1.2 Viewing Live Camera Images
1.
Access the camera (see 1.1 Accessing the Camera).
2.
Click the [Single] tab.
Viewer programs (ActiveX® Controls) must be installed in order to view MPEG-4 images, MJPEG images, and to use audio features. If the appropriate viewer program (ActiveX Control) is not installed, the camera will prompt you to install them. For more information, see ActiveX dialog for Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Security Warning dialog (for Windows 2000) depending on which operating system you are using.
If the [Security Warning] dialog is displayed, see Security Warning dialog (for Windows 2000).
If the camera image is not displayed, or if the ActiveX message is displayed at the top of the screen, see If you cannot install ActiveX Controls, or if you cannot see video (MPEG-4 or MJPEG) images in Internet Explorer.
The single camera page (JPEG)
A.
Date and time overlay (see 7.1 Changing Image Display Settings)
B.
Snapshot button (see 1.2.7 Taking Snapshots)
C.
Talk button (see 1.2.9 Audio Features)
D.
Listen button (see 1.2.9 Audio Features)
E.
Volume slider (see 1.2.9 Audio Features)
F.
Detection notification sound button (see 1.2.11 Detection Notification Sound)
H.
Camera image (click an area of the camera image to use the click to center feature (see Click to center), or use your mouse to use the digital zoom feature (see 1.2.6 Zooming) when displaying MJPEG or MPEG-4 images)
I.
Full-screen button (click to view the image in 4:3 full-screen mode; click to return to normal mode)
J.
K.
Operation bar (see 1.2.1 Using the Operation Bar)
N.
Displays [IPv4] or [IPv6] depending on the camera’s network configuration
The single camera page (MPEG-4)
MPEG-4 images can be viewed by selecting [MPEG-4] under the refresh rate selector on the single camera page.
Note
The first time you select MPEG-4 as the refresh rate, a license agreement is displayed. If you agree to the terms of the license, select [I accept the License agreement], then click [OK]. You will then be prompted to install the viewer program (ActiveX Controls).
A.
Date and time overlay (see 7.1 Changing Image Display Settings)
B.
Talk button (see 1.2.9 Audio Features)
C.
Snapshot button (see 1.2.7 Taking Snapshots)
D.
Listen button (see 1.2.9 Audio Features)
F.
Volume slider (see 1.2.9 Audio Features)
G.
Camera image (click an area of the camera image to use the click to center feature (see Click to center), or use your mouse to use the digital zoom feature (see 1.2.6 Zooming) when displaying MJPEG or MPEG-4 images)
H.
Full-screen button (click to view the image in 4:3 full-screen mode; click to return to normal mode)
I.
J.
Operation bar (see 1.2.1 Using the Operation Bar)
N.
Displays [IPv4] or [IPv6] depending on the camera’s network configuration
Note
Image display
If no camera image is displayed, the appropriate viewer program (ActiveX Controls) may not be installed. See ActiveX dialog for Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Security Warning dialog (for Windows 2000) for more information.
If the camera image is not displayed immediately or correctly, click your web browser’s refresh button to display the latest camera image.
The image refresh rate may vary depending on network conditions, PC performance, the number of people accessing the camera, and the type of objects being viewed.
The image refresh rate may decrease when buffering images to an SD memory card.
When the camera is in a dark environment, color night view mode (if enabled; see 5.4 Changing Basic Camera Settings) automatically brightens the image, however the image refresh rate may decrease (i.e., images may appear choppy) and overall image quality may decrease (i.e., images may appear grainy).
When the camera is in a dark environment, white or colored dots or horizontal lines may be displayed in the camera image. This is a characteristic of the camera’s image sensor, and is not a malfunction.
A gray screen is displayed instead of the camera image in the following situations:
Too many users are accessing the camera. The camera allows up to 30 users to view MJPEG images (live images and buffered images) simultaneously, and allows 10 users to view MPEG-4 images (live images and buffered images) simultaneously. Additional users will see a gray screen, and [The maximum number of accesses has been exceeded.] will be displayed under the camera image. Click your web browser’s refresh button periodically until you are allowed to view video images, or use the [Refresh Rate] selector to select to view still images.
The camera is configured to not display images at this time of day (see 7.3 Specifying Operation Times). [The operation time has ended.] will be displayed under the camera image. If viewing MPEG-4 images, the last image displayed before the operation time ended is displayed for about 20 seconds before the screen turns gray.
