Homeguard DIY User manual

Homeguard DIY Kit Instruction Manual
2
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER.
NO USER SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of non-
insulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that
may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the appliance.
WARNING:
TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, ENSURE THE PLUG
IS FULLY INSERTED INTO A MAINS SOCKET

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IMPORTANT SAFEGUARD
All lead-free products offered by the company comply with the requirements of the
European law of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, which means our
manufacturing processes and products are strictly “lead-free” and without the hazardous
substances cited in the directive.
The crossed-out wheeled bin mark symbolizes that within the European Union the product
must be collected separately at the product’s end-of-life. This applies to your product and
any peripherals marked with this symbol. Do not dispose of these products as unsorted
municipal waste. Contact your local dealer for procedures for recycling this equipment.
DISCLAIMER
We reserve the right to revise or remove any content in this manual at any time. We do not warrant or assume any
legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this manual. The content of this
manual is subject to change without notice.
RECOMMENDATIONS
AVOID DUSTY LOCATIONS:
INSTALL IN VENTILATED SPACE:
DO NOT EXPOSE TO MOISTURE:
DO NOT DROP:
DO NOT OPEN CHASSIS:
Excessive build-up of dust may cause the unit to fail.
Ensure adequate airflow around the DVR to prevent
overheating.
Exposing the unit to water poses high risk of electric shock.
Doing so could damage internal components.
No user-serviceable parts inside.
DEFAULT PASS CODE INFORMATION
Username: admin
Password :
No password is set on the “admin”account by default, do not enter a password.
WARRANTY AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
To help you make the most of this product you’ll find a host of information including full product manuals, FAQ,
troubleshooting guides and a support service if you have specific questions, available at our support website:
storageoptions.com/support.
This product is also backed by a 12 month warranty in the unlikely event of something going wrong. More
information and warranty registration is available at storageoptions.com/warranty.
Support:
storageoptions.com/support/
Warranty:
storageoptions.com/warranty/

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Contents
1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.1 DVR Layout........................................................................................................................................................ 7
1.2 Connecting the DVR .......................................................................................................................................... 8
1.3 Mounting the cameras...................................................................................................................................... 9
1.4 Basic operation ...............................................................................................................................................10
2 Getting Started........................................................................................................................................................11
2.1 Login details ....................................................................................................................................................11
2.2 Formatting the hard drive............................................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Adjusting the time and date ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.4 Adjusting the channel names.......................................................................................................................... 13
2.5 Setting a password.......................................................................................................................................... 14
2.6 Menu shortcuts............................................................................................................................................... 15
2.7 Recording Options...........................................................................................................................................15
2.8 Playback ..........................................................................................................................................................16
3 Basic Use .................................................................................................................................................................17
3.1 Menu layout.................................................................................................................................................... 17
3.2 Recording ........................................................................................................................................................17
3.2.1 Recording settings...................................................................................................................................18
3.2.2 Schedule.................................................................................................................................................. 19
3.2.3 Recording capacity .................................................................................................................................. 19
3.3 Alarm Modes................................................................................................................................................... 20
3.3.1 Local Alarm..............................................................................................................................................20
3.3.2 Mobile Alarm...........................................................................................................................................20
3.3.3 Motion Detection....................................................................................................................................20
3.4 Accessing your DVR remotely using a computer or a mobile......................................................................... 22
3.4.1 Network and P2P settings....................................................................................................................... 22
3.4.2 Access the DVR from a computer using a browser................................................................................. 24
3.4.3 Access the DVR from your mobile........................................................................................................... 29
4 Advanced Functions................................................................................................................................................ 32
4.1 Configuration ..................................................................................................................................................32
4.1.1 System..................................................................................................................................................... 32
4.1.2 Network...................................................................................................................................................33
4.1.3 Account ................................................................................................................................................... 34
4.1.4 System Errors ..........................................................................................................................................34

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4.2 Maintain.......................................................................................................................................................... 35
4.3 Output............................................................................................................................................................. 35
4.3.1 Display settings ....................................................................................................................................... 36
4.4 Storage ............................................................................................................................................................ 37
4.4.1 Hard Drive management......................................................................................................................... 37
4.4.2 Backup.....................................................................................................................................................37
4.5 Shutdown ........................................................................................................................................................38
5 Appendix .................................................................................................................................................................39
5.1 Troubleshooting.............................................................................................................................................. 39
5.2 Technical specifications ..................................................................................................................................40
5.3 Warranty and Technical support .................................................................................................................... 41
6 Notes....................................................................................................................................................................... 42
NOTE
To quickly access your DVR from your mobile device, please refer to the guide inside the back cover.

