HIK VISION DS-8100-ST Series User manual

DS-8100-ST Series DVR
USER MANUAL

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Hikvision® Network Digital Video Recorder User’s Manual
This manual, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license and may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of such license. The content of this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject
to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
(Hikvision). Hikvision assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in the book.
Except as permitted by such license, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of Hikvision.
HIKVISION MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
REGARDING THE HIKVISION SOFTWARE. HIKVISION DOES NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE
ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE HIKVISION
SOFTWARE IN TERMS OF ITS CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR
OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE HIKVISION
SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS NOT PERMITTED BY
SOME STATES. THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
IN NO EVENT WILL HIKVISION, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS BE LIABLE TO
YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR
LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, AND THE
LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE HIKVISION SOFTWARE EVEN IF
HIKVISION HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES
DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

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Thank you for purchasing our product. If there is any question or request, please do not hesitate to contact dealer.
This manual is applicable to DS-8104/8108/8116HCI-ST (V1.1.0), DS-8104/8108AH (L) I-ST (V1.1.0) and
DS-8104/8108AHF (L) I-ST (V3.2.0) series DVR.
This manual may contain several technically incorrect places or printing errors, and the content is subject to change
without notice. The updates will be added into the new version of this manual. We will readily improve or update the
products or procedures described in the manual.

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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.
•A factory recommended HDD should be used for this device.
•Improper use or replacement of the battery may result in hazard of explosion. Replace with the same or equivalent
type only. Dispose of used batteries according to the instructions provided by the battery manufacturer.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
C H A P T E R 1.............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Overview................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Product Features................................................................................................................................................ 9
Product Application Diagram.......................................................................................................................... 11
Operating Your DVR.............................................................................................................................................. 12
Using the Front Panel Controls....................................................................................................................... 12
Using the IR Remote Control.......................................................................................................................... 15
Using the USB Mouse..................................................................................................................................... 17
Using the Soft Keyboard................................................................................................................................. 17
Rear Panel............................................................................................................................................................... 18
C H A P T E R 2............................................................................................................................................................ 21
Getting Started.............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Starting and Shutting Down Your DVR.................................................................................................................. 22
Rebooting and Locking Your DVR ........................................................................................................................ 22
Using the Setup Wizard .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Setting Date & Time............................................................................................................................................... 26
C H A P T E R 3............................................................................................................................................................ 28
Live Preview.................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Live Preview On-screen Display............................................................................................................................. 29
Live Preview Icons.......................................................................................................................................... 29
Live Preview Operation .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Mouse Operation in Live Preview................................................................................................................... 30
Digital Zoom................................................................................................................................................... 30
Configuring Live Preview Display ......................................................................................................................... 31
Setting Camera Order...................................................................................................................................... 32
C H A P T E R 4............................................................................................................................................................ 33
Record Settings ............................................................................................................................................................. 33
Configuring Record Settings................................................................................................................................... 34
Before Record Settings ................................................................................................................................... 34
Initializing Record Settings............................................................................................................................. 34
Scheduling a Recording .................................................................................................................................. 36
Starting a Manual Recording........................................................................................................................... 36
Protecting Recorded Files....................................................................................................................................... 37
Locking/Unlocking Recorded Files................................................................................................................. 37
Setting HDD to Read-Only ............................................................................................................................. 38
Configuring Advanced HDD Settings..................................................................................................................... 39
Setting up HDD Redundancy.......................................................................................................................... 39
C H A P T E R 5............................................................................................................................................................ 42
Playback ........................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Video Playback....................................................................................................................................................... 43
Playback Interface........................................................................................................................................... 43
Playback by Video Search .............................................................................................................................. 43
Playback by Event Search............................................................................................................................... 44
Playback by Card Number .............................................................................................................................. 46
Playback by Preview Mode............................................................................................................................. 47
Playback by System Log................................................................................................................................. 47
Playback Frame-by-Frame.............................................................................................................................. 48
Digital Zoom................................................................................................................................................... 48
C H A P T E R 6............................................................................................................................................................ 50
Backup........................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Backing up Recorded Files ..................................................................................................................................... 51
Exporting Files................................................................................................................................................ 51
Exporting Video Clips..................................................................................................................................... 54
Exporting Files via e-SATA............................................................................................................................ 55
Managing Backup Devices ............................................................................................................................. 56
C H A P T E R 7............................................................................................................................................................ 57
Alarm Settings............................................................................................................................................................... 57

