As a CCTV camera technician, I always have to find new ways to make my work easier at customers’ homes. One of the things I need to master is how to configure a DVR or NVR without using a monitor. I’ve had to do this at a customer’s home that didn’t have a monitor or TV, so I had to figure out a way to perform the initial DVR setup. At the time, I had brought my laptop with me and planned to use it to perform the setup
In this article, you’ll learn how to set up a DVR and NVR if there is no monitor available at the installation site.
Preparing to Configure the DVR Without Using a Monitor
Connect the HiLook DVR to a power source.
Connect the DVR to the router at the location. This will assign an IP address to the DVR. By default, the DVR uses DHCP, which means it will use the IP address assigned by the router.
Setting Up a HiLook DVR from Start to Finish Without a Monitor
First, I looked up the DVR’s IP address. To find the IP address of the HiLook DVR, I used SADP Tools (Mac) and HiTools Delivery (Windows).
Open the Google Chrome browser.
Enter the DVR’s IP address in your web browser. You will then be directed to a page like the one shown below.
Select your region, time and date. Then tap the OK button.
Enter new password. Then tap OK for the next step.
On the Basic Configuration page, you can enter the password you previously created. Tap the OK button.
In the next step, on the Reset Type Settings page, please enter your email address to reset your password if you forget it later.
Tap Save and OK buttons.
Once you’re done, you’ll be redirected to the HiLook DVR web dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can’t Access the DVR’s IP Address?
If the DVR’s IP address cannot be accessed, it means the laptop being used has not been assigned the same IP address as the DVR. Connect your laptop to the router and make sure the laptop’s IP address is set to DHCP.
Has the DVR’s IP Address Been Set to Static?
This means the DVR has been set up. Contact the seller to find out what the IP address is.
Is It Safe to Set Up a HiLook DVR Without a Monitor?
Yes, it’s safe. I’ve used this method many times myself to set up a HiLook DVR.
Can This Method Be Used on DVRs from Other Brands?
Yes, you can. I’ve used this method before to set up DVRs and NVRs from other brands, such as Hikvision and Dahua.
Conclusion
At this point, you have successfully activated the HiLook DVR. You will be redirected to the DVR settings page, where you can access the DVR’s menus through a web browser, such as viewing the live camera view, setting the IP address, and accessing the camera’s recording playback menu.
That concludes the complete guide to activating the HiLook DVR using a laptop. We hope this information is helpful, and if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments.