom (PTZ) menu. This function will only work when a PTZ camera is connected to your DVR. 12. Cruise: starts /stops the cruise function of your PTZ camera. 13.
6.3.4 Menu Screen Access the main menu by right-clicking anywhere while in Live View and then selecting the menu icon. From within the main menu you will be able to access settings and parameters for all aspects of your DVR system. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. General Menu: configure display, network, and alarm settings. 2. Cameras Menu: access channel display and color settings. 3. Record Menu: setup or modify general recording, triggered events, and recording settings. 4.
CHAPTER 7 MENUS AND SETTINGS Chapter 7: Menus and Settings 33 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 7: Menus and Settings Some menu screens will allow you to copy similar settings to multiple channels. Choose the channel you would like to copy information from in the first dropdown box (Copy), then select the channel you would like to copy the information to from the second dropdown box (To). Click Copy when the proper channels have been chosen. Be sure to Save all changes you make in the menus. If you do not save the changes, they will not be applied.
7.1 General Menu The general menu will allow you to access display, network, and alarm settings for your DVR system. 7.1.1 Display a. Output: adjust the display resolution on your TV or monitor. Video Output: defaulted to LIVE-OUT. Sequence View: set the channel order when viewing in sequential mode. Sequence Time: adjust the duration each channel is displayed during a sequential view. You can select between 1 and 300 seconds per channel.
b. Privacy Zone: create or modify up to 4 privacy zones per channel. These zones will not be visible to the cameras in Live View or during any recording. Channel: choose which channel to apply a privacy zone to. Privacy Zone: Enable or Disable privacy zones on the selected channel. Area Setup: select the number of masks you would like to create or modify. Mask Area: a single Live View of the selected channel will be displayed with the number of Areas selected in the previous line.
7.1.2 Capture a. Capture: turn channel capture capabilities on or off. Channel: Select channel to edit. Auto Capture: Enable/disable capture feature on selected channel. Stream Mode: Select mode of streaming: Mainstream = native resolution and frame rate; Substream = optimal resolution and frame rate equal to bandwidth available Normal Interval: Time in between captures in seconds for normal recording. Alarm (Motion) Interval: Time in between captures in seconds for motion recording.
7.1.3 Network a. Main: find network values and optimize connectivity based on your Internet connection. In most cases the values should populate automatically once your DVR is connected to the Internet. The values in this section should only be adjusted if you are an advanced user and have extensive experience in device networking. PPPOE: for broadband dial-up network users only. You will need to contact your ISP to retrieve the User Name and Password needed to complete this type of connection.
b. Substream: configure or optimize the video quality of your Live View. Video: Enable or Disable video for the selected channel. If you select Disable, No video will be displayed from this channel during Live View. FPS: increase or decrease the frames per second of the streaming video depending on your connection speed. A higher FPS will result in more data transfer but smoother video. A lower FPS will eliminate most lag but at the expense of video quality.
Sender: the email address that will send email alerts. Sender Password: the password for the email address provided in Sender. Receiver: the email address that will receive the email alerts. Interval: set the duration between sending emails for multiple alerts. d. Email Schedule: choose when alert emails can be sent. Select Motion or Exception above the calendar and click the corresponding green or red boxes; you can highlight multiple boxes by left clicking and dragging.
7.1.4 Alarm a. Motion: configure the motion alarm settings for your DVR system. Channel: select the channel to configure motion alarm settings. Enable: activate motion alarms. Sensitivity: adjust the level of motion detection. A lower setting will require more movement in the camera range to begin recording. Buzzer: toggle between ON and OFF to enable an audible alert from the DVR. Post Recording: set the amount of time to record after the motion is detected. You can select between 30 and 300 seconds.
7.2 Cameras Menu Adjust or modify individual camera settings connected to your DVR. 7.2.1 Settings Channel: select the channel you want to configure a camera for. Channel Name: create a name for the selected channel; this name will be displayed on-screen during live view and playback. Position: change the position of Channel Name while viewing in Live View.
7.3 Record Menu From this menu you can enable recording, set video settings, and adjust streaming options. 7.3.1 General (Playback) Search and playback all recorded video from this menu. Choose your desired date and times from the options below, then click Play to view recorded video. Right-click to exit back to the menu screen. Channel: select the channel you would like to playback footage from. Type: search All, Normal or Motion video to playback.
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Slow Forward: forwards the video at a slower speed. Play: plays video starting at the indicator on the timeline. Pause: pause the recorded video. Stop: stop the recorded video. Fast Forward: fast forward frame-by-frame of the recorded event. Zoom: click the icon and select the area on-screen to zoom in. Clip/Save: click once to set the start point of the video you would like to save.
7.3.3 Settings (Recordings) View or modify general recording settings for your DVR system. a. Basic: turn channel recording capabilities on or off. Channel: select the channel you would like to configure. Record: Enable or Disable recording capabilities for this channel. Pre-Record: Enable or Disable pre-recording for this channel. Pre-recording is the amount of video captured prior to an alarm being triggered.
