AlienPro ALIEN404 User manual

The Alien Pro Lite Digital Video Recorder
Operations Manual
Models
ALIEN404 ALIEN408 ALIEN416
VERSION 5.
PLUS
4/8/16 Channel RealTime Recording
-
25fps in CIF
4/8/16 Channel Simultaneous Playback
SPECIAL FEATURE
1fps background recording switching to 25fps on motion detect
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Preventive and Cautionary Tips
Before connecting and operating your DVR, please be advised of the following tips:
•Ensure unit is installed in a well-ventilated, dust-free environment.
•Unit is designed for indoor use only.
•Keep all liquids away from the DVR.
•Ensure environmental conditions meet factory specifications.
•Ensure unit is properly secured to a rack or shelf. Major shocks or jolts to the unit as a result of
dropping it may cause damage to the sensitive electronics within the unit.
•Use the DVR in conjunction with an UPS if possible.
•Power down the unit before connecting and disconnecting accessories and peripherals.
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Contents Page
Preventive and Cautionary Tips 2
Contents List 3
1. Introduction 5
1.1 Overview 5
1.2 Product Key Features 5
1.3 Production Application Diagram 7
1.4 Operating Your DVR 7
2. Getting Started 15
2.1 Starting and Shutting Down Your DVR 15
2.2 Rebooting and Locking Your DVR 15
2.3 Using the Setup Wizard 16
2.4 Setting Date & Time 18
3. Live Preview 20
3.1 Watching a Live Preview 20
3.2 Understanding Live Preview Icons 20
3.3 Operating the Live Preview 20
3.4 Using the Mouse in Live Preview 21
3.5 Using Digital Zoom 21
3.6 Configuring Live Preview Displays 22
3.7 Setting Camera Order 22
4. Record Settings 23
4.1 Configuring Settings for Recording 23
4.2 Initialising Record Settings 23
4.3 Scheduling a Recording 25
4.4 Starting a Manual Recording 25
4.5 Protecting Recorded Files 26
4.6 Configuring Advanced HDD Settings 28
5. Playback 30
5.1 Playing Back a Recording 30
5.2 Understanding the Playback Interface 30
5.3 Playing Back from Search 31
5.4 Playing Back from Live Preview 31
5.5 Playing Back from System Log 30
5.6 Playing Back Frame-by-Frame 33
5.7 Using Digital Zoom 33
6. Backup 34
6.1 Backing up Recorded Files 34
6.2 Exporting Files 34
6.3 Exporting Video Clips 36
6.4 Managing Backup Devices 37
7. AlarmSettings 38
7.1 Configuring Alarms 38
7.2 Detecting Video Loss 42
7.3 Detecting Video Tampering 43
7.4 Setting Exceptions 44
7.5 Understanding Exception Trigger Options 45
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8. Network Settings 46
8.1 Configuring Network Settings 46
8.2 Configuring Basic Settings 46
8.3 Configuring PPPoE Settings 47
8.4 ConfiguringDDNS 47
8.5 Configuring an NTP Server 48
8.6 Configuring a Remote Alarm Host 48
8.7 Configuring Multicast 49
8.8 Configuring Server and HTTP Ports 50
9. PTZ Controls 51
9.1 Navigating PTZ Menus 51
9.2 Configuring PTZ Settings 51
9.3 Setting PTZ Presets, Patrols & Patterns 52
10. Camera Management 56
10.1 Configuring OSD Settings 56
10.2 Setting up Privacy Mask 56
10.3 Adjusting Display Settings 57
11. HDD Management 58
11.1 Initialising HDDs 58
11.2 Setting HDD Groups 58
11.3 Setting HDD Status 59
11.4 Checking HDD Status 60
11.5 Configuring HDD Alarms 61
12. DVR Management 62
12.1 Configuring General Settings 62
12.2 Configuring Advanced Settings 62
12.3 Configuring RS-232 Port Settings 63
12.4 Managing User Accounts 64
12.5 Importing & Exporting Configuration 67
12.6 Updating System Firmware 68
12.7 Restoring Default Settings 69
12.8 Viewing System Information 69
12.9 Viewing System Logs 70
13. Glossary 72
14. FrequentlyAsked Questions 73
15. Record Timings 74
15.1 Record Timingsfor Alien416 74
15.2 Record Timingsfor Alien408 75
15.3 Record Timingsfor Alien404 76
16. Special Features 77
16.1 1fps background recording switching to 25fps in CIF 77
16.2 Special Instructions following Restoring Default Settings 79
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1. Introduction
1.1 Overview
Thank you for your purchase of the ALIEN Digital Video Recorder. To get the most out of your
DVR, please read through the Operations Manual thoroughly.
This product is a new generation product built on an embedded platform and combining the latest
in advanced H.264 video encoding and decoding technologies maintaining solid reliability and
high performance.
1.2 Product Key Features
Compression
•Support PAL/NTSC video input.
•Adopt H.264 video compression standard.
•Video encoding parameters of each channel can be set separately, including resolution, frame
rate, bit rate, image quality.
•Each channel supports normal continuous and event compression parameters.