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1 Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of this Homeguard DIY CCTV Kit. Homeguard by Storage Options offers a complete
CCTV solution for home or office security, featuring high quality cameras, internal HDD, easy setup and
configuration, alarm triggers, and network connectivity.
With this kit, you can easily record up to 8 video and 1 audio* channels. It could not be simpler to keep a watchful
eye on your home or office.
This system features:
H.264 video compression (most efficient system to date, helps keep recorded files smaller and of higher
quality)
3 USB ports (Mouse and Backup ports at the rear of the unit,1 extra Backup port on the front)
Colour Graphic User Interface, user friendly menus
Live viewing from anywhere on PC or smartphone.
2 or 4 high quality waterproof cameras with night vision (depending on model)
Easy installation, all fixtures are included and no expert help is required
*Requires audio capable cameras or self-powered microphone, not supplied
Throughout this manual, you will see highlighted text:
NOTE
Important notes are highlighted in blue.
TIP
Tips on best practice are highlighted in green.
CAUTION
Important cautions are highlighted in red.
Package Contents
Check the contents of your DVR package against this checklist. If anything is missing or damaged, please do not use
the system, and inform your supplier as soon as possible.
DVR
Power splitter cable
Remote control
Mouse
Software CD
Instruction manual
2 or 4 Cameras
2 or 4 18m CCTV cables
DVR power adaptor
Cameras power adaptor
BNC to RCA TV Cable
NOTE
This manual covers both 4 channel and 8 channel versions of the Homeguard DIY Kit

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1.1 DVR Layout
Front Panel
Rear Panel
*Requires audio capable camera or self-powered microphone, not supplied
**Requires PTZ Camera
1. USB 2.0 Slot: For connecting external storage and upgrading the firmware
2. IR Receiver: Receives the signal from the remote control
3. Power LED: Indicates the DVR is turned ON when lit
4. HDD LED: Flashes when the HDD is in use
5. REC LED: Indicates the DVR is recording when lit
1. 4x/8x BNC Video Connectors: For each camera input
2. 1x/4x RCA Audio Connectors: For each audio input (dependent on model)*
3. RCA Audio Output: For speakers
4. BNC Video Output: For TV sets (the cable supplied must be connected to a composite
input on your TV!)
5. VGA Output: For most monitors
6. LAN Port: To connect your DVR to the network
7. 2 x USB 2.0 Ports: For USB mouse and external storage
8. RS485 Connector: For PTZ Camera**
9. Power Connector: To power the DVR
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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1.2 Connecting the DVR
Power the DVR directly by using the adapter supplied in the DVR box.
To power the cameras, use the adapter supplied in the camera box, along with the splitter cable, as per the diagram
below:
The cameras are powered via the 18m CCTV cables supplied. The cable carries both the
power to the camera, and the video feed from the camera to the DVR. This setup allows
you to power up to 8 cameras from a single power socket.
CAUTION
The power splitter cable and adapters are designed ONLY for use with Homeguard DVRs and
cameras! DO NOT attempt to connect other brands as this may present a risk of fire!
Connecting the accessories:
Image for illustration purposes only, see DVR specification for details. Accessories not included.
To connect a camera via BNC:
1. Align the BNC connector with the notches on the BNC socket and
slide into place.
2. Rotate the BNC connector clockwise until it locks in place.
To disconnect a camera:
1. Apply pressure to the BNC connector, then rotate anti-clockwise.
2. Slide the BNC connector away from the socket.
To cameras
Splitter cable
12V/3A PSU

