Swann Wi-Fi Pan & Tilt Camera AlwaysSafe App Manual

Adding a Camera

Connect the camera to power using the supplied USB cable and power adapter.

The camera will begin rotating as part of its startup sequence. Wait approximately 30 seconds.

Once the camera has finished starting up, it will enter Wi-Fi configuration mode and guide you through the Wi-Fi setup process. Listen carefully and follow the voice prompts from the camera. You will need to connect your smartphone to the camera's temporary Wi-Fi hotspot.

Open the AlwaysSafe app when prompted (your smartphone should now be connected to the camera's Wi-Fi hotspot), then wait for the Setup box to be displayed. Tap OK, then follow the on-screen instructions to configure your home Wi-Fi network settings for the camera. Once Wi-Fi setup is finished, the camera is ready to stream live video.

Before using the camera further, ensure the date and time are set correctly. Refer to the "Setting Date and Time" section on page 6.

Setting Date and Time

From the Devices screen, tap the ⚙️ Settings icon on the camera tile to access camera settings.

Tap the 'More' button in the settings menu.

Tap 'Date & Time' from the 'More Settings' list.

Tap 'Synchronize phone time'. This allows the camera to automatically sync its date, time, and timezone to your smartphone's clock. You can also change the date and time display format using the 'Date Format' and 'Time Format' options. If Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in your locale, enable DST and configure its start and end times.

Setting up Email Alerts

From the Devices screen, tap the ⚙️ Settings icon on the camera tile to access camera settings.

Tap 'Email' in the settings menu.

Ensure the 'Enable' toggle is ON, then tap 'Email Settings'.

Tap 'Add Sender'. This configures the email account that will be used to send email alerts for motion activity.

Tap 'SMTP Server' to select your email provider.

Select your email provider (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook). Server settings are preconfigured. If your provider is not listed, tap 'Other'.

If 'Other' is selected, manually enter the SMTP server address and port number. Contact your email provider or search online if details are unknown. Tap 'Save' at the top right.

Enter the Sender Name, Sender Email, and Sender Email Password. The Sender Email is the address the camera will use for alerts. Tap 'Save' at the top right.

Tap 'Add Recipient' to configure email addresses that will receive email alerts.

Enter up to 3 email addresses. You can also add yourself by tapping 'Sender', which will auto-populate the field with your sender email address. Tap 'Save' when done.

Tap 'Email Content' to select what to include in alerts: Text, Picture, Text with Picture (default), or Text with Video (30 seconds).

Tap 'Email Interval' to set the time between alerts (30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 30 minutes). Increase the interval if receiving too many emails.

After tapping 'Save' in the recipient screen, a test email will be sent. Check your inbox.

Troubleshooting email alerts:

• Verify sender/recipient email addresses and passwords in Email Settings.
• For Gmail, check for a "Sign-in attempt was blocked" email from Google. Review Google account activity and enable "Allow less secure apps" in the "Less secure app access" section of your Google account.

Customizing Email Alerts Schedule

Navigate to the camera's settings and tap 'Email'.

Ensure 'Enable' is ON, then tap 'Schedule'. (Refer to "Setting up Email Alerts" on page 7 if not already configured).

By default, the camera sends emails for motion events at all times, indicated by blue bars on the schedule. Do not edit this default if you want alerts at all times.

To customize the schedule, tap the time bar for the day you wish to modify.

You can create a schedule for a specific time range by tapping an hourly bar or dragging across multiple hours.

After selecting a time range, choose the action: 'Alarm' (blue) for motion events, or 'None' (grey) to disable alerts for that period. Note: Motion will still be recorded.

The schedule updates to reflect your changes. Repeat for other days as needed. Tap 'Save' when finished.

Setting up a MicroSD Memory Card

Insert a microSD card into the slot on the back of the camera, gold contacts facing down, until it clicks. For optimal performance and space, use a Class 6 or higher card with at least 16 GB capacity. Compatibility with all manufacturers is not guaranteed; use quality cards from known brands.

From the Devices screen, tap the ⚙️ Settings icon on the camera tile.

Tap the 'More' button.

