GE TruVision DVR 30 User manual

TruVision DVR 30 User Manual 9
Chapter 3
Operating instructions
Summary
This chapter describes the how to control and navigate through the TVR 30’s menus
and options.
Content
Control interfaces 10
Controlling the TVR 30 10
Front panel overview 11
Status LEDs 12
Using the mouse 12
Mouse toolbar 13
Using the IR remote control 16
Controlling multiple DVRs with one remote control 17
Operating modes 17
Main menu overview 18
Main menu commands 18
Using the main menu 19
Navigating through dialog screens 19
Using the virtual keyboard 20
Exiting the main menu 21

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Control interfaces
The TVR 30 has three control interfaces:
• Built-in interface
• Display interface
• Web browser interface
Built-in interface. The built-in interface is displayed on the monitor output. It consists
of a main menu and several dialog screens that let you configure and control the
device. You can invoke the built-in interface using the front panel, remote control, or
mouse.
Display interface. The display interface consists of various toolboxes that appear on
top of the monitor image. These let you control live or playback video while in PTZ or
playback mode. You can invoke the display interface from the built-in interface
screens or from the mouse toolbar. The controls in any toolbox can be operated
using the front panel, remote control, and mouse.
Web browser. The Web browser interface uses Internet Explorer to simulate the
display and control functions of the VGA monitor on a remote PC. The Web browser
interface can only be accessed by a PC with Internet access. See Chapter 5 “Using the
Web browser” on page 39 for more information on the Web browser interface.
Controlling the TVR 30
You can control the TVR 30 using:
• Front panel control
• IR remote control
• Mouse control
Front panel control. Use the directional arrow buttons to select a command, option,
or button on a screen. Use the Enter button to confirm a selection. Use the Esc button
to cancel a selection.
IR remote control. Use the directional arrow buttons to select a command, option, or
button on a screen. Use the OK button to confirm a selection. Use the Esc button to
cancel a selection.
Mouse. Move the pointer to a command, option, or button on a screen. Click (with the
left mouse button) to confirm a selection. Right-click to save and exit a screen.

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TruVision DVR 30 User Manual 11
You can use your preferred control method for any procedure, but in most cases we
describe procedures using mouse terminology. Optional control methods are given
only when they differ substantially from mouse control methods.
Front panel overview
The buttons on the front panel control all TVR 30 functions and set the programmable
functions. The LED indicators light up or flash to alert you of various conditions.
Figure 3: Front panel
TM
TruVision DVR 30
e
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
USB USB
REC
Archive PTZ Seq Display Search Live
ESC
MENU
1 2
5 6 7 8 9
3
4
Table 2: Front panel button descriptions
Item Name Description
1 Numeric buttons Display the corresponding video in full screen while in both
live and playback mode. The number of the button
corresponds to the camera number. Press and hold a
numeric button for two seconds to display the
corresponding video on the spot monitor.
While in PTZ mode, press the 1 button to access the Set/Go
Preset menu.
2 Menu and Esc controls Press Esc to exit a screen or cancel a selection. Press Menu
to display the main menu.
3 Directional Controls And
Enter button
Use arrow buttons as directional keys in zoom mode.
While in a setup menu, use the Left or Right Arrow keys to
navigate through fields. Use the Up or Down Arrow keys to
change the value of a selected field. Press Enter to confirm
the selection or display additional screens.
4 USB ports Connect USB devices.
5 CD/DVD drive Insert media for archiving.

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Item Name Description
6 Archive button Begin archiving or displays the Archive screen.
Press once to begin copying a video segment for export
while in playback mode. Press again to stop copying. See
“Archiving recorded files” on page 34 for more information.
7 Status LEDs Display device status and conditions. See “Status LEDs”
below for more information.
8 Function buttons Change the TVR 30 operating mode. For example, press
PTZ to go into PTZ mode. See “Operating modes” on page
17 for more information.
9 Playback controls Control video playback speed.
Status LEDs
The LEDs on the front panel of the DVR are described as follows.
Table 3: Status LED descriptions
LED Name Description
Power Steady indicates that the correct power is connected to the unit.
Network Blinking indicates that the DVR is connected to a network.
Alarm Steady indicates that an alarm is triggered.
REC Record Blinking indicates that the TVR 30 is recording. Steady indicates hard
drive failure.
Using the mouse
Use the USB mouse provided with the TVR 30 to carry out the same operations as the
front panel and remote control. Connect the mouse to the TVR 30 by plugging the
mouse USB connector into one of the USB ports on the front panel. The mouse is
immediately operational and the pointer should appear.
Click the left mouse button to enter or confirm a selection. This is similar to pressing
Enter button on the front panel. Click the right mouse button to the exit setup menus
and save the settings. Use the scroll wheel to change values.