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1.3 Mounting the cameras
Each Homeguard camera is supplied with a mounting kit for attaching it to a wall. Before you affix the camera in
position, please ensure the cable is of adequate length to reach the DVR.
To mount the camera on a wall or ceiling, follow these instructions:
1. Ensure the surface you want to mount the camera on is solid and can support the weight.
2. Accurately mark on the wall the position of the holes to be drilled.
3. Drill to the correct depth in the wall, as indicated by the plugs.
4. Insert plugs into the drilled holes.
5. If required, drill a hole in the centre to feed the camera cable through the wall. Note the cable can be routed
along the wall via the cut-out in the camera base.
6. Secure the camera to the wall using the provided screws.
To adjust the camera’s position, loosen the screws at the base of the camera and the pivot point on the arm, as well
as the locking ring on the bracket. The camera is now free to be positioned at any angle. Once positioned, tighten
both screws and locking ring again.

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1.4 Basic operation
Using the DVR with the USB Mouse (Recommended)
The easiest way to operate the DVR is to use the included USB mouse, as it will allow a smooth and intuitive use of
the menu system.
All the functions are used with either the right or left mouse buttons:
Left click:
Selects an item
Confirms a choice
Right click:
Opens the menu shortcuts
Returns one page back in the menu system
NOTE
Unless otherwise stated, all system functions described in this manual are achieved using the mouse.
Using the remote control
The remote control adequate to operate the DVR, however it is not best suited to constant use. It is easy to navigate
through the display modes, basic settings and menus, but slower and less intuitive than using the mouse.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1. Record: Starts or stops manual recording.
2. Address: Displays the remote address.
3. Numbers: In menus, enters values. In the viewing screen, displays the
selected channel.
4. Play: Opens the playback screen
5. Function: Confirm the selection
6. Split: switches between single and 4 channel display
7. D-Pad: Navigates through the menus and switches between the
displayed channels. Return: Confirms the selection.
8. Esc: Exits the current menu
9. Shift: Offers alternatives in the menus
10. Playback controls.

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2 Getting Started
At first use, it is a good idea to set some basic parameters, which will enable you to use the DVR more easily and
ensure all systems work as they should. To achieve this, this chapter will explain the following:
Default login details, to enable you to use all functions of the DVR,
How to format the hard drive, to ensure it is clear and ready to record,
How to set the time and date on the DVR, to ensure your recordings are easy to find,
How to set the channel names, again to make the DVR easier to use,
How to set a password, and
How to use quickly access Record and Search functions.
To access the menu system, right-click anywhere on the screen
and choose the “Main Menu” option:
If you are not already logged in, a box will pop up to prompt you to enter your login details. Please note, as a default
parameter, users are automatically logged out of the menu after 10 minutes of inactivity, so you may have to log in
again even if you already entered your details a short time ago.
2.1 Login details
When prompted, enter your user name and password. If
you have not set these yet, please use the default
“admin”username.
NOTE
No password is set on the Admin account by
default, do not enter a password.

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2.2 Formatting the hard drive
It is important to format the hard drive before first use, to ensure it is clear of any data and ready to work with the
DVR. If the hard drive used is set to the wrong format, the DVR may not be able to record.
CAUTION
Formatting the HDD will erase all data saved on it, if you are not using a brand new HDD, please ensure
you have backed up any data you may want to keep.
In the main menu, select STORAGE, then HDD
MANAGEMENT
The HDD management screen shows all connected
hard drives.
Select the one to format (most likely the only one
there at this stage), and click Format
Click OK to confirm.
Once the format is completed, you will be prompted
to restart the DVR.


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2.3 Adjusting the time and date
It is important to adjust the time and date on your system, to ensure the recorded files are properly labelled.
In the main menu, select SETUP then SYSTEM
The System screen allows you to adjust the system
time and date, and which format they are displayed
in.
Once the time has been adjusted, click Save.
You can then amend other settings as required, click
OK when done.
Other settings include how the DVR handles a full
hard drive, the length of each recorded file, and the
time after which the user will be logged out if
inactive. These are explained in more detail in
chapter 4.5.