•Supports both composite stream and video only stream. Audio and video are strictly
simultaneous.
Monitoring:
•High definition VGA display supports 1024 x 768 resolution.
•Supports 1/4/9/16 screen live view, channel sequence is adjustable.
•Supports live view group switch, manual switch and automatic sequencing (the interval of
automatic sequencing can be adjusted.)
•Supports digital zoom on live view.
•Supports shielding the assigned live view channel.
•Supports motion detection, view tampering alert, video exception alert and video loss alert.
•Supports privacy masking.
•Supports various PTZ protocols, PTZ preset, patrols and patterns.
•Supports zoom by clicking the mouse and trace function by dragging the mouse.
HDD Management:
•Supports 4 SATA HDD’s. Each HDD can support up to 2TB capacity.
•Supports S.M.A.R.T. technology.
•Supports HDD standby function.
•Supports hard disk group management.
•Uses pre-allocating hard disk management technology and creates no disk fragmentation.
Recording and Playback
•Supports overwrite and non-overwrite recording modes.
•Supports normal and event video encoding parameters.
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•Supports manual, continuous, alarm, motion, motion|alarm and motion & alarm recording.
•Supports 8 recording time periods with separate recording types.
•Supports Pre-record and Post-record time for alarm and motion detection.
•Supports lock and unlock video files.
•Supports local redundant recording.
•Supports setting hard disk to read only.
•Supports video data search and playback by channel number, recording type & time.
•Supports digital zoom function in playback.
•Supports pause, play fast, play slow, skip forward, and skip backward when in playback with
option to adjust progress bar by dragging the mouse.
Backup
•Supports USB device backup.
•Supports SATA CD/DVD-R/W backup.
•Supports backup by file or by time.
•Supports backup device maintenance and management.
•Supports video clip backup when in playback.
Alarm & Exceptions
•Supports alarm in/out arming schedule setting.
•Supports various alarm conditions such as hard disk full, illegal access, network failure, IP
conflicts, hard disk error, video loss and video output standard mismatch.
•Supports various alarm responses such as camera recording, relay out, on screen warning, audible
warning and upload to center.
•Supports auto recovery from exceptions.
Network
•Supports 10/100M adaptive network interface.
•Supports TCP/IP protocols, PPPoE, DHCP, DNS, DDNS, NTP, and SADP.
•Supports remote search, playback, download video files and breakpoint resume.
•Supports remote configuration, supports remote import and export of DVR settings.
•Supports remote acquisition of device status, system log and alarm status.
•Supports remote button operation, remote locking and unlocking ofpanel buttons.
•Supports remote hard disk formatting, upgrade, reboot and shutdown.
•Supports RS-232 and RS-485 transparent channel transmission.
•Supports event alarm and exceptions upload to remote management host.
•Supports remote manual recording.
•Supports remote PTZ control.
•Supports voice talk and broadcast.
•Supports a maximum of18 TCP/IP connections overall.
•Supports a maximum of 6 TCP/IP connections to any individual camera stream.
•Supports substream viewing in QCIF at 8 frames per second.
•Built-in WEB Server.
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1.3 Product Application Diagram
1.4 Operating Your DVR
There are numerous ways to navigate and operate your DVR. You may use the Front Panel
Controls, the included IR (Infra-Red) Remote, a Mouse and the Soft Keyboard.
1.4.1 Using the Front Panel Controls
Your DVR comes with built-in front panel controls, as shown below.
The controls on the front panel include:
1. USB Port: Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for additional devices such as USB mouse and USB
Hard Disk Drive (HDD).
2. Status Indicators: Status indicators for different features of the DVR.
• Alarm: Alarm indicator turns red when a sensor alarm is detected.
•Ready:Ready indicator turns green when DVR is functioning properly.
• Status: Status indicator turns green when DVR is controlled by an IR remote.
• HDD: HDD indicator blinks red when data is being read from or written to HDD.
• NETWORK: NETWORK indictor blinks blue when network connection is functioning
properly.
3. Control Buttons:
• 1/MENU Button: The 1/MENU button works as numeric [1]. Pressing this button will return the
user to the Main menu (after successful login). The 1/MENU button will also bring up Sensitivity
Interface settings.
• 2ABC/F1: The 2ABC button works as numeric [2] and letter [ABC]. When it is used in a list
field will select all items on the list.
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• 3DEF/F2: The 3DEF button works as numeric [3] and letter [DEF]. It is also used to cycle
through tab pages.
• 4GHI/ESC: The 4GHI/ESC button works as numeric [4] and letter [GHI] is also used to escape
to the previous menu
• 5JKL/EDIT: The 5JKL/EDIT button works as numeric [5] and letter [JKL]. The 5JKL/EDIT
button is used to edit text fields. When editing text fields, it will also function as a Backspace
button to delete the character in front of the cursor. On checkbox fields, pressing the EDIT/IRIS+
button will tick the checkbox. In Playback mode, it can be used to generate video clips for backup.
• 6MNO/PLAY: The 6MNO/PLAY button works as numeric [6] and letter [MNO]. It is used to
enter the Playback menu. It is also used to turn audio on/off in the Playback menu.