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Configuring Alarms ................................................................................................................................................ 58
Motion Detection Alarm................................................................................................................................. 58
Sensor Alarm Settings..................................................................................................................................... 61
Manual Alarm Triggering ............................................................................................................................... 63
Video Loss Detection...................................................................................................................................... 64
Video Tampering Detection............................................................................................................................ 66
Exception Settings .................................................................................................................................................. 68
Understanding Exception Trigger Options...................................................................................................... 68
C H A P T E R 8............................................................................................................................................................ 70
Network Settings........................................................................................................................................................... 70
Configuring Network Settings ................................................................................................................................ 71
General Settings.............................................................................................................................................. 71
PPPOE Settings............................................................................................................................................... 72
DDNS Settings................................................................................................................................................ 73
NTP Server Settings........................................................................................................................................ 74
Remote Alarm Host Settings........................................................................................................................... 75
Multicast Settings............................................................................................................................................ 75
Server and HTTP Ports Settings...................................................................................................................... 76
E-mail Settings................................................................................................................................................ 77
C H A P T E R 9............................................................................................................................................................ 78
PTZ Control.................................................................................................................................................................. 78
PTZ Menu............................................................................................................................................................... 79
PTZ Settings ........................................................................................................................................................... 79
Setting PTZ Presets, Patrols & Patterns.................................................................................................................. 80
Understanding PTZ Control............................................................................................................................ 80
Setting Presets................................................................................................................................................. 81
Setting Patrols................................................................................................................................................. 81
Setting Patterns ............................................................................................................................................... 83
C H A P T E R 1 0......................................................................................................................................................... 84
Camera Management ................................................................................................................................................... 84
OSD Settings........................................................................................................................................................... 85
Display Settings...................................................................................................................................................... 85
Privacy Mask Settings............................................................................................................................................. 86
C H A P T E R 1 1......................................................................................................................................................... 88
HDD Management........................................................................................................................................................ 88
Managing HDDs..................................................................................................................................................... 89
Initializing HDDs............................................................................................................................................ 89
Setting Network HDD..................................................................................................................................... 89
Setting HDD Groups....................................................................................................................................... 91
Setting HDD Status......................................................................................................................................... 92
Setting HDD to Read-Only ............................................................................................................................. 92
Setting HDD to Redundancy........................................................................................................................... 93
Checking HDD Status..................................................................................................................................... 93
Configuring HDD Alarms............................................................................................................................... 95
C H A P T E R 1 2......................................................................................................................................................... 97
ATM Settings ................................................................................................................................................................ 97
Network Interception .............................................................................................................................................. 98
Serial Interception................................................................................................................................................. 102
Network Protocol.................................................................................................................................................. 104
Network Protocol.................................................................................................................................................. 105
C H A P T E R 1 3....................................................................................................................................................... 106
DVR Management ...................................................................................................................................................... 106
Configuring System Settings................................................................................................................................. 107
Configuring General Settings........................................................................................................................ 107
Configuring Advanced Settings .................................................................................................................... 107
RS-232 Port Settings............................................................................................................................................. 108
Managing User Accounts...................................................................................................................................... 109
Adding a New User....................................................................................................................................... 109
Deleting a User ............................................................................................................................................. 112
Modifying a User .......................................................................................................................................... 112
Managing System.................................................................................................................................................. 113
Importing & Exporting Configuration........................................................................................................... 113

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Updating System Firmware................................................................................................................................... 113
Restoring Default Settings .................................................................................................................................... 115
Viewing System Information................................................................................................................................ 115
Viewing System Log............................................................................................................................................. 116
C H A P T E R 1 4....................................................................................................................................................... 118
Appendix...................................................................................................................................................................... 118
Glossary................................................................................................................................................................ 119
FAQ ...................................................................................................................................................................... 120