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Mouse toolbar
While in live, playback, or sequence mode, point to the date and time to display the
mouse toolbar, as shown in Figure 4 below.
Note: To move the mouse toolbar to a different position, click and drag the date and
time display.
Figure 4: Mouse toolbar
Mouse toolbar icons
Table 4 below describes the icons that appear on the mouse toolbar.
Table 4: Mouse toolbar icons
Icon Description
User is logged in. Numerical value indicates the user’s access level. User icon with a G
character indicates that the device requires logon credentials to access the main menu.
The device is recording.
The device is recording an alarm event.
The device is in sequence mode.
The device’s front panel is locked.
The device is in archive mode.
Indicates the starting point of a video segment for archive while in playback mode.

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Icon Description
Indicates the ending point of a video segment for archive while in playback mode.
The device is in PTZ mode.
The device is playing video forward.
The device is fast forwarding video playback.
The device is playing back video reverse.
The device is fast reversing video playback.
Video playback is on pause.
Video playback has reached the end of a video segment.
Indicates the amount of available hard disk space left.
Indicates the hard disk is full.
Camera commands
The camera commands appear when you point to Cameras on the mouse toolbar.
Click a camera number to display that camera in live mode.
Function commands
The function commands display when you point to Functions on the mouse toolbar.
Table 5: Mouse toolbar function commands
Icon Name Function
Main menu Displays the main menu
Multiscreen Toggles through the available multiscreen displays including full
screen, four-screen, nine-screen, and 16-screen.
Monitor Toggles between main and spot monitor. M indicates the main
monitor is currently selected. S indicates the spot monitor is
currently selected.

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Icon Name Function
Sequence Launches the sequence mode. Sequence mode refers to the displa
y
of live video in programmed sequence of cameras.
Search Displays the Search screen.
Archive Lets you archive video. Archives the video being played back while
in playback mode.
PTZ Launches PTZ mode.
Play Plays back video instantly starting at one minute from the current
date and time.
Esc Hides the function commands.

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Using the IR remote control
The IR remote control buttons are similar to those on the TVR 30 front panel. You can
use the remote control to perform any TVR 30 function.
Figure 5: IR remote control
Live
Search
Display
Seq
Archive
PTZ
Enter
ESC MENU
DVR ID
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16
Camera
GE Security
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Table 6: IR remote control descriptions
Item Name Description
1 Function buttons Change the TVR 30 operating mode. For example, press PTZ to go into
PTZ mode. See “Operating modes” on page 17 for more information.
2 Directional controls
and Enter button
In menu mode, navigate and select commands. In PTZ mode, use for
PTZ controls.
While in a setup menu, use the Left or Right Arrow keys to navigate
through fields. Use the Up or Down Arrow keys to change the value of a
selected field.
3 Esc Exit a screen or cancel a selection.
4 DVR ID Switch control between different TVR 30 units.

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Item Name Description
5 Numeric buttons In live mode, display the corresponding camera. In edit mode, enter
numeric characters.
6 Menu Display the main menu.
7 Playback Control video playback speed.
To place batteries into the IR remote control:
1. Remove the battery cover.
2. Insert the batteries (AAA). Make sure that the positive and negative poles are
correctly placed.
3. Replace the battery cover.
To connect the remote control to the TVR 30:
1. Turn on the TVR 30 and wait for live video to appear.
2. On the remote control, press the DVR ID button, and then press the 1 button.
Note: The numeric button depends on the remote ID assigned to the TVR 30. The
remote ID assigned is 1 by default. See “Controlling multiple DVRs with one
remote control” below for more information.
3. The remote control is now operational.
Controlling multiple DVRs with one remote control
You can control up to 16 DVRs with one remote control. Each DVR must have a
unique remote ID assigned. To connect the remote control to a DVR, press the DVR ID
button on the remote control, and then press the numeric button with the desired
remote ID. For more information on assigning a remote ID to a DVR, see “Audio and
remote” on page 71.
Operating modes
Table 7 below describes the various operating modes for the TVR 30.
Table 7: TVR 30 operating modes
Mode Description
Live Displays live video from a specific camera.
Sequence Displays live video in a programmed sequence of cameras.