Tap 'Storage'.

Before first use, format the microSD card by tapping the 'Format' button.

The camera will format the card and restart automatically. Once restarted, the microSD card is ready. You can view its total capacity and used space.

Sharing Access to your Camera

From the Devices screen, tap the ⚙️ Settings icon on the camera tile.

Tap the 'Share' button.

A QR code containing your camera's UID is displayed. Share this code only with trusted individuals, such as close family members.

On the family member's smartphone, download the latest AlwaysSafe app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Open the app and tap the '+' icon.

Using the family member's smartphone, scan the camera's QR code.

To log into your camera, enter the admin login password (created during Wi-Fi setup) and tap 'Login'.

Note: A Guest account can be created via Settings > More > User Management > Add Users for limited access (Live View and Playback only).

Your camera can now be accessed from your family member's smartphone using the app.

Devices Home Screen

1. Configure app startup settings, view general information about the app, and more.
2. Add a camera manually by scanning the QR code.
3. Displays all connected cameras on your network.
4. The camera name. Can be changed via Settings > Info.
5. Manage camera settings (motion detection sensitivity, email alerts, microSD storage, etc.). See "Device Settings Screen" on page 23 for details.
6. The camera preview window. Tap to start live view.
7. Quickly start live view of the last watched camera, useful for multiple cameras.

Live View Screen

1. Tap to return to the Devices home screen.
2. Select multiple cameras for simultaneous live viewing.
3. Tap to unmute/mute the live video. Audio from only the highlighted camera is heard in multi-camera view.
4. Tap to stop or start live video from the camera.
5. Tap to capture a snapshot. Photos are saved to your smartphone's internal memory in the "AlwaysSafe" folder.
6. Tap to start recording live video. Tap again to stop. Recordings are saved to your smartphone's internal memory in the "AlwaysSafe" folder.
7. Tap to change video stream quality between Fluent (smoother movement) and Clear (higher quality). Note: 'Clear' quality streams only one camera at a time.
8. Tap to change the camera's color setting: Color, Black & White, or Auto.
9. Tap for a landscape (fullscreen) display of the live view window.
10. Tap to enable the talk function. See "Live View Screen: Using Two-Way Talk" on page 21.
11. Tap to enable pan & tilt controls. See "Live View Screen: Using Pan & Tilt Controls" on page 19.
12. Tap to access the Playback screen to review motion detection recordings. See "Playback Screen" on page 22.

Live View Screen: Using Pan & Tilt Controls

Tap the PTZ button at the bottom of the screen.

Pan and tilt the camera using the joystick. Drag and release quickly for incremental movements, or drag and hold for continuous pan or tilt. You can also set your camera to automatically pan for 60 seconds by tapping the 'Auto' icon.

To stop automatic panning, tap the 'Auto' button again.

Warning: Do not manually pan or tilt the camera with your hands, as this can damage the camera.

Live View Screen: Saving & Calling Preset Positions

You can save multiple camera viewpoints as preset positions to recall later.

To define a position: Pan/tilt the camera to the desired view, tap the 'Mark' button, and give the preset an appropriate name.

Saved preset camera positions are displayed at the bottom of the screen. Tap a position to automatically move the camera's view to that marked location.

You can delete preset positions by tapping the ?️ icon.

Tap a preset position to delete it. Tap 'Done' once finished.

Live View Screen: Using Two-Way Talk

Tap the 'Talk' button at the bottom of the screen.

Tap the ? Mic button to start talking.

To stop talking, tap the ? Mic button again.

Playback Screen

1. Tap to return to the Devices screen.
2. Tap to select a different camera, if available.
3. Tap to unmute/mute the video.
4. Tap to start playback of all motion events for the day, beginning with the first selected event in the timeline.
5. Drag the marker along the timeline to quickly skip forward or back.
6. Tap icons for: start/stop playback, capture photo, start/stop clip recording, change video stream quality, or maximize to fullscreen.
7. Tap to open the calendar and change the date to search for motion events.
8. Tap to exit Playback and return to Live View.
9. History of motion events showing time and duration. Scroll left/right for more. Tap an event to play it. Tap again to access the download screen for 30-second clips. Use Start/End markers to adjust clip duration.
10. Drag left or right to view motion event history for a specific period. Blue highlighted parts indicate motion recording times.

