Troubleshooting - Swann Pro-Series Instruction Manual

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 right protective cap on the rear of the camera, and turning the
control knob one way until you find the best focus point or it won't turn any more. Then,
turn it back the other way. If there is no "sweet spot" then this indicates one of two things.
Note: 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
protective cap 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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