How to Connect Q-See IP Cameras to an Avalonix NVR
This guide is for customers moving away from an older Q-See QC Series NVR and trying to reuse the existing Q-See IP cameras with an Avalonix NVR from CCTV Camera World.
The part that usually causes trouble is not the Ethernet cable. It is the camera's network settings and login credentials. An IP camera needs the correct IP address, username, and password before a new NVR can connect to it and display video.
Scope of this guide: These steps are specifically for compatible Q-See QC Series IP cameras being connected to an Avalonix NVR. Q-See used multiple product families over the years, so do not assume the same procedure applies to every Q-See camera model. If you are unsure which equipment you have, send us the model numbers before proceeding.
Before You Start
There are two things you should know before trying to add the old Q-See cameras to the new recorder:
- The camera's admin password.
- The camera's IP address or network range.
Find the Password Used by the Q-See Cameras
Q-See IP cameras have credentials assigned to the camera itself. The password may still be the camera's factory default, or it may be the password that was assigned while the camera was connected to the old Q-See NVR.
In most cases the old NVR admin password is the first logical password to try. If the new Avalonix NVR responds with an "invalid username or password" message that typically means the camera was found on the network, but the NVR doesn't have the cameras credentials yet.
Check the Camera IP Address
If you are connecting the Q-See cameras directly to the built-in PoE ports on the back of the Avalonix NVR, the cameras need to be on the NVR's internal PoE network. For this setup, the camera IP address should be in the 10.1.1.X range.
If your cameras were previously connected through a separate network or external PoE switch, the addressing may be different. In that case, contact us before changing settings blindly.
How to Add a Q-See Camera to the Avalonix NVR
Start with one camera. Do not plug every old camera into the new NVR at once. Getting one camera connected first makes it much easier to determine whether the issue is addressing, credentials, or compatibility.
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Turn on the NVR and connect a monitor.
Connect the Avalonix NVR to an HDMI monitor and log in. -
Connect one Q-See camera.
Plug one compatible QC Series camera into a PoE camera port on the back of the NVR. -
Open the Camera Registration / Camera List page.
Allow the NVR to search for cameras and look for the Q-See camera in the discovered-device list. -
Add the camera.
Select the camera and attempt to add it to the recorder. -
Check the status.
A successful connection normally shows a green online status and video. If the camera remains offline, look for the error displayed in the camera list. -
If you see a username/password error, edit the camera entry.
Click the edit/pencil icon for the camera in the Camera List and enter the correct admin password for that Q-See camera. -
Confirm that video appears.
Once the IP address and credentials are correct, the camera should connect and begin displaying video.
Watch the Q-See Camera Setup Video
The video below walks through the process of connecting Q-See IP cameras to an Avalonix NVR and correcting the camera password when the recorder reports an authentication error.
Common Problems When Moving Q-See Cameras to a New NVR
The Camera Shows “Invalid Username or Password”
This means the NVR can see the camera but does not have the correct login credentials. Edit the camera entry and enter the camera's admin password. The old Q-See NVR admin password is often the correct password to try first if that is what was assigned when the system was originally configured.
The Camera Is Not in the 10.1.1.X Range
If the camera is being connected directly to the Avalonix NVR's built-in PoE ports, it needs an address compatible with that internal network. A camera that is still configured for a different LAN may need its network settings corrected before the NVR can use it on the built-in PoE switch.
The Camera Does Not Appear in the Search List
Double-check the Ethernet connection and make sure you are testing one camera at a time. If the camera still cannot be discovered, stop there rather than changing a large number of settings. Send us the Q-See camera model and the old NVR model so we can confirm that the camera is a suitable candidate for reuse.
What If the Q-See Camera Still Will Not Connect?
Not every Q-See camera belongs to the same hardware family. If the camera is not a compatible QC Series model, or if you no longer have the credentials needed to access it, replacing the camera may be easier than spending hours trying random settings.
If several cameras are incompatible, it might make more sense to replace the cameras and NVR together rather than building a mixed system around aging hardware.
Q-See Camera Connection FAQ
Why does the new NVR say the Q-See camera has the wrong password?
IP cameras get initialized with a password for the admin user when they are connected to a NVR for the first time. The camera requires that password for authentication to allow the video stream to pass to the NVR. If you're getting an invalid password error, that means the camera may still be using the credentials assigned when it was connected to the old Q-See NVR. Enter the correct camera admin password in the new NVR's camera-registration page.
What IP address should a Q-See camera use on the Avalonix NVR PoE ports?
For the built-in PoE network described in this guide, the camera should use an address in the 10.1.1.X range.
Should I connect all of my Q-See cameras at once?
No. Start with one camera and confirm that it can be discovered, authenticated, and displayed before connecting the rest. This makes troubleshooting much easier.
Will this work with every Q-See IP camera?
No. This guide is specifically aimed at compatible Q-See QC Series IP cameras. Q-See used several different manufacturers and product families, so the exact camera and NVR model still matter.
What is the best replacement NVR for a Q-See QC Series NVR?
For customers who want to keep compatible Q-See QC Series IP cameras, we recommend an Avalonix NVR as the best replacement for a Q-See QC Series NVR. Avalonix NVR's support native communication with the same protocol that your Q-See QC Series communicates with cameras. This means that compatible cameras can natively talk to your replacement NVR instead of just ONVIF. This can allow the existing Q-See cameras and Ethernet wiring to remain in place when the original QC Series NVR is replaced.