Getting started with your Gamut recorder or IP camera

Purpose of the guide

Whether you have a single camera, or a recorder and multiple cameras, this guide will help you set up your Gamut equipment, show how to view it on mobile devices and configure the settings, along with any other information that may be useful.

We have tried to provide the most comprehensive set of instructions possible, but if you find anything is missing please get in touch and we will be able to assist.

If you have purchased a kit intended for use on a farm, please see these articles instead.

Before you begin

Even if you have experience with CCTV systems it is usually best to set everything up in one room first, with a direct connection to the internet router. If there are any issues with the setup, it is usually harder to resolve if the equipment is already installed in place.

This is not just recommended but necessary if your recorder or cameras will be connected to the router indirectly via a bridge or switch system, because these devices can struggle to automatically configure their network settings if they are not directly connected to the router during setup. Once the device has been connected to the network for the first time and been configured, it is fine to disconnect and reconnect them via the switch or bridge.

If you have an IP system that is brand new, make sure that you set a password on the recorder before connecting your cameras. The reason for this is that if the camera is connected before the recorder password is set, the camera will try to automatically set the same password as the recorder. This causes the camera to set a blank password, preventing it from connecting to the recorder, which requires the password to be reset.

During the initial setup, you will need a TV/monitor with a mouse, a desktop computer that is connected to the same internet router as the recorder/camera, or a phone/tablet that is connected to the same internet router as the recorder/camera.

If you are interested in learning about the basics of CCTV and networking, please read this article which gives an overview of the technology and common terms used:

Basics of a Home Network and CCTV Systems

Help & support

If you are having trouble setting up your Gamut equipment, you can get in touch with us via email for free support.

If you would like to book a remote support session so we can help configure the system for you, please take a look at our support packages:

Our Support & Service Packages

If you are a trade installer and you would like to book a remote support session, please see here:

Dedicated Trade Installer Support

How to wire up your system

Usually, it is pretty self-explanatory, but if you aren't sure how to connect your system together please look at our list of wiring diagrams to get a general idea.

Some common systems are:

IP camera, PoE injector, WiFi bridge, PoE injector, router

BNC camera, DVR, router

IP camera, PoE injector, WiFi bridges, router (with or without NVR)

IP camera, recorder, router

How do I set it up?

If you are new to setting up CCTV cameras, you may want to watch this video:

Five common mistakes when installing a video security system

Using a TV and USB mouse

To set up your Gamut recorder, connect the recorder to the power supply, connect the included USB mouse to the USB port on the front of the recorder, and connect it to the TV using a HDMI or VGA cable. Follow this quick start guide for all of the details.

If you want to view the camera feed on your phone or when you're away from the house, you will need to connect the recorder to your internet router using an ethernet cable as well. You should connect all of your cameras to the recorder, but don't install them in the final location until you have confirmed that the video feed can be seen on the TV.

Once the recorder is turned on it will present a setup wizard, be careful to follow all the steps including formatting the hard drive.

Using a computer
How to access your Gamut camera or recorder using a Windows or Mac computer

Remote viewing

There are two ways to view your system remotely;

1. Use the RXCamView app which allows you to view your system by making use of the RXCamView servers. This is free and easy to set up, which is why we recommend it for most users.

2. Port forward your device, which is done by configuring your internet router to allow access to the IP address of the recorder from devices that aren't on the same local network, and setting up a "Domain Name System" address, or DNS address as it is more commonly known. This is useful because it provides a direct connection to the recorder or camera, rather than the data being sent to the RXCamView servers then to your phone/tablet/computer. This means that you can use a third-party CCTV program or app and enter your DNS address details, rather than needing to rely on an app/program and servers maintained by RXCamView.

Using the RXCamView app for remote viewing via a phone or tablet

How to add your Gamut recorder or camera to a mobile phone or tablet

Using port forwarding for remote viewing via a desktop computer, phone or tablet

Configuring port forwarding yourself

Follow this guide, which will show you how to port forward your device, and provide some advice on how to set up a DNS address or static IP address.

Booking a support session with the Helpdesk team

If you would prefer not to do this yourself, we can book you in for a support session, so a member of the Helpdesk team can remotely log into your computer to set this up for you. This includes the process of us setting up a custom DNS address for you, along with other benefits.

Our Support & Service Packages

Using this DNS address with RXCamView

Once the address is set up, you can use the DNS address within RXCamView if you wish.