Checklist for troubleshooting bad connectivity camera client

Finding the camera IP address:

• The camera IP address can be found using FLIR IPConfig tool which can be downloaded on download page.

If you have problems connecting to the camera:

• Put the camera and the client on the same IP network. This measure is taken to make sure there are no routing issues. Consult someone with IP knowledge if needed. The basic idea is that the camera has, e.g., address 192.168.0.10/24 and the client 192.168.0.20/24. The /24 notation means that it is a class C network where the first three groups are fixed (example, subnet mask 255.255.255.0).

If you still have problems connecting to the camera:

• Connect point-to-point with the camera. If both the network adapter and the camera are configured to automatically obtain an IP address then you can simply connect directly to the camera using an Ethernet cable. Please note that it can take up to 1–2 minutes before each side has obtained an automatic IP address. The IP addresses will be in the series 169.254.x.x (with subnet mask 255.255.0.0). The camera IP configuration can be changed or checked using FLIR IPConfig tool.

Environment:

• Make sure the camera gets the correct voltage and power. If you suspect glitches or peaks, test the camera in a controlled environment.
• If you suspect complex and strong electromagnetic fields test the camera in a controlled office environment.

Network performance issues - basic test:

• Ping the camera from the command line interface on the client. Ping with 300 packets (use the –n flag) and check that no packets are lost and that the delay (RTT) has only minor variations. RTT should be maximum 10–20 ms in a small network.
• Use managed switches so you can check link speed and lost packets on the camera and client ports.
• Be careful with WiFi connections and video streams. WiFi can work fine but it might introduce high PER (Packet Error Rate) as well as delay and jitter.
• Check for symptoms of lost packets.

Network performance issues – complex test

• Use a monitoring (sometimes called mirrored or SPAN) port on the Ethernetswitch. Use the software Wireshark to check the RTP stream between the camera and the client. Record for a couple of minutes and use the RTP tools that are built in. Please note that mirrored ports are not available on all switches. You need a managed switch for this functionality.