Device Settings Screen

1. Tap to edit the camera's name and view technical details (network connection, hardware status).
2. Tap to generate a QR code for sharing camera access. See "Sharing Access to your Camera" on page 14.
3. (For compatible Swann DVR models only) Tap to enable/disable push notifications.
4. Tap to view the current Wi-Fi network. Supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
5. Tap to access more system settings: date & time, video standard, user management.
6. Tap to adjust image and video display settings.
7. Tap to adjust motion detection sensitivity. Customize up to 4 time periods and create masking zones to ignore specific areas.
8. Tap to configure recording schedules for the microSD card. Requires a microSD card. See "Setting up a MicroSD Memory Card" on page 12.
9. Tap to configure the camera's built-in siren function and alarm schedule. The siren stops automatically after about 10 seconds of no motion.
10. Tap to set up and configure email alerts. See "Setting up Email Alerts" on page 7.

11. You can disable audio in the video stream. Leave ON to record ambient sound.
12. You can disable the camera's built-in infrared LEDs. Ensure sufficient ambient light for night vision if disabled.
13. Tap to delete the camera from the app. For complete removal, perform a factory reset by holding the Reset button for 10 seconds with the supplied pin tool.

Device Settings: Display

1. The camera preview window reflects real-time display setting changes.
2. Tap 'Rotation' to flip the video if the camera is mounted upside down. Tap again to revert.
3. Tap to change the position of the camera name in the video window, or hide it.
4. Tap to change the position of the date and time in the video window, or hide them.
5. Advanced image settings. Scroll to view more options. Tap to adjust:

• Anti-flicker: Adjust refresh rate (50Hz for Australia/UK, 60Hz for North America) if lights flicker.
• Exposure: Camera auto-adjusts exposure. 'Manual' allows adjustment of shutter range and gain for underexposed/overexposed images.
• White Balance: Camera auto-adjusts white balance for natural color tone. 'Manual' allows adjustment of red/blue channel gain.
• Day and Night: Manages color and transition between day/night. 'Color' mode allows color night images if ambient light is sufficient; otherwise, the scene appears dark.
• Backlight: Improves clarity and object detail in high contrast scenes.
• 3D DNR: Digital Noise Reduction removes noise, especially in low-light conditions. Default is On.

Tap to adjust video quality settings for 'Fluent' and 'Clear' streams:

• Resolution: Video resolution setting.
• Frame Rate (fps): Image refresh rate. Higher rates offer smoother motion but may cause delay/sync issues. Lowering fps can improve data-rate and reduce bandwidth.
• Max Bitrate (kbps): Maximum data rate for video streaming. Higher bitrate means better quality but requires a strong internet connection.

Note: 'Clear' and 'Fluent' settings are optimized for typical fast internet. If experiencing streaming issues (stuck loading, choppy playback), check your internet connection speed. Adjusting bitrate and frame rate can help. Contact your ISP for bandwidth assistance.

Device Settings: MD Settings: Sensitivity

1. Tap to adjust the motion detection sensitivity level.
2. Tap to cancel changes and return to the previous screen.
3. Tap to enable/disable customized sensitivity levels for different time periods (24-hour day). See "Device Settings: MD Settings: Sensitivity Schedule" on page 28.
4. Tap to save changes and return to the previous screen.
5. Drag the slider up or down to adjust the all-day sensitivity level between 1 (lowest) and 50 (highest). Lower sensitivity requires more movement to trigger an event. Experiment to find what works best for your environment.

Device Settings: MD Settings: Sensitivity Schedule

1. Tap to turn on/off customized sensitivity levels for different time periods. If OFF, the all-day sensitivity level is used.
2. Tap to cancel changes and return to the previous screen.
3. Tap to save changes to the sensitivity schedule.
4. Tap the highlighted (blue) end time of a period (e.g., 06:00) to define time periods. The end time of one period is the start time of the next.
5. Tap to adjust the sensitivity level for a period by dragging the slider (1-50). Lower sensitivity requires more movement to trigger an event.

