Question 1

Where is the video stored?

Accepted Answer

Video is stored directly on the camera itself.

Question 2

How much footage can I store?

Accepted Answer

256GB of solid state storage allows for up to 20 days of continuous, 24/7 recording (older MV21/MV71 storage capacity is 128GB).

Question 3

What if I need longer than 20 days of storage?

Accepted Answer

When set to 24/7 recording, MV cameras have a limit of 20 days of storage. The Meraki Dashboard provides a set of optimized retention tools which can extend retention well beyond 20 days. With motion-based retention enabled, cameras will record the most recent three days in their entirety as a precaution. After that, cameras will intelligently trim out and discard segments of video which contain no motion. Depending on the recording environment and the amount of motion seen by each camera, you may see beyond 90 days of retention in some cases. Schedules can also be set, which will affect the retention period accordingly. The Dashboard provides a real time read out for each camera of expected retention based on real data from that camera averaged over the last week.

Question 4

Is my video stored in the cloud?

Accepted Answer

Standard streaming video is not stored in the cloud, but exported video clips are stored in the cloud for 30 days. 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.

Question 5

What is the frame rate? The bitrate?

Accepted Answer

MV21/MV71: Choose to record in either Standard Quality (8fps/530kbps) to store 20 days of footage or Enhanced Quality (15fps/765kbps), useful where it’s necessary to capture quickly moving objects. Enhanced Quality recording will reduce storage capacity to about 14 days of 24/7 recording. With optimized retention settings, these retention periods can be greatly extended. MV12/MV22/MV72: In addition to 720p at Standard Quality (8fps / 500kbps) and Enhanced Quality (15fps / 765kbps) you can also choose 1080p recording at either Standard Quality (8fps / 1024kbps), Enhanced Quality (15fps / 1562kbps) or High Quality (20fps / 3138kbps).MV32: Using 1080x1080 resolution you can choose Standard Quality (4fps / 1024 kbps) or Enhanced Quality (8fps / 2048 kbps). MV32 users with 2058x2058 resolution can choose Standard Quality (8fps / 3096 kbps) or Enhanced Quality (15fps / 5120 kbps).

Question 6

Is stored video encrypted on the camera?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MV features full disk encryption. Video is also encrypted during transport, and all management data is encrypted as well.

Question 7

What if a camera loses access to the network?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

What will happen if the camera loses power?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

No. The MV is designed to operate without an external recording solution. It will not work with an NVR, DVR, or NAS. Video cannot be automatically exported to these solutions.

Question 10

What if my bandwidth is limited?

Accepted Answer

The Meraki Dashboard will intelligently determine if the viewing computer is on the same local network as the cameras and video traffic streams directly over your local network, not using Internet bandwidth. If video is viewed from a different network than your cameras, your feed will run through your Internet connection. It’s recommended that if you plan on doing frequent remote viewing on connections with limited bandwidth, the 'Standard Quality' video setting should be checked.

Question 11

What CODECs does the MV support?

Accepted Answer

H.264 and MJPEG. MJPEG is used only during setup and H.264 is used at all other times.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Can the memory on my camera be upgraded or replaced?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

Are these cameras PTZ capable?

Accepted Answer

No. This is a fixed dome camera. Zoom, focus, and aperture settings can be adjusted remotely through the dashboard, but lens angle and positioning must be adjusted during installation.

Question 15

Does MV offer analytics capabilities?

Accepted Answer

MV’s powerful motion search plus motion heat maps capabilities come standard with MV hardware plus a license. Additional analytics functionality like face recognition and people counting are also available.

Question 16

Are these cameras wireless?

Accepted Answer

No. These cameras are connected via PoE Ethernet cables, providing both power and network connection over a single cable. This also eliminates wireless interference or slow-down issues that wireless cameras can have.

Question 17

Can you zoom in on historical footage?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Is audio recorded?

Accepted Answer

Indoor and outdoor cameras record video only, not audio.

FAQ

Where is video stored?