Speco Blue VMS Channel Count Utilization Explained

This article breaks down how Speco Blue VMS (Lite and Enterprise) counts channels based on camera channel type.

Option 1: IP Recorders (NVR)

• The software will count only the active/connected IP channels into the VMS camera count
  
  • Example: 32 Channel recorder is added with 25 IP cameras on it
    • Only 25 channels on the VMS will be taken up as utilized channels
    • If one of those 25 cameras gets disconnected, it will still see it as 25 camera channels
      • Refreshing or reconnecting the recorder will update this count
        
        

Option 2: Analog Recorders (DVR)

• The software will count all recorder channels into the VMS camera count
  
  • Example: 16 Channel recorder is added with 10 Analog Cameras on it
    • All 16 channels on the VMS will be taken up as utilized channels
      
      

Option 3: Hybrid Recorders

• The same principals above will apply here
• Example: 24 Channel Hybrid Recorder
  
  • Recorder is configured for 16 Analog Channels and 8 IP channels
  • 10 Analog Cameras attached and 4 IP cameras are attached
    • 20 camera channels in VMS will be taken up as utilized channels
      • (16 total analog channels + 4 used IP channels)

Initial submission Date: November 20, 2024

Article authored by: Christopher Cataldo, Tier 1