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DW Spectrum - Adding Devices Manually

Updated

How To Add Devices Manually to DW Spectrum

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Affected Roles:  Owner, Administrator

Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps:  DW Spectrum IPMVS

Last Edit:  August 19, 2024

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Adding Devices

When devices are added to the network, DW Spectrum will attempt to automatically detect and add ONVIF compliant cameras to the Server.  This setting can be disabled by a System Administrator, but is otherwise enabled by default.

In some circumstances, the Auto Discovery feature may need to be disabled or may encounter issues with automatically adding cameras to the Server.  In these cases, Administrators can manually add devices to the Server through the DW Spectrum Client.

This article will outline how to add devices manually to DW Spectrum.

 

**NOTE:  In this article, the terms “camera” and “device” are used interchangeably.

**NOTE:  Cameras must be added and configured to the network before proceeding.  If needed, please read Adding New or Defaulted Cameras With A Static Address.

 

Supported/Affected Devices

  • DW Blackjack Series
  • DW MEGApix Camera Series
  • ONVIF Compliant IP Cameras (H.264, H.265)

 

Adding With Subnet Scan

If the Auto Discovery feature is disabled or is not adding devices from the network, users have the option of adding devices manually.  While using the Subnet Scan feature when adding devices, users can detect and add groups of cameras to the DW Spectrum Server, simultaneously.

 

To add devices using Subnet Scan:

  1. Launch the DW Spectrum Client and connect with the Server.

 

  1. From the Resource List, right-click on the Server and select “Add Device”.
  • Alternatively, you can open the Main Menu and select Add Device.

 

 

  1. If you are only adding a single device and know its IP Address, select the Known Address tab, then enter the IP Address of the device into the Address box.

Enter the Login and Password of the device.

If the device is using a TCP/IP Port value other than 80, de-select the Default checkbox, then enter the Port number.

Click “Search” to search for the device.

 

**NOTE:  The default login for DW cameras is admin/admin.  If you have not yet applied a password to your camera(s), please read Assigning Passwords to IP Cameras. If the ONVIF credentials are incorrect, DW Spectrum will fail to authenticate and will be unable to find the device. Verify the ONVIF credentials for the device if searching manually fails.

 

 

  1. If you are adding multiple devices to the Server, select the Subnet Scan tab.

Enter the first IP Address of the address series into the Start IP box.  The End IP box will autofill.

Enter the Login and Password of the devices.  If a device is using a different login from the other devices, it will need to be added separately.

If the devices are using a TCP/IP Port value other than 80, de-select the Default checkbox, then enter the Port number.  If a device is using a different port number from the other devices, it will need to be added separately.

Click “Scan” to scan for the devices.

 

  1. The Add Devices window will display all discovered devices that qualify under the specified scan information.

From the Discovered Devices list, select each device that you intend to add to the Server.

Click “Add Selected” to add the devices.  The added devices will appear in the Resource List.

 

Adding With RTSP

On occasion, some cameras may not be able to be automatically discovered by DW Spectrum or will not work properly, as they are not fully compatible with ONVIF.  In this case, most devices can be added individually to the Server using an RTSP URL stream address.

 

**NOTE:  Not all RTSP devices will be compatible with the client.

**NOTE:  You must know the exact RTSP URL of the camera stream.  This information is typically located in the camera manual, on the camera web page, or by using ONVIF Device Manager (ODM).

 

To add a device using RTSP:

  1. Obtain the camera’s RTSP URL. 

If you already know the camera’s RTSP URL, proceed to Step 3.

If you do not know the camera’s RTSP URL, you can use ONVIF Device Manager (ODM) to obtain the address information.  ODM can be downloaded for free from Source Forge if needed.

**NOTE:  ODM is compatible with Windows OS only.  If you are using a Macintosh, Ubuntu/Linux, or do not want to use ODM, the camera’s RTSP URL will need to be obtained elsewhere.

 

  1. Using ODM, enter the User ID and Password of the camera in the top-right of the window.  Allow ODM to detect the camera.

Click “Live Video”.  ONVIF video will begin streaming.

At the bottom of the window, copy the RTSP Stream of the camera.

 

  1. Launch the DW Spectrum Client and connect with the Server.

 

  1. From the Resource List, right-click on the Server and select “Add Device”.
  • Alternatively, you can open the Main Menu and select Add Device.

 

 

  1. Select the Known Address tab, then enter the RTSP URL of the device into the Address box.

Enter the Login and Password of the device.

If the device is using a TCP/IP Port value other than 80, de-select the Default checkbox, then enter the Port number.

Click “Search” to search for the device.

 

**NOTE:  The default login for DW cameras is admin/admin.  If you have not yet applied a password to your camera(s), please read Assigning Passwords to IP Cameras.

 

 

  1. The Add Devices window will display the discovered device using the RTSP URL.

From the Discovered Devices list, select the device that you intend to add to the Server.

Click “Add Selected” to add the device.  The added device will appear in the Resource List and will only stream RTSP video.

 

  1. Right-click on the stream in the resource tree and select “Camera Settings”.

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  1. Under General, select “Edit Streams”.


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  1. Add the secondary stream to the configuration (this will allow for better client and motion detection performance).


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  1. Go to Motion under camera settings and ensure that motion is set to use the secondary stream.


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  1. Your RTSP streams are configured and ready for use.

 

**NOTE: Since RTSP is not utilizing ONVIF, all stream adjustments will need to be made from the device directly.  Settings under recording are invalid.

 

 

 

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For More Information or Technical Support

DW Technical Support: https://www.digital-watchdog.com/contact-tech-support/

DW Sales: sales@digital-watchdog.com | www.digital-watchdog.com

Rev: 06/25                              Copyright © DW. All rights reserved. Specifications and pricing subject to change without notice.                            

 

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