I Only Get Black and White Images

 

There are two common reasons why colour CCTV cameras will give you black-and-white footage.

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CCTV cameras can “see” colours only if the ambient lighting level is high enough.

 

Cameras that are rated for night use (“see in the dark” cameras) can record pictures in low-intensity ambient lighting conditions by illuminating the scene with infra-red LEDs. However, they can’t distinguish colours under infra-red light.

 

So even a colour CCTV camera will get black-and-white pictures when it’s dark. Some high-end cameras have limited support for colour output even in low ambient lighting conditions, but even that will only take you so far.

 

Here’s how to fix this problem:

 

• Ensure that the ambient lighting conditions match your CCTV camera’s requirements. If they don’t, you can look into installing additional light sources before changing the camera.

 

• If there’s sufficient ambient light, make sure the optical path is unobscured, and check the camera for damage.

 

• If your camera outputs analogue, composite or component video signals, make sure the input video type matches the output video type. Plugging a composite video signal into a component video input, or vice-versa, can sometimes result in black-and-white picture rather than a black screen. Some monitors have a single set of video inputs — you need to manually configure these and set them to the right mode.

 

A test monitor may come in handy here: if you get a colour image on the test monitor, there’s likely nothing wrong with the camera. If the lighting conditions are right and there’s no problem with the connectors, reaching out to the camera manufacturer for help may be your best option.

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No Video Signal

 

This is, by far, the most frustrating CCTV problem. You can live with flickering or noise for a little while, but what if you can’t get a picture in the first place? This problem manifests itself in various ways:

 

Check that your camera is correctly powered. It may seem obvious, but we’ve all been bit by this. Even experienced security engineers will occasionally realize, with an embarrassed look on their faces, that a CCTV camera has no video signal because it’s not powered on.

• First, and most obvious: check the power connectors and the cables — make sure they’re plugged in and undamaged. If your CCTV camera has an external power brick, make sure it works. If you have access to that sort of equipment, try to power on your CCTV camera with a test cable and power supply.

 

• If your CCTV camera is connected to mains, or if it’s connected through a CCTV power supply with a fuse box, check the fuse box.

 

• If your camera uses PoE, check the PoE switch and make sure the camera is really being powered on.

 

Check your camera’s video or data connection. If you can’t get a picture on your CCTV camera but it is powering up, perhaps the images aren’t making their way to the monitor.

 

• If your camera connects to a DVR box, check the cable and the connectors at both ends. Make sure they’re correctly plugged in and undamaged. A CCTV test monitor can help in this case.

 

• If your camera is IP-enabled, make sure the network settings are correct. If it’s a wired camera, check the cable and the connectors for damage.

 

• Check any additional network or video equipment. If your CCTV camera connects to any network switches or routers, DVR boxes or video multiplexers, make sure they’re in working order.

 

Check your CCTV software. Advanced video surveillance software allows you to disable access to some cameras or to protect some streams with a password. If that’s the case, make sure that you can really view the stream you’re looking for.

 

Check your camera for damage. We’re at the end of the road here. If the camera is properly powered on and there are no connectivity problems, it’s time to check that there’s no problem with the camera itself. Make sure the lens and any protective domes are undamaged and the optical path is unobstructed. If the camera shows no external signs of damage, reaching out to the manufacturer for tech support is your next best option.

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My Camera Shows Deteriorated Images at Night

 

If your CCTV camera does work, but the images are deteriorated at night, there are a few things you can do.

 

• If you occasionally get images that are completely white or look like they’re over-exposed in some areas, make sure that your camera is pointing away from sources of bright light. A car’s headlights, for example, can saturate the CCD sensor in low ambient lighting conditions, and the camera won’t show anything but a large, white mass.

 

• If you get white spots on your image, make sure that the camera’s visor adequately covers the lens and that the camera is not close to, and pointing at, a glass window. Otherwise, the image may be deteriorated by the light coming from a camera’s own IR LEDs, or from another nearby camera’s LEDs.