DW Spectrum Professional Explained

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Affected Roles: All Users

Related DW Software: DW Spectrum Professional

Software Version: 6.1

Last Edit: February 9, 2026

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DW Spectrum Professional

DW Spectrum Professional is an easy to use, enterprise scalable, IP video management software. Optimized to provide a bandwidth-saving simplified system, users can intuitively navigate and view security live and recorded camera video streams, implement custom event rules, and integrate partnered access control systems.

Recent implementations of the DW Cloud service, and the option to upgrade to DW Spectrum Enterprise, have expanded the reach and abilities of DW Spectrum Site administrators and users. Remotely and locally accessible, users can utilize desktop, mobile, and web browser options to manage their sites as a unified experience.

DW Spectrum Enterprise Explained

What is DW Spectrum Professional?

DW Spectrum Professional is a camera recording and viewing software, hosted on local server hardware and accessible from both local and remote network connections. Referred to as a “Site”, a single or merged collection of recording servers form a fully scalable recording platform.

Users can create and share custom layouts for easy viewing and harness features that support rapid detection, response, and deterrence to trespassers, vandals, and other bad actors.

Recording servers are locally sourced and managed, viewable using local and remote client connections via desktop, mobile, and web browser viewers. When combined with the DW Cloud remote connection service, users can circumvent the need for port forwarding knowledge and easily connect with any DW Spectrum Site.

Trying the DW Spectrum Client

Want to try the client interface to see what Spectrum is like? Connect to our demo site and experience it for yourself.

Download and install the DW Spectrum Client software. You can find the latest version available here - https://dwspectrum.digital-watchdog.com/download.
Install the desktop client then launch the software.
Click the “Connect to Server” tile and enter the demo site credentials:
- Host: 100.32.247.140
- Port: 7001
- Login: demo
- Password: demo1234

Trying the DW Spectrum Server

If you have ONVIF compliant IP cameras connected to your local network, you can also try out the DW Spectrum Server software by creating your own DW Spectrum Site. This application runs in the background of your system, so that your camera streams can continue to be recorded and events to be logged by the system.

Download and install the DW Spectrum Server software. You can find the latest version available here - https://dwspectrum.digital-watchdog.com/download.
Install the media server component then launch the software.
When using the DW Spectrum Client, the “New Site” tile will display after initially installing the Server component. Click the tile and create a new site.
Enter a name to help you identify the demo (e.g., My Test Demo), then click the Next button.
Create an administrator password for the “Admin” account.
Click “Finish” to complete the media server setup. The desktop client will automatically connect to the server for your configuration.
Open the Main Menu (☰) and select “System Administration”.
Select the “Licenses” tab and click the “Activate Trial License” button to activate a temporary 4-pack trial license, valid for recording to your server’s local archive for up to 30 days.