• 7PQRS/REC: The 7PQRS/REC button works as numeric [7] and letter [PQRS]. It is also used to
enter the Manual Record interface.
• 8TUV/PTZ: The 8TUV/PTZ button works as numeric [8] and letter [TUV]. It is also used to
enter the PTZ Control mode.
• 9WXYZ/PREVIEW: The 9WXYZ/PREVIEW button works as numeric [9] and letter [WXYZ].
It is also used to switch between single screen and multi-screen mode.
• 0/A: The 0/A button works as numeric [0]. It is also used to switch between input methods
(upper and lowercase alphabet, symbols and numeric input). It can also be used to clear entire
masked areas, such as in the Motion Detection and Privacy Mask menus.
• SHIFT: The SHIFT button is used for switch button action between numeric button and control
button.
4. Direction/Enter Buttons
• DIRECTION Buttons: The DIRECTION buttons are used to navigate between different fields
and items in menus. In Playback mode, the Up and Down button is used to speed up and slow
down recorded video. The Left and Right button will jump 30s backward and forward in a video.
In Preview mode, these buttons can be used to cycle through channels.
• ENTER Button: The ENTER button is used to confirm selection in any of the menu modes. It
can also be used to tick checkbox fields. In Playback mode, it can be used to play or pause the
video. In Single Play mode, pressing the ENTER button will advance the video by a single frame.
5. JOG SHUTTLE Control: The JOG SHUTTLE control can be used to move the active
selection in a menu. The inner ring will move the selection up and down; the outer ring will move
it left and right. In the Playback mode, the outer ring is used to jump 30s forward/backward in
video files. The inner ring can be used to speed up/slow down the video. In Preview mode, it can
be used to cycle through different channels.
6. POWER Button: The POWER button is used for power on or power off the DVR.
Note: It is important to note that you must click the EDIT button on either the remote or front
panel on a text field before you are able to edit its content. After entering text, you must hit the
ENTER button to be able to move on to the next field.
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1.4.2 Using the IR Remote Control
Your DVR may also be controlled with the included IR remote control.
Batteries (2x AAA) must be installed before operating.
The keys on the remote control closely resemble the ones found on the front panel. They include:
1. POWER Button: Power off DVR.
2. DEV Button: Enables/Disables Remote Control.
3. Alphanumeric Buttons: Same as Alphanumeric buttons on front panel.
4. EDIT Button: Same as EDIT button on front panel.
5. A Button: Same as A button on front panel.
6. REC Button: Same as REC button on front panel.
7. PLAY Button: Same as PLAY button on front panel.
8. INFO Button: Reserved.
9. VOIP Button: Reserved.
10. MENU Button: Same as MENU/WIPER button on front panel.
11. PREV Button: Same as PREV/FOCUS- button on front panel.
12. DIRECTION/ENTER Buttons: Same as buttons on front panel.
13. PTZ Button: Same as PTZ/IRIS- button on front panel.
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14. ESC Button: Same as ESC button on front panel.
15. RESERVED: Reserved.
16. F1 Button: When it is used in a list field, it will select all items in the list.
17. PTZ CONTROL Buttons: Buttons to adjust the iris, focus and zoom of a PTZ camera.
18. F2 Button: It is also used to cycle through tab pages. Aim the remote control at the IR receiver
located at the front of the unit to test operation. If there is no response:
1.Using the front control panel or the mouse, go into Menu > Settings > General >
More Settings.
2.Check and remember DVR ID number. The default ID number is 255. This ID
number is valid for all IR controls.
3.Press the DEV button on the remote.
4.Enter the DVR ID number in step 2.
5.Press the ENTER button on the remote.
If the Status indicator on the front panel turns blue, the remote control is operating properly. If the
Status indicator does not turn blue and there is still no response from the remote, please check the
following:
1.Batteries are installed correctly and the polarities of the batteries are not reversed.
2.Batteries are fresh and not flat.
3. IR receiver on DVR is not obstructed.
1.4.3 Using a USB Mouse
A regular 3-button (Left/Right/Scroll-wheel) USB mouse can also be used with this DVR. To use a
USB mouse:
1.Plug USB mouse into one of the USB ports on the DVR.
2.The mouse should automatically be detected. If in a rare case that a mouse is not
detected, please try a replacement standard USB mouse.
The buttons on the mouse correspond to:
1. Left Button
• Single-Click: Select a component of a menu, such as a button or an input field. This is similar to
pressing the ENTER button on the remote/front panel controls.
• Double-Click: Switch between single screen and multi-screen mode in Preview mode.
• Click and Drag: Clicking and dragging the Left mouse button can be used to control the pan/tilt
of a PTZ camera as well as to vary the position of digital zoom area and camera OSD. It can also
be used to setup the alarm areas.
2. Right Button
• Single-Click: Shows pop-up menu.
3. Scroll-Wheel
• Scroll Up: In Preview mode, scrolling up will switch to the previous screen. In Menu mode, it
will move the selection to the previous item.
• Scroll Down: In Preview mode, scrolling down will switch to the next screen. In Menu mode, it
will move the selection to the next item.
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