Top 10 Most Common CCTV Problems & How to Fix Them

🔌 1. Verify Camera Power & Connection

One of the most common CCTV problems is power failure or loose connections. Before diving into complex troubleshooting, always check the basics.

✅ What to Check:

• Confirm the camera is plugged into a working power source

• Inspect the power adapter and power cable

• Look for LED indicator lights on IP cameras

• If wireless, verify WiFi network connection

• Check that infrared LEDs activate in low light

🌐 2. Discover & Ping the Camera (Network Test)

If your camera has power but shows no video feed, test the network communication.

✅ How to Ping the Camera:

1. Find the camera’s IP address

2. Open Command Prompt (Windows: type cmd)

3. Type: ping [camera IP address]

4. Check for replies

❌ “Request Timed Out” means:

Camera not on the same network

Network cable issue

Incorrect IP configuration

🔒 3. Confirm Username & Password

Login failures are often caused by incorrect credentials.

✅ What to Do:

• Check camera documentation for default username & password

• Try factory default combinations

• If forgotten → reset the camera

• Immediately create a new strong password after reset

🧾 4. Check ARP Table (Advanced Network Diagnosis)

The ARP table confirms whether the camera is communicating with the network.

✅ Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt

2. Type: arp -a

3. Look for the camera’s IP & MAC address

⚠️ 5. Confirm No IP Address Conflict

Two devices with the same IP address cause camera disconnections.

✅ Fix IP Conflicts:

• Check router DHCP list

• Ensure each device has a unique IP

• Assign a static IP to critical cameras

🔄 6. Upgrade Camera Firmware

Outdated firmware causes:

• Freezing

• Motion failure

• App disconnection

• Security vulnerabilities

✅ Upgrade Process:

Visit manufacturer website

Download correct firmware model

Upload via camera interface

Restart and test

🔁 7. Reboot the Camera

Rebooting clears:

• Memory errors

• Network dropouts

• Software glitches

✅ Steps:

Unplug power → wait 30 seconds → reconnect

Allow camera to fully boot

Test live view

🔌 8. Check Ethernet & Power Cables

Bad cables cause:

• Video loss

• Network dropouts

• Pixelated footage

✅ Inspect For:

Frayed insulation

Bent connectors

Water exposure

Loose RJ45 connectors

🏭 9. Perform Factory Reset (Last Resort)

Factory reset resolves:

Software corruption

Password lockouts

Network misconfiguration

✅ Reset Steps:

1. Press reset button 10–15 seconds

2. Wait for reboot

3. Reconfigure:

   • IP address

   • Password

   • Recording settings

🛠️ 10. Contact Manufacturer or Monitoring Support

If problems persist:

1. Contact the camera manufacturer

2. Or your remote monitoring provider

   Provide:

   1. Camera model number

   2. Network type

   3. Error messages

   4. Steps already attempted

At Secure IT Global, our technicians also provide:
✅ Remote diagnostics
✅ On-site system repair
✅ Firmware recovery
✅ Network reconfiguration