Getting Started with Spot AI

Table of Contents

 

Getting Started with Spot AI

Welcome! If you’ve received your Spot AI equipment and are ready to set things up (or just want to know what to expect), you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through how to physically install your equipment, register and connect your equipment in the Spot AI dashboard, and at the end of this have a fully-functional camera system!

Step 1: Verify Your Equipment

If you ordered a 31M or 31B Series appliance, confirm that each box comes with the following components:

• 1 Spot AI appliance
• 2 8-foot ethernet cables
• 1 8-foot power cable
• miniDP to DP adapter

If you ordered a 31E Series appliance, confirm that each box comes with the following components:

• 1 Spot AI appliance
• 2 Power Cables
• 1 Rail Kit

You may also have received Spot Cameras. Each camera will be individually boxed with a set of waterproofing grommets and mounting screws.

Below are the most common setup scenarios and additional equipment needed for each setup:

If you are installing all new Spot AI cameras, you will also need the following (click here to view list of necessary equipment)

• If you are installing all new Spot AI cameras, you will also need the following: A PoE switch that provides power and internet to your cameras (refer to this Knowledge Base article for PoE switch recommendations)
• 2 open ethernet ports on the PoE switch (likely 1 will connect to the Spot AI appliance, 1 will connect to the router or another source that has access to the internet)
• Cat5e or Cat6 cable (Spot AI does NOT provide cable for the cameras)
  

If you are retrofitting your existing IP cameras, but NOT your existing IP DVR / NVR, you will also need the following (click here to view list of necessary equipment)

• A PoE switch that provides power and internet to your cameras (refer to this Knowledge Base article for PoE switch recommendations)
• 2 open ethernet ports on the PoE switch (likely 1 will connect to the Spot AI appliance, 1 will connect to the router or another source that has access to the internet)
• Username and passwords for the cameras
• IP range for the cameras (not always necessary, but useful)
  
  

If you are retrofitting your existing IP DVR / NVR, you will also need the following (click here to view list of necessary equipment)

• Your existing IP DVR / NVR
• 1 open ethernet port on your existing IP DVR / NVR so the Spot AI appliance can physically connect to your existing system
• Username and passwords for the cameras and DVR / NVR
• IP range for the cameras and DVR / NVR (not always necessary, but useful)
• Model number of the DVR / NVR (not always necessary, but useful)
  
  

If you are retrofitting your existing analog DVR / NVR, you will also need the following (click here to view list of necessary equipment)

• Your existing analog DVR / NVR
• 1 open ethernet port on your existing IP DVR / NVR so the Spot AI appliance can physically connect to your existing system
• Username and password for the DVR / NVR
• Model number of the DVR / NVR (not always necessary, but useful)
  

With every Spot AI install, the last thing you will need is a laptop with internet access that will be used to set up the Spot AI dashboard.

If you have any questions around which setup you currently have, consult with your Customer Success Manager or Account Executive for guidance.

Step 2: Install the Spot AI Cameras

The next step is to physically install your cameras. If you don’t need to install any cameras, skip to step 3.

If you have questions surrounding the installation of your cameras, please read our step-by-step guide that will walk you through how to install our Spot AI cameras.

If you are not comfortable installing your own cameras, reach out to Spot AI and we can connect you with a preferred installer in your area. If you have an installer in mind or prefer to find one on your own, you are also welcome to do that.

Step 3: Physically Connect the Spot AI Appliance and Cameras

The Spot AI appliance needs access to both the internet and your camera network in order to function. Review this Knowledge Base article to understand how your equipment should be connected and which network topology recommendation best fits your current setup. 

Step 4: Log In to the Spot AI Dashboard and Create a Location

Now that the Spot Appliance and cameras are physically installed, we’ll connect them to the Spot AI Dashboard. The Spot AI Dashboard is where you’ll go to view your cameras, search and share footage, administer the system, and use other Spot AI features from anywhere in the world.

You should have received a link in your email inbox to create an account on the Spot AI dashboard. If you are not able to locate the email, please contact your Customer Success Manager or Account Executive and they can resend the dashboard invitation. 

Once you’ve created an account in the dashboard and log in for the first time, it will prompt you to invite users or set up a location – you will first create a Location. You can also navigate to Locations by selecting the Configure tab, then clicking Locations on the submenu on the left.

Go ahead and create a Location and add the details requested.

Step 5: Register and Connect the Spot AI Appliance

After you’ve set up a location, you will next register and connect the Spot AI appliance. 

Navigate to the Appliances Tab, click Add Appliance, then enter the serial number found on top of the Spot AI appliance.

If you haven’t already done so, please connect the Spot AI appliance using 1 of the 3 network topology configurations found under Step 3 of this guide. If the appliance is showing that it is both registered and connected, move on to Step 6. 

If the appliance has been connected for a few minutes and shows registered but not connected, follow the troubleshooting steps listed in this Knowledge Base article.

Step 6: Connect the Cameras and/or Existing DVR / NVR

If you haven’t already done so, connect the cameras and/or existing DVR / NVR using 1 of the 3 network topology configurations found under Step 3 of this guide.

Navigate to the Cameras subtab. Your Spot AI Appliance will automatically search your network, detect devices, and identify cameras. In a few moments, you should see a list of devices detected as cameras or DVR / NVRs appear on your network. If you do not see all of your devices populate on this page, follow the troubleshooting steps listed in this Knowledge Base article.

If you are connecting only Spot AI cameras, follow the steps below:

1. Click one of the camera devices, click Authenticate, then Activate (the Spot AI Dashboard recognizes the Spot AI cameras and automatically inputs the Username, Password, RTSP Port, and Test Path)
2. With Spot Genius enabled*, click the Auto-Activate button on the rest of the camera listings

If you are connecting non-Spot AI cameras, follow the steps below:

1. Click one of the camera devices, enter the Username, Password, RTSP Port, and Test Path for the camera device (the Spot AI dashboard will often find the correct RTSP Port and Test Path, but you will sometimes need to supply the proper credentials – if you have difficulty connecting a cameras, please contact Support at [e-mail]) 
2. With Spot Genius enabled*, click the Auto-Activate button on the rest of the camera listings

* Spot Genius is a feature that recognizes cameras from the same manufacturer and uses the same credentials and information to automatically authenticate those cameras. To enable this feature, navigate to Configure > Settings, and toggle on Spot Genius.

If you are connecting an existing DVR / NVR, please refer to our guide to Adding an Existing NVR to the Appliance. If you have questions or run into any issues, please contact Support at [e-mail].

Step 7: Configure Your Cameras to Match Spot AI Recommendations for Best Performance

As a final step of setup, we recommend checking your camera configuration using the Maintain Tab to ensure that your camera settings are optimized for best performance with your Spot AI system. You can find more details here in our Camera Configuration guide.

Congratulations, you’re all set up! Check out our recommendations for next steps:

• Add new users and manage user permissions
• Set up camera groups to organize and manage access to cameras
• Watch the Spot AI 101 training video to familiarize yourself with the basics of Spot AI

  

We hope this article was useful to you, please leave us a comment or feedback as it will help us improve our customer support center.