Video Site Monitor Help Documentation

Video Site Monitor Software

Using XP and Hauppauge VFW Driver 3.11 and Video Freezes
Seems to happen a few XP systems.
Replace this driver with the Universal WDM Driver.

Installed Windows XP Service Pack 2
Video Site Monitor program may exit after running thinking it is not licensed. In that case just re-register your copy of Video Site Monitor software at our Software Registration Page.

Remote Viewing Live Mode Configuration
Click on the following links to obtain extra information on how to configure Video Site Monitor for doing remote viewing over the internet. Remote Access Configuration, and Learning How to do Remote Viewing.

Registering Video Site Monitor Software
After purchasing and installing Video Site Monitor Software, please note: one needs to register their software at our Software Registration Page. - it is free no extra cost or charge.  After which a software activation key will emailed back to you. If at any time you need to re-register the software please do so at our Software Registration Page or find the link to it on our main Home Page. Thank you. 

Upload IP Address Errors
In order for Upload IP Address feature to work i.e. ip address tracking for your computer, please update your Video Site Monitor software to Version 4.10 or higher.

Windows Media Player Playback Speed
If Windows Media Player plays back the video captured files too fast for your liking: update your Video Site Monitor software to Version 4.20 or higher it creates video capture files with a slower playback speed. One can also use another video player. Download www.irfanview.com video player has adjustable playback speed, and more - might still be free software. www.snagit.com has a good video editor to grab still pictures from your video capture files and save to disk or print. Use older Windows Media Player e.g. 6.4 has good video frame positioning slider - to make active on your computer do from Windows TaskBar, Start, Run, mplayer2, then select View, Options, Formats, Select All - to make it default player on your computer.

Increase Speed of Video Capture
Video seems to run slow when capturing. The video compression codec you are using makes all the difference - use MS MPEG V1 codec - installed with VSM. 

Error Message 79: MonitorTCheckDiskSpace
Solution: Upgrade Video Site Monitor Software to Version 4.10 or higher, since recognizes larger disk drives. Older versions of Video Site Monitor software recognizes smaller disk drives.

Keep Frames Per File under 32,000 Frames per File if using Video Site Monitor Version 3 or lower (Not applicable to Version 4.00 or higher).
Under menu item Settings, Program Parameters, Frames Per File - keep this value under 32000. Else video capture file may become too big to continue capturing video into. 32000 frames per file is about a 30 Mega Bytes video capture file. It is better to have more smaller or medium size video files, than one huge video file, for review, reliable capture, for record keeping, or for remote review and download - 2000-4000 frames/file is recommended. 

Routers and Remote Access
To access your Video Site Monitor program remotely through router you might have to open ports on your router e.g. 80 or 90 for web browser access to VSM program and VSM Web Server. Port 1048 for video streaming depending how configured program i.e. see Configure Live Mode in help documentation. See Video Site Monitor Help Documentation - Remote Access Configuration - for more information.

Video Site Monitor startup errors
Example - cannot set image size or format. Use Video For Windows (VFW) drivers for your capture device which is what Video Site Monitor works best with. Check your video capture card manufacturer's web site for VFW drivers.  Although WDM drivers are suppose to be VFW compatible few WDM drivers are fully implemented. 

Select Video Driver - menu item. Sometimes when a driver is installed the correct name for the driver is not displayed. Windows sometimes does not register the correct driver name under Video For Windows (VFW). Instead Windows loaded the driver under another name for the driver or replace an existing driver but kept the old driver name. Therefore when using menu item, Select Video Driver, be sure to try all the video drivers listed, to find the driver you want. Example, you loaded the Logitech driver, but Windows lists its name as a Microsoft WDM driver, yet if fact the Logitech driver is being used.

Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player cannot connect to the Live Video Feed. This may occur using remote web page command, Put Program in Live Mode and Start Stand Alone Media Player. Cause - Windows Media Player is not configure correctly for making internet or intranet connection. Solution (1) make Windows Media Player 6.4 the default player. From the taskbar select Start, Run, type mplayer2, click OK. From Player 6.4 window, select View, Options, Format Tab, select All, click OK. Result Player 6.4 will be used instead of problematic Player 8, or 7. Solution (2) Configure Player 8 or 7 for Internet Connection if you can. See http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/support.asp  article Q272487.  Using Windows Media Player 9 is also a solution here - under options set to use internet.

