Adding Cameras to a CHeKT Bridge

Links to Additional Steps

Creating A Site: Creating a New Customer Site
Site Arming Method: Setting Site Arming Source
Registering a Bridge: Registering a CHeKT Bridge
Alarm Panel Wiring: Alarm Panel Pairing: Programming an Alarm Panel with The Bridge
Networking Bridge & Cameras: Connecting the Bridge to the LAN for Camera Access
Adding Cameras with Video Stream URL: Mounting Cameras Using the Video Stream URL Function (RTSP)

Specifications

The Bridge(s) support 4, 8, 12 or 16 channels of video per device, depending on the Bridge model. Each connected camera is considered a channel. Once a channel is completely configured, video and snapshots from the camera can be accessed through the CHeKT cloud when there is an alarm event.
Once a camera is connected to a Bridge channel, this camera can not be connected to any other channels or Bridge.
The CHeKT Bridge supports ONVIF Compliant Cameras and Recorders
The CHeKT Bridge supports IP cameras and analog cameras on a DVR. The Bridge will pull the secondary video stream from these devices.

The Steps below are the guided directions for the standard mounting instructions for adding a camera channel to the Bridge.

Some camera brands or models may require additional steps or settings. Please reference these specific articles for these brands.

Method 1: Adding From the Site Device List:

Select the Customer Account to enroll the camera to:

With that customer selected, click Site Details on the top row menu:

Click "Add" and select "Add a Camera"

This will open the camera setup screen:

Start by selecting the Bridge to mount the camera to, and the channel on that Bridge the camera will be associated:

When you click the target channel, the bridge will automatically start the discovery process and will detect ONVIF devices on the local network. Wait for the system to complete the search:

If you didn't see your device on the local network scan, you can click the "Add Device Manually" link and enter the IP in the type-in box

If your device was discovered, click on it, and you will be asked for the authentication credentials.

(Possible Step) Select the Device Channel, and click next.

When authenticating to a video recorder, you will select a channel from the list.
When authenticating directly to IP Cameras most will not have a channel list, though some multi-channel devices will (such as dual-lens cameras)

The system will present a channel snapshot so the installing technician can verify they are mounting the correct stream. Click Next if correct.

Alarm Detection Overlay: The Alarm Detection Overlay allows an integrator or monitoring center to draw the detection area or area of interest on a camera video.
This overlay is not analytics, but simply a way of giving monitoring center operators information about the area they need to focus on during an alarm. This overlay can represent the detection pattern of the associated sensor, or just a general area the operator needs to focus on during alarm processing.

Set the Camera Name and zone number and click Next.

Camera Name: Enter a name that most accurately describes the field of view or the name that was given prior to CHeKT.
Sensor Zone Number: If the camera analytics will be the source of the alarm trigger, leave the Zone field blank. The bridge will automatically assign zone number 101, and continue adding sequentially for each additional mount. However, if you're wiring a sensor from your alarm panel to correspond with the camera you're installing, enter that sensor’s zone number in the Zone field.

Set the alarm programming information for that channel, including zone type, alarm code to send, source of alarm, and even custom expected input voltages, then click Next.

Select Zone Type:

Instant Zone: When the Bridge is armed, triggers on this zone create an alarm and video event.
Entry/Exit Zone: This zone has an Entry/Exit Delay on the trigger. When Exiting, the Bridge will ignore any triggers on this zone for the "Exit Timer" value from the time of arming. When Entering, the Bridge will ignore any triggers on this zone for the "Entry Timer" value. If the Bridge is not disarmed within the time period, the initial alarm signal and event video will be uploaded.
Follower Zone: A follower zone will behave like an Entry/Exit zone if an Entry/Exit zone has been triggered first. If an Entry/Exit zone is not triggered first, this zone behaves like an Instant zone.
24-Hour Zone: This zone creates an alarm and video event when the Bridge is Armed and Disarmed.
Exterior Zone (Instant): Same Behavior as the Instant Zone described above, but with an independent alarm code for specifying custom automation response for outdoor detectors.
Exterior Zone (Entry/Exit): Same Behavior as the Entry/Exit zone described above, but with an independent alarm code for specifying custom automation response for outdoor detectors.
Intercom Armed Zone: When selected, any events from this zone type will send a remote intercom notification to the customer and, if enabled, a signal to the monitoring station. As an Armed Zone, events are only sent when the system is armed. If the central station signal is enabled, the signal is sent concurrently with the notification to the customer.
Intercom 24Hour Zone: When selected, any events from this zone type will send a remote intercom notification to the customer and, if enabled, a signal to the monitoring station. As a 24-hour zone, events are sent when the system is armed and disarmed. If the central station signal is enabled, the signal is sent concurrently with the notification to the customer.
Live Video Only Zone: This zone type is used for cameras that should not create any events. When selected, all alarm triggers from sensors, analytics, and APIs alarms will be ignored.

Zone Type Alarm Information: Configuration of the Contact ID alarm communication code for the central station.

Default: Follows the Site Level Alarm Communicator settings for the Zone Type
Customized Zone Alarm Signal: Allows for a uniquely configured signal ID for the zone.
Disabled: When the alarm code is disabled, a video event is still created when a triggered alarm occurs. However, an alarm signal is not transmitted to the monitoring center. This is most common when a zone is triggering the Bridge and an on-site alarm panel simultaneously, and the alarm panel is programmed to communicate to the monitoring center.

Alarm Trigger Source:

Digital Input (N/O): A physical trigger input with a normally open circuit condition. When the zone or trigger closes, the Bridge creates an alarm event.
Digital Input (N/C): A physical trigger input with a normally closed circuit condition. When the zone or trigger opens, the Bridge creates an alarm event.
ONVIF/Analytic Event Trigger: A supported analytic event trigger from the associated camera channel will generate an alarm signal and video event. This event is based on a support API connection with the camera. The network event message has topic information that defines the type or rule creating the event. This is most commonly understood as an analytic event from a camera or recorder. CHeKT does not support all Analytics or ONVIF triggers, so it is essential that you test this method before deploying to a monitored location.

DI Voltage Status: Normal and Alarm voltage ranges need to be defined when wiring a sensor from an on-site alarm panel into the Bridge. This done by defining a Low and High voltage range. The Bridge will display the real-time voltage of any wired loop. The Bridge zone inputs have a constant voltage of ~1.87v when nothing is connected.

Cloud Ai:
CHeKT Cloud AI filtering is available to CHeKT Dealers on the CHeKT Professional and Premium plans; it offers an additional level of false alarm prevention to be used in tandem with the intelligent analytic detection on the mounted camera. This service needs to be enabled and agreed to the terms of service from your dealer portal settings menu and then enabled at the site level. Please read CHeKT Cloud AI & CHeKT Cloud AI Filtering: A Practical Setup Guide for more information. If you are a Sub-Dealer of a monitoring station, please contact them to ensure the service is activated before proceeding with enabling and configurating it from your customer site.

Enabling Cloud Ai from Camera Adding

The camera is now mounting. You can watch the entire mounting process (with expandable information) in real-time, or simply select one of the two bottom options.

Finalization Process Steps for Adding a Camera to Bridge

You will receive this notification when the process is complete:

Typically you will see your newly mounted camera online in a minute or so.

Cameras can also be added immediately upon Bridge enrollment by pressing the Register Cameras button.