Problems With a Samsung SDE-120

Wiring

• Wiring issues include wires that have been unplugged and wires plugged in to the wrong socket. If the power cord is unplugged, the cameras are completely disabled. If the "Camera In" wire is not properly plugged in to the DVR, your system may appear to be functioning normally, but nothing records. In addition, unplugged wires cause you to lose extra features such as monitors, audio monitoring and backup recording devices. If you're camera isn't working properly, first check all the connections to ensure the camera is plugged in to a power connection and the DVR.

Placement

• The SDE-120 comes with four cameras, but you must place them in critical locations to ensure they work efficiently. Improper camera placement is an issue, especially for home security novices. Use the cameras to cover probable break-in locations, and are positioned in such a way that they are most likely to pick up the intruder's face. If you are setting up security cameras for a store, have at least one camera on the checkout counter and a camera on the area of the store that is most susceptible to theft. For example, if you have issues with people stealing DVDs, place a camera so that it views this section.

Camera Issues

• The SDE-120 is only as good as its cameras. If you don't check the recordings regularly, you may not notice a problem with the cameras until it is too late. Distortion, discoloration or other visual issues, such as the picture being too bright or too dark, makes the recordings close to useless. Solve these issues by altering the camera settings. In addition, check the camera itself. Clean it regularly with a soft cloth to help you avoid smudges and dust, which compromises the quality of your recordings.

Recording Issues

• The SDE-120 has four different automatic recording modes. If you choose the wrong mode during initial setup, you either have your system recording too much or too little. The recording modes are alarm recording, which records when the alarm is triggered; motion detector recording, which records when the motion detector is triggered; instant recording and continuous recording. Select the mode most appropriate to your security needs. One of the issues with accidentally recording too much, such as when you choose continuous recording, is that your DVR becomes full too quickly. If you are using a motion detector or alarm recording, calibrate the motion detector or alarm properly. If they aren't properly calibrated, the cameras may not record anything.