MV Smart Camera FAQ

How do I factory reset an MV52?

The factory reset button is located under the top hood of the MV52. To access the button, slide the hood of the camera away from the front lens towards the mounting plate. Slide the longer cover, under the hood on the MV52 and you will see a pin hole to factory reset the camera. 

• Note: It may require significant force to slide the plastic hood away from the camera body.

What firmware should the MV52 be on?

The MV52 is required to be on the latest Beta Firmware

My MV52 is out of focus.

Drag the focus motor slider all the way to the far end and then all the way to the near end, after this run AutoFocus on the entire frame. If this still fails, please reach out to the support team. 

My MV52 is extremely hot. Is this expected?

The MV52 has a high processing power as it tries to support all the latest intelligence features, 4K, HDR, and even long-range IR. Due to this, the thermal temperature on the camera is always high. Ensure safety while deploying it and keep it away from flammable materials even while deployed. 

Does my MV52 connect wirelessly to the Access Point? 

The MV52 only supports 5GHz wireless connectivity using a 12V DC PoE adapter.

My MV52 abruptly went offline? My MV52 seems to lose connectivity only during the night? 

MV52 is powered by an 802.3at PoE+ connection with 30W of power wholly dedicated to its port. Certain non-enterprise switches display a maximum of 60W of power within their datasheet but share this load among other connected devices. Such situations can disallow the MV52 from coming online, especially during the night for IR consumption.

While running an export for 1 hour on my MV52, it tends to not record for a certain period?

Due to the processing limitations on the MV52, exports can tend to load it, especially when a lot of motion is captured within each frame. Try to break down the export into parts to allow the export to run through.

My MV52 video streaming is very unstable and choppy?

Adding an MV52 single video stream at 4K adds about 8Mbps for one tile on the wall. Adding four would mean loading the WAN with about 32Mbps for the video wall to run. Ensure your uplink supports such high bitrate streaming, and check that the browser and drivers are all up to date.

The latest generation hardware must be used for 4K viewing. 

IR reflection

To avoid the below, ensure that the camera is mounted in such a way that no street light is bouncing off the camera IR LEDs or there are no reflective surfaces around such as positioning in front of a glass windowpane, etc

Is the MV32 a Pan, Tilt, Zoom (PTZ) Camera?

The MV32 is a fisheye camera with a 180-degree view of the surrounding area. The term fisheye comes from the camera’s use of a fisheye lens which creates a wide-angle hemispherical image. Using digital zoom, the user can virtually/digitally pan, tilt, or zoom (DPTZ) around the scene without losing any information from areas they are currently not viewing. In the case of PTZ cameras, the only area being recorded is presently in view.

Do I require any special equipment or apps to view the video?

To view the video, you only need to log in to the dashboard and access the camera from your camera management page. Fisheye and DPTZ modes are viewable without any special equipment. Virtual Reality (VR) mode is officially supported on standalone VR headsets such as the Oculus Go and unofficially supported on mobile browsers (with a mobile VR headset such as Google Cardboard). To use VR mode, access the dashboard through the device and follow the steps in this article.

What storage capacity does the MV32 have?

The camera has 256 GB of storage. No 128 GB storage options will be available.

What video retention period estimations can I expect?

The MV32 runs a high-resolution video stream, boasting more than twice the recording resolution of the MV12. With 256 GB of storage, we can expect up to 20 days of video storage depending on the video quality when recording 24/7. To obtain more effective retention rates, enable motion-based retention or cloud archive.

Can I place the MV32 outdoors?

The MV32 has no weather-resistance rating and should be kept in a temperature and humidity-controlled indoor environments. The MV72, an IP67 weather-resistant varifocal camera, can be used for scenarios requiring a smart security camera outdoors. 

Does the MV32 support wireless configuration?

Like other second-generation cameras, the MV32 can run through a wireless connection once it is configured and supplied with power. See this article for more information.

Does the MV32 have night vision?

The MV32 does not have night vision. It contains no built-in IR illuminators for very dark scenes. However, it has an IR-cut filter that allows it to be more sensitive to lower-light scenes.

Can I view multiple angles from a single MV32 in a video wall?

Yes! You can read more here.

What additional features does Vision Portal have over Dashboard?

• You can zoom into every tile by clicking on the enlarge icon on the Video wall on Vision 
• You can create Multi-network video walls on Vision 

How can the Vision Portal be accessed?

• By clicking on the Camera Tab -> Monitor -> Vision Portal

• Visiting vision.meraki.com

• Progressive Web Application (once downloaded)

What is a progressive web application?

A progressive web app (PWA) can run on a browser and be downloaded to run like a native app. It includes elements such as the service worker and a pre-caching dB.

What is the advantage of a PWA? 

• Reduced wait time for page load

• Resilience in network conditions

• Give a smooth and seamless experience in the browser

• Give a native feeling experience with a small footprint when installed 

What is the update button used for?

If the "Update" button isn't manually clicked, the app will eventually update to the latest version after a relaunch of the interface (assuming no other Meraki Vision applications are open). The button exists for those who wish for the update as soon as it is available.

