Overview - Swann REDALERT SW242-WDV Operating Instructions Manual

Overview

Congratulations on your purchase of the RedAlert! This single channel video
recorder is a terrifi c value for money security solution, as well as being easy to
install, use and transport from location to location. Practically fi tting into the palm
of your hand is a neat feature as well!
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of learning how to install, confi gure and use the
RedAlert, let's just take a moment to discuss its features, strengths and limitations,
so you can get the most out of your RedAlert.
How it Works
The RedAlert will record video or still images directly to an SD card, and it can be
confi gured to do this whenever it detects motion in the view of its camera.
It is an ideal monitoring solution for guarding specifi c security vulnerabilities
around the home or small offi ce. Some suggested applications include monitoring
the front or back door, a main hallway, or a courtyard or balcony. If there is a single,
specifi c location that you wish to safeguard, the RedAlert is the perfect solution.
By correctly confi guring the motion detection settings, and using a 1GB – 2GB SD
card (available separately) you can get the RedAlert to function autonomously for
up to months at a time!
A few key points to remember:
• The RedAlert can use SD cards up to 2GB in capacity. It will not work with
larger SD cards, as these conform to the SDHC standard, which is incompatible
with the RedAlert. This is not much of a limitation, really. A 2GB SD card will
record over 3, 500 ten second videos, or more than 60, 000 still images.
• The RedAlert can monitor a maximum of two cameras at once (one of
which must be wired, the other one wireless) but can record only one.
Savvy users might have already noticed that the RedAlert has four wireless channels
– the RedAlert is not recommended for multiple wireless cameras! See page 11 for
more information about why we've included multiple camera channels.
• Though it is remarkably effi cient hardware for its size and cost, the
miniature, self contained, entry-level video recording unit. It will (unfortunately)
not operate like the mythical technology shown on television shows like CSI
or 24 (we really wanted it to, but it turns out that sort of technology costs
millions of dollars and doesn't really work that well in real life, anyway). Bear
this is mind when placing your camera(s): the closer the camera is to the
action you want to capture, the more detail you're going to get. For
example, if you want to capture a vehicle registration tag, you'll have to have
the camera within about a dozen feet (about 4 meters) from the vehicle to
capture the required detail.
• The RedAlert is a single channel recorder. It will only record one video/
image at a time. It can display two cameras at once, but, due to the limitations
of the speed at which it can process images and write them to an SD card, it
can only record one channel at a time.
• If you're using your
on page 11 on interference and how you can avoid it when you confi gure your
system.
4 4 4
RedAlert with a wireless camera, be sure to read the section
RedAlert is a