How to View DVR Video Files on an SD/SSD

Using a PC to View Video Files

Videos can be viewed without transfer software directly with the SD Card or Solid State Drive (SSD).  Before starting, first determine if the computer supports 64 GB and larger formats.

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If the computer being used has a built-in or external reader, ensure that the card reader supports 64 GB or larger SDXC card formats. If SDXC support is unknown, insert a 64 GB card into the reader. If it opens and displays the video contents, then the reader is SDXC compatible.

If the computer shows there is no disk in the drive, or that the disk needs to be formatted, the reader does not support SDXC cards and a suitable USB SD Card reader will be needed (i.e., one that supports lower capacity SD Cards).

SD Card and SD Reader

Insert the SD card into the SD Reader and then insert the reader into a USB port on the computer. The disk should be recognized and displayed in “This PC” under “Devices and Drives.” If Autoplay is enabled, a pop-up window will display offering options of how to manage or access the files. Select “Open Folder to View Files.” (This folder will be designated as the default location for video files and will open automatically the next time the reader is used.)

Solid-State Disk (SSD)

The HD DVR units (PD-1800 / PD-1900 / PD-1902) can support a Solid-State Disk (SSD) as a secondary storage device. A solid-state disk drive is a high-capacity, high-performance, flash memory storage device not affected by the impact of the typical vibration that occurs in a mobile environment. The DVR unit supports drives with capacities up to 2 Terabytes (TB). PRO-VISION offers the SSD in several sizes.

SDXC Card 
Spare SDXC Cards:
- 64GB SDXC Card – DVR-718
- 128GB SDXC Card – DVR-728
- 256GB SDXC Card – DVR-738

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SD Reader

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Solid State Drive (SSD)

- PD-1835 – 500 GB SSD
- PD-1836 – 1 TB SSD
- PD – 2 TB SSD

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SSD Reader Cable

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IMPORTANT! PRO-VISION Solid State Drives used for the early PD-1800 series (2016 and older) used the FAT32 file system with the DVR units. Newer Solid State Drives used with PD-1900 (and newer) use the exFAT file system.

On the DVR unit, the SSD is inserted in place of the upper faceplate. To install, remove the two faceplate mounting screws and then slide the SSD into the slot until it sits flush with the face of the DVR. The two mounting screws should be reinstalled if the DVR is mounted in a downward orientation or if Wi-Fi download is to be used. Once the DVR is booted and the SSD is loaded, the SSD LED light will glow red. The red SSD light will flash to show data being written to or read from the SSD.

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Removing SD from the DVR

Ensure that the status light is either flashing or off. If the light is solid green, press the STOP button next to the SD card slot and wait for the green status light to flash. Remove the SD by gently pulling on it until it is removed.

Removing SSD from the DVR

Unlock the enclosure holding the DVR unit. If the SSD is secured by two screws, they must be removed to remove the disk. Ensure that the status light is either flashing or off. If the light is solid green, press the STOP button next to the SD card slot and wait for the green status light to flash. Remove the SSD by gently pulling the handle until it is removed.

Connecting SSD to Computer

The SSD data can be downloaded to a computer through an optional Wi-Fi connection, or through a SATA to USB download cable. The PRO-VISION model DVR-802 SSD Reader Cable provides this functionality. When using this cable, connect the SATA connection to the back of the SSD and then connect the USB connection to the computer. The SSD should automatically be recognized and display in “My Computer” under “Disk Drives.” If Autoplay is enabled, a pop-up window will display offering options of how to manage or access the files. Select “Open Folder to View Files.” This selection will be repeated automatically when the reader encounters the SSD again.

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Software Installation

To view video, download the latest version of the PRO-VISION Player software from:

http://files.provisionusa.com/software/pvplayer/Setup.exe

Launch the software and follow the instructions on the installer to complete the installation process.

After the installation is complete, the player will launch automatically. If it does not, it can be launched from the desktop or start menu.

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Important Notes:

The PRO-VISION Player is compatible with Windows® 10 and 11 platforms. For the best video playback capability an Intel Core i5 or equivalent is recommended for playback.

The latest PRO-VISION products use high quality video that requires a computer with reliable performance to be able to properly display the video. It is best to have a display screen of at least 1920x1080 resolution (1080P) for the best results.

The player software installs to the local user account folder of the current user. If multiple user accounts are to be used on the computer, it will need to be installed on each user account.

The product disk (USB or CD) included with the system has the installer for the software. This installer has the version currently available at the time of publishing the disk. If the version is not the latest, the software automatically downloads and installs updates to bring it up to the current version.

Understanding the Player

Navigating the Player

The player is divided into three areas: the video viewing area, the details area, and the timeline area.

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Video Viewing Section

The video viewing area occupies the largest part of the player window. There is a control bar just below the video display that provides the user with tools needed to quickly find and view the exact footage desired.

Opening AND Playing Video

Opening a Disk, Folder, or Specific File

To load video into the player a directory containing video must be chosen in the top portion of the List tab.

Select the Browse button to find the video file folder. Select the main folder or disk that has the Video and Alarm folders. If you select a specific folder, only its contents will be displayed. It is best to choose the root (main) directory of the disk, such as “E:/” or “D:/,” to ensure all file types (Background, Alarm, Stop Arm) are displayed.

While the player is loading data from the directory into the interface, a Stop button will appear in place of the Browse button. Wait for the data to completely populate the fields before selecting data to view. If a folder is selected in error, press Stop and correct the selection.

When the file list is fully populated, Browse appears again. The date of the most recent video will appear in the Date box. To select a different date for available video by the chosen location, click a different date from the dropdown, as shown at right. The player will then load the data from that date in the List tab and Video timeline at the bottom of the player.

Locating a Specific Date and Time

To view the videos from a specific time, use the Date pull-down menu to select the day, as shown at the right, and then adjust the start time/stop time, video type, or camera filters. Press Apply Filters to narrow the search. Once the date is selected the Video timeline (bottom of player) will show all video from the selected date. The timeline shows normal video in green and event video in red on the timeline. Use a mouse or the + and – buttons to the right to select a starting point on the timeline. Double clicking on the timeline will begin playback from that point.

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Viewing Video

Videos can be viewed in single-camera view, 2-camera view, 4-camera view, or 9-camera view. Double-click on a specific view to switch to a single frame of that view. Double-click a second time to revert to the first multi-camera view.

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1-Camera View

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2-Camera View

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4-Camera View

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9 Camera View


Single-click on any camera view in multi-view mode to highlight the view in red, such as View 2 in the 4-camera view above. When you switch to a lower camera display, the highlighted view will be included.

Camera View On-Screen Display:

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