Night Owl HDA SERIES User manual

4 HDA Series Users Manual
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: FCC WARNINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CHAPTER 2: SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER 3: SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.1 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.2 Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.2.1 DVR Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.2.2 Camera Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.2.3 Mouse and Remote Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
CHAPTER 4: CAMERA INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.1 Video/Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2.1 Standard Camera Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2.2 Integrated Battery Backup Camera Power . . . . . . . . . 19
4.3 Mounting the Cameras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
CHAPTER 5: DVR INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.1 Connecting to a TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.2 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CHAPTER 6: GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.1 Startup Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.2 Night Owl HD Mobile App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.3 Displays and Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.3.1 Login Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.3.2 Live View (All Channels) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.3.3 Live View (Single Channel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.3.4 Menu Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

5Table of Contents
CHAPTER 7: MENUS AND SETTINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
7.1 General Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.1.1 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
a. Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
b. Privacy Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7.1.2 SnapShot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
a. SnapShot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
b. SnapShot Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.1.3 Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
a. Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
b. Substream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
c. Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
d. Email Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
e. DDNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.1.4 Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
a. Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
b. Setting Detection Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.2 Cameras Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
7.2.1 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
7.3 Record Menu (Playback) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
7.3.1 General (Playback) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
7.3.2 Events & Pictures (Playback & Backup Files) . . . . . . 45
7.3.3 Settings (Record) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
a. Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
b. Record Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
c. Mainstream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
7.4 Device Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
7.4.1 HDD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
7.4.2 PTZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
7.5 System Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.5.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
a. Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
b. DST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
c. NTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
7.5.2 Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.5.3 Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

6 HDA Series Users Manual
a. Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
b. Channel Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
c. Record Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.5.4 Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.6 Advanced Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
7.6.1 Maintain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
7.6.2 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
7.6.3 Auto Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CHAPTER 8: REMOTE ACCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.1 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
8.2 Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
8.3 Network Conguration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.3.1 Windows® Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.3.2 Mac® Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
8.3.3 Port Conguration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
8.3.4 DDNS Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
8.3.5 Adding the DDNS to Your DVR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
CHAPTER 9: GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
CHAPTER 10: WARRANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
CHAPTER 11: TROUBLESHOOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
CHAPTER 12: CUSTOMER SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
CHAPTER 13: USER INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
For your reference, we have created an instructional video that
explains the menu structure and functionality of your Night Owl
recorder in detail. Click on the icon at any time to view Night
Owl’s instructional videos at www.youtube.com/user/NightOwlSP
Night Owl’s DVRs are manufactured for quality and ease of use.
As such, our DVRs contain menus designed for advanced user’s
that should not be adjusted without having enhanced knowledge
regarding the menu. In most cases the default settings allow
for optimal functionality. The menus that should maintain the
default settings are indicated with this icon.
SUPPORT
VIDEOS
ADVANCED

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Once you have downloaded Night Owl HD and connected
your DVR to your router, you can network your DVR by
scanning the QR code which is located on the top of the DVR.

Images used are for reference only. Your product may vary slightly.
An 8 channel model is displayed above.

HD Resolution

18 HDA Series Users Manual
Chapter 4: Camera Installation
4.1 Video/Audio*
NOTE: Connect all cameras locally before nal placement to ensure that all
components function properly.
1. Locate an included 60 foot camera cable.
2. Connect a camera to one end of the cable by matching the BNC connectors
(yellow) and DC power connectors (red).
3. Audio enabled cameras will have an additional (white) RCA connection which
will transmit the audio signal and will connect to the audio in port on the back
of your DVR.
4. Plug BNC connectors on the other end of the cable into a Video Input port on
the back panel of the DVR.
5. Repeat for each camera, noting the channel number each camera is plugged
into.
4.2 Power
4.2.1 Standard Camera Power
1. Locate an included power splitter.
2. Connect the power splitter to the remaining DC power connectors (red) of the
cables.
3. Plug the power splitter into the labeled camera power supply, then plug the
camera power supply into an available wall outlet or UPS. Keep in mind, Night
Owl always recommends utilizing a surge protector to minimize the risk of
damage caused to your DVR in the event of a power surge.

19Chapter 4: Camera Installation
* Cameras, additional cables, power adapters and
splitters only included in certain security kits. Check
the product packaging for detailed kit contents.
Make sure all cameras are working prior to mounting by
connecting them as described in the section above. Once all
cameras are conrmed to be fully operational, you can run
the cables and mount the cameras at their nal locations.
4.2.2 Integrated Battery Backup Camera Power*
1. Locate all included power splitters.
2. Connect the power splitters to the remaining DC power connectors (red) of the
cables.
3. Plug the power splitters into the labeled Camera Power Output ports.
*YOU MUST PLUG IN BOTH POWER SPLITTERS,
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF CAMERAS YOU ARE
CONNECTING

20 HDA Series Users Manual
4.3 Mounting the Cameras
Camera distance from DVR.
The further the camera is from the DVR
or monitor, the higher the chances
of signal degradation. The camera’s
power supply should be located
as near to the camera as possible
when the distance exceeds 200 ft.
as the power level will drop over
extended distances resulting in video degradation.
Do not place near high voltage wires or other sources of electrical interference.
Electrical interference will degrade the quality of the signal.
Place camera out of reach to avoid vandalism.
Avoid direct exposure to weather. Do not place the camera where rain or snow will
hit the lens directly nor should the camera be placed so that the sun or bright
light shines directly into the lens. Your camera is weatherproof, but it will not
work when submerged in water. Ensure that all power and video connections are
not directly exposed to water and are protected from the elements.
Mounting surface. The mounting surface must hold at least four times the
camera’s total weight.
Connect all cameras locally before nal placement to
ensure that all components function properly.
Integrated Battery Backup units
have a unique camera power
splitter identified by the large
splicer in the middle (circled in
red) and the male connectors on all
leads.