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Q1: Video refreshes very slowly (drop out) when I select video all.

The server saves some chips for cost issue and that makes quad screen have to compose the frame by switching each channel to wait for video synchronization

Q2: What is the general size of image frames?

Test approach: Play an action movie (name: Matrix) at 30FPS and record for 10 minutes Test approach: Play an action movie (name: Matrix) at 30FPS and record for 10 minutes

Quality setting MPEG4 (30 FPS) Size of each frame
Medium 269 kbps 1.12 kbyte
Standard 307 kbps 1.27 kbyte
Good 365 kbps 1.5 kbyte
Detailed 442 kbps 1.84 kbyte
Excellent 648 kbps 2.7 kbyte
Quality setting MJPEG (30 FPS) Size of each frame
Medium 2246 kbps 9.3 kbyte
Standard 2676 kbps 11.15 kbyte
Good 3303 kbps 13.76 kbyte
Detailed 3925 kbps 16.35 kbyte
Excellent 4886 kbps 20.3 kbyte
CIF:352*240 Average size Bandwidth demand for 30FPS
Medium 8.4595 kbyte 2246 kbps
Standard 9.9455 kbyte 2676 kbps
Good 12.6315 kbyte 3303 kbps
Detailed 15.056 kbyte 3925 kbps
Excellent 18.711 kbyte 4886 kbps
VGA:704*480 Average size
Medium 26.256 kbyte
Standard 30.8995 kbyte
Good 39.323 kbyte
Detailed 46.7295 kbyte
Excellent 58.1615 kbyte

Q3: How does the performance of your server compare to other company?

TComparing with CPU consumption and frame size with Axis by the plu-in in IE browser:

Frame size VIVOTEK Axis
Excellent 24.3 KByte 81.2 KByte
CPU Loading VIVOTEK Axis
Intel P4 1.6 %2~%4 %25~%27
AMD 1.2 %2~%4 %38~%40
Intel P3 1.0 %17~%18 %46~%48

Q4: What is the passive mode of FTP?

Normally, when you connect to an FTP site, the site establishes the data connection to your PC (the client). However, if the site allows passive transfers, you can have your PC establish the data connection. This is useful in some network environment protected by firewall or proxy.

Q5: How to differ Video Server or Network Camera from DVR products?

The answer depends on what weighs more in your thought. If the customers look for the DVR solution, the proposed system should be the best C/P one with the best performance. After all, no one can compete with the titanic industry of PC. However, even though more and more DVR have network capability, the design concept does not come from networking, and there mote application is our advantage.

With add-on cards, the single PC can easily build a security system. However, simplicity limits the flexibility. It is hard to build a surveillance network with such systems. Image the general intranet applications that is composed by several control centers and tremendous network cameras. All points have different requirements and are connected via various network. The cost will be folded dependent of the surveillance points if you use the add-on card solution. Not mention about the complicated software to handle all components. But if the application is composed by control software running on control centers and standalone, stable network cameras or video servers, system integrator can easily and quickly build the whole system. And that's most system integrators doing now.

If you have some cases on hand, you can estimate the total price to see which one most suitable. But, don't forget the flexibility and expansibility.

Q6: How can I make my homepage different?

For 2000 serial:

Text mode: User can change the camera selections name shown on the home page. The string is limited to 14 characters or 7 double-byte characters in DBCS (Double Byte Character System). And if you want to change the host name , you have to go to System page and edit the Host Name filed. The string is limited to 38 characters and 19 DB characters. For the font color and background color , they are also changeable in Homepage Layout page.

Graphic mode : You can change the buttons of camera selections , logo and background image by FTP. For the detail information of uploading image from FTP, please refer to Customize Graphics in Homepage part in user's manual. Please note that if the logo and background image you like is over the size limit, you can put it on another web server and make a URL to link to the image. But if the camera selection image is over the size, it will not show up in the home page and the font color and background color are changeable too.