Channel: select the channel to configure the recording schedule. Normal Record: select this option to set the schedule for continuous recording. Once selected, highlight the boxes corresponding to the day and times that the channel should be recording. Click and drag to highlight multiple boxes green. Motion Record: select this option to set the schedule for motion-activated recording. Once selected, highlight the boxes corresponding to the day and times that the DVR should record when motion is detected.
7.4 Device Menu 7.4.1 HDD Check available memory on your DVR HDD and set recording parameters to optimize storage. Select: if multiple drives are installed, choose the HDD you would like to customize. Overwrite: by default, the Auto setting will overwrite the earliest footage once the HDD is full. Choose one of the other options to overwrite footage at the end of the desired time duration, starting with the earliest data. Off will record until the HDD has reached capacity.
Protocol: select Pelco-D or Pelco-P depending on the camera protocol. Both the DVR and camera should be set to the same setting. Baudrate: indicates the frequency of communication to the PTZ camera. We recommend leaving the default setting which is 9600. DataBit: select the amount of data to send during each transmission. 8 bits is standard for all modern data transmissions. StopBit: select the amount of extra data to send each time a direction is sent to the camera.
Language: pick between ENGLISH, SPANISH or FRENCH language preferences. Video Format: NTSC or PAL formats are available to choose from. NTSC is the standard for video in North America. Menu Timeouts: select the duration of time for an inactive menu to be displayed on-screen. Show Wizard: check the tick box to display the Startup Wizard each time the DVR is powered on. Mobile Wizard: click the mobile icon to launch mobile application setup portion of the Startup Wizard. b.
7.5.2 Users Create and modify user’s permissions. Edit: select an existing user from the list to change the User Name, Enable or Disable password access, or create a new Password. Permission: select a user profile (e.g. user1) and press the Permission button to select which menus, settings, and playback/recording functions are available to that specific user and on which channels. All will give that user basic admin settings.
7.5.3 Info a. Info: View your DVR system’s information and specifications at a glance. This menu will provide crucial device and network information to allow manual reconfiguration of your mobile application if needed. Keep in mind you can also scan the QR code on this screen using your Night Owl HD mobile application to quickly reconfigure your mobile device via our Owl Scan feature. Device ID: create a unique device ID number if you are using multiple DVRs.
c. Record Info: Displays an overview of the current record settings for each available channel. View record state, stream type, frames per second (FPS), bitrate, and resolution information. The settings on the page cannot be edited. 7.5.4 Log Search for logs of all events and notifications on the DVR to playback or backup files. Start Date: choose the initial date of your log search period. End Date: choose the end date of your log search period.
Backup: in order to save a log, a USB flash drive must be inserted into one of the available USB ports on the back of the DVR. Select the log(s) you would like to save, and then select the drive to save to. 7.6 Advanced Menu Configure additional settings related to maintenance, hard drive space, and upgrades. 7.6.1 Maintain Adjust settings related to default user access and reboot schedules. Default User: select the default user account. Auto Reboot: Enable or Disable the automatic reboot feature.
7.6.2 Events Configure notification settings for other triggered events not related to motion detection such as disk error, disk full or and/or video loss. Event Type: choose the type of event you would like to create a notification for. Disk Full means you will receive a notification if the HDD is full. Disk Error refers to the status of the HDD and will notify you if it crashes or has become corrupt. Video Loss is the absence of video due to power loss.
7.6.3 Auto Upgrade Control settings for auto upgrades of the DVR software. Auto Upgrade: Enable or Disable the auto upgrade feature. Firmware updates will be detected automatically when this feature is enabled. The default selection for the auto upgrade feature is enable. Check For Updates: check this box to periodically search for updated software versions. Detect: click this button to check if you have the most current software version installed.
CHAPTER 8 REMOTE ACCESS 56 HDA SeriesSUPPORT Users Manual VIDEOS
Chapter 8: Remote Access This chapter will show you how to connect your DVR to the Internet. You will learn how to properly connect your DVR to you router/modem, complete DDNS registration, and setup port forwarding, Internet, and mobile configurations. 8.1 System Requirements You will need to have the following in order to be able to successfully connect the DVR to the Internet. • High-speed Internet connection • Router or modem with two open Ethernet ports • MAC (OS X® 10.
8.3 Network Configuration 8.3.1 Windows® Operating Systems Make sure that the DVR is properly connected to the router/modem and that you have a computer that works with Windows and connected to the same router. Follow these steps to determine basic information about your network: 1. Press the Windows and R key at the same time on your computer’s keyboard to bring up the Run window. Type “cmd” and press the Enter key. 2. In the command prompt window, type “ipconfig” and press Enter.
For the following steps, use the information that you just wrote down. To access the network settings on your DVR, go to the General Menu, then to Network > Main and choose the Static option. 1. Manually enter the IP address into the IP Address field; this is the number that ends with 150. You may have to add placeholder zeros for any sections that do not contain three digits e.g. 192.168.1.150 192.168.001.150. 2. Confirm that the Subnet Mask is set to 255.255.255.000. 3.