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Mode Description
Menu Displays menu options for configuration.
PTZ Displays live video from multiple cameras in a programmed sequence.
Playback Plays back recorded video.
Freeze Freezes live or playback video.
Spot On-screen display for spot monitor.
Main menu overview
The built-in interface of the TVR 30 includes a main menu screen with eight command
buttons. Each command displays a dialog screen that lets you edit a group of TVR 30
settings. The main menu screen is shown in Figure 6 below. Access to different option
screens varies depending on your access privileges. Most screens are available only
to system administrators. The menu icon is highlighted when selected.
Figure 6: Main menu
Main menu commands
Table 8 below describes the commands available for each menu items.
Table 8: Main menu commands
Command Description
Cameras Configures camera settings including motion detection, PTZ, video image
adjustments, camera title, and copy settings to other cameras.

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Command Description
Schedule Configures recording and schedule settings including recording quality, and
schedule definitions.
Alarms Configures alarm settings including alarm input, relay output, video loss
detection, remote alert, prealarm, and post-alarm seconds.
Users Configures users, passwords, access privileges, and defines privilege levels.
Network Configures standard network settings including IP address, e-mail
notifications, DDNS setup, and advanced network settings.
Display Configures display settings including sequence order, dwell time, on-screen
alerts, display formats, and transaction overlay.
System Configures system settings including system date and time, audio output,
device name, RS-485 settings, RS-232 settings, firmware upgrade, hard
drive settings, boot log, and shutdown.
Info Displays the unit’s system information including model ID, network address,
firmware version, and MAC addresses.
Using the main menu
Use the mouse or directional arrow keys to navigate through the menu commands
and display the configuration screens. To display the main menu, click the Menu
button on the mouse toolbar or press the Menu button on the front panel or remote
control.
Navigating through dialog screens
Each dialog screen includes various options and buttons as seen in Figure 7 on page
20. The frame surrounding an option or button indicates that this option (or button) is
currently selected.
Use the mouse to select any option or button on the screen. You can also use the
directional arrow buttons (Up, Down, Left, or Right) to navigate through the options.
Changes to screen settings can be entered in various ways as shown in Table 9 on
page 20.
Saving your changes
Closing a screen, either by clicking the X button at the top right corner or by right-
clicking, automatically saves and applies your changes. You cannot cancel or undo
any changes you have entered in a dialog screen.

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Figure 7: Cameras menu
Table 9: Field entry types
Type Description
List box Provides more than two values for the option. Only one of them can be
selected. Click the scroll arrows at the right-hand side of the box to
scroll through the possible values. You can also use the Up or Down
Arrow buttons to select a value.
Edit box Lets you to enter characters into the settings, such as camera name.
Enter characters into an edit box through the virtual keyboard. See
“Using the virtual keyboard” below for more information.
Button Triggers a special function or allows you to display a new screen. For
example, click the Setup button to display the setup screen.
Using the virtual keyboard
The virtual keyboard allows you to enter a full range of alphanumeric characters,
such as camera name, through a virtual keyboard as shown in Figure 8 on page 21.
The virtual keyboard automatically displays when entering values in an edit box field.
You can use the front panel, IR remote control, or USB mouse to enter characters with
the virtual keyboard.

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Figure 8: Virtual keyboard
To enter characters in an edit box:
1. Highlight the edit box.
2. Click the mouse within the action frame (or press Enter in the front panel or
remote control) to display the virtual keyboard.
3. Select the characters required.
4. When finished, click OK on the virtual keyboard to close the keyboard.
Exiting the main menu
Click Esc on the mouse toolbar (or right-click) or press Esc on the front panel or
remote control to exit the main menu and return to live mode.

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TruVision DVR 30 User Manual 23
Chapter 4
Basic operation
Summary
This chapter describes the basic operation of the TVR 30 such as how to turn on the
unit, log on, control a PTZ camera, play back video, and archive recorded video files.
Content
Turning on the TVR 30 24
Live mode 24
Viewing in full screen 25
Viewing in multiscreen 25
Spot monitor 25
Controlling the spot monitor 26
Logging on 26
Controlling a PTZ camera 27
Accessing PTZ mode 27
PTZ control buttons 27
Calling up a preset PTZ point 28
Exiting the PTZ control mode 29
Playing back video 29
Instant video playback 29
Searching video for playback 29
Playback controls 33
Exiting playback mode 33
Archiving recorded files 34
Using Quick Archive in live mode 34
Using the Archive screen in live mode 35
Archiving a video segment in playback mode 36
Using the DVR player 37
Logging off 38
Turning off the TVR 30 38

