I have about 10 Hikvision cameras and the time always gets a little off. I have tried manually syncing with the computer, but they eventually stray apart. Usually all within ±5 minutes, but annoying nonetheless. I have also tried probably close to 10 NTP servers (time.google.com, time1.google.com, pool.ntp.org, etc.). But, that doesn't seem to help either (they still stray from each other eventually). One thing I've noticed is that no matter what NTP server I try, I get a "Failed to connect the test server." error when I test the server. I assume that's my issue there but can't figure out what's going on. Any suggestions?
Can't get camera times to sync up (have tried manual, NTP, etc.)
- Thread starter brasskey
- Start date
Pardon my ignorance, but is that a setting I have to activate in the configuration? These are all hooked up POE, so they are internet cameras.
If they’re hooked to nvr they probably don’t have access to sync with remote servers. Not sure why but this has been an issue for a while. Kind of like how variable speed windshield wipers was a big deal that took years to develop! Anymore I just manually type in the DST dates and if the customers notice a couple years later when it’s off an hour for a couple days, so be it.
Just because they are POE cameras doesn't mean they have internet access. Most of us do not give our cameras internet access because they are easily hacked.
Are the cameras connected to a router or another type of VMS system like Blue Iris or do you just have 10 cameras connected to a POE switch and connected to your router?
The camera's must have a method to (access) the Internet if you want to use NTP. This comes down to how your internal network is setup to use the cameras. At a very high level you could have a completely isolated (sand boxed) video security system which is the most secure.
Meaning there is absolutely not way to access the video security without being physically on site.
Next, you could have a secure method to access the cameras remotely via VPN (Virtual Private Network).
In most cases the general public have used Port Forwarding or some kind of cloud based P2P (Peer to Peer) network to gain remote access to their video security system. Regardless, without knowing how your network and what hardware is in place and configured its going to take a little bit of Q/A to assist you.
NOTE: If your camera is setup (SMTP) to email you alerts / photos. You obviously have Internet access at that level. Keep in mind the down falls of using a public facing NTP server is there are restrictions on how often you can request an update. While other times a NTP server is over loaded, or simply off line due to maintenance or ISP connectivity. This is why its important to connect to a Pool of NTP servers or use high availability sources such as the Government.
Your error message indicates you selected the test button and it returned a fail. Which indicates no Internet connection or a firewall restriction is in place / both.
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As an aside, in relations to time keeping there are several methods to assure this is done from simple to more advanced. Your example is the most common and that is to use a public facing NTP server / Pool servers. The next best is to use a local software package incorporated into any Windows machine and point the cameras to this 24.7.365 computer system.
The computer simply uses whatever NTP server is defaulted or one of your choosing.
Others have used successfully the Net Time application to do the same: NetTime - Network Time Synchronization Tool There are many other (Free) third party software applications that do the same and is preferred over the Windows NTP Service.
Next, is to either purchase or build your very own local NTP / PTP server . . .
Going this route insures you're not reliant on anyone to obtain accurate time keeping - ever!
Depending upon the type of hardware and the amount of finances you have to throw at the project. You have complete local control of the time and it will always be 100% secure & accurate because its in your own home! As seen below there are four (primary) local NTP Servers in place on my network.
Seen below are some of the secondary NTP / PTP Servers that offer back up, fail over, and resiliency. This image shows
the current state of health of each system and reports any problems. Different hardware allow more resiliency because they incorporate multi GPS reception, to onboard temperature compensated crystals / radioactive materials, to connecting to other 3rd party atomic clocks.
Another system tracks and monitors how each NTP / PTP server is operating and the current health. Seen below one of the time servers has zero time offset, an average error of only 97.0 ns (Nano Seconds). The maximum error in seconds is 8.01 ms (Milli Seconds).
As anyone who relies on the Internet knows having a solid connection with low latency is paramount as it relates to time keeping and communications. This image capture simply indicates how long it took to ping (talk) to a specific site - lower (ms) time is better.
They are going into a POE switch that then goes into a router. I run SecuritySpy on a Mac Mini.
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Thank you for all this information. I will look into it and see if setting up a NTP server makes sense.The camera's must have a method to (access) the Internet if you want to use NTP. This comes down to how your internal network is setup to use the cameras. At a very high level you could have a completely isolated (sand boxed) video security system which is the most secure.
Meaning there is absolutely not way to access the video security without being physically on site.
Next, you could have a secure method to access the cameras remotely via VPN (Virtual Private Network).
In most cases the general public have used Port Forwarding or some kind of cloud based P2P (Peer to Peer) network to gain remote access to their video security system. Regardless, without knowing how your network and what hardware is in place and configured its going to take a little bit of Q/A to assist you.
NOTE: If your camera is setup (SMTP) to email you alerts / photos. You obviously have Internet access at that level. Keep in mind the down falls of using a public facing NTP server is there are restrictions on how often you can request an update. While other times a NTP server is over loaded, or simply off line due to maintenance or ISP connectivity. This is why its important to connect to a Pool of NTP servers or use high availability sources such as the Government.
Your error message indicates you selected the test button and it returned a fail. Which indicates no Internet connection or a firewall restriction is in place / both.
==============================
==============================
As an aside, in relations to time keeping there are several methods to assure this is done from simple to more advanced. Your example is the most common and that is to use a public facing NTP server / Pool servers. The next best is to use a local software package incorporated into any Windows machine and point the cameras to this 24.7.365 computer system.
The computer simply uses whatever NTP server is defaulted or one of your choosing.
Others have used successfully the Net Time application to do the same: NetTime - Network Time Synchronization Tool There are many other (Free) third party software applications that do the same and is preferred over the Windows NTP Service.
Next, is to either purchase or build your very own local NTP / PTP server . . .
Going this route insures you're not reliant on anyone to obtain accurate time keeping - ever!
Depending upon the type of hardware and the amount of finances you have to throw at the project. You have complete local control of the time and it will always be 100% secure & accurate because its in your own home! As seen below there are four (primary) local NTP Servers in place on my network.
View attachment 191374
Seen below are some of the secondary NTP / PTP Servers that offer back up, fail over, and resiliency. This image shows
the current state of health of each system and reports any problems. Different hardware allow more resiliency because they incorporate multi GPS reception, to onboard temperature compensated crystals / radioactive materials, to connecting to other 3rd party atomic clocks.
View attachment 191375
Another system tracks and monitors how each NTP / PTP server is operating and the current health. Seen below one of the time servers has zero time offset, an average error of only 97.0 ns (Nano Seconds). The maximum error in seconds is 8.01 ms (Milli Seconds).
View attachment 191377
As anyone who relies on the Internet knows having a solid connection with low latency is paramount as it relates to time keeping and communications. This image capture simply indicates how long it took to ping (talk) to a specific site - lower (ms) time is better.
View attachment 191376
If you have a firewall set up keep in mind port 123 needs to be open for the cameras
Photon Farmer
Getting the hang of it
Go to the SecuritySpy menu and select Install NTP Server...
That will allow the Mac Mini to pass correct time to cameras.
If the Mac Mini has access to the internet.
You also have to go to each camera and set NTP to the Macs address and port 123.
Also in each camera you should set Day Light Savings Time in most of US to.
Start: March 2nd Sunday 2am Forward
End: November 1st sunday 2am Backward
Wow. I had no idea SS had a built-in NTP server. I feel stupid as I've been using it for over a decade. Thank you so much. It was very straightforward. Took only a few minutes. Thanks again.
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