Here is a step-by-step guide on how to connect cameras from an external switch.
If you have already attempted this, you may have noticed that the cameras on the external switch create an IP conflict. This is because the recorder is set by default to recognize 1 camera per cable. The external switch receives one IP address and passes that same IP address onto the cameras, creating the IP conflict. This is a normal function of the Speco Blue recorder. It is its Plug-and-Play (PnP) feature at work. PnP is how you can plug in a Speco Blue camera into a Speco Blue recorder and have it work without the need for manual configuration. The recorder does the configuration. and therefor, when using a switch, this feature will need to be disabled.
How to Disable Plug-and-Play
- First access the Settings menu of your Speco Blue recorder.
- Once the Settings menu appears, you will want to select the System page. That should automatically open the Basic Settings > General Settings page.
- From General Settings, at the top of the page, or in the top left corner of the screen, you will find an additional option for PoE Settings. Please select PoE Settings. That should open the PoE Power Management page where an additional option for PoE Plug-and-Play Settings can be found. Please select that option.
- On the PoE Plug-and-Play Settings page, you should see each individual port number listed with a checkmark for each port.
- Disable PnP for that port number that the external switch is plugged into.
The camera ports on the back of the recorder unit are number 1 through 4, 8 or 16 depending on what model recorder you have, that should tell you which port number the switch is plugged into.
Make sure to hit apply before moving to any other tasks.
Now that PnP is disabled, the cameras will no longer create IP conflicts.
- You may still see them in conflict until you set the cameras to a static IP address.
- Once the cameras are assigned their new static IP addresses, you should be able to connect the cameras to the recorder unit.
Initial submission Date: April 9, 2024
Article authored by: Frank Bondietti