Hikvision PTZ camera not working - how to fix

If your PTZ CCTV camera isn’t working, then there are a number of common problems that it could be. The top 4 problems with Hikvision PTZ cameras are:

The PTZ camera isn’t set up correctly e.g. the Parameters haven’t been set-up properly, which are necessary for the controls to work
PTZ Presets, Patrols, and Patterns need setting up
Auxiliary functions are not set up correctly / aren’t compatible
Faulty camera / motor mechanism

These are the most common issues. The following guide gives details of each of these to enable you to fix the problem yourself.

How to set the PTZ Control Wizard

Before You Start Make sure the connected IP camera supports the PTZ function and is properly connected.

Follow the PTZ Control Wizard to guide you through the basic PTZ operations.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View. The PTZ Control Wizard pops up as below.

Step 2 Follow the PTZ Control Wizard to adjust the PTZ view, focus, and zoom in/out.

Step 3 (Optional) Check Do not show this prompt again checkbox.

Step 4 Click OK to exit.

How to configure PTZ Parameters

Follow these procedures to set the PTZ parameters. The PTZ parameters configuration must be done before you can control the PTZ camera.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View. The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 2 Click PTZ Parameters Settings to set the PTZ parameters.

Step 3 Edit the PTZ camera parameters.

Note All the parameters should match the PTZ camera parameters.

Step 4 Click OK to save the settings.

How to set PTZ Presets, Patrols, and Patterns

Before You Start

Make sure that the presets, patrols, and patterns are supported by PTZ protocols.

How to Set Presets

Follow these steps to set the preset location that you want the PTZ camera to point to when an event takes place.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Use the directional buttons on the PTZ control panel to wheel the camera to the location where you want to set a preset, and the zoom and focus operations can be recorded in the preset as well.

Step 4 Click (the flag icon) in the lower right corner of Live View to set the preset.

Step 5 Select the preset No. (1 to 255) from the drop-down list.

Step 6 Enter the preset name in the text field.

Step 7 Click Apply to save the preset.

Step 8 Repeat steps 2-6 to save more presets.

Step 9 (Optional) Click Cancel to cancel the location information of the preset.

Step 10 (Optional) Click (the double chevron icon) in the lower right corner of Live View to view the configured presets.

How to set Calling Presets

A preset enables the camera to point to a specified position such as a window when an event takes place.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera Live View.

Step 2 Click (the flag icon) in the lower right corner of Live View.

Step 3 Select the preset No. from the drop-down list.

Step 4 Click Call to call it, or click (the double chevron icon) in the lower right corner of Live View, and click the configured preset to call it.

How to set Patrols

Patrols can be set to move the PTZ to key points and have it stay there for a set duration before moving on to the next key point. The key points correspond to the presets.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Patrol to configure patrol.

Step 4 Select the patrol No. in the text field.

Step 5 Click Set to enter the Patrol Settings interface.

Step 6 Click (the green cross icon) to add a key point to the patrol.

1) Configure key point parameters.

Preset: Determines the order the PTZ will follow while cycling through the patrol.

Speed: Defines the speed the PTZ will move from one key point to the next.

Duration: Refers to the duration to stay at the corresponding key point.

2) Click Apply to save the key points to the patrol.

Step 7 (Optional) Click (the edit icon) to edit the added key point.

Step 8 (Optional) Select a key point and click (the red cross icon) to delete it.

Step 9 (Optional) Click (the green up arrow) or (green down arrow) to adjust the key point order.

Step 10 Click Apply to save the patrol settings.

Step 11 Repeat steps 3-9 to set more patrols.

How to set Calling a Patrol

Calling a patrol makes the PTZ move according to the predefined patrol path.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Patrol on the PTZ control panel.

Step 4 Select a patrol in the text field.

Step 5 Click Call to start the patrol.

Step 6 (Optional) Click Stop to stop the patrol.

How to set a Pattern

Patterns can be set by recording the movement of the PTZ. You can call the pattern to make the PTZ move according to the predefined path.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Pattern to configure a pattern.

Step 4 Select the pattern No. in the text field.

Step 5 Set the pattern.

1) Click Record to start recording.

2) Click corresponding buttons on the control panel to move the PTZ camera.

3) Click Stop to stop recording. The PTZ movement is recorded as the pattern.

Step 6 Repeat steps 3-4 to set more patterns.

Calling a Pattern

Follow the procedure to move the PTZ camera according to the predefined patterns.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Pattern.

Step 4 Select a pattern in the text field.

Step 5 Click Call to start the pattern.

Step 6 (Optional) Click Stop to stop the pattern.

How to set Linear Scan Limits

Before You Start Make sure the connected IP camera supports the PTZ function and is properly connected.

Linear Scan trigger a scan in the horizontal direction in the predefined range.

Note This function is supported only by certain models.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon)on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click the directional buttons to wheel the camera to the location of where you want to set the limit, and click Left Limit or Right Limit to link the location to the corresponding limit.

Note The speed dome linear scans from the left limit to the right limit, and you must set the left limit on the left side of the right limit. Also, the angle from the left limit to the right limit must be no more greater than 180°.

Calling Linear Scan

Note Before operating this function, make sure the connected camera supports linear scan and is in HIKVISION protocol.

Follow the procedure to call the linear scan in the predefined scan range.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Linear Scan to start the linear scan and click it again to stop it.

Step 4 (Optional) Click Restore to clear the defined left limit and right limit data.

Note Reboot the camera to have the settings take effect.

How to set One-Touch Park

Before operating this function, make sure the connected camera supports linear scan and is in HIKVISION protocol.

Certain speed dome models can be configured to start a predefined park action (scan, preset, patrol, etc.) automatically after a period of inactivity (park time).

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Park (Quick Patrol), Park (Patrol 1), or Park (Preset 1) to activate the park action.

Park (Quick Patrol): The dome starts patrolling from the predefined preset 1 to preset 32 in order after the park time. Undefined presets will be skipped.
Park (Patrol 1): The dome starts moving according to the predefined patrol 1 path after the park time.
Park (Preset 1): The dome moves to the predefined preset 1 location after the park time.

Note The park time can be set only via the speed dome configuration interface. The default value is 5s.

Step 4 Click Stop Park (Quick Patrol), Stop Park (Patrol 1), or Stop Park (Preset 1) to inactivate it.

How to set the Auxiliary Functions

Before You Start Make sure the connected IP camera supports the PTZ function and is properly connected.

You can operate the auxiliary functions including light, wiper, 3D positioning, and centre on the PTZ control panel.

Step 1 Click (the joystick icon) on the quick settings toolbar of the PTZ camera’s Live View.

Step 2 The PTZ control panel displays on the right of the interface.

Step 3 Click Aux Function.

Step 4 Click the icons to operate the aux functions. See the table for the icon descriptions.

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How to fix a PTZ camera not working on a Hikvision CCTV system

How to set the PTZ Control Wizard

How to configure PTZ Parameters