How Color Night Vision Works

Most cameras have infrared night vision, however, until now, the image at night has been black and white. Now, Gigabytes brings you the greatest technology in IP cameras since 4k video: full color night vision cameras.

There are a couple of ways to do color night vision. The first is to just light up the area with visible light all the time. This is traditionally how we have overcome the limitations of infrared illumination. Some cameras even have large floodlights built in to be able to illuminate the immediate area with visible light. This is a perfectly effective way to make color night vision a reality.

The modern way our solution works is to utilize AI to analyze the image for human and vehicle activity specifically and optionally turn on a small spot light to warn off any would-be perpetrators. Normally, a small light is not enough to effectively illuminate the area but when you couple it with a better low-light image sensor and the built-in AI, what you get is a full color picture in what is effectively total darkness.

It doesn’t require any special equipment (just the right camera) and all the image processing is done at the camera so what your recorder sees is a color picture from the camera. This allows you to better identify people and vehicles at night and recoup potential losses faster.

Could your security benefit from color night vision? Let us know and get 33% off your labor.

Gigabytes NVR Supported IP Cameras

WorksWorks with ConfigNot Working

This list contains a list of IP cameras that have been tested with the Gigabytes NVR. Most cameras that support MJPEG or have a snapshot URL should work with motion-based NVR software (like Gigabytes NVR and MotionEye) but, occasionally, the camera contains some quirk that makes it incompatible or requires special / additional configuration to make it work.

Agasio M1051
URL/videostream.cgiPort 81
UseradminPass
Notes
Dlink DCS‑930L, 932L, 934L
URL/video.cgiPort80
UseradminPassadmin
NotesWill DHCP on wired connection first. Can configure wireless from there (where available).
Dlink DCS‑935L
URL /image/jpeg.cgiPort80
User adminPass
NotesThis uses the still image URL.
Tenvis IP602W IP391W
URL /vjpeg.v?user=operator&pwd=
/vjpeg.v
Port7777
Useradmin
operator
Pass admin
Notes Gigabytes configures the port to 80
IP Webcam Android App
URL /videoPort 8080
UserPass
Notes This is an Android app that turns a phone into a webcam.
IP Webcam | IP Webcam Pro
TP-Link TL-SC3130G
URL/jpg/image.jpgPort
UserPass
Notes
Linksys WVC54GCA, WVC80N
Sensormatic/ADT OC810
Level One FCS-0040, WCS-0020
URL/img/video.mjpegPort
UserPass
Notes
Amcrest  IP2M-844E
URLMJPEG: /cgi-bin/video.cgi
HD: /cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi
Port80
37777
User adminPassadmin
Notes1. Set Substream to MJPEG
2. Set Main stream to 720p
Foscam FI9851P, FI9853EP, FI9804P, FI9821W
URLSnapshot (HD): /cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=admin&pwd=

MJPEG Init: /cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=setSubStreamFormat
&format=1&usr=admin&pwd=

MJPEG Stream: /cgi-bin/CGIStream.cgi?cmd=GetMJStream&usr=admin&pwd=

Port88
888
UseradminPass
NotesSee also: Foscam SetupUse Snapshot URL for HD. Init URL enables MJPEG stream but may not work on cameras with newer firmware. Pan/tilt controls (where applicable) should be operated from camera back-end. User and password must be transmitted in the stream URL (ex. &usr=admin&pwd=1234)
Dahua DH-IPC-DW13A0SN
URL/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgiPort80,37777
User adminPass12345
NotesYou will need to configure the sub stream for MJPEG and 640×480 before this will work. See also Amcrest IP2M-844E.
Sricam AP003
URL /videostream.cgi?user=admin&pwd=Port81
UseradminPass
NotesUser and password must be transmitted in the stream URL.
Uniden AppCam21
URL /videostream.cgi?stream=0Port 80
UseradminPass123456
NotesMotion errors: Unrecognized content type Error reading first header – re-trying Wireless SSID: Serial#  Password: 12345678
Tenvis IP391W-HD
URLCurrently testing the following URLs:
/web/cgi-bin/hi3510/snap.cgi?&-getstream&-snapone
/videostream.asf?user=[USERNAME]&pwd=[PASSWORD]
/tmpfs/auto.jpg
/snapshot.jpg?account=[USERNAME]&password=[PASSWORD]
Port80
User adminPassadmin
NotesUse firefox for video: download browser-plugin-vlc from Apper. You may need to disable the Mplayer/gecko plugin so it does not conflict. One of the above URLs is reported to work but we have not tested to verify.

Configuring Foscam Cameras in Linux

Foscam cameras come in a wide variety for sizes and styles and have a number of features, however, they are not very Linux friendly. Just to access the back end to change camera settings, a Windows executable is required. This is the case on some other cameras as well.

The good news is that the Foscam cameras can be configured to stream video to the Gigabytes NVR without having to access the back-end. Using the default username and password, you can reserve the IP address it pulls down in the router. Then, follow the instructions below. Source: http://foscam.us/forum/how-to-fetch-snapshots-and-mjpeg-stream-on-hd-cameras-t4328.html

Fetching JPEG snapshots by URL (HD Video)
http://ip address:port/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=admin&pwd=

Fetching MJPEG stream by URL (SD Video)
There are two steps needed to fetch the MJPEG stream.
Step 1: Set the stream to MJPEG.
http://ip address:port/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=setSubStreamFormat&format=1&usr=admin&pwd=
Here “1” sets an MJPEG stream, if we don’t want to set the MJPEG stream, we would set the number to “0” which sets an H.264 stream.
When inputting this URL and pushing “Enter” in your browser, it will return the following result:
<CGI_Result>
<result>0</result>
</CGI_Result>

Step 2: After setting the MJPEG stream, it can be fetched using an HTTP URL.
http://ip address:port/cgi-bin/CGIStream.cgi?cmd=GetMJStream&usr=admin&pwd=
Simply replace the IP address, port, username, and password into the above URL to access your camera’s MJPEG stream.

Accessing Foscam Back-end Natively in Linux
If you absolutely have to access the camera back-end, it can be done with a Virtual box running Windows, however, there is a less complicated way to do this.
Using Crossover, install Firefox 20. You can use this Windows version of Firefox to download and install the web components executable. This has been tested to work, though you will not be able to view video directly from the camera. You can get around this by using the MJPEG video URL in a native browser.

Adding a Storage Drive to NVR

Using a secondary storage drive was not originally in the design for the Gigastrand NVR software however, it is a critical feature for many users to be able to separate out the video storage from their main system drive. It also solves a host of other issues with storage and even allows for an external device or a RAID to be used for storage.

At some point we will release a script file to do this automatically. For now, this is how you can do it manually.
NOTE: This could result in data loss if not done properly. If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, Gigabytes can help you remotely.

  1. Format and setup the drive (using Parted or Gparted)
    NOTE: If you format the drive EXT3, the rest of the instructions will work fine. Otherwise, in step 4, change ext3 to the file system that you set the drive up with.
  2. edit fstab (/etc/fstab) as root (right-click on the file>Root Actions>Open As Text)
  3. Add the line
    for Gigastrand NVR Software:
    /dev/sdb1 /etc/kmotion/images_dbase ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 2
    for Ivideon:
    /dev/sdb1 /home/user/.IvideonServer/archive ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 2

    be sure to change “sdb1” to the appropriate drive or partition.
  4. Save the file
  5. Open the drive in Dolphin or Konqueror (or click on Computer on the desktop)
  6. Change ownership to active user (right-click>Root Actions>Ownership to Active User)

If you are running Gigastrand or Next Level NVR software you may have to edit an additional file.

  1. Edit /etc/apache2/envvars as root
  2. add the following 2 lines
  3. export APACHE_RUN_USER=user
  4. export APACHE_RUN_GROUP=user
  5. restart Apache
    Open a terminal and type in sudo service apache2 restart

It wouldn’t hurt to restart the computer to make sure all the settings took hold but that is optional. Be sure to stop the NVR before you start and start the NVR (icons on the desktop) once complete.

Video Security Server Software

Linux NVR Software
NVRNVR Software (current version)
Gigastrand NVRGigastrand NVR Software (deprecated)
MotionEye Installer
MotionEyeMotionEye Installer
Zoneminder Installer
ZoneminderZoneminder automated install file (BETA)
Other Linux Software
ReindexerReindexes video files to repair the video database. Includes both an automatic and manual shell script.
WARNING: EXPERIMENTAL. May result in Data loss.
WallpaperGigabytes NVR Wallpaper
Windows Unisight DVR/HVR/NVR
StandardStandard DVR Server for older DVR systems (v1.12.0725)

Professional

Professional HVR Server Software Bundle for Hybrid and Network Video Recorders (v10R21.0105) (Current version)

Professional

Professional HVR Server Software (v2.15.1216) (deprecated)

Professional

Professional HVR Server Software (v2.12.0725) (deprecated)

Enterprise

Enterprise HVR Server Software (v3.15.1216) (deprecated)
EnterpriseEnterprise HVR Server Software (v3.12.0725) (deprecated)
Other Software
Amcrest IPIP tool for Amcrest cameras for Windows (works in Crossover Linux)
Foscam IPIP and camera search tool for Foscam cameras for Windows (works in crossover for Linux)
Amcrest ProAmcrest Pro View software. Client / server for Windows
Amcrest Blue IrisAmcrest Blue Iris DVR Software
Ivideon Downloads
ServerIvideon Server Install for Linux
ScriptCustom Install Script for Gigabytes NVRs
Ivideon FixFiles to fix Ivideon to earlier version.
Ivideon Client
LinuxIvideon Client Linux
WindowsIvideon Client Windows
Mac Ivideon Client Mac
AndroidIvideon Client Android
iPhoneIvideon Client iOS
Other
WallpaperGigabytes NVR Wallpaper
QuickstartUnisight Quickstart by Gigabytes