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C H A PT E R 1
Introduction

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Overview
Developed on the basis of the latest technology, DS-8100-ST Series Digital Video Recorder combines the latest in
advanced H.264 video encoding and decoding technologies delivering high performance rock-solid reliability and
longer recording times.
DS-8100-ST Digital Video Recorder can be used as a standalone video surveillance product, as well as to build up a
powerful surveillance network making it is perfect for home or small business applications.
Figure 1. DS-8100HCI-ST Series DVR
Figure 2. DS-8100AH (F) LI-ST Series DVR

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Product Features
Compression
PAL/NTSC adaptive video inputs.
H.264 video compression with high reliability and superior definition.
Up to 4CIF resolution.
Independent video encoding parameters, including frame rate, resolution, bit rate, video quality, etc.
Scheduled and event recording parameters configurable per individual camera.
Support dual stream.
Encoding for both audio/video composite stream and video stream; audio and video synchronization during
composite stream encoding.
Local Monitoring
Up to 1024×768 resolution for VGA output display.
VGA and main CVBS outputs available; DS-8100HCI-ST also provides spot video output.
1/4/9/16-camera video live view, with the camera order adjustable.
Group switch, manual switch and automatic cycle modes selectable for video live view, with the auto cycle
period configurable.
Digital zoom in live view mode.
Shield of assigned channel for live view.
Motion detection, video loss detection, video tampering detection.
Privacy mask capability.
Multiple PTZ protocols supported, and settings and callup of presets, patrols and patterns.
Video image zoom-in by clicking the mouse and tracing by dragging mouse in PTZ control mode.
Hard Disk Management
Up to 8 SATA hard disks, 8 network disks (8 NAS disks, or 7 NAS disks+1 iSCSI disk) and 1 eSATA disk can
be connected to DS-8108HCI-ST and DS-8116HCI-ST model, each disk with a maximum of 2TB storage
capacity; eSATA disk can be used for recording or backup.
Up to 4 SATA hard disks, 8 network disks can be connected to DS-8104HCI-ST and DS-8100AH (F) (L) I-ST
model, each disk with a maximum of 2TB storage capacity.
S. M. A. R. T technology.
HDD standby function.
Hard disk group management.
HDD property can be set to redundant, read-only or read/write.
HDD file system is compatible with Windows. Use pre-allocating hard disk management technology, and no disk
fragments.
Recording
Cycle and non-cycle recording mode.
Scheduled and event video encoding parameters.
Multiple recording types, including manual, continuous, alarm, motion, motion | alarm and motion & alarm
recording; command triggered recording is supported by DS-8100AH (F) (L) I-ST.
8 recording time periods configurable with separate recording types.
Pre-record and post-record for motion detection, alarm, motion | alarm and motion & alarm recording; pre-record
for scheduled and manual recording.
Lock and unlock of video files.
Local redundant recording.
Video data search and playback by channel number, recording type, start/end time, etc.; DS-8100AH (F) (L)I-ST
model supports video search and playback by card number.
Digital zoom function in playback mode.
Pause, play fast, play slow, skip forward, and skip backward when playback, locating in progress bar by dragging
the mouse.
Up to 4/8/16-channel synchronous playback.
Backup
Record files backed up via USB, SATA or eSATA (for DS-8100HCI-ST) device.
Support built-in SATA CD/DVD-R/W backup.
Bunch backup by file or by time.
Video clips backup when playback.

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Management and maintenance for backup devices.
Alarm & Exception
Configurable arming time for alarm in/out.
Various alarm types supported: alarms for video loss, motion detection, video tempering, video in/out format
unmatched, illegal access, network disconnection, IP conflict, hard disk error, hard disk full and abnormal
recording.
Various alarm response actions supported: pop up alarm pictures, trigger alarm out, notify surveillance center,
audible warning, E-mail notification, etc.; motion detection and relay alarm can trigger camera recording.
Auto recovery from exceptions.
Others
Control of DVR via front panel keys, mouse, and IR remote control.
Three-level user administration, each user with individual operating permission for DVR and camera.
Powerful record and search for log of operation, alarm and exceptions.
Import/export of device configuration files.
Support record files search and playback by event.
Watermark technology.
Network
10M/100M adaptive network interface for DS-8100HCI-ST and DS-8100AH (L) I-ST model, and
10M/100M/1000M adaptive network interface for DS-8100AHF (L) I-ST model.
TCP/IP protocol suites, PPPoE, DHCP, DNS, DDNS, NTP, SADP, SMTP protocols, etc.
Unicast and multicast supported; TCP and UDP protocols applicable in unicast transmission.
Remote search, playback and download, lock/unlock of video files.
Support breakpoint resume.
Remote access and configuration of parameters; remote import/export of device configuration parameters.
Remote access of device running status, system log and alarm status.
Remote control of DVR via button operation.
Remote lock/unlock of panel buttons and mouse.
Remote formatting of hard disk, upgrade, reboot/shutdown and other system maintenance operations.
RS-232 and RS-485 transparent channel transmission.
Event alarm and exceptions upload to remote management host.
Remote manual recording.
Remote video image capture in JPEG format.
Remote PTZ control.
Voice talk and broadcast.
Built-in WEB Server.
Development
Provision of SDK in Windows and Linux operating systems.
Application software source code of Demo.
Support and training service for application system development.