Device Settings: MD Settings: Motion Zones

1. Tap to block or mask areas from motion detection; the camera will ignore activity in these zones.
2. Tap to cancel changes and return to the previous screen.
3. Tap to save and return to the previous screen.
4. The drawing area. Blue shaded parts indicate areas where the camera will not monitor for motion activity.
5. Tap to use the 'Pen' tool. Drag to highlight areas to exclude from motion detection. Note: Only one tool (Pen or Eraser) can be active at a time.
6. Tap to use the 'Eraser' tool. Drag over highlighted areas to remove masking. Note: Only one tool (Pen or Eraser) can be active at a time.

Device Settings: Record: Record Settings

Note: Record settings require a microSD card. See "Setting up a MicroSD Memory Card" on page 12.

1. Motion detection recording is enabled by default.
2. Tap to configure how motion events are recorded to the microSD card.
3. Overwrite: Allows the camera to overwrite the oldest video files when storage is full. Keep ON to record new events, but regularly transfer files to prevent automatic deletion.
4. Pre-Motion Recording: Starts recording approximately 4 seconds before an event. Keep ON for additional footage prior to the event.
5. Post-Motion Recording Duration: Select the time (15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute) the camera continues recording after motion stops.

Device Settings: Record: Schedule

1. Tap to manage the recording schedule and customize times/days for recording motion detection events to the microSD card. By default, recording occurs at all times.
2. You can customize the recording schedule for a specific day by tapping its time bar.

Device Settings: Alarm Sound

1. Tap to enable/disable the camera's built-in siren. If enabled, the siren sounds upon motion detection and stops automatically after about 10 seconds of no motion.
2. If enabled, tap to manage the alarm schedule.
3. You can customize the times and days the camera can sound the siren by tapping the corresponding time bar.

Device Settings: Email

1. Tap to enable/disable email alerts. If enabled, the camera sends an alert when motion is detected.
2. If enabled, tap to configure email settings: server details, recipient addresses, alert frequency, etc. See "Setting up Email Alerts" on page 7.
3. Tap to customize the email alerts schedule, for example, to disable alerts during certain night hours. See "Customizing Email Alerts Schedule" on page 10.

Device Settings: More Settings

1. Tap to change the camera's admin login password. You can also create additional users for guest access. You will be prompted to log in with the new password if changed.
2. Tap to synchronize date & time and timezone with your smartphone, change formats, and enable/disable DST.
3. Tap to view microSD card details (total capacity, free space). You can also format the card to erase all recordings.
4. Tap to change the video standard between NTSC (North America) and PAL (Australia/UK) if experiencing display issues.
5. (Advanced users) Tap to configure FTP server settings for transferring motion event clips.
6. Tap to configure firmware upgrades. 'Auto Upgrade' is ON by default for automatic downloads and installations. Turn OFF for manual updates.
7. Tap to factory reset the camera to default settings. Wi-Fi and email alert settings will be lost. A reset pin tool is required to press and hold the Reset button for 10 seconds.
8. Tap to reboot the camera. This can often fix connectivity issues.

Adding a Camera via Ethernet

If you encounter issues connecting the camera to Wi-Fi using its configuration mode, try connecting via Ethernet first.

Connect the camera to your Wi-Fi router using the included Ethernet cable. Note: Voice prompts from the camera will not be heard during Ethernet connection.

Open the AlwaysSafe app and wait for the camera to be detected. Tap the preview window showing "Uninitialized device".

Create and confirm a login password. This password grants admin access to securely manage the camera. Tap 'Next'.

Enter a name for the camera (e.g., its location). If DST is observed, enable it and configure its times.

Tap 'Next'.

Select your Wi-Fi network from the list. If your network name is hidden, select 'Manual Input'.

Enter your Wi-Fi password and tap 'Save'. Passwords are case-sensitive.

Once paired, a confirmation appears. Tap 'Finish'.

You can now unplug the Ethernet cable. Move the camera within Wi-Fi range; it will reconnect automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions