.

What is DMSS APP?

DMSS is a mobile surveillance app with functions like video playback, remote monitoring, device initialization, push notifications, and remote configuration. Devices like IPC, NVR, XVR, VTO, doorbells, alarms and access controllers can be added. After logging into the account, you can use cloud services like cloud upgrade and so on. The app supports iOS 9.0 and Android 5.0 or later systems and can be used with 3G/4G/Wi-Fi.

 .

What are the benefits of DMSS Camera App?

Remote operations

Before talking about DMSS Camera application on Alexa, let’s see what is DMSS? DMSS app can work in an environment with various internet connections. It connects Dahua CCTV products through both Internet and Ethernet. P2P-enabled internet connection shows great simplicity, while IP or domain name-enabled Ethernet connection guarantees strong stability.

DMSS can be operated remotely to immediately and stably control specific devices all around the world through its global network coverage. many functions including PTZ controlling, video preview and playback, video image adjustment (such as White Balance, focus, etc.), alarm subscription, voice intercom and etc. can be done remotely.

 .

increased data security

DMSS adopts multiple layers of data encryption protection to supply better data security to users.

From a product to the platform and then to the mobile client, DMSS uses multiple layers of data encryption protection to provide better data security to users. DMSS camera has also been certified by TÜV Rheinland, meaning the product complies with the GDPR and meets the TÜV Rheinland 2PfG 2624/06.17 standards, offering state-of-the-art information security and privacy protection.

Featuring a more detailed interaction design, DMSS provides a smoother user experience.

 .

Supports thermal products

To prepare the best support for the global efforts in pandemic prevention and control, DMSS CCTV also supports thermal products (supported by CCTV Suppliers), including access control, thermal cameras, and temperature monitoring terminals. It lets the operators control thermal products remotely and perform their duty in a safer manner.

 .

Setup DMSS App on Alexa amazon

Amazon Alexa is a virtual assistant AI technology developed by Amazon. It is able to voice interaction, music playback, make to-do lists, stream podcasts, set alarms, play audiobooks, and provide weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information, such as news. Using itself as a home automation system, Alexa can also control your home security camera and even we can set up DMSS application on Alexa. Users are able to increase the Alexa capabilities by installing “skills” (additional functionality developed by third-party vendors, in other settings more commonly called apps) like weather programs and audio features.

Most devices with Alexa let users activate the device using a wake-word (like Alexa or Amazon); other devices (like the Amazon mobile app on iOS or Android and Amazon Dash Wand) require the user to click a button to activate Alexa’s listening mode, although, some phones also let a user say a command, such as “Alexa” or “Alexa wake”.

In September 2019, Amazon launched many new devices achieving many records while competing with the world’s smart home industry. The new Echo Studio became the first smart speaker with 360 sound and Dolby sound. Other new devices included an Echo dot with a clock behind the fabric, a new third-generation Amazon Echo, Echo Show 8, a plug-in Echo device, Echo Flex, Alexa built-in wireless earphones, Echo buds, Alexa built-in spectacles, Echo frames, and Alexa built-in Ring, and Echo Loop.

How to use Alexa for your home security camera?

Using Alexa with a home security camera adds comfort. You can use a smart display screen in your house to immediately and easily review past footage and see who’s at the door right now. Just make sure you have compatible devices and you’ll be using Alexa to check in on your camera (or cameras) in no time. One of the utilities of Alexa is setting up the DMSS application on Alexa. Let’s we how we can do it.

 .

DMSS application on Alexa: How does Alexa work with DMSS?

To add your Dahua device using the Amazon Alexa app:

Let’s assume that you’ve installed and configured your Alexa-compatible home security camera already and you have an Alexa-enabled smart speaker.

Now you need to log in to your Alexa app or make an account if you don’t already have one. Simply download the Alexa app and follow the prompts to sign in/register a new account.

Open the Alexa app and choose “Skills & Games” in the menu. Type “Ring” in the search box, open the skill, and choose “Enable.”

You’ll be asked to enter your Ring account credentials to pair your Ring account to the Alexa app.

 .

How to Download the DMSS Application?

The prefix “g” or “i” differentiate the applications intended for Android and iPhone/iPad and thus we will find them in the official Google Play and App Store:

Before, DMSS Plus was paid while you could get the Lite version for free. There are some differences between DMSS Lite and Plus such as E-Map (visual and functional installation plans), alarm management, and push notifications. Currently, there is no need to choose since Dahua has released the Plus version for free. In addition, this publication is already adapted to the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

 .

 .

Download Dahua DMSS software

View DMSS APP User Manual

 .

What Functions Do These Apps Offer?

The aforementioned applications have undergone several updates that improve their operation and increase their capabilities so sometimes it is difficult to follow all the news. Therefore, let’s see a summary of what they offer us for the management of our video surveillance devices:

Integration of Other Security Devices

The main novelty is managing DMSS CCTV devices, access control devices, and alarm systems from the manufacturer Dahua in a single app.

 .

Device Management

Among other options, they can be located within a local network (WiFi or LAN), and add devices via IP/Domain, DDNS, and P2P (Easy4IP and Lechange). This last option allows you to add devices by scanning the QR code and even a complete list of devices, very useful for migrating from the Lite app to the Plus version in a single operation.

 .

Live View and Playback of Recordings and Stored Clips

Live, to access and capture live video from added devices, combining channels and cameras. Playback, to consult, capture, cut, and extract the recorded videos. In addition to that, clips and captures can be viewed from the smartphone’s memory.

 .

Channel Configuration

It allows you to modify the coding (image resolution and ratio), image adjustments, PTZ or motorized zoom camera movement control, two-way audio communication with the device, and quadrant display, as more interesting functions.

 .

Notifications and Events

Detection events generated by devices are listed and notified in the app through push notifications. These consist of instant and free alerts supported by the devices and to which we can easily subscribe, depending on the type of detection selected.

 .

Cloud Recording, Cloud Storage Services

Upcoming updates will enable cloud video recording under a subscription service, with per-channel rates for 3, 7, or 30-day recording, and only for cameras that support such functionality.