How do I ensure my Vision Portal is on the latest release?

Ensure the application is upgraded to the latest version:

• Restart the application to load the latest version 

• Command + shift + R on the keyboard should help reload it

• One can check the currently running version by pressing the What's New panel on the top of the UI.

Can Cisco Meraki Support Engineers view my Vision Portal?

By Default, Cisco Meraki Support Engineers cannot view video or hear the audio in the Vision Portal. You may choose to allow temporary access to the Portal by following this document.

What devices will be supported?

No support within the Application Store for iOS or Android

• iPad’s (CANNOT be installed but can be pinned from Dashboard)

• PC’s 

• Laptop

What browsers will be supported? 

• The Vision Portal will always open in your default web browser when navigating from Dashboard  
• The Web Application will be supported on the latest versions of Chrome /  Safari and Firefox (recommended: Chrome). In most cases, compatibility will extend one version behind the most recent release. 

I keep getting logged out of the Vision Portal. Help! 

Today the Vision Portal uses the Organization Timeout that has been set on the Dashboard. If you have nothing set but you still keep getting logged out, please create a support ticket.

What is MV Sense?

It is a set of APIs (both RESTful and MQTT-based) that allow our customers to integrate the edge-computing capabilities of the MV into third-party business solutions. It is best not to call it an “open” API because it requires a license.

What is an API?

An API is a set of routines, protocols, and tools that allows applications to communicate with each other. Essentially, an API is a messenger that will deliver requests and responses from the provider you want to talk to. For example, you can request a list of zones from a specific camera from one of the MV Sense APIs, and the API will return this list to you. This greatly simplifies application development requiring information from external sources.

I don’t see the option for “Sense” on my camera’s settings. How do I use MV Sense?

Ensure the camera is a second-generation (MV*2) or later and on MV 3.22 firmware or later.

How does MV Sense work?

Several APIs are available through MV Sense which is outlined in this article. You can obtain three types of data insights through the MV Sense APIs about the people detection metadata generated through the MI edge analytics running on a second-generation Meraki camera. These APIs can be summarized as follows:

• Historical Aggregate: How many people were here at X time?

• Current Snapshot: How many people are here now?

• Real-time Feed: A sub-second feed of people and their locations.

For more information, see the page on MV Sense on the Meraki Developer Portal.

Are there specific applications we recommend to integrate with MV Sense?

No. We provide a suite of APIs that customers can build solutions on top of. For more information, see the page for MV Sense on the Meraki Developer Portal. Some examples of current solutions using MV Sense can be viewed at the Meraki Marketplace. Furthermore, we are working with Cisco DevNet and other partners to develop more turnkey solutions.

How does licensing work?

MV Sense licensing works on a per-camera basis (it does not co-terminate). Each organization (new or old) with second-generation cameras (trials included) should already have ten free MV Sense licenses. These licenses do not expire.

Can I use MV Sense to funnel video to another application?

No. It is a way to leverage the MV’s people detection capabilities for additional analytics, triggers, or other desired customer applications.
 

How does it work?

See this article on MV Cloud Archive. When enabled, the dashboard will automatically pull the footage from the onboard storage (if available) or the cloud archive without any customer intervention.

Can we assume the same secured access and encryption with Cloud Archive as with onboard storage?

Yes. Video uploaded to Cloud Archive is over an SSL/TLS connection. Stored video is also encrypted at rest. All rigorous security standards for the dashboard outlined here apply for Cloud Archive as we take the privacy of customer video very seriously.

Does the cloud archive store the analytics as well?

Yes.

Does this mean I can bulk offload video in private servers or third party software?

No. The interface for the customer will be almost exactly the same as without cloud archive. The user will still be able to do 1-hour video exports, but no bulk offloading.

How does licensing work?

It comes in 30-day, 90-day, 180-day and 365-day storage license options (with 1, 3 and 5 year variants) enabled on a per-camera basis (it does not co-terminate). Licensing is independent of the camera type, remaining the same for all fixed dome, varifocal, and fisheye cameras.

Do we provide licenses for trial?

No.

Where is video stored?

Video is stored on the camera itself. You also have the option of using Cloud Archive for continuous 24/7 recording for 30, 90, 180 or 365 days. Read the datasheet and this article to learn more.

How much footage can I store?

Retention day estimates based on quality settings can be found in this article. You can also read about different ways to extend your storage on that page. 

What if I need longer storage?

You have the option of using Cloud Archive for continuous 24/7 recording for 30, 90, 180 or 365 days. Read the datasheet and this article to learn more.

For customers in Europe or areas with strict storage maximums, the dashboard also provides a setting to automatically discard footage after one or more days.

Finally, if the recording options on Dashboard and Cloud Archive are not the best solution, we also have External RTSP, which allows the footage to be sent to a 3rd party system. Read more here.

Is my video stored in the cloud?

Standard streaming video is only stored in the cloud when using Cloud Archive. In standard operations, streaming video is not stored in the cloud, but exported video clips are stored in the Meraki cloud ecosystem for a year. Metadata for video thumbnails and motion indexing are also stored in the cloud. Video will proxy through the cloud in the event of remote streaming and is cached in order to retrieve footage more quickly, but during standard recording operations, MV cameras will only save video locally.

