Why can’t I see the video feed from 3rd party camera on a Foscam NVR?

Foscam NVR systems are ONVIF compliant and can work with many 3rd party cameras which hold this compliance certification. In this case the user is experiencing difficulties with seeing the video feed on a Foscam NVR with a 3rd party camera.

Note: Please be sure the Foscam NVR is using the latest firmware update before proceeding.

Step 1: Verify the brand, model number, and firmware version of the 3rd party camera.

Visit the web page the of the manufacturer of the camera and check for the latest firmware version.
Verify the firmware is appropriate for model number of the camera in question. Check to make sure the firmware instructions do not mention anything about a multiple firmware update. Some manufacturers release multiple versions of firmware over the course of time. To update some products to the latest version incremental updates of the firmware may have to be performed.
Be sure to follow ALL the instructions provided by the manufacturer when it comes to updating the firmware on any product.

Step 2: Verify the video feed of camera itself is functioning properly.

For camera to work in Foscam NVR, pelase ensure the camera itself is working.Login to the camera directly using a web browser or an app and verify the video feed output of the camera.

Step 3: Confirm the 3rd party camera is ONVIF 2.21 compliant.

If the unit is compliant with an earlier version of ONVIF check to see if a firmware update has been released for the product which updates the compliance version. Apply the update if needed.
Note: Be sure to follow all the instructions for a firmware update otherwise this may cause the product to malfunction in the event the incorrect firmware is applied or all the instructions were not followed.

Step 5: Change the ONVIF port of the 3rd party camera.
Use another ONVIF port for the 3rd party camera, and re-add it back to Foscam NVR to try connect again. Also please ensure input correct username and password forthe camera when add it to NVR.

Note: If after performing all the above steps and the problem persists there may be some type of unknown compatibility problem between the devices. If this is the case we recommend using Foscam cameras with Foscam NVR systems. Check user related forums and the manufacturer webpages/forums for other solutions which may be outside of the scope of this document.