 .

You can also check:

Best CCTV Brands in the UK

 .

 .

How to See Your Dahua DMSS Security Cameras from the Cell Phone

DMSS is Dahua ‘s free software to connect to your equipment from smartphones. It is used to connect to all current Dahua manufacturer equipment: DVR recorders, HDCVI, NVRs, IP cameras, etc.

This App can be downloaded for free in both the Play Store and the App Store. The Android version is called gDMSS and the iPhone iOS version is called iDMSS.

To connect your Dahua device via P2P on your cell phone, you are going to need:

 .

How to Configure Your Dahua Security Cameras in DMSS

Enter the SN of the device and touch the “Next” button.

Once all the boxes are completed, tap the “Save” button that is located at the top right.

If you followed the steps correctly, it should start viewing your security cameras live. By tapping the back button at the top left, you can return to Start.

 .

How to View Your Dahua Cameras in DMSS

If you followed the steps correctly, you should start viewing your security cameras live.

 .

 .

 .

The red numbered buttons:

 .

The Yellow numbered buttons:

 .

 .

Conclusion

As we saw, you know about DMSS App & can set up Alexa on your camera easily, just you need to go to the menu and tap Skills. Find the relevant skill (some cameras have specific apps for the cameras, outside of their main smart home apps). Enable the skill and link the account with Alexa. It’s a simple thing to set up and it means that you can create a security monitor without ever firing up your smartphone or tablet. All you need is one of the three Amazon devices noted in the intro and a compatible DMSS camera.

I’ve wanted to make this list for a while, and hopefully it will help answer some simple questions or guide newcomers on their IP video quest. Feel free to add, change, or refine this!

 .

Most Popular Camera Manufactures (on this forum):

ACTi (http://www.acti.com) – Midrange camera – good price – free software.

Avtech (http://www.avtech.com.tw) – Has good ‘push’ support for events to mobile devices.

Avigilon (http://www.avigilon.com) – Similar to Axis cost – must buy through dealer – good software/support.

Axis (http://www.axis.com) – Popular choice – higher end cameras get expensive – easy to find online for sale – free + paid software options.

Dahua (http://www.dahuasecurity.com‎) – Re-branded as Q-See – low price – difficult to find updates/support.

Geovision (http://www.geovision.com.tw‎) – Midrange – have some LPR cameras.

Grandstream (http://www.grandstream.com) – Low cost – have some unique features.

Hikvision (http://www.hikvision.com‎) – Becoming more popular – re-branded as Lorex/Swann systems from Costco.

IQinVision (http://www.iqeye.com) Midrange pricing.

Mobotix (http://www.mobotix.com) – Cameras made in Germany – reliable but expensive – no moving parts to fail in their cameras.

Vivotek (http://www.vivotek.com) – Midrange pricing.

 .

Other Camera Manufactures:

Arecont (http://www.arecontvision.com/‎)

Brickcom (http://www.brickcom.com/)

Bosch (http://www.boschsecurity.us/en-us/ProductInformation/Cameras/NetworkCameras/)

Canon (http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/security_video_solutions/network_cameras)

GE (Unknown Website Address)

Honeywell (http://www.honeywellvideo.com/products/cameras/ip/index.html)

JVC (http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/category.jsp?productId=PRO5.2)

Panasonic (http://www.panasonic.com/business/psna/products-surveillance-monitoring/index.aspx)

Pelco (http://www.pelco.com/sites/global/en/home.page)

Samsung (https://www.samsung-security.com/)

Sony (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/mkt-security/)

Toshiba (http://www.toshibasecurity.com/)

 .

IR Illuminators:

Raytec (http://www.rayteccctv.com/)

Axton (http://www.axtontech.com/)

Iluminar (http://www.iluminarinc.com/)

+Other Generic Brands

 .

Accessories:

PoE Switch (Unmanaged, or Managed which allows remote powering on/off of specific ports) (TRENDnet, Netgear, D-Link, Cisco, Axis, etc.)

Ethernet Cable (Regular/Burial Grade)

Lenses (C/CS/S/D Mounts)

IR Illuminators (Discussed Above)

Enclosures (Pelco, Videolarm, Axis, Generic Brand, etc.)

PIR Sensor (Optex, Bosch, etc)

UPS Battery Backup System

 .

Popular Places To Buy:

[Redacted – do a search on the forum for general ideas ]

 .

Video Recording Software:

ACTi VMS (Free) – Only supports ACTi Cameras.

Avigilon (Per channel: Core ~$100, Standard ~$200, Enterprise ~$350) – Purchase through authorized dealers.

Axis Camera Companion (Free) – Only supports certain (newer) Axis Cameras. 16 cameras max.

Axis Camera Station (~$90/license)

Axxon Next (Free for 16 channels) (http://www.axxonsoft.com/products/axxon_next/)

BlueIris ($29.95 – $49.95) (http://blueirissoftware.com/) – Supports a large variety of network cameras.

exacqVision ($50 – $150/license + $25 yearly for optional updates)

Genetec (Expensive)

Geovision (Free)

Luxriot ($99 – $1000+)

Milestone XProtect (Free – $1000+)

Mobotix Control Center (Free) – Supports other cameras for viewing. May be able to record with MXServer.

OnSSI (Unknown)

Vitamin D (Free/$49/$199) (http://www.vitamindinc.com/index.php) – PC + Mac Compatible

Zoneminder (Free) – Open source Linux software.

…Etc, Most Manufactures Provide Their Own Software.

 .

Network Video Recorders (NVR’s)/NAS Stations:

Synology (1 License Included – ~$50 /per additional license)

Dahua

QNAP

Luxriot

NUUO

Hikvision

 .

iPhone Viewing Apps:

Netcam Viewer (Free/$5.99) (http://bit.ly/18UfXMs)

Live Cams Pro ($1.99) (http://bit.ly/19RAleQ)

QCamPro ($7.99) (http://bit.ly/14iCWxR)

Official Mobotix (Free) (http://bit.ly/15XNtmo)

IP Cam Viewer Pro ($3.99) (http://bit.ly/10QAwYn)

Dahua iDMSS Lite (Free) (http://bit.ly/110ZjmV)

Dahua iDMSS Plus ($4.99) (http://bit.ly/12FyWpw)

+Specific Manufacturer’s Apps (Q-See, Hikvision, etc) (Search Manually) – Typically better integrated then 3rd party apps.