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Turning on the TVR 30
Before turning the TVR 30 power on, connect at least one monitor to the main video
out or the VGA interface. Otherwise, you will not be able to see the user interface and
operate the device. Use the power switch on the back panel to turn on the unit.
Live mode
The TVR 30 automatically enters into live mode once powered on. Live mode refers to
the mode in which the TVR 30 displays live video from cameras. The TVR 30 on-screen
display presents information such as the camera title, the current operating mode,
and the date and time information as shown in Figure 9 below.
Figure 9: On screen display
1
2
1. Camera title
2. Mouse toolbar

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TruVision DVR 30 User Manual 25
Note: To the camera title to a different position, right-click the mouse, and then select
a new position while in live mode.
Viewing in full screen
Press a numeric button to switch to the corresponding camera display. For example,
press 2 to view camera 2.
Viewing in multiscreen
Use the Display button on the front panel to cycle through different display formats.
Figure 10 below displays the multiscreen formats available as defaults.
Figure 10: Display formats
1
1 2
3 4
56
7 8
910
11 12
13 14
15 16
123
456
987
8 9 10
11 12 13
1615
14
1 2 34
876
5
9 10 11 12
16151413
2 x 2 2 x 2 2 x 2
2 x 2 3 x 3 3 x 3 4 x 4
Spot monitor
To connect the spot monitor:
1. Connect the spot monitor to the Spot video out port on the back panel using a
composite cable.
2. While in live mode, press and hold a numeric key for two seconds on the front
panel or remote control.
3. The spot monitor displays the corresponding camera in full screen.
The spot monitor only supports full screen mode.

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Note: Make sure that there is video signal input. Otherwise the spot monitor will only
show a blank screen.
Controlling the spot monitor
Press and hold a numeric button for two seconds to display the corresponding
camera in full screen. Additionally, press and hold the SEQ button (on the front panel
or remote control) to initiate sequence mode on the spot monitor. Alternatively, click
the Monitor button on the mouse toolbar to toggle to the spot monitor function, and
then click the Sequence button to begin sequence, as shown in Figure 11 below.
Figure 11: Spot monitor function
Logging on
The TVR 30 is shipped with a predefined user for the system administrator. The
default system administrator logon uses “admin” as a user name with a password of
1234. You can modify the admin password but not the admin user name. GE Security
recommends that you change the admin password once you have completed the
installation and setup to protect against unauthorized access. The seven predefined
standard users are labeled User1 to User7 with a default password of 4321 and level
4 access. The administrator can customize these users and define their privileges. For
more information, see “Managing users” on page 49”.
To log on to the TVR 30 user interface:
1. Click Menu.
2. Select a user in the Account field.
3. Use the mouse or the Down Arrow button to select the Password field.
4. Enter the corresponding password.
5. Click Confirm to enter the main menu.

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TruVision DVR 30 User Manual 27
Controlling a PTZ camera
PTZ mode lets you to control the PTZ operation of the cameras using a TVR 30 PTZ
interface. You can control PTZ cameras using the buttons on the front panel and IR
remote control or by using the PTZ control icons on the mouse toolbar. To enter PTZ
mode, you must have PTZ control access privileges.
Note: The TVR 30’s support for Digiplex (GE RS-422) is limited. As a result, you may not
be able to control Digiplex domes with a multiplexer unless the camera’s output
connects to the input of a keypad.
Accessing PTZ mode
To access PTZ mode, select a camera using the numeric buttons (on the front panel,
remote control, or the mouse toolbar). Click PTZ in the mouse toolbar or press the PTZ
button on the front panel or remote control. The PTZ control interface displays as
shown in Figure 12 below.
Note: You can only access the PTZ control interface while in live mode.
Figure 12: PTZ control interface
PTZ control buttons
When you enter PTZ mode, the PTZ control interface displays. In PTZ mode, the
numeric buttons control additional PTZ functions. Table 10 on page 28 lists the front
panel keys and their PTZ control functions.

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Table 10: Front panel PTZ control function
Front panel key PTZ control
8 Zooms out
16 Zooms in
7 Focuses near
15 Focuses far
6 Closes iris
14 Opens iris
Enter Auto focus/iris
Esc Exits PTZ mode
Calling up a preset PTZ point
To call up a preset PTZ point:
1. Click on a camera in the mouse toolbar or use the numeric buttons to select a
camera.
2. Click the PTZ icon in the mouse toolbar or press the PTZ button to display the PTZ
control as shown in the figure below.
3. Click the Preset icon (or press 1 on the front panel or remote control) to access the
Set/Go Preset function as shown in the figure below.
4. Enter a preset number.