VSM Program Stops Capturing Video or Detecting Motion
Turn Windows, Screen Saver - off i.e. set to None. Done from Control Panel, under Display. Result video will keep running. Else if Screen Saver on then video can stop. Generally. Control Panel, Power Options, Monitor can be turned off - result: screen is saved and video runs, otherwise leave monitor power on. Windows XP, turn off auto log off from User Accounts, uncheck, Use the Welcome Screen. For VSM 8WebCam Edition make sure Windows TaskBar is always visible and on top, so VSM program can run when minimized or hidden - Start, Settings, TaskBar, Always on Top. If using VSM version 3 or lower insure Frames Per File is less than 32000.

Save the Current Video Capture File being used.
The current video capture file is saved whenever the program mode is changed. Example, Web Monitor Mode to Web Live Mode, or Desk Video Mode to Desk Monitor Mode. Web Mode to Desk Mode or visa versa. Typical operation with remote access is to put the program in Live Mode then review the captured video files - thus the most current video file is available for review.

Outlook Express 6.0 Settings
Under menu item Tools, Options, Security, uncheck "Warn me when other applications try to send mail as me". This will allow the Video Site Monitor program to send an email alarm for unattended operation of the program. Otherwise Outlook will wait for you to enter ok before releasing  the email alarm.

Compression Dialog Box pops up program start
Try setting menu item Settings, Program Parameters, Language to a different value. If does not solve contact technical support. Or set menu item Settings, Program Parameters, Use Compressor = -1  to disable auto selection of compressor at program startup. 

Windows in General

VSM cannot Save Configuration or Write to Error Log
Re-Install VSM program under a primary user account on your operating system e.g. from the Administrator account. Or From Window's Explorer change security settings for EveryOne or Users, to Full Control, for the folders, c:\program files\site monitor, and for c:\monitor.

Video Freezes
Check motherboard and bus chip sets. Intel is best. Non-Intel consider getting the latest ROM BIOS upgrade for your motherboard from the manufacturer. Check video board and driver manufacturer for fixes. Or video capture card web site for fixes. Another possibility is the state of the operating system - a fresh install has helped resolve this issue twice in the past.

Use latest version of DirectX, downloadable from Microsoft web site.

Multiple Video Capture Cards or Devices
If your having problems with your VFW drivers, or your video drivers work then don't work, or get VSM program Err 70 InitMonitor -8, then it is possible that your video drivers and video capture devices are conflicting with each other. Loading one video driver often knocks out or renders a pre-existing one semi-inoperable. Solution: (a) disable other video drivers from Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager, Sound Video and Game Controllers, select driver, right mouse click, Disable, then reboot computer.  Especially WDM drivers and cards if using VFW drivers. You may want to consider doing a fresh reload of the driver you want to use after. (b) You might consider removing other video capture cards and drivers from the computer if still having problems. If using WDM drivers only the last WDM driver installed, will be listed under menu item - Select Video Driver. Generally only have one video capture device installed on your computer at any given time - avoids multiple video drivers overwriting each others files.

Windows XP

Using Hauppauge VFW Driver 3.11 and Video Freezes
Seems to happen a few XP systems.
Replace this driver with the Universal WDM Driver.

Installed Windows XP Service Pack 2
Video Site Monitor program may exit after running thinking it is not licensed. In that case just re-register your copy of Video Site Monitor software at our Software Registration Page.

Windows 2000 Server

Hang on exit program if using Logitech Driver 5.5...
Occasional occurance. Cause Windows ntdll.dll deadlock - possible problem with Microsoft code or Logitech Driver 5.5.0. Solution do not use Windows Service Pack 2, since tests showed not a problem on SP1 or with no SP at all. Hauppauge driver 3.11 works fine with any service pack.   

