By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
The worst time to find out
The most common CCTV story after a theft is “the cameras were there, but it wasn’t recording”. A hard disk failed months ago, a camera went offline after a power cut, or the clock was a year wrong. None of these show on a live view screen. A short monthly check catches them before they matter, and anyone in the family or office can do it.
The 15-minute monthly routine
- Live view: confirm every camera shows a picture, with no black tiles or “no video”.
- Playback: pick each camera and play back yesterday and a day about three weeks ago.
- Retention: find the oldest recording; it should match your required days, such as 30.
- Hard disk status: check the storage page shows disks as “normal”, not “error” or “unformatted”.
- Date and time: confirm the NVR clock is correct, and time sync is enabled.
- Night view: check a recording from last night for clarity and IR glare.
- Alerts: walk past a camera with alerts enabled and confirm your phone gets the notification.
- Remote access: open the app on mobile data, away from the site Wi-Fi.
What problems look like
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Gaps in the playback timeline | Power cuts without UPS, or disk errors |
| Oldest recording only a few days ago | Disk too small, bitrate too high, or a disk not recording |
| HDD “error” or “abnormal” | Failing disk — replace soon and export important clips |
| One camera with no playback | Recording schedule disabled or camera was offline |
| Wrong date on recordings | Clock not synced; evidence may be challenged |
| White haze at night | Spider webs, dirty dome cover or IR reflecting off nearby walls |
Quarterly extras
- Clean camera domes and lenses with a soft cloth, especially before and after the monsoon.
- Remove spider webs near IR cameras — they cause false motion and haze.
- Check outdoor cable joints and boxes for water entry.
- Test the UPS by switching off mains briefly and confirming the NVR and switch stay on.
- Review user accounts and remove anyone who has left.
- Check for firmware updates.
Keep a simple log
Write the date, who checked, and anything found, in a notebook or spreadsheet. For businesses, this log is useful evidence for insurance claims and inspections that the system was maintained, and it shows trends such as a camera that drops out after every power cut.
Why insurers ask about CCTV →When to call for service
- A disk shows errors or is not detected.
- Retention is far below what it should be.
- A camera is offline and checking its power and cable does not fix it.
- Recording stops after every power cut.
An example check
At a small office in HSR Layout, the admin manager’s monthly check found the oldest recording was only 11 days old instead of 30. The storage page showed one of two disks as “uninitialised” after a power surge. Because it was caught early, the disk was replaced under warranty the same week, and nothing important was lost.
Or let us do it
Our CCTV AMC includes scheduled health checks, cleaning, firmware updates and a written report after each visit.
CCTV AMC →Quick answers
How do I know if my CCTV is recording?+
Play back recordings from yesterday and a few weeks ago on each camera, and check the hard disk status.
How often should I check my CCTV?+
A quick check monthly, with cleaning and UPS tests every quarter.
Why are there gaps in my recordings?+
Usually power cuts without UPS backup, disk errors, or cameras going offline.
Why does the CCTV date matter?+
Wrong timestamps can undermine footage as evidence and make incidents hard to find.
Who should do the monthly check?+
Anyone trusted with the NVR login, such as the owner, office admin or security supervisor. Keep a simple log of each check.
Can I check recording from my phone?+
Yes, using playback in the app, though checking disk status may need the NVR menu.