For 3000 serial :
User just can modify the logo , font and background layout. There is no camera selection button to choose. However , you can write your own page with a video window of Video Server only. Refer to the page source of main page or V ideo Embedded in Customers' Homepage in User's Manual for homepage writing. Here is an example for your reference. If users want to try it in their environment, copy the files in example folder and replace the IP address in SAMPLE.HTM to their own Video Server. Or if your Homepage Layout page has "Use the customized homepage" bos, please check this option to use "user.htm" uploaded by administrators from FTP instead of the default one. The other setting in homepage not affect the "user.htm".

Q7: I have a web site and I want to design my own homepage to replace the current one. I want to make it so anyone one can see the image from my website. How do I do it?

The easier method is to embeded the camera’s plug-in into your website and this method only works on Internet Explorer.

Because each series camera has different plug-in, please choose the correct sample for your camera.

The following are the HTML samples, you can click one to download it.

Please modify the content of the sample HTML to your settings. Thanks!

Because the Internet Explorer does not support this command and Firefox does not support plug-in, If you want to add your username and password into the command as http://root:password@60.248.39.149:1025/cgi-bin/control.cgi to avoid authentication when receiving streaming, the following is the alternative solution for 6000 and 7000 series cameras.

  • 6000 Series: The following is the steps
    1. Upgrade your camera to the latest firmware. (Download link)
    2. Using Browser to send the URL command (http://<Camera_IP_address>/cgi-bin/admin/setparam.cgi?security.directmedia=1) to the camera. This command can set the parmeter as 1 to enable it.When it is enabled,you can get streaming and single snapshot without authorization.
    3. Using a download application(ex.flashget or etc...) to download the link: http://<Camera_IP_address>/VatDec.cab . After you get the file VatDec.cab,please put it on your HTTP server.
    4. Afterward,you can use the following sample HTML code to meet your requirement. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript>
      if ((navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer")&&(navigator.platform != "MacPPC"))
      {
      document.write("<OBJECT ID=\"VAtCtrl\" WIDTH=362 HEIGHT=310 name=\"VAtCtrl\"");
      document.write(" CLASSID=CLSID:210D0CBC-8B17-48D1-B294-1A338DD2EB3A");
      document.write(" CODEBASE=\"http://111.111.111.111/VatDec.cab#version=1,0,0,48\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"Url\" VALUE=\"http://123.123.123.123/cgi-bin/control.cgi\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"VSize\" VALUE=\"SIF\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"Language\" VALUE=\"en\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"Deblocking\" VALUE=\"true\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"DisplayTimeFormat\" VALUE=\"1\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"DigitalZoomEnableChk\" VALUE=\"true\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"DigitalZoomEdit\" VALUE=\"true\">");
      document.write("</OBJECT>");
      }
      </SCRIPT>
      The IP address 111.111.111.111 and 123.123.123.123 are just example.
      Please change 111.111.111.111 to the public IP address of your HTTP server.
      Please change 123.123.123.123 to the public IP address of your Camera.
      After entered correct value,please try it.
  • 7000 Series
    1. Because it uses standard RTSP protocol, we provide a sample HTML by using Quicktime Player to view the streaming without any authorization.
    2. Please view the MPEG4 streaming instead of Motion-JPEG from the camera and disable the RTSP authentication in the Network Page of the camera.
    3. IE sample: quicktime_ie.html
    4. Firefox sample: quicktime_firefox.html
    5. But there are some restrictions when using quicktime. If your client is behined the NAT, you should change one setting on quicktime player. Please refer to quicktime.pdf

The other method is using our HighProfile SDK to integrate our cameras into your website. Please find the information from http://www.vivotek.com/ezUserManager/members/

After you install the VitaminDecoder.exe, you can find the VitaminCtrl HTML sample in the folder.(Default folder as C:\Program Files\Vivotek\VitaminCtrl\cab)

Q8: How to get streaming directly without authorization?

Because the Internet Explorer does not support this command and Firefox does not support plug-in, If you want to add your username and password into the command as http://root:password@60.248.39.149:1025/cgi-bin/control.cgi to avoid authentication when receiving streaming, the following is the alternative solution for 6000 and 7000 series cameras.