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Product Application Diagram
Figure 3. Product Application Diagram (DS-8100HCI-ST DVR)
Figure 4. Product Application Diagram(DS-8100AH (F) (L) I-ST DVR)

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Operating Your DVR
There are numerous ways to navigate and operate your DVR. You may use the Front Panel Controls, the included IR
(Infrared) Remote, a Mouse and the Soft Keyboard.
Using the Front Panel Controls
Figure 5. DS-8100HCI-ST DVR Front Panel
The controls on the front panel include:
1. Power Button: Powers DVR on/off.
2. IR Receiver: Receiver for IR remote.
3. USB Ports: Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports for additional devices such as USB mouse and USB
Hard Disk Drive (HDD).
4. 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 blue when DVR is functioning properly.
•Status: Status indicator turns blue when DVR is controlled by an IR remote. Indicator turns red when
controlled by a keyboard and purple when IR remote and keyboard is used at the same time.
•HDD: HDD indicator blinks red when data is being read from or written to HDD.
•Modem: Reserved.
•TX/RX: TX/RX indictor blinks blue when network connection is functioning properly.
•Guard: Guard indicator turns blue when the device is armed, off when the device is unarmed. The
arm/disarm state can be initiated by pressing and holding on the ESC button for more than 3 seconds
in Preview mode.
5. Alphanumeric Buttons: Alphanumeric buttons used in various menus of the DVR. Some uses include:
•Switching to the corresponding channel in Preview or PTZ Control mode.
•Inputting numbers and characters in Edit mode.
•Switching between different channels in Playback mode.
6. Control Buttons:
•ESC Button: The ESC button is used to escape to the previous menu and to arm/disarm the DVR in
Preview mode.
•REC/SHOT Button: The REC/SHOT button is used to enter the Manual Record interface. If used
when controlling a PTZ, pressing the REC/SHOT button and then a Numeric button will call a PTZ
preset.
•PLAY/AUTO Button: The PLAY/AUTO button is used to enter the Playback menu. It is also used
to turn audio on/off in the Playback menu and auto scan in the PTZ Control menu.
•ZOOM+ Button: The ZOOM+ button is used to zoom the PTZ camera in when in the PTZ Control
menu.

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•A/FOCUS+ Button: The A/FOCUS+ button is used to adjust focus in the PTZ Control menu. 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.
•EDIT/IRIS+ Button: The EDIT/IRIS+ 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 PTZ Control mode, the EDIT/IRIS+
button opens up the iris of the camera. In Playback mode, it can be used to generate video clips for
backup.
•MENU/WIPER Button: Pressing the MENU/WIPER button will return the user to the Main menu
(after successful login). Pressing and holding the button for 5 seconds will turn off audible key beep.
The MENU/WIPER button will also bring up Sensitivity Interface settings. In PTZ Control mode, the
MENU/WIPER button will start wiper (if applicable).
•F1/LIGHT Button: The F1/LIGHT button when used in a list field will select all items on the list. In
PTZ Control mode, it will turn on/off PTZ light.
•F2/AUX Button: The F2/AUX button is used to cycle through tab pages. It will also bring up the
Channel & OSD Position settings.
•MAIN/SPOT/ZOOM- Button: The MAIN/SPOT/ZOOM- button is used to switch to the control of
spot output. In PTZ Control mode, it can be used to zoom the camera out.
•PREV/FOCUS- Button: The PREV/FOCUS- button is used to switch between single screen and
multi-screen mode. In PTZ Control mode, it is used to adjust the focus in conjunction with the
A/FOCUS+ button. It can also be used to select entire masked areas, such as in Motion Detection and
Privacy Mask menus.
•PTZ/IRIS- Button: The PTZ/IRIS- button is used to enter the PTZ Control mode. When in the PTZ
Control mode, it is used to close the iris of the PTZ camera.
7. 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 select the next and previous day of recordings. 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.
8. 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 inner ring is used to jump 30s forward/backward in video files. The outer ring
can be used to speed up/slow down the video. In Preview mode, it can be used to cycle through
different channels.
Note: If GUARD indicator is blue (default), all alarm event and exception settings are valid. Otherwise, alarm event
and exception settings will be invalid, but normal recording will still be available.
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’re able to edit its content. After you’re done entering text, you must hit the ENTER button to be able to
move on to the next field.

