Why Is There No Option for Continuous Recording
Tags: continuous recording, battery-powered cameras, powered add-on cameras, internal HDD, NVW-600CMB, NVW-AS4KCAM, NVW-MR4KCAM, battery conservation, idle mode, sleep mode, Swann Security app, live view, solar panel, DVR, NVR, NVW, record schedule, motion detection, normal recording, recording mode, storage capacity
Continuous recording is a feature where it will record non-stop regardless if there are movements, persons, or sounds detected. It is only possible for recorders with:
- Powered add-on camera (not battery-powered)
- Internal HDD (minimum of 1TB)
Why Can't Battery-Powered Cameras Record Continuously
Battery-powered add-on cameras like the NVW-600CMB, NVW-AS4KCAM, and NVW-MR4KCAM need to conserve their battery when nothing is moving or triggering it to record. They will go on idle or sleep which is essential for these types of cameras to save you time in recharging them more often than you like.
In addition, these cameras will only stream when you open the Swann Security app or click Play on the recorder's live view, and will go on idle again after a few seconds to save battery.
Adding a solar panel is designed to charge the battery; not to make it have continuous power. The unit is classified as a 'battery-powered' unit however it is getting its power.
What Systems Can Record Continuously
Below are different kinds of systems that you may have. Check each to learn what they do or select the system that you have to see if it is capable of recording continuously:
Recorder with internal HDD and powered add-on camera
A Recorder is a small box that has the HDD where recordings are stored. It can be a DVR, NVR, or NVW. These are at the beginning of the model number of your recorder.
Powered add-on camera uses a power adapter that is connected to your camera and plugs into a power outlet to operate continuously.
An example of system that has continuous recording are:
- DVRs with internal HDD—All compatible cameras are powered add-on cameras
- NVRs—All Swann Security NVRs use internal HDD and PoE camera (which are powered add-on cameras)
- SecureAlert™ series with internal HDD—The NVW-800 power hub can use microSD; make sure yours has an internal HDD and paired to a SecureAlert™ cameras like NVW-500CAM and NVW-800CAM
On a system like this, 24-hour 7 days a week of motion detection is enabled for each camera
connected by default. For example:
Normal (continuous) recording (green boxes) can be enabled at the same time as motion detection (yellow boxes).
To set up your preferred recording schedule, visit this article
NOTE: Setting one or more cameras to continuous recording will decrease the days of storage for recordings in your hard drive. To know how many days of recordings, your DVR/NVR can currently store, go to Menu> Search > General (tab). Click on the Date calendar. The number of days in red is the number of days the oldest recordings are stored. Here's an example:
Recorder with a microSD card and/or battery-powered add-on camera
A Recorder is a small box that has a space inside for an HDD where recordings can be stored. However, some units are also capable of using a microSD card; they are also mostly sold with an microSD for an affordable price.
For example, here's what the back of a MaxRanger4K™ Power Hub (NVW-MR4K) looks like, showing the microSD card slot.
Battery-powered add-on camera has an integrated battery which provides power to the camera. AllSecure and MaxRanger4K™ cameras are all battery-powered cameras.
On a system like this, a microSD cards are just not built to record continuously and battery-powered cameras will drain quickly if it records 24/7.
An example of system that supports microSD and/or battery-powered cameras are:
- DVRs—Some DVRs are sold with microSD card included instead of an internal HDD; make sure to double check the specs of the item you have purchased. You must have an internal HDD to get the option for continuous recording.
- SecureAlert™ series—While the NVW-800 hub uses powered add-on cameras (NVW-500CAM and NVW-800CAM), most kits were sold with microSD card. You must have an internal HDD to get the option for continuous recording.
- AllSecure series—AllSecure cameras are battery-powered cameras.
- MaxRanger4K™ series—All MaxRanger4K™ cameras are battery-powered cameras.
Stand-alone cameras
Stand-alone Cameras are designed to start recording when triggered (e.g. detect motion, person, sound) regardless of whether it is battery-powered or not, then stop recording when there are no more events.
Once the camera is triggered, the camera can record for up to 60 seconds. If it needs to continue its recording, it will be saved as another file.
MaxRanger4K™ series
All MaxRanger4K™ cameras are battery-powered; therefore, they are not capable to record continuously.