 .

Android Viewing Apps:

IP Cam Viewer Pro ($3.99) (http://bit.ly/TG6OyB)

Dahua gDMSS Lite (Free) (http://bit.ly/12zjvAs)

Dahua gDMSS Plus ($5.00) (http://bit.ly/12FzfAA)

+Specific Manufacturer’s Apps (Q-See, Hikvision, etc) (Search Manually) – Typically better integrated then 3rd party apps.

The Ultimate IP Camera Guide v3.

Review Sites/Sample Videos:

Network Camera Critic (http://www.networkcameracritic.com/)

Mateusz CCTVnerd (http://www.youtube.com/user/mateuszfen)

Megapixel Cameras – Images and Demos (viewtopic.php?f=19&t=11322)

Plazor (http://www.plazor.com)

Axis YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/AxisCommunications)

Avigilon YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/Avigilon)

MXInstaller (http://www.mxinstaller.com/)

 .

Companies That Rebrand/Resell:

Swann (Rebrands Hikvision Equipment)

Lorex (Rebrands Hikvision Equipment)

Q-See (Rebrands Dahua Equipment)

Toshiba (Appears To Rebrand Vivotek)

Cisco (Sometimes Rebrands Pelco)

 .

Other Helpful Links:

CCTV Lens Calculator (http://www.jvsg.com/online/#)

Identification And Recognition Guide (http://www.axis.com/academy/identification/index.htm) – Make sure you have the correct resolution for your application.

Security Today – IP Cameras (http://security-today.com/directory/list/ip-video.aspx)

CCTV Frame Rates Comparison (

) – Recordings don’t necessarily have to be 30fps for desired results.

IP Video 101 Training (http://ipvm.com/report/ip_video_training_course_101)

 .

Live Demo Cameras:

Mobotix Cameras (http://www.mobotix.ro/live-ro-p-3.html) or (http://comsurv.com/live-video-cameras/)

Axis Cameras (http://www.axis.com/camerademo/) or (http://ipcameralive.com/)

Mixture (http://camelive.info)

 .

Terminology:

CBR: “Constant bit rate [encoding] means that the rate at which a codec’s output data should be consumed is constant.” (i.e. the amount of data flowing from camera to user/nvr is always constant – even during movement or lack thereof. [See also VBR])

DSD: (http://www.dsdcctv.com/)

DVR: “a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device.”

Edge Recording: “The concept of taking audio/video from a camera, and storing it at the edge of the Ethernet network instead of transporting it across the network to a centralized recording facility such as a Network Video Recorder.” (Most cameras have this ability now.)

IR/IR Illuminator: LED’s (often a separate device) which provide illumination for cameras in near to total darkness. The light produced cannot be seen by the human eye. The camera must be sensitive to IR for this to be useful (some cameras have ‘fixed’ IR cut filters). ‘White light’ illuminators are also available. These produce light visible to the human eye and to a camera with or without an IR cut filter.

LPR/ANPR/AVI/CPR/LAPI: “A mass surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images to read vehicle registration plates.”

NAS: Basically a box filled with hard drives for storage of data. Some cameras have the ability to record directly to these networked boxes without the need for an always on or dedicated computer.

NVR: “A software program that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other mass storage device.”

ONVIF: “Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) is a global and open industry forum with the goal to facilitate the development and use of a global open standard for the interface of physical IP-based security products.”

PIR: Passive Infrared “is an electronic sensor that measures infrared (IR) light radiating from objects in its field of view. They are most often used in PIR-based motion detectors.”

PoE: “A system to safely pass electrical power, along with data, on Ethernet cabling.”

UPS: “uninterruptible power supply…is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically mains power, fails.”

VBR: “Variable bit rate files vary the amount of output data per time segment.” (i.e. Less data during still scenes, more data during high movement periods.)

WDR: “‘Wide dynamic range’ describes an attribute of an imaging system which can capture greater scene details from shadows to highlights than normal.”

 .

Commonly Asked Questions:

Q: “Which brand or manufacturer should I buy?”

A: Each brand has its strengths and weakness, whether it be price, size, low light capabilities, resolution, frame rate, support, software, compatibility, etc. There really isn’t one magical brand or camera. Each security scenario is different and requires a unique solution.

 .

Q: “Where can I buy an IP HD PTZ Outdoor Camera for $200?”

A: Probably not going to happen. PTZ cameras are expensive because of all the motors, belts, gears, and such. Perhaps instead consider using several fixed multi-megapixel HD cameras instead for coverage.

 .

Q: “How do I embed/add video from a camera to a website?”

A: See: http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=1290 or http://bit.ly/10rC8WV

 .

Q: “How do I view my cameras on my TV/Monitor?

A: Consider using an Android powered HDMI dongle. These mini computers are powerful and compact enough to be attached to a TV or monitor for camera viewing using an Android app. Also see: http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=1049

 .

Q: “Should I buy a Foscam?”

A: These cameras are not typically discussed here because of their poor reliability and feature set. They are often cloned and copied making firmware updates and support hard to come by. So in short, probably not. However if you are just starting with IP cameras, many members have since upgraded from these over time to bigger and better.

 .

Q: “How do I view my camera(s) from the internet?”

A: You need to setup your router for port forwarding. Here are several guides to assist you. See: http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=124 or http://bit.ly/184DTvf

 .

Q: “What shutter speed should I use during low light/night?”

A: “Typically 1/30 of a second is as low as you would want to have it set. Any longer and moving objects will be blurry making the footage less then useful.

 .

Q: “Should I use a wireless camera for my application?”