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Figure 6. DS-8100AH(F)LI-ST DVR Front Panel
The controls on the front panel include:
1. LCD: Display local menu and preview.
Note: DS-8100AH (F) I-ST model is designed with no LCD.
2. Status Indicators: Status indicators for different features of the DVR.
•Num Lock: Press SHIFT button, the Num Lock indictor will turn on to blue, the control buttons will be used to
input letters and numbers. Press SHIFT button again, the NumLock indictor will turn off, and the control
buttons will resume.
•Ready: Ready indicator turns green when DVR is functioning properly.
•Status: Status indicator turns green when DVR is controlled by an IR remote.
•Alarm: Alarm indicator turns red when a sensor alarm is detected.
•Modem: Reserved.
•HDD: HDD indicator blinks red when data is being read from or written to HDD.
•Link: Link indictor is blue when network connection is functioning properly.
•Tx/Rx: TX/RX indictor blinks blue when network connection is functioning properly.
•Ch1-Ch8: The channel status indicator lights in green for recording of its corresponding channel, red for data
transmission, and orange for both recording and data transmission.
Note: Only Ch1-Ch4 channel status indicators are valid for DS-8104AH (F) (L)I-ST model.
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/VOIP: 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.
•3DEF/INFO: 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], it 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

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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/PREV: 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. POWER Button: The POWER button is used for power on or power off the DVR.
6. USB Ports: Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports for additional devices such as USB mouse and USB Hard Disk
Drive (HDD).
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’re able to edit its content. After you’re done entering text, you must hit the ENTER button to be able to
move on to the next field.
Using the IR Remote Control
Your DVR may also be controlled with the IR remote control, shown in Figure 7.
Batteries (2×AAA) must be installed before operation.

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Figure 7. IR Remote Control
The keys on the remote control closely resemble the ones found on the front panel. Referring to Figure 5, they include:
1. POWER Button: Same as POWER button on front panel
2. DEV Button: Enables/Disables Remote Control.
3. Alphanumeric Buttons: Same as Alphanumeric buttons on front panel.
4. EDIT Button: Same as EDIT/IRIS+ button on front panel.
5. A Button: Same as A/FOCUS+ button on front panel.
6. REC Button: Same as REC/SHOT button on front panel.
7. PLAY Button: Same as PLAY/AUTO button on front panel.
8. INFO Button: Same as ZOOM+ button on front panel.
9. VOIP Button: Same as MAIN/SPOT/ZOOM- button on front panel.
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 DIRECTION/ENTER buttons on front panel.
13. PTZ Button: Same as PTZ/IRIS- button on front panel.
14. ESC Button: Same as ESC button on front panel.
15. RESERVED: Reserved.
16. F1 Button: Same as F1/LIGHT button on front panel.
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#. The default ID# is 255. This ID# is valid for all IR controls.
3. Press the DEV button on the remote.
4. Enter the DVR ID# from 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 out of charge.
3. IR receiver is not obstructed.