Related settings
The default settings for [Refresh Rate], [Resolution], and [Image Quality] that are used each time the single camera page is accessed can be changed (see 7.1 Changing Image Display Settings).
Using the [Refresh Rate] selector in the operation bar, you can select whether video images (MJPEG or MPEG-4) are displayed, or still images that are refreshed periodically (3 seconds, 5 seconds, etc.) are displayed.
To reduce data traffic when other users are accessing the camera, you can configure the camera to automatically switch from displaying video images to still images. Set the [Video Display Time] for general users (see Creating or modifying a general user account) and for guest users (see Changing the features available to guest users).
ActiveX dialog for Windows® XP Service Pack 2
To view video images (i.e., MPEG-4 and MJPEG images) or use the camera’s audio features, the corresponding viewer program (ActiveX Controls) must be installed on your PC. Follow the steps below to install ActiveX Control when using Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Note
If ActiveX Controls cannot be installed, download them from the Panasonic Network Camera website (http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/netwkcam/support/info.html).
1.
When the ActiveX Control message is displayed in Internet Explorer®, click the message and select [Install ActiveX Control...].
2.
Click [Install].
ActiveX dialog for Windows Vista®
To view video images (i.e., MPEG-4 and MJPEG images), the corresponding viewer program (ActiveX Controls) must be installed on your PC. Follow the steps below to install ActiveX Control when using Windows Vista.
Note
If ActiveX Controls cannot be installed, download them from the Panasonic Network Camera website (http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/netwkcam/support/info.html).
Installing for MJPEG
1.
When the ActiveX Control message is displayed in Internet Explorer, click the message and select [Install ActiveX Control...].
2.
Click [Install].
Installing for MPEG-4
1.
When the pop-up block message is displayed in Internet Explorer, click the message and select [Temporarily Allow Pop-ups].
2.
When a license agreement is displayed and you agree to the terms of the license, select [I accept the License agreement], then click [OK].
3.
When the ActiveX Control message is displayed in Internet Explorer, click the message and select [Install ActiveX Control...].
4.
Click [Install].
Security Warning dialog (for Windows 2000)
To view video images (i.e., MPEG-4 and MJPEG images) or use the camera’s audio features, the corresponding viewer program (ActiveX Controls) must be installed on your PC. If ActiveX Controls need to be installed on your PC, the [Security Warning] dialog will be displayed when trying to view video images (MPEG-4 or MJPEG) for the first time. You can install ActiveX Controls by clicking [Yes] when the following dialog is displayed, however, you must be logged into your PC as a user with Administrator privileges.
Note
If ActiveX Controls cannot be installed, download them from the Panasonic Network Camera website (http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/netwkcam/support/info.html).
If you cannot install ActiveX Controls, or if you cannot see video (MPEG-4 or MJPEG) images in Internet Explorer
Confirm the following Internet Explorer settings.
1.
Click [Tools]→[Internet Options...]→[Security] tab and click [Custom level...] on the web browser.
2.
Under [Download signed ActiveX controls], select [Prompt].
3.
Under [Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins], select [Enable].
 
If you need to install ActiveX Controls, you can download them from the Panasonic Network Camera support site (http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/netwkcam/support/info.html) or install them using the CD-ROM included with your camera.
1.
After downloading the ActiveX Controls installer or inserting the CD-ROM in your PC, restart the PC.
2.
Confirm that Internet Explorer is closed.
3.
Double-click the downloaded ActiveX Controls installer, or open the [ocx] folder on the CD-ROM, then open the [MPEG-4] or [MJPEG] folder on the CD-ROM and double-click [install.bat].
Note
When using Windows Vista, you must be logged into your PC as a user with Administrator privileges. For more information, open the [ocx] folder on the CD-ROM, then open the [MPEG-4] or [MJPEG] folder on the CD-ROM and double-click [ReadmeEng.txt].
After installing or enabling ActiveX Controls, you may need to wait a moment before camera images are displayed.
If you use a proxy server, see 12.1 Proxy Server Settings.
If your computer or your network uses a firewall for security purposes, the firewall may prevent video images from being displayed. In this case, you can use the [Refresh Rate] selector to select to view still images. If you want to view video images, consult your network administrator.
If your browser’s pop-up blocker is enabled, you may not be able to install the MPEG-4 viewer program (ActiveX Controls), and therefore you will not be able to view MPEG-4 images. Disable your browser’s pop-up blocker and try to view MPEG-4 images again.