A: Wifi signals, especially at long distances, can drop or become unreliable. They also become targets of hacking “resulting in free access to your personal cameras (EXTREMLY DANGEROUS) or blocked cameras, ones that will not record anything.” It is best to use a hardwired connection via cable for installations. PoE installation can supply signal and power over one cable for easy installation. If a cable is not an option consider using a dedicated wifi access point, like the type made by Ubiquiti Networks.

Technical Guide to IP Cameras– Overview, Types, Applications

.

An IP camera (Internet Protocol Camera) is a type of security camera that receives video data and sends video footage via an IP network. It is also known as network camera or IP security camera, often used as remote monitoring and management tools in many sectors and environments to protect the property or monitor home, business, or public security. Connected with other devices such as network video recorders and displays via a network, IP cameras allow you to monitor specific areas from any remote location, bringing much convenience to our daily lives.

How Does An IP Camera Work?

IP cameras work the same way as digital cameras to capture high-quality images. What sets them apart is the capability of IP cameras to compress those files and automatically transmit them to a network video recorder (NVR) via a network. Usually, IP cameras are connected to the network via ethernet cable with a broadband modem or router, or wirelessly via a Wi-Fi router.

In a building that has already been equipped with a network, all you have to do is to connect the IP surveillance cameras and other devices into your network system, just the same way that you would do when you connect your laptop or cell phone to your Wi-Fi.

After everything is well connected, the cameras can start working, capturing and sending video footage to the network video recorder.

Four Common Types of IP Camera

There are various video surveillance solutions, in which many different types of security cameras are adopted. Among those surveillance cameras, there are four most commonly used ones, dome cameras, bullet cameras, and turret cameras. Knowing more about the differences among dome vs bullet vs turret vs fisheye cameras will help you find out the one that fits you most.

Four Important Specifications of IP Cameras

When looking for a security camera, not only should you decide on the type of it, but also you need to notice that the specifications can make a huge difference. There are four of the most essential specifications.

Resolution

The resolution of IP cameras is the total number of pixels that make up an image, which is usually measured by the width and height of the image. The most common resolutions of security cameras are 720p, 1080p, 5MP, 4K and 8MP. Usually, higher resolutions mean that there are more pixels per inch (PPI), resulting in a high-quality, crisp image.

Field of View

The lens of an IP camera allows you to frame an area that you want to spot. Different lens systems come with different fields of view, which determines how wide an area you can see. A wider field of view will allow the camera to spot a larger area. Typically, for a large parking lot and a small room, you will need lenses with different viewing angles.

Focal Length

The focal length of a lens, which is measured in “mm”, determines the angle of view and how far the camera can see. There are two types of lens, fixed lens and varifocal lens. The most common fixed focal length is 3.6mm, which leads to a 90° view angle and a distance of 20 feet. There is also 8mm lens with a 40° view angle and identification distance of 40 feet. For varifocal lenses, the most common ones are 2.8-12mm lenses.

At 2.8mm you get around 100° view angle, with only around 10-feet identification distance. At 12mm you will achieve around a 30° angle of view and identification at around 50 feet. The wider the focal length, the further away it can focus and the narrower the field of view.

Low Light Sensitivity

Low-light sensitivity, usually measured in Lux(lx), refers to the ability of a camera to provide high-quality images even in low-light conditions by presenting details and reducing noise in the output images. There are few factors contributing to the low light performance of a camera, including pixel size, signal-to-noise ratio, lens aperture, etc. A lower Lux has the ability to present high-quality images in darker areas. For example, cameras with 100-1,000lx are applied to record under work-space light, while cameras with 0.0001lx are usually adopted for moonless nights or overcast nights.

Most Popular IP Camera Applications

Home Use

For those looking for tools to get close with their families, monitor family security or protect family property, IP cameras are always a go-for item. Many homeowners equip their families with a video surveillance system to make themselves and their families feel safer.

The IP cameras installed in home security systems have been used to serve a number of purposes. For example, they can be installed near the front door to capture the image of each one who steps into or sneaks around the house, or installed in the backyard to catch a view of their families’ happy moments, or installed inside the room, to make sure their baby is being well taken care of, etc.

Business Use

Commercial security cameras are often used in business buildings, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, etc. For business owners, security cameras can not only protect their property to ensure normal operations and prevent criminal acts with real-time monitoring, but also can keep them connected with daily operations and employee safety.

Outdoor perimeter security can also be maintained with video surveillance solutions to monitor the surroundings. Compared to traditional systems, commercial IP video surveillance systems offer greater reliability and security with built-in encryption, data compression, network connection, and cybersecurity measures.

Public Safety

Surveillance cameras play an important role in managing public rules, protecting public safety and property. It’s not difficult to find that there are plenty of monitoring cameras along the traffic roads, parking lots and around the governments or hospitals. Moreover, there are lots of public areas deployed with security cameras, including schools, parks, communities, neighborhoods, etc.

Conclusion

IP cameras have become a dispensable part of home, business or public surveillance systems. With the proper video management software, the video recorded by IP cameras can be viewed from anywhere worldwide via the network, whether using a laptop or a mobile phone. In many cases, IP cameras can also be controlled remotely, adding much convenience to our lives.

There are various types of security cameras that are designed for specific applications, and that’s why you need to take several factors into consideration when purchasing IP cameras for your security system. Before the next step, it would be better to figure out your budget and your requirements first.

Guide to Understanding IP Cameras

Welcome to a venture into the captivating digital world of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras. Whether you’re considering investing in this game-changing technology or you’re simply eager to boost your tech acumen, we’ve got your covered. Untangling complex technical jargon and translating it into simple language, this blog post will chart your course through the depths of understanding IP cameras.

What is an IP Camera?

An IP camera , also known as a network camera, is a digital video tool that sends and receives data via the internet. Unlike its analogue predecessor, the CCTV (Closed Circuit TV), it offers the functionality to view live or recorded footage from anywhere, anytime using a web-based platform or mobile application. Think of IP camera as the digital evolution.

Advantages of the IP Camera

.

Understanding IP Camera Operation

Let’s dive deeper into how these fantastic little devices work.

Capturing Images

The essence of an IP security camera is in its lens, sensor, and processor. The lens focuses on the light emanating from the surroundings, which then hits a digital sensor. This sensor transforms the received light into an electronic signal that the processor can turn into a digital video stream.

