If you've been considering purchasing a IP camera system and are wondering how hard it is to configure the system since it is IP based, then you need to watch this video we made. We get a large number of callers every week asking how hard it is to setup a security camera system using PoE cameras versus BNC cameras. Some customers even think they need an IT person to get the system going. Well, thanks to advances in technology and lots of refinement in coding, connecting a PoE IP camera to a PoE NVR is truly a plug and play task. Watch for yourself!
To setup any of our PoE IP camera systems you need the following equipment:
- An IP Camera that is PoE enabled
- Network Video Recorder (NVR)
- CAT5e or CAT6 Network Cabling
- Computer Monitor or TV
Here's a video guide on how to setup an IP camera system or PoE camera system when using our cameras and NVRs that benefit from being engineered to be plug-and-play.
It is important to note that Power Over Ethernet (PoE) cameras receive power over the same cable that sends data, so there is only one cable running from the NVR to the camera. In fact, the same cable can send Pan Tilt Zoom controls and Audio if you are using a camera with those features. You can learn more about the differences between various security camera types by watching our video guide on how to choose a security camera or by reading our comprehensive security camera buying guide.
If you cannot watch the video above because it is being blocked by your company firewall, here is a step by step guide on how to connect a PoE Camera System.
- Once you unpack the PoE NVR from the box, plug the included power adaptor into the back of the NVR unit. Do not connect to your wall outlet or surge protector yet
- Connect the NVR to your monitor using either the VGA or HDMI connection
- Make sure your monitor supports a 1280x1024 video resolution as that is the default set on the NVR
- Plug a USB mouse into one of the open USB ports on the NVR
- Plug the other end of the power adaptor into a surge protector
- Power on the NVR if it has a power button, otherwise it will automatically power on
- Plug one CAT5e cable into your router
- Take the other end and plug it into the NVR’s LAN port on the back
- Once both ends are plugged into the correct ports the lights next to the LAN port will blink. If there are no lights that means that there is no data going to the NVR from the router and you should check your network cable to make sure it is plugged in correctly. If you tipped your own network cables, you need to use a cable continuity test to ensure it is crimped correctly
- Once you decide the location of your PoE security cameras run a network cable from the NVR to each camera location
- Plug one end into the camera’s network jack
- Plug the opposite end of the cable into the PoE ports on the back of the NVR
- The camera will boot-up and connect to the NVR on its own, and you’ve completed your IP camera system setup.
Troubleshooting
If at this point the cameras are not displaying video, double check all cabling:
- Power cables to the NVR are plugged in and surge protector is turned on
- Make sure that the VGA or HDMI video cable is plugged in and not loose on either monitor or NVR
- The Ethernet cables running to the cameras are plugged into the correct ports, that is the PoE ports that are grouped together
- The LAN Ethernet cable is plugged in and has lights blinking