2.4 Adjusting the channel names
It is a good idea to adjust the channel names, so you can easily tell which one you are reviewing, particularly if your
cameras are looking at similar areas.
In the main menu, select OUTPUT, then
DISPLAY
The display menu allows you to set display options.
Next to Channel Name, click Modify
Click in the name field to edit it using the virtual
keyboard, open this by clicking on the characters box.
Click it again to scroll through the different keyboard
options.
When done, click anywhere on the screen to close the
virtual keyboard, click OK, then OK again to exit the
display menu. The new channel name is displayed in
the bottom corner of the viewing screen.


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2.5 Setting a password
As stated, the default password for the “admin” account is blank, meaning there is no password. We advise you to
set a password on your DVR to protect your privacy, however this decision is up to you.
In the main menu, select SETUP, then ACCOUNT.
In the Account screen, select the account you want to
modify (in this case, the Admin account), then click
Modify Password.
Fill in the old password (in this case leave blank) and
new password fields, and confirm the new password.
Confirmation is required to prevent typing errors.
Once done, click OK.
Click OK when the confirmation message pops up.
If an error message pops up, either the confirmation
doesn’t match the new password, or the old password
is incorrect. This is most likely to a typing error, and
you need to re-enter the passwords.


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2.6 Menu shortcuts
From the main viewing screen, a right click anywhere on the screen opens the Quick Menu. This gives you a number
of shortcuts to access the main features quickly:
View 1 displays one channel in full screen, you can choose which channel via the
drop down menu.
View 4 displays all 4 channels
P/T/Z opens the Pan Tilt Zoom menu*
Colour Setting allows you to adjust each channel’s image to compensate for
lighting differences
Search opens up the playback interface (more details below)
Record allows you to quickly switch between recording modes on each channel
(more details below)
Alarm Output allows you to modify the external alarm settings**
Main Menu opens up the main menu.
*Compatible PTZ camera required
**Compatible models only
2.7 Recording Options
From the main viewing screen, right click to open the
quick menu, and select Record. This menu allows you
to switch between recording modes for each channel.
Schedule sets the DVR to record as per the schedule
defined in the main recording menu (see chapter
3.2.2)
Manual sets the DVR to record the selected channel,
irrespective of any other settings
Stop, as can be expected, stops any recording on the
selected channel.
All allows you to select all channels at once.
NOTE
If you want your DVR to start recording as quickly as possible, set all channels to manual recording
now. You will be able to amend these settings later, as required.

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2.8 Playback
From the main viewing screen, right click to open the
Quick menu and select Search. This will open the main
Search/Playback screen
To begin playback:
Choose the type of recording (Video/Picture)
Select the recording date via the calendar. The
days where a recording has occurred are
highlighted.
Select which channels to playback
The time track on the bottom part of the
screen displays all recordings for the chosen
day. Simply double click on the chosen time
and channel to start playback
You can also choose from a list of recordings,
by clicking the List button
You can backup the selected files by clicking
the Backup button:
Use the on-screen controls to navigate through the
video. Like a DVD player, you can use these to fast
forward, rewind, pause, etc.
The controls in the right hand corner allow you to play
the videos full screen, etc.

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3 Basic Use
This chapter covers the main functions DVRs are used for, i.e. recording, alarm, and remote viewing (from a PC or
mobile). Playback options are described in chapter 2.8.
3.1 Menu layout
The main menu has 6 options:
SEARCH: takes you to the playback screen
SETUP: to adjust system, recording, network, alarm and account settings, as well as how the system deals with
errors.
MAINTAIN: shows information about the DVR and its usage, such as how much space each recording is using up, a
log of all activity on the DVR, and options to default most settings and automatically update the system.
OUTPUT: to adjust output settings, from the display to any accessories you may use.
STORAGE: to manage the installed HDD(s) and backup USB drive(s)
SHUTDOWN: to shut down or restart the DVR, or to log out of the menu.
TIP
Look out for handy help texts displayed in the bottom field of the menu window, for a quick
explanation of the selected function.
3.2 Recording
This DVR offers a range of recording options to suit any user’s needs. These range from recording resolution and
quality, to recording schedule and conditions. To access these, select SETUP in the main menu, then RECORD.