Sending Images

The key difference between an IP camera and previous systems lies in its ingenious use of the Internet Protocol. Instead of sending unprocessed data to a recorder, IP cameras encode and process the signal on the device before transmitting it to be stored or viewed over the network. This reduces the workload for the recorder, enhancing the system’s efficiency.

.

Most Popular Types of IP Cameras

Not all IP cameras are created equal, of course. Different styles suit different needs. Here’s a quick classification of the most commonly used types:

Bullet Cameras

These are named for their cylindrical shape, resembling a bullet. Bullet cameras are great for monitoring both wide focused areas such as entrances or small rooms.

Dome Cameras

Identified by their dome shape, these cameras provide a wider viewing angle ideal for bigger spaces like living rooms or stores.  Some come with adjustable lenses to hone in on important areas.

PTZ Cameras

PTZ stands for Pan-Tilt-Zoom. A PTZ IP camera provides the functionality to remotely control the movement and zoom of the camera, making it perfect for large, open spaces.

.

IP Camera Installation: Tips and Tricks

Installing an IP camera isn’t rocket science. Here are some friendly tips to ensure you obtain the best surveillance results:

.

Securing Your IP Camera

In an increasingly digital world, security is paramount. Here are a few guidelines to secure your IP camera system:

Change the Default Password

On purchase, devices often come with generic login credentials. It’s essential to change these immediately to a unique and complex password.

Regular Firmware Updates

Stay up-to-date with the latest firmware version provided by the manufacturer. This ensures your device is protected from any known loopholes.

Effective Network Security

Ensure your home or business network security is robust. Use established security measures such as firewalls and secure Wi-Fi protocols.

The captivating world of IP cameras offers the potential for superior surveillance solutions. The charm of hands-on control combined with the convenience of remote access can revolutionize how we approach security. Yet, it is crucial to remember that with great power comes great responsibility. In this digital age, securing our devices should always be a priority. Embrace the technology but don’t forget to keep it secure. Welcome to the future of surveillance.

Here’s a breakdown of the concept:

There are different levels of sophistication in IP camera analytics and detection. Here are some examples:

IP camera analytics and detection can be a valuable tool for security and surveillance applications. It can help to reduce false alarms, improve efficiency, and provide more actionable insights from video footage.

People Analytics

People Analytics

Learn how to use Verkada People Analytics to filter people by specific attributes

Updated over a week ago

The Verkada People Analytics feature uses powerful edge-based camera capabilities to detect people, faces, and filter results based on clothing color, apparent sex, and the presence of backpacks.

Note: See User Guide for People Analytics for best practice guidelines.

Enable the People History feature

All Verkada cameras perform people detection (as outlined above) out of the box. However, to enable more complex analytics, such as the ability to search for faces or for people by clothing color, you must enable the People History feature.

Required. To begin, you need to enable the feature globally on your org and then on the individual cameras.

Enable People Analytics Globally

Enable People Analytics on individual cameras

View Person History

When enabled, a Person History can be seen on individual cameras and across all cameras in your organization.

IP Camera Analytics and Detection Setup Guide v1

View Person History for an individual camera

View Person History across all cameras

Use Face Search

When enabled, a Face Search can be seen across all cameras in your organization and on the Verkada Command mobile app.

Use Face Search across all cameras

The Face Search feature is enabled, by default, when you toggle on High Resolution Image Capture. You can search a face across all cameras in your organization.

Use Face Search on the Command mobile app

See Face Search on Mobile Apps to perform a face search on the Command mobile app.

Bulk enable People History on the Devices page

People and Face Search on Mobile Apps

People and Face Search on Mobile Apps

Learn how to use people and faces on Verkada mobile apps

Updated over a week ago

Access People History search

Access a Face Search

License Plate Recognition Overview & FAQ

License Plate Recognition Overview & FAQ

Learn the License Plate Recognition functionality and use cases

Updated over a week ago

Specially-placed cameras are designed to capture license plate images and provide users with a readable and searchable list of license plate numbers. These license plate captures can be linked to live or recorded video from a nearby camera for complete context surrounding vehicle events.

Verkada’s License Plate Recognition (LPR) allows real-time license plate monitoring and logging for later reference. Learn how to configure LPR for your cameras.

Notes:

Key features

Investigate License Plates of Interest

You can use LPR to quickly search for all historical appearances of a license plate, making it easier to complete investigations for suspect vehicles.

Receive License Plates of Interest alerts

With Verkada’s LPR solution, you can receive License Plate of Interest alerts when a specific license plate is detected at any of your locations. You can also send these notifications to third-party applications through the Verkada Webhooks API.

Export results via API integrations

Verkada’s LPR results can be systematically exported to third party systems leveraging our API integrations. This allows customers to run custom business reports or integrate with other critical parts of their security infrastructure.

FAQ

Will Gen 1 Bullet cameras provide the same level of LPR performance as the current, Gen 2 models?

Is it possible to use cameras in LPR mode for video security beyond LPR mode?

Is it necessary to use a Bullet camera as the context camera in a dual-camera LPR setup?

What is the function of a context camera and when is it necessary to use one?

When is it necessary to use an external IR illuminator for capturing license plates and what model should I choose?

What is the camera’s behavior in the event of an internet outage?

Is it possible to integrate a Verkada LPR camera into an external system, such as a tolling system?

What types of license plates are incompatible with Verkada’s LPR technology?

Why is my camera feed too dark at night?

Enable Vehicle Analytics

Vehicle analytics uses powerful edge-based capabilities to detect vehicles and filter results based on vehicle color and body type.

How it Works

Vehicle analytics leverages the cameras’ powerful onboard processing capabilities to detect the presence of, and analyze the properties of vehicles as they appear in the frame. As vehicles are detected, high-resolution images are taken and analyzed for vehicle objects. Selected images are then sent to Verkada’s cloud-based Command platform, where users can filter historical clips for vehicles and search for specific vehicles by time, date, body type, and color.