  • 6000 Series: The following is the steps
    1. Upgrade your camera to the latest firmware. (Download link)
    2. Using Browser to send the URL command (http://<Camera_IP_address>/cgi-bin/admin/setparam.cgi?security.directmedia=1) to the camera. This command can set the parmeter as 1 to enable it.When it is enabled,you can get streaming and single snapshot without authorization.
    3. Using a download application(ex.flashget or etc...) to download the link: http://<Camera_IP_address>/VatDec.cab . After you get the file VatDec.cab,please put it on your HTTP server.
    4. Afterward,you can use the following sample HTML code to meet your requirement. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript>
      if ((navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer")&&(navigator.platform != "MacPPC"))
      {
      document.write("<OBJECT ID=\"VAtCtrl\" WIDTH=362 HEIGHT=310 name=\"VAtCtrl\"");
      document.write(" CLASSID=CLSID:210D0CBC-8B17-48D1-B294-1A338DD2EB3A");
      document.write(" CODEBASE=\"http://111.111.111.111/VatDec.cab#version=1,0,0,48\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"Url\" VALUE=\"http://123.123.123.123/cgi-bin/control.cgi\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"VSize\" VALUE=\"SIF\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"Language\" VALUE=\"en\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"Deblocking\" VALUE=\"true\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"DisplayTimeFormat\" VALUE=\"1\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"DigitalZoomEnableChk\" VALUE=\"true\">");
      document.write("<PARAM NAME=\"DigitalZoomEdit\" VALUE=\"true\">");
      document.write("</OBJECT>");
      }
      </SCRIPT>
      The IP address 111.111.111.111 and 123.123.123.123 are just example.
      Please change 111.111.111.111 to the public IP address of your HTTP server.
      Please change 123.123.123.123 to the public IP address of your Camera.
      After entered correct value,please try it.
  • 7000 Series
    1. Because it uses standard RTSP protocol, we provide a sample HTML by using Quicktime Player to view the streaming without any authorization.
    2. Please view the MPEG4 streaming instead of Motion-JPEG from the camera and disable the RTSP authentication in the Network Page of the camera.
    3. IE sample: quicktime_ie.html
    4. Firefox sample: quicktime_firefox.html
    5. But there are some restrictions when using quicktime. If your client is behined the NAT, you should change one setting on quicktime player. Please refer to quicktime.pdf

Q9: How many users are allowed to connect Video Server or Network Camera at the same time?

  • 2000 series: Allow 20 users
  • 3000/6000 series: Allow 10 users.
  • 7000 series: It depends on what video codec & video size you are using:
    • MPEF-4 mode: 10 users. (No matter what video size you are using)
    • JPEG node:
      176x144/320x240/640x480 allow 8 users
      800x600/1280x1024 allow 2 users

Q10: How to let users view the video of 3000 and 6000 series and IP7137/IP7135/PT7137/PT7135/IP7131/IP7132 cameras on Linux or MAC?

3000, 6000 series and IP7137/IP7135/PT7137/PT7135/IP7131/IP7132 products do not support Linux and Mac OS.

But we provide you an alternative method to get the images on Linux and Mac.

The following are the procedures :

  1. Change the contents of "snapshot_other.txt" to your settings.(refer to "others.jpg")
  2. Change the file format of "snapshot_other.txt" to "snapshot_other.html".
  3. Use the Internet Explorer to open the "snapsho_other.html".

As for IP7138/IP7139/IP7151/IP7152/FD7131/IZ7151 and the later products, you can use Firefox to view the video on MAC and Linux by using server push (JPEG mode). We also provide you the html to get the snapshots continuousely: snapshot38.txt and refer to 38.JPG

Q11: Why can’t I view the camera by using IE7?

Please remove "Silverlight" program and try again.

Q12: It shows HTTP 400 error when I connect the camera by IE, how can I do?

Please remove "Silverlight" program and try again.