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Video loss is a common problem in homes with security systems. It can be pretty frustrating because this error can easily make your entire security system pointless. What’s the point of setting up a camera when it cannot capture video footage in the first place? All would simply seem like a total waste of money. This should never be the case.
If you’re having problems with video loss, do know that it’s easily fixable. We’d enlist nine of the common reasons why most security systems suffer from video loss. We’d also enlist suggested fixes from experts that you can easily execute.
Reason #1: Power Spike
Power spike can be blamed if you experienced the following:
- vertical lines
- total black screens
- video loss
Power spikes occur whenever lightning strikes. It can also take place if your camera is mounted on a metal surface. Electrical current from other equipment that is near can also cause a power spike.
Suggested Fixes:
- Have a lightning surge protector
- Use a power surge protector
- Have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
- Use wood in mounting your camera
Reason #2: Weak Power Supply
This is different from a power outage. There is a weak power supply when there is not enough power to sustain your video signal. A weak power supply is often caused by the following:
- Old power cables
- Damaged power cables
- Degraded power cables
- Loosely connected cables
- Broken PoE switch
- Broken PoE injector
- Usage of cables that are too long
- One cable is connected to too many cameras
Suggested Fixes:
- Switch ports to check power connection
- Double-check all cable connections
- Directly connect the camera to the NVR to see if it’s the PoE that is broken
- Use Ethernet or shorter BNC cables
- Check if the battery is discharged if you’re using a battery-powered camera.
Reason #3: Faulty IR
Sometimes, it can be that you’re not even suffering from video loss. It could simply be that your IR night vision is not working. You can encounter such an issue if:
- Your IR sensor is faulty
- You failed to turn on your IR sensor
- Your installed camera has IR compatibility issues
In such a case, you won’t need to rush looking for experts in security camera repairs. You should do our suggested fixes first.
Suggested Fixes:
- Use a floodlight
- Use IR illuminators
- Turn on IR features on your settings
Reason #4: Faulty Cables and Wires
Analog CCTV cameras are more prone to video loss due to faulty cable connections and wiring setups.
Cables can cause quite a problem if not managed properly. Cables often cause problems when they get bent or twisted.
Suggested Fixes:
- Assess every inch of your cables
- Look for chews, cuts, and bends
- Replace cables when necessary
Reason #5: IP Address Issues
This can be a problem if you use two IP cameras in one network. As there is one IP, the two cameras will automatically kick each other out. Such cancelling causes video loss. This is a tricky network issue that can be easily solved if you’d give a unique IP address to each of your cameras.
Suggested Fixes:
- Check if your cameras have the same IP address. Check if there are duplicate IP addresses.
- Make it a point to ping IP addresses before assigning them to unique camera units
- Check that gateway assignment. Faulty gateway assignment can easily cause video loss.
Reason #6: Signal Issues
Using cameras of different brands can affect the signal connection. Compatibility issues can arise if your NVR/DVR and cameras do not recognize each other. It can also be an issue if your current DVR can’t process old CCTV cameras.
Suggested Fixes:
- Use the same brand for your cameras and DVR/NVR.
- You can opt to consult a local technician if you don’t want to spend on new units.
Reason #7: Weak WiFi
Having an unstable network can cause video loss. This can be the case if your security system is connected to a weak WiFi source. This is often the case if:
- Your cameras are too far from your router
- Numerous physical barriers between your router and your camera
- WiFi interference
- Signal interruption in WiFi
Suggested Fixes:
- Place your cameras near your router
- Check if you’re using the right channel (see if your router emits 2.4 or 5 GHz signals)
- Have a WiFi range extender
- Don’t have walls or big objects between your cameras and your router
- Troubleshoot by reconnecting the BNC connector and unplugging the PoE switch
- Check for network interruption
- If you’re using cellular security cameras, ensure that your SIM is correctly inserted. Check if your data is still available.
Reason #8: Hardware Issues
Your hardware can cause video loss if it’s already old. Old hardware can also have firmware filled with bugs and errors. This can be easily solved by updating your current firmware.
Suggested Fixes:
- Research intensively on updating your firmware. You should not update your firmware hastily as firmware updates can cause more problems if done incorrectly.
- Camera replacement
Reason #9: Power Surge
Cameras with coaxial cable can experience video loss during a power surge. This happens during thunderstorms. It can also happen if your camera board is damaged. You will know that the camera board is damaged if you start seeing vertical or horizontal lines on your screen.
Suggested Fixes:
- Use a lighting surge protector
- Use a power surge protector
- Connect your security system to uninterruptible power supplies
- Don’t use metallic objects or surfaces in mounting the camera
- Use wood to mount cameras
- Deploy proper grounding on all your CCTV equipment by carefully following each unit’s manual