All Verkada cameras perform vehicle detection (as outlined above) out of the box. However, to enable more complex analytics, such as the ability to search for vehicles by color and body type, vehicle analytics must be turned on.

1.In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2.Select a camera.

3.Select Settings> Analytics.

4.Toggle on Vehicle History.

Bulk enable People History from the Devices Page

Vehicle analytics for an individual camera

Vehicle analytics across all cameras

People and Vehicle Motion Search

People and Vehicle Motion Search

Learn now to search paths of people and vehicles with advanced motion search

Updated yesterday

Verkada’s people and vehicle search features use advanced computer vision functionality to identify people and vehicles within the camera’s field of view and quickly find relevant events.

The Verkada Command UI enables instant video replay previews and trajectory viewing. Trajectory analysis features offers possibilities for searching events, reduces the number of missed detections, improves the detection distance, and reduces duplicates.

View people and vehicles over a timeline

Required. You must have Site Viewer and Site Admin access to view the Motion tab under the camera feed. Learn more about Roles and Permissions for Cameras.

You can view people and vehicles detected by a Verkada camera within historical footage.

1.In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2.Select a camera to view its feed.

3.At the top, click Motion.

4.To the right, click Show Pathsto toggle on/off the feature.

5.(Optional) Make a selection on the video player grid to search for motion in the area.

6.(Optional) Use the People, Vehicle, and Date filters for more granular searches

7.Hovering over a thumbnail with the people or vehicle filters selected gives a count of the people/vehicles in the frame with an option to archive the clip. By hovering over the previews, you can see tracks for the individual.

8.Click the thumbnail to be taken to the exact time in the recorded footage.

Note: People and/or vehicles will only be available if these objects were detected in the camera frame.

View people trajectories (paths)

The people trajectories feature visualizes the paths of people moving through the scene to show the trajectories of each detected person.

Trajectories drastically improve the motion event recall and enable the cameras to recognize people and vehicles at a further distance. For a detailed breakdown of the detection ranges of each model, see the People Analytics Guide.

1.In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2.Select a camera to view its feed.

3.At the top, click Motion.

4.(Optional) Make a selection on the video player grid to search for motion in the area.

5.Select the People or Vehicle filter to see the trajectories.

Compatible cameras

The following table outlines which camera models support Motion Events, which models support Motion Trajectories, and where the motion model is running. Newer camera models have the capability to run the motion detection model on the camera, whereas D-series cameras still rely on the Verkada Cloud to run the model.

People and Vehicle History Search

People and Vehicle History Search

Learn how to use the Search page to view all people and vehicles in your organization

Updated over a week ago

You can use the People and Vehicle search pages to:

Search for people

See also how to search for people using our mobile apps.

Search for People of Interest

Set People of Interest notifications

To receive alerts for People of Interest, you need to set up alert based on your events.

IMPORTANT

People of Interest replaced Profiles on June 8, 2023. Profiles created before this date that were not set as People of Interest are not automatically send People of Interest alerts.

To set up notifications when a particular face is detected:

Create People of Interest

You can manually create a People of Interest group by uploading an image of a person’s face.

Merge People of Interest

Sometimes duplicate People of Interest are accidentally created. If this happens, you can merge the duplicate People of Interest profiles.

Create a new tag to People of Interest

You can create and add tags to People of Interest to group similar profiles together.

Type the desired name and at the bottom of the tag list, click Add Tags.

Add a tag to a user’s profile

Select the profile and select the plus (+) icon (adjacent to the Tags button). If the tag you want to add is already in the list, you can select it from the list.

Filter a tag name

Remove a person of interest

.

Search for vehicles

Search all license plates

If you have Verkada License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras installed, you can use the All License Plates and License Plates of Interest tabs.

Enable Occupancy Trends

The Occupancy Trends feature provides organizations with an estimate of the foot traffic at critical locations within their facilities. These estimates can provide valuable insights for optimizing staffing, adjusting hours of operation, and or tracking the

performance of marketing and promotional activities.

Note: This feature is available on the CB52, CB62, CM42, CD32, CD42, CD52, and CD62 models.

​

Installation guidelines

Required. To use this feature, People Analytics must be enabled. To do so, follow the steps in the People Analytics guide.

For best performance, we recommend these installation guidelines during the installation of a camera where Occupancy Trends will be enabled:

1.In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2.Select a camera and go to the camera’s Settings page.

3.Scroll down to the Analytics section and toggle on Occupancy Trends.

4.Return to the camera’s main page and select the Analytics tab (displayed below the camera’s live feed).

5.Click Add lines to open the wizard.

6.Click and drag the camera view to draw a line across the screen. You can draw multiple lines, though data from all lines are aggregated.

7.Click one of the dropdown menus (displayed near the arrow heads) to change how users crossing in that direction are counted. The Ignore option indicates that users crossing this direction are not counted by the Occupancy Trends feature.

8.After you set up the lines for the camera’s view, click Save.

View Occupancy Trend estimates

Export Occupancy Trends results

You can export Occupancy Trends results as a .csv file.

1.Go to the Analytics tab.

2.At the top right, click Downloadto automatically download your occupancy trends results.

View Live Motion on Floor Plans

View Live Motion on Floor Plans

Learn how you can view live motion on your floor plan in real-time

Updated over a week ago

Verkada’s motion display feature offers two ways to see live motion on your site’s floor plans in real-time.

Set up motion detection

With motion detection, the camera’s field of view pulses when motion is seen. This happens in real-time.

1.In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Floorplans.

2.Select the building and floor plan you want to monitor.

3.On Floorplans, at the bottom right, click Motion Detection.

Example: Selected Floor Plan

Detect People Count

Detect People Count

Learn how to detect the number of people in your camera frame

Updated over a week ago

When you scrub through a Verkada camera’s historical video clips:

.

Features:

(Supported features depend on camera features)

For more information download the Alibi Cloud VS Mobile App User Guide.

iOS App

• 

.

Android App

• 

.

.