4. DNS1 and DNS2 fields are auto-populated in most cases, if they are not they need to be set as follows: DNS1: [Gateway] DNS2: 8.8.8.8. 5. Click the Save button to apply all changes. 6. Reboot or power cycle the DVR. NOTE: Write these addresses down in the User Information section at the end of the manual for future reference. 8.3.2 Mac® Operating Systems Make sure that the DVR is properly connected to the router/modem. Follow these steps to determine basic information about your network: 1.
For the following steps, use the information that you just wrote down. To access the network settings on your DVR, go to the General Menu, then to Network > Main and choose the Static option. 1. Manually enter the IP address into the IP Address field; this is the number that ends with 150. You may have to add placeholder zeros for any sections that do not contain three digits e.g. 192.168.1.150 192.168.001.150. 2. Confirm that the Subnet Mask is set to 255.255.255.000. 3.
4. DNS1 and DNS2 fields are auto-populated in most cases, if they are not they need to be set as follows: DNS1: [Gateway] DNS2: 8.8.8.8. 5. Click the Save button to apply all changes. 6. Reboot or power cycle the DVR. NOTE: Write these addresses down in the User Information section at the end of the manual for future reference. 8.3.3 Port Configuration After you have configured the network settings, you will need to forward the necessary ports to be able to view the DVR over the Internet.
4. Once logged in to your router, go to the settings related to port forwarding. 5. You will need to enter a new port forwarding entry for each port that your DVR uses: Media Port (9000), Web Port (2049 or 2051). Repeat the steps below for each entry. 6. When entering the port numbers and IP address into your router’s port forwarding section, you will need to remove any leading zeros e.g. 09000 9000, 192.168.000.150 192.168.0.150, etc. 7.
8.3.4 DDNS Registration This option allows you to set up a free website address that will point back to the DVR, regardless of whether or not the IP address changes. If you do not have a static IP address, you should use this option. Follow the steps below to register a free domain name/DDNS. 1. Go to http://www.nightowldvr.com. 2. Select the Registration button located at the top left corner of the page. 3. Complete the New User Registration form. Write down the UserID and Password information. 4.
8.3.5 Adding the DDNS to Your DVR Once you have registered for your free DDNS account, you need to setup your DVR. Log in to the DVR, go to the General tab and click on Network, and then click DDNS. 1. Set the DDNS field to Enable. 2. Verify that the Server field is still set to NIGHTOWL. 3. In the Domain field, input the domain name that you created during the DDNS registration. 4. Input the UserID and Password you created at registration into the User and Password fields respectively. 5.
CHAPTER 9 GLOSSARY 66 HDA SeriesSUPPORT Users Manual VIDEOS
Chapter 9: Glossary DDNS: Dynamic Domain Naming System. Method for automatically updating hostnames, address, or other information like a URL on a given name server. DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A network protocol that allows a server to automatically assign a device an IP address. FPS: Frames Per Second. ISP: Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides services for accessing or using the Internet. IP: Internet Protocol. Protocol for standard communications across the Internet.
CHAPTER 10 WARRANTY 68 HDA SeriesSUPPORT Users Manual VIDEOS
Chapter 10: Warranty NIGHT OWL, LLC (“Night Owl”) provides the following warranty to the original retail purchaser only (the “Purchaser”) with respect to this product (the “Product”): For a period of one (1) year after the date of sale, the Product shall be free from manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. In the event that the Product is defective, the Purchaser must return the Product at Purchaser’s cost (no CODs) to the address below, with the original proof of purchase receipt.
Except where otherwise prohibited by law, this warranty is in lieu of other warranties, express or implied, and Night Owl neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume for it any other obligation or liability in connection with the sale or service of the Product.
CHAPTER 11 TROUBLESHOOTING Chapter 11: Troubleshooting 71 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 11: Troubleshooting If a problem occurs, you may be able to easily correct it yourself. The following table describes some common issues and their most likely solutions. Please refer to the table before calling technical support. Error Possible Causes Cable from power adapter is loose or is unplugged. Cables are connected, but system is not receiving sufficient power. 1. Confirm that the system is powered ON (LED indicators on the front should be ON). 2.
Error There is no picture on selected channels/camera picture is not being displayed. The image on the DVR appears, but does not have sound. A “whirring” noise is coming from the system. Possible Causes Solutions Camera cables are loose or have become disconnected. 1. Check the camera video cable and connections. 2. Disconnect and reconnect the cable at the system and at the camera. 3. Try moving the camera to another channel or use another cable. Audio cables are loose or have been disconnected.
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CHAPTER 12 CUSTOMER SUPPORT Chapter 12: Customer Suppport 75 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 12: Customer Support Something more authoritative e.g. “Please contact Night Owl Support before returning your product to the store, we’ll save you the trip. ONLINE • • • • • www.NightOwlSP.com 24/7 Product Support How To Videos Manuals Firmware Updates, etc. EMAIL • Technical Support: support@NightOwlSP.com • Sales Support: sales@NightOwlSP.com PHONE (English & Spanish) • Technical Support: register at www.NightOwlSP.com to receive technical phone support. • Sales Support: 1.561.265.
CHAPTER 13 USER INFORMATION Chapter 13: User Information 77 SUPPORT VIDEOS
Chapter 13: User Information Be sure to write down all the important information below and place it in a secure location.
www.NightOwlSP.
