Night Owl FTD2 Series User manual

2-Way Audio DVR & Cameras
Use Existing DVR Cables*
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
2-Way Audio Recorder User’s Manual
Support.NightOwlSP.com

What Models Does This Manual Cover?
FTD2 Series
DVR Component Model #: DVR-FTD2-161
Camera Component Model #: CM-FTD4LS-B
CM-FTD4LS-D
FTD4 Series
DVR Component Model #: DVR-FTD4-8
DVR-FTD4-81
DVR-FTD4-82
Camera Component Model #: CM-FTD4LS-B
CM-FTD4LS-D
FTD8 Series
DVR Component Model #: DVR-FTD8-8
DVR-FTD8-81
DVR-FTD8-82
DVR-FTD8-16
DVR-FTD8-161
DVR-FTD8-162
Camera Component Model #: CM-FTD8LS-B
CM-FTD8LS-D

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We welcome you to the Night Owl family and thank you for choosing us to help safeguard
your home or business. All of our products are proudly designed and engineered right
here in the U.S.A. Night Owl complies with the U.S. government’s stance on protecting
our nation from companies that violate human rights and threaten our national security.
Unlike other brands, we are not on any national security threat lists, nor do we do
business with companies that are. We prioritize your privacy and safety because we value
both as much as you do.
Some Basic Info
This manual covers the basic setup and functionality of our new 2-way audio recorders.
It will walk you through adding compatible cameras to your recorder using our new
Bluetooth®Wireless Setup, as well as your recorder’s menu options. With Bluetooth®,
setup is now easier than ever. A TV or monitor is no longer required. Once your system’s
hardware is connected and powered on, you can quickly nish the setup right from the
app on your Smart Device. If you prefer, you can still connect a TV or monitor and follow
along, it’s just not required.
Thank you for choosing Night Owl Security!

Is Internet Required?
While Internet is not required, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Without an Internet
connection, you can still use your device’s Bluetooth®Wireless Setup to get the product
easily setup and congured. However, you will not be able to view or access your system
remotely from a Smart Device or computer.
We STRONGLY RECOMMEND you connect your recorder to the Internet, at least for initial
setup, to search for the latest rmware. Keeping your rmware updated is vital for the
overall health of your system and allows our technical support team to assist you, should
you need support. If your recorder’s rmware is not up to date, our technical support
team will NOT be able to help. To ensure you are always running the latest rmware, we
encourage customers to stay connected to the Internet. If you are NOT connecting your
recorder to the Internet, please manually upgrade your rmware (See Firmware Version
section of this manual).
Warranty and Additional Help
By purchasing a Night Owl product, you receive a one (1) year warranty covering
manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. Please see the warranty section
of this manual for exclusions and additional details. Not all features and capabilities are
shared across all models. You may see features which are not applicable. Additionally, this
manual contains screen images that may not exactly match those on your TV/Monitor/
Smart Device.
System Requirements (for remote viewing)
Please be sure that your PC / MAC® complies with the following specications:
• PC Operating System: Windows®10 and above
• MAC Operating System: MAC OS X®10.9 and above
Please be sure that your mobile device complies with the following specications:
• Android™: 8.0 and above
• iOS®: 12.4 and above
We provide a database of self-help material on your product’s support
page on our support site. Simply visit Support.NightOwlSP.com and
enter your product’s Series (found on the support sticker on top of your
recorder) into the search bar. In addition to warranty and technical
support benets, you have access to our vast library of free instructional
How-to Videos. For all support videos, go to www.youtube.com/
nightowlsp to access Night Owl’s YouTube page (or click the image).
IMPORTANT: WHILE WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION,
INACCURACIES OR ERRORS MAY OCCUR. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE
CHANGES, CORRECTIONS, AND/OR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INFORMATION
AND TO THE PRODUCTS, AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
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Table of Contents
FCC Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Initial Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Step 1. Verify Your Package Contents . . . . . . . 2
Recorder Description . . . . . . . . . . 3
How to Use a Wired USB Mouse . . . . . . 4
Step 2. Download the Night Owl Protect App and Create
and Verify Your Account . . . . . . . . . 4
Step 3. Connect Your System (Hardware) . . . . . . 6
Step 4. Congure Your System . . . . . . . . . 9
Option 1: Easy Bluetooth®Wireless Setup . . . 9
Option 2: Manual Setup (TV / Monitor) . . . . 13
Step 5. Install the Cameras. . . . . . . . . . . 16
Plan Your Installation . . . . . . . . . . 16
Install the Cameras . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Step 6. Additional Cameras . . . . . . . . . . 17
Adding Additional Wired BNC Cameras . . . . 17
Wi-Fi Expandability . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . 18
Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Log in from a TV or Monitor . . . . . . . . 24
Log In with Night Owl Protect Account . . . . . . . 24
Log In with Local Password . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Log In Information Icon . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Live View (Navigation Bar) . . . . . . . . . 27
Shut Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
View Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Playback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Exporting Recordings for
Long-Term Storage . . . . . 32
Formatting a USB Flash Drive or External Hard Drive . . 32
Exporting / Saving a Recording . . . . . . . . . . 34
System Info . . . . . . . . . . 36
About Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Firmware Version . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Monitor Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Date and Time Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Camera Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Recording Settings . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Voice Alerts / Siren . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Copy Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Remove Camera Option . . . . . . . . . 44
Account Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Storage Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Diagnostics Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Network Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Help and Support Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Reset Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Resetting / Forgot Your Password . . . . 54
Reset Your Password from the Night Owl Protect App . . 54
Reset Your Password from the Web Portal . . . . . . 54
Forgot Your Local Password (Recorder Not Connected to
the Internet) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Recorder Status Icon Denitions . . . . . . . . . 56
Channel Status Icon Denitions. . . . . . . . . . 56
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
User Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Table of Contents