Alibi Cloud VS

Direct Camera to Cloud Video Surveillance

Our cutting edge cloud-based VSaaS offering has gained significant traction with dealers and end-users and is poised for significant growth in 2023 and beyond. If you are not selling cloud-based video surveillance then you are missing out on opportunities to recession-proof your business. We’ll be hosting demo sessions to show you how simple it is to install/setup and how it saves you time and money by avoiding truck rolls with an easy to use interface that helps you solve most issues remotely. And it is super easy for your customer to use as well, making it incredibly appealing for home and business installs.
Learn how this powerful solution is gaining traction in cannabis, medical, retail/restaurant and education applications.

.

Brivo Cloud Access Control

Brivo + Alibi Security: Better Together

Brivo and Alibi Security bring you the best of both worlds… Unlimited access to Brivo’s world-class solutions and support, plus Alibi’s dedicated sales support & innovative marketing platform. The Brivo Accelerate Program is designed to help accelerate growth of YOUR access control business!

.

Alibi Arsenal

Our FREE Marketing Engine, Ready to Power
Your Business

Marketing is not easy. Alibi Arsenal business growth tools and resources make it easier. This FREE platform can help you generate leads with brandable sales/marketing flyers, get found online with improved Google My Business setup and to turn your current customer base into advocates through a powerful reviews engine. Plus, we give you access to tools that make it easier to tap into your current customer base to generate incremental business by cross-selling products and services.
Come by for a LIVE demo of this platform and to learn how you access these powerful tools.

.

Expect More from
Your Security Provider

.

Alibi Security is a trusted provider of security technology, cloud solutions, and growth enablement services—serving thousands of security professionals for more than 35 years. We are committed to quality, continuous innovation, and the investment in the PEOPLE, SOLUTIONS, and SUPPORT required to help our Dealer Partners succeed.

.

.

Enterprise Performance
– Without Breaking the Bank

Alibi Cloud VS makes enterprise-level cloud surveillance accessible for virtually any-sized application or budget. Featuring an ultra-secure camera-to-cloud architecture, Alibi Cloud VS dramatically reduces your up-front hardware investment and maintenance requirements, saving you valuable time and money. Ideal for both business and residential applications, Alibi Cloud VS is remarkably scalable – and can easily support larger camera counts and multi-site projects.

Centralized
Management

View cameras from single or multiple locations via a single dashboard, simplifying management and streamlining review of your video evidence.

Eliminate Common
Failure Points

Stream directly from camera to the cloud, ensuring you never lose video footage due to a faulty recorder or failed hard drive.

Enhanced
Security

No port forwarding necessary. SSL/TSL handshakes are used to make the connection from camera to cloud, ensuring encrypted transmission up and down. Video is stored in ultra-secure Tier 4 data centers, featuring triple-redundancy and fault-tolerant infrastructure to ensure your evidence is always safe.

Lower Total Cost of
Ownership (TCO)

No recording equipment, minimal maintenance requirements, and on-demand scalability – so you only pay for what you need, when you need it.

.

.

Before referring to this Mobile Application User Guide you must first download and install the mobile application on your mobile device (smartphone or tablet). You can find links to the mobile application(s) on www.alibisecurity.com at the following location:

.

SUPPORT Menu > DOWNLOADS > ALIBI CLOUD VS MOBILE APP

.

Choose the link that applies to your mobile device (iOS or Android), download and install the application. Now you are ready to install and activate cameras.

.

Adding a Camera via the Mobile Application

.

The first time you login to the mobile app, you will be required to enter your username (email address) and the password. The screen will show no cameras attached to your account. You will tap the ADD A CAMERA button on the screen and it will prompt you with a second screen to select the type of camera you want to install. Tap on the ADD A CLOUD CAM section. The next screen gives you specific instructions for attaching your cloud-enabled camera to the network.

.

IMPORTANT: All POE and WiFi cameras must be hard-wired into the local network in order to be discovered by the Alibi Cloud VS solution.

.

Once you have connected the cameras you want to add to your Alibi Cloud VS account to the local area network (LAN) you can tap the CONTINUE button.

.

.

..

.

The next screen displays your local network and the cameras that are available to be added to your Alibi Cloud VS account. Tap on the camera you want to add from the list and you will be prompted to name your camera. Type in a name and choose CONTINUE. The system will ping your camera, check credentials and firmware and connect. You should receive a confirmation screen that the camera has been added then tap CONTINUE.

.

.

.

..

.

To get your WiFi camera to the wireless network you need to connect the WiFi camera to the wireless network. Tap the zone that the WiFi camera is in. This takes you into the camera selector menu. Select the WiFi camera you want to attach and it will open the camera settings menu. On the main screen, under NETWORK

SETTINGS, it will say “Not Connected”. Select this menu option and it will take you into the wireless connection menu, displaying the available wireless networks to connect to.

.

.

.

.

Tap the wireless network you want to attach the camera to. A login screen will open up asking you to enter the password for the wireless network. Enter the password and tap CONNECT. The system will them connect the camera to the wireless network and you will receive a confirmation screen once completed.

.

IMPORTANT: You must keep the WiFi camera hard-wired into the network until you login to the wireless network. Once you get the camera connected to the wireless network you can disconnect the network cable and move the camera anywhere that it has good signal strength to connect to the wireless network.

.

.

.

.

.

.

From the main dashboard screen you have two different ways you can add additional cameras to the system. If you want to add another camera to the same zone you already have setup, simply choose the zone on the main dashboard screen, it will pull up the camera viewing screen and you will tap the Gear icon at the bottom. It will open a screen that shows the current camera(s) assigned to the zone and the ADD A NEW CAMERA button.

Tap this and follow the instructions to add a new camera.

.

.

The second option for adding cameras is to setup a new zone and add the camera to that new zone. From the main dashboard screen tap the + icon in the top left corner of the screen. This opens a new screen that lets you setup a new zone. Click ADD CAMERA and then follow the instructions for adding a new camera explained previously in the User Guide.

.

.

From this menu you can also move cameras currently signed to other zones to the new zone. Simply click SELECT CAMERAS FROM OTHER ZONES. A menu will be displayed showing cameras already attached to other zones. Click the camera and move it to the new zone.

