To view a video directly from a unit's SD memory card, the user must safely remove it, insert it into a computer with an SD card slot (or an SD Card Reader), locate the video file, and open it with an .avi-compatible player.
The minimum storage required for a DVR is 32GB. When the unit's memory is at 95%, the newest footage overwrites the oldest non-event video. All cards are formatted with the exFAT file system, as DVRs are only compatible with exFAT or FAT32. Pro-Vision offers three SD card sizes:
| PD-1738: | 256 GB SDXC |
| PD-1748: | 512 GB SDXC |
| PD-1758: | 1 TB SDXC |
In this Article: View the SD Card on a PC, File Structure, Reinstall the SD Card in the Unit
View the SD Card on a PC
- Unlock the DVR's mounting cover (Ranger) or SD card access door (DR-200) with the provided key.
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Verify that the unit is not recording; the status light should be off or blinking.
- If the status light is solid green, the unit is recording or transferring data. If the SD card is removed during this time, its files may become corrupted.
- To stop the unit, press the [STOP] button and wait for the light to blink three times.
- Press the unit's SD card to release it from its slot, then remove the card.
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Locate the SD card port on the computer.
- If your computer doesn't have an SD port or its card reader is incompatible with SDCX cards, you may need an SD card to USB converter.
- Insert the SD card or USB converter into the PC.
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Locate the memory on the computer.
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On a Windows computer, open the File Explorer and navigate to "This PC" to locate the external storage device.
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On a Windows computer, open the File Explorer and navigate to "This PC" to locate the external storage device.
File Structure
If the unit is not configured for automatic transfer, the “Alarm” folder will store the event videos that cannot be overwritten by non-event footage.
Video Folders
The main “Video” folder contains subfolders named after the recorded video’s date (YYYYMMDD) and subdivided into the date and time (YYYYMMDD_HH).
For example, if you’re searching for a non-event video recorded at 09 am on April 13th, 2025, navigate to the folder in Video/20250413/20250413_09
Video Names
Each folder contains several files for the hour of recording, which all follow the same naming structure CAM#_YYYYMMDD-HHMMSSMS_AVFRre_VehcID_username, where:
| CAM # | Camera Num | _ | |
| _ | A | Audio: [0] No, [1] Yes | |
| YYYY | Year | V | Alarm: [0] No, [1] Yes |
| MM | Month | FR | Frame rate |
| DD | Day | r | Resolution: [d] SD, [h] HD |
| - | e | Encoding type: [4] h.264, [5] h.265 | |
| HH | Hour | _ | |
| MM | Minute | VehicID | Vehicle ID (8 Characters) |
| SS | Seconds | _ | |
| MS | Millisecond | Username | Software username; omitted if PV Sync is not used. |
For example, the video file named 2_20250413-09562347_1025h4_ENG9666.avi
| CAM # | 2 | CAM 2 |
| YYYYMMDD | 20250413 | 2025/04/13 |
| HHMMSSMS | 09562347 | 09:56:23.47 |
| AVFRre | 1025h4 | [1] Yes Audio, [0] No Alarm, 25 fps, [h4] h.264 encoding. |
| VehicID | ENG9666 | ENG9666 |
Reinstall the SD Card
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Eject the SD card before removing it from the PC.
- Select the external drive from "This PC," then click the [Eject] button.
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Otherwise, its files may become corrupted.
- Verify that the SD card switch is positioned at the top of the card (contacts side).
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Insert the card contacts first with the label facing toward the top of the DVR (Ranger) or away from the windshield (DR-200).
- Do not force the SD card, as this risks damaging the unit.
- The card should click in securely; it should not be able to slide out.
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Lock the unit’s mounting cage (Ranger) or SD access door (DR-200) with the included key.
Related Articles
- PV Player: Download & Overview
- Viewing Videos from an SSD
- PD-1902 Ranger DVR: Understanding the System
- DR-200 v2: System Guide
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