NOTE
All options mentioned in this chapter cover one channel only, however the settings applied to that
channel are easily copied by selecting Copy and choosing which channel to copy the settings to. The
copy option is available on each screen.

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3.2.1 Recording settings
The Local Channel tab is used to define how the DVR records the footage, for each channel. These settings affect the
quality and size of the video, which also means how much time you will be able to record. As a rule of thumb, the
higher the video quality, the more space it needs on the hard drive.
Compression: Modern DVRs use H.264 compression, which simply put means the DVR only records changes
between each frame, as opposed to a whole new frame each time, to ensure the highest quality and
smallest file size.
Resolution is the recorded size of the picture, in pixels.
oD1 is almost the same resolution as a DVD, 704 x 576.
oCIF is ¼ of D1, similar to a low quality webcam.
Frame Rate represents how many frames the DVR records each second. The human eye sees 25fps as
smooth motion. 6fps should be good enough for most surveillance systems, and allows you to record a lot
more on the hard drive.
Bit rate control defines how the bit rate is worked out, it can be variable (a good compromise for recording
high quality video while saving space on the HDD) or constant (better for viewing on mobiles, which require
a steady stream of data)
Quality of the recorded video: this defines how well the DVR handles changes between frames.
Audio: tick to enable audio recording*
Bit rate is the maximum amount of data the DVR records per second. If the bit rate required for recording is
higher than the maximum bit rate selected, the picture quality will deteriorate slightly. If you suffer from
slightly blurry images, you may need to increase the maximum bit rate.
Snapshot allows you to adjust settings for snapshots.
Display Options: adjust recording display settings. Choose to display the channel name and/or number, the
date and time, and if parts of the video need to be covered.
*Requires audio capable camera or self-powered microphone
NOTE
The Minor Stream settings apply to the video sent to remote viewing platforms, like mobiles. These
require lower quality settings to ensure the video can be streamed.

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3.2.2 Schedule
In the Record Plan tab, you can define a recording schedule for each channel. For example, you may choose to
record only during office hours.
Choose which channel you wish to schedule and how
long to prerecord (for event triggers only).
To plan the recordings for each day, click Set next to
the chosen day.
Define up to 6 time periods by entering the start and
finish times for each one, and select the type of
recording applicable for this period (see chapters 3.2.3
and 3.2.4 for details on these recording types).
Select any days these recording periods must apply to.
When done, click OK.
Repeat this process for any days where the recording
periods are different.
3.2.3 Recording capacity
As mentioned in chapter 3.2.1, recording settings affect the amount of time which can be recorded on a given hard
drive. Please refer to the table below for the available recording time, in days, based on normal settings:
Number of Cameras
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
HDD
Capacity
500GB
100
50
33
25
20
17
14
13
1TB
200
100
66
50
40
33
29
25
2TB
400
200
132
100
80
67
57
50

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3.3 Alarm Modes
In the main menu, select SETUP,then ALARM.

3.3.1 Local Alarm
You can enable the DVR to be triggered by an external alarm, or vice versa. Please confirm the required settings with
your alarm supplier.
3.3.2 Mobile Alarm
Enables any DVR alarm to be relayed to your mobile phone, via the DVR’s app. This is enabled by default.
3.3.3 Motion Detection
The Detect tab covers 3 types of alarm, available on each channel:
Motion detection to trigger an action when the DVR sees movement on any chosen channel
Video loss to trigger a warning when the DVR loses the video feed from a camera
Camera masking to trigger a warning when a camera is covered.

NOTE
Actions and warnings apply to each on these types of alarm, so only the Motion Detection type is
covered below.
Tick to enable Motion Detection
Select the sensitivity. Choose a low sensitivity if the
image recorded is likely to move a little, for example if
there are trees in the background.
Select the time to apply between triggers, to ensure
the same event does not trigger several alarms.
Click Set Area to select the area of the picture where
the motion detection will be active
Select the area (red=active, clear=inactive), right click
once done
Click Process to set the active period, actions and
warnings the alarm will trigger.