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Using the 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 front panel of the DVR.
2. The mouse should automatically be detected. If in a rare case that the mouse is not detected, please
refer to the recommended device list from your provider.
The buttons on the mouse corresponds 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/ Playback 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.
Using the Soft Keyboard
When a mouse is used to perform task on the DVR, clicking on a text input field will bring up the Soft Keypad, shown
in Figure 8.
Figure 8. Soft Keypad
The buttons on the soft keyboard represents:
Lowercase: Designates lowercase input is being used.
Uppercase: Designates uppercase input is being used.
Switch to Uppercase: Switch to uppercase input.
Switch to Lowercase: Switch to lowercase input.
Number: Designates number input is being used.
Symbols: Switch to symbols input.
Backspace: Delete the character in front of the cursor.
Enter: Confirm selection.
ESC: Exit out of Soft Keyboard.
Figure 9. Soft Keyboard Buttons

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Rear Panel
Figure 10. DS-8104HCI-ST Rear Panel
No. Item Description
1 VIDEO IN BNC connectors for analog video input.
AUDIO IN BNC connectors for analog audio input.
2
MAIN VIDEO OUT
BNC connectors for main video out. If VGA is connected when the device is
started up, this interface will be used as the Aux video output with live view and
pop-up alarm picture operations. If VGA is not connected, this interface will be
used as the main video output with local video display and menu operations.
SPOT VIDEO OUT BNC connector for spot video out.
3 AUDIO OUT BNC connector for main audio output.
4 USB Interface Connector for USB devices.
5 LINE IN BNC connector for audio input.
6 VGA
VGA output. Display local video output and menu. If VGA is connected when the
device is started up, the MAIN VIDEO OUT interface will be used as the Aux
video output with live view and pop-up alarm picture operations. If VGA is not
connected, the MAIN VIDEO OUT interface will be used as the main video
output with local video display and menu operations.
7
RS-232
DB9 connector for connection to RS-232 devices.
8 LAN Interface Connector for LAN (Local Area Network).
9 Termination Switch RS-485 termination switch. ON: not terminated; OFF: connect with 120Ω
termination.
10 eSATA Interface eSATA interface for storage and backup
11
RS-485 Interface Connectors for RS-485 devices. T+, T- pin connects to PTZ.
Controller port D+, D- pin connects to Ta, Tb pin of controller. For cascading devices, the first
DVR’s D+, D- pin should be connected with the D+, D- pin of the next DVR.
ALARM IN
Connector for alarm input.
ALARM OUT Connector for alarm output.
12 GROUND Ground(needs to be connected when DVR starts up)
13 POWER 100~240VAC power supply

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Figure 11. DS-8108/8116HCI-ST Rear Panel
Note: DS-8108HCI-ST provides 8 video inputs and 8 audio inputs on rear panel.
No.
Item
Description
1 VIDEO IN BNC connectors for analog video input.
AUDIO IN BNC connectors for analog audio input.
2 VIDEO SPOT OUT BNC connector for monitor. Single-window view.
3 VIDEO OUT
BNC connector for video output. If VGA is connected when the device is started up,
this interface will be used as the Aux video output with live view and pop-up alarm
picture operations. If VGA is not connected, this interface will be used as the main
video output with local video display and menu operations.
AUDIO OUT BNC connector for audio output. This connector is synchronized with VIDEO OUT.
4 LINE IN BNC connector for audio input.
5 VGA
VGA output. Display local video output and menu. If VGA is connected when the
device is started up, the VIDEO OUT interface will be used as the Aux video output
with live view and pop-up alarm picture operations. If VGA is not connected, the
VIDEO OUT interface will be used as the main video output with local video display
and menu operations.
6
RS-232
DB9 connector for connection to RS-232 devices.
7 LAN Interface Connector for LAN (Local Area Network).
8
USB Interface
Connector for USB devices.
9 eSATA Interface eSATA interface for storage and backup
10 Termination Switch RS-485 termination switch. ON: not terminated; OFF: connect with 120Ω
termination.
11
RS-485 Interface Connectors for RS-485 devices. T+, T- pin connects to PTZ.
Controller port D+, D- pin connects to Ta, Tb pin of controller. For cascading devices, the first
DVR’s D+, D- pin should be connected with the D+, D- pin of the next DVR.
ALARM IN Connector for alarm input.
ALARM OUT Connector for alarm output.
12 GROUND Ground(needs to be connected when DVR starts up)
13 POWER 100~240VAC power supply