Can I choose to backup my video in the cloud?

Yes. You have the option of using Cloud Archive for continuous 24/7 recording for 30, 90 , 180 or 365 days. Due to bandwidth considerations of storing video in the cloud, we recommend only using Cloud Archive on critical cameras. Read the datasheet and this article to learn more.

What resolution do these cameras record in? What is the frame rate?

Tables of resolutions, frame rates, and respective estimated retention days for each MV camera can be found in this article.

What happens if somebody steals my camera? What if it’s damaged or there’s a fire?

As with all security camera systems, care should be taken during installation to ensure cameras are out of reach of potential thieves or vandals. Cameras are rarely stolen and should be positioned out of easy reach. If a camera is stolen, its footage can be retrieved from anywhere when it comes back online thanks to the cloud proxy. This way you can easily retrieve the footage of it being stolen while also watching the live feed of the person using the camera.

Our IP67 rated MV72 should be used in areas where there is a high risk of theft/vandalism. Using motion alerts and/or the snapshot API when reasonable,  in conjunction with other access control measures can help mitigate risk. Cloud Archive can be used also provide additional assurance for sensitive or at-risk cameras.

Like most other systems, in the event of a fire, if cameras become damaged to the point of inoperability, footage will be lost. All security camera systems carry some amount of risk, but unlike a deployment with a recording device, there is no single point of vulnerability in an MV deployment since each camera stores its own video.

Is stored video encrypted on the camera?

Yes, MV features full disk encryption. Additionally, cameras automatically purchase and provision their own publicly-signed SSL certificates upon initial boot up. Management data is encrypted as well. All encryption is turned on by default, and cannot be turned off.

Does my SSL certificates renew automatically?

Yes, MV cameras will automatically renew and provision their own publicly-signed SSL certificates, without any manual intervention.

What happens when a camera is removed from a network?

Removing a camera from a network deletes all the footage on the camera.

What if a camera loses access to the network?

MV cameras will continue to record, even if they lose access to the network, as long as they have power.

What will happen if the camera loses power?  

Cameras will not operate without power. A switch with redundant power supplies is recommended if there is a concern about power loss.

Is there any way to back video up onto an NVR, DVR, NAS, or other centralized storage device?

The MV is designed to operate without an external recording solution. However, for certain use cases we also have External RTSP, which allows the footage to be sent to a 3rd party system. Read more here.

What if my bandwidth is limited?

The Meraki dashboard will intelligently determine if the viewing computer is in the same local network as the cameras. If this is the case, video traffic will stream directly over the LAN, saving WAN bandwidth. If video is viewed remotely, the dashboard will proxy it through the cloud. It’s recommended that customers with limited WAN bandwidth planning on doing frequent remote viewing should select the Standard Quality video setting.

What CODECs does the MV support?

H.264.

When I export video clips, what format are they exported in?

Video clips are exported as MP4 encoded with H.264.

Can the memory on my camera be upgraded or replaced?

No, the solid state memory on these cameras cannot be removed or replaced.

Are these cameras PTZ capable?

Meraki does not offer a PTZ camera. To see an area from multiple angles, we recommend the use of our MV32 fisheye camera which allows you to see a full 360 degree view of the surrounding area below the camera.

MV21 and MV71 are fixed varifocal dome cameras, so zoom, focus, and aperture settings can be adjusted remotely through the dashboard, but lens angle and positioning must be adjusted during installation.

MV12 and MV32 cameras use a completely fixed lens with autofocus.

Does MV offer analytics capabilities?

MV’s powerful motion search plus motion heat maps capability comes standard with all MV hardware plus a license.

All second generation cameras (MV12, MV22, MV72 and MV32) feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, enabling machine-learning-based computer vision, including detecting people as objects.

With the release of the MV32, Motion Search 2.0 and Motion Recap were announced. These new features enhance the information gathered via motion search, enabling the scene of interest to be observed at a glance.

Are MV cameras NDAA compliant?  

All second and third generation MV cameras are NDAA compliant.

Are these cameras wireless?  

MV21 and MV71 require a standard Ethernet cable and PoE (for MV21) or PoE+ (for MV71) to operate.

All second generation cameras (MV12, MV22, MV72 and MV32) can be used with standard Ethernet and PoE, but they also feature 802.11ac wireless.

Meraki also has power injectors available for users who do not have a PoE enabled switch available.

Can you zoom in on historical footage?

Video clips are exported in standard MP4 format, so it is possible to use the zoom feature in standard video players during playback. 

When video is exported from the MV32 in a hemispherical view, the zoom feature from standard video players will not dewarp the image.

What do the LED colors mean?

• Rainbow (solid, rotating through colors) - MV is booting up.
• Flashing Blue - MV is searching for WiFi network(s).
• Flashing Green - MV is upgrading or initializing for the first time.
• Solid Green - MV is connected via Ethernet. 
• Solid Blue - MV is connected via WiFi.
• Solid Violet - MV has audio recording enabled.
• Solid Amber - MV has an issue and may need replacement.