Windows Me,98

Video Freezes after a little while with the WinTV Go PCI card. Download and try installing the older driver version 2.4 solves the problem.  Or try the Universal WDM Driver if using VSM 8WebCam Edition.

Windows 95

ws2help.dll
Error Message, ws2help.dll not found. Message box at program startup. Cause Windows Socket 2 needs to be updated. Solution, search www.microsoft.com for Q182108 get Windows Update file w95ws2setup.exe to upgrade Windows 95.

MAPI not Installed
If try to send test email and get this error message. Cause MAPI not installed. Solution install Windows Messaging, from Windows 95 CD. Control Panel, Windows Setup, check Windows Messaging. And/or install Microsoft Outlook Express with Internet Explorer  Version 5 or greater.

Video Multiplexer

Cannot Get Mux To Switch
If using Windows 95,98 or ME, be sure to disable or remove other drivers or programs occupying or sitting on the parallel port, so the video multiplexer can access the parallel port e.g. printers or zip drives.

InstallVidMux Software
When using Windows 95,98, or Me some of the menu items for InstallVidMux software are disabled. That is OK only the menu items required for the particular operating being used are enabled. Read Help Documentation for the software.

Distorted Video
If there is any video distortion or loss of color on the displayed video through the video multiplexer, try using a  different camera - use of CCD type cameras are recommended for the video multiplexer. Some CMOS low power cameras do not work well with the video multiplexer, as well CMOS cameras produce low quality video images to start with. Use good quality CCD cameras, since most all video monitoring systems use CCD type cameras, as well CCD cameras produce excellent quality video images.

Video Site Monitor 4 WebCam System

No Video on a Video Port
See a Blue Video Window - this means that no camera is attached to the currently selected video port which the Video Site Monitor program is using. Can happen if using only one camera with the 4 port video capture card. If using 1 camera with the 4 port video capture card, plug the one camera into the video connector closest to the s-video video input connector on the 4 port video capture card. In the Video Site Monitor program under menu item Scan Settings, set Default Camera = 2 (0 for VSM Version 4), and place a check mark beside Enable Camera 2 (0 for VSM Version 4), click OK and save configuration. Also under Settings, Video, Video Source, select Composite, click OK. Now default camera should be camera 2 when program runs.
       If get blue video window when doing remote live video feed through a web browser - just switch to a video port on which there is an attached camera. From the Video Site Monitor Program Administration Page - use command, Switch to Camera Number - to switch to an active camera attached to one of the ports of the video capture card. Then you should see video through attached camera. Otherwise if just using one camera try plugging it into another video connector on the 4 port video capture card.

Windows.Net 2003

Loading Video Capture Drivers
If video capture driver does not get installed after you reboot the computer, go to Windows Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager, (1) highlight Multimedia Control with question mark, right mouse click, select Update Driver and follow prompts. (2) highlight Video Control with question mark, right mouse click, select Update Driver and follow prompts. Click OK if says driver does not have Windows Logo. If using drivers supplied on CD insure both the Video part of the driver gets loaded, and also that the Audio part of the driver get loaded - each gets loaded as a separate process by Windows Wizard.

Enabling Sound or Beep on Detection
You may have to enable sound on Windows 2003 if there is no sound. From Windows Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, enable audio device for Windows 2003. Under Sounds, select Windows Default, under Program Events, Default Beep, set sounds=ding.wav, then save.

Windows Pocket PC 2002

You can logon to Video Site Monitor with its build in web server with your Pocket PC. Remotely view live video from your cameras or switch between camera views. When streaming live video use the Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V3. That is when Configuring Live Mode select  Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V3 as the codec to use. See Video Site Monitor Help Documentation - Configure Live Mode. You also can create multiple Live Mode Configuration files which can be selected from the VSM Admin Web Page, to start the live video feed depending on the bandwidth you would like for the type of computer device you are connecting with remotely over the internet e.g. one for a PC and another one for Pocket PC connections. After done, put VSM program in Live Mode, then use Manual Method to Get Live Video Feed (see VSM Help Documentation), from Windows Media Player on your Pocket PC.