.

After adding the camera you will be taken to the main camera dashboard screen. From this view you can see all of the zones cameras have been assigned to. Select the zone you want to view. An individual thumbnail view of the camera(s) will be displayed. Tap on the gear icon at the bottom of the screen and it will take you into the settings selection menu. Choose the arrow to the right of the camera that you want to adjust settings for and you will be taken to the settings menu for that specific camera.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

PoE Camera Setting Menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

WiFi Camera Setting Menu

.

In the settings menu for each camera you are able to control the following settings:

.

.

Account Settings and TouchID/FaceID Login

.

After you login and add a camera to your system you can select the home button at the bottom left of the screen and it will take you to your main dashboard. Select the person icon in the upper right and this will take you into account settings. From here you can enable remote support access, enable/disable push notifications and enable TouchID/FaceID login for easy access when starting the app.

To view live video from your cameras connected to Alibi Cloud VS, go to the main dashboard screen and select a zone to view. Once in the zone, you will see the individual cameras with ‘play arrows’ located in the middle of the thumbnail screen. Simply click on one of the ‘play arrows’ in the thumbnail and live viewing will begin. You will see the word “LIVE” appear at the top of the thumbnail viewing screen. Want to enlarge the viewing area? You can simply turn your smartphone/mobile device to landscape to view in full screen mode.

.

Viewing recorded video (footage) is also very simple. You will need to choose the zone that includes the camera you want to review recorded video from. This will display thumbnail views of all cameras associated with this zone. If you have multiple cameras in a zone, you will see multiple thumbnails. To view recorded footage for

a specific camera tap the clock/rewind icon ( ) at the bottom of that camera thumbnail view. This will take you into the footage screen where you can review a timeline, with detection events noted. You can scroll through the timeline by scrolling with your finger, either up or down, to view events that happened earlier or later in the day.

.

.

There are settings and features on the playback screen that make it easier for you to review video quickly. You can select the ZOOM IN button and the timeline will appear in smaller increments, allowing you to find events more accurately. You tap the MORE menu and adjust playback up to 10x faster than normal.

The SUMMARY button at the bottom of the page lets you create and download a video summary of detection events for the last 24 hours. Simply click the button and the app pulls detection events into a single summary video. Creating a summary takes a few minutes and once completed you have the option to save the 24 hour summary to your mobile device or share it with someone else.

.

If you have forgotten your password or simply want to reset it, you can easily do this by selecting the person icon in the main dashboard screen. Click ‘Logout’ and on the next screen tap ‘Log In’ and it will take you to the main login page. Tap ‘Forgot Your Password?’ and a screen will appear for you to enter your email address. By entering your email address and clicking ‘Send’ you will receive a secure link in your email to reset your password for your Alibi Cloud VS account. This new password will be valid in desktop and mobile apps.

.

.

Herospeed Firmware Software Download

.

NVR

The Network Video Recoder support network video access,and it has adopted a number of advanced IT technologies,such as audio/video codec technology(h.264,h.265,h.264+,h.265+),embedded system technology,storage technology, network technology and intelligent technologies.It can work independently as NVR,or as a powerful security networking system.

.

.

NOVATEK IP Camera

The NT IP Camera has adopted embedded system and a number of advanced IT technologies,such as audio/video codec technology(h.264,h.265,h.264+,h.265+),and integrated code compression, two-way audio intercom.

NOVATEK IP Camera

.

Rockchip IP Camera

The RK IP Camera has adopted embedded system and a number of advanced IT technologies,such as audio/video codec technology(h.264,h.265,h.264+,h.265+),and integrated code compression, two-way audio intercom, intelligent analysis , PTZ,HDR, lens control, alarm input and output, buffer storage and network transmission and other functions.

.

Rockchip IP Camera

Fullhan IP Camera

The Fullhan High-definition network camera has adopted embedded system and a number of advanced IT technologies,which integrated code compression, two-way audio intercom, intelligent analysis , PTZ, lens control, alarm input and output, buffer storage and network transmission and other functions.

.

Fullhan IP Camera

.

GK IP Camera

GK IP Camera uses an embedded system and a number of advanced IT technologies, such as audio and video encoding and decoding technologies (h.264, h.265, h.265+, H264+), integrated encoding and compression, supporting audio noise reduction, and response cancellation, Support humanoid detection, support full Netcom function, can realize plug-and-play access to the back-end.

.

GK IP Camera

.

XVR

The Embedded Hybrid Digital Video Recorder is compatible with HDTVI,AHD and other coaxial HD specification,which can be accessed to any HDTVI,CVI,AHD,analog and network signal.It can disable numbers of analog channels and convert them to IP channels,which have both functions of DVR and NVR.

.

XVR

.

PC Client

VMS is an application platform software that can be used with embedded network monitoring equipment.It supports monitoring equipment by Onvif network protocol, integrated preview, video, playback, backup, PTZ control, alarm management and other functions,to provide flexible and diverse deployment programs, can be widely used in finance, public security, military, transportation, education and other fields of security projects.

.

PC Client

Wifi kits

The wifi nvr kits developed from 100W to 400W HD quality,and adopted audio/video codec technology,embedded system technology,storage technology,network technology,etc.It matches to wireless wifi,WIFI connection supports 2.4G and 5.8G band,plug and play.It is suitable for various scenes,which can connect several cameras to realize omnidirectional  non-dead angle monitoring

Wifi kits

.

SigmaStar IP Camera

The SigmaStar IP Camera has adopted embedded system and a number of advanced IT technologies,such as audio/video codec technology(h.264,h.265,h.264+,h.265+),and integrated code compression, two-way audio intercom, intelligent analysis , PTZ, lens control

.

SigmaStar IP Camera

.

Hisilicon IP Camera

The Hisilicon High-definition network camera has adopted embedded system and a number of advanced IT technologies,such as audio/video codec technology(h.264,h.265,h.264+,h.265+),and integrated code compression, two-way audio intercom, intelligent analysis , PTZ, lens control, alarm input and output, buffer storage and network transmission and other functions.

.

Hisilicon IP Camera