ZoneMinder Forums

I have couples of cheap cameras, for testing purposes and I do not allow them to internet for obvious reasons. I had tried at most to allow NTP protocol for time sync but does not help- that's another story. They have their way to communicate to "mother ship". So I cannot use the timestamp from cameras.

Now, ZoneMinder have this timestamps, which are shown correctly but in my case I cannot see it on recorded videos (are passtrough method)
Maybe is by design or not adding processing on top.
But for some compliance the time stamp should appear as option one way or another.
Another point: These days videos on these camera are 2K so I am at biggest size possible is visible but on 4K I think becomes to small.
Instead combobox on configuration to configure as small, medium, big etc. just put some numbers for size.
4K yes, because I stretch/test the systems to the limits for some testing.

I run on full fledged server so no resource limited for this application/testing. The intended tests are to progress over 20 cameras.

Cheers

busymind wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 1:52 am Now, ZoneMinder have this timestamps, which are shown correctly but in my case I cannot see it on recorded videos (are passtrough method)
Maybe is by design or not adding processing on top.

By design ... passthrough sends the video stream from the camera, untouched, into a file.

To add a timestamp on it would require decode - overlay - re-encode, which is a lot of extra processing. For high resolution streams, and multiple cameras, that becomes a problem.

As to your cameras attempting to call home etc. -- one solution MAY be to set up an NTP server inside your network, on a trusted machine. Then set the cameras to use _that_ as their NTP server. This assumes the camera gives you a choice of server name/IP address to use for "user NTP setting"

If not, you can get creative. Set up your own NTP server in your network. Then, on your firewall/DNS proxy -- put in an entry to _lie_ to the camera, so that when it tries to resolve chinese.ntp.cn it responds with an IP address of _your_ nice safe machine.

That way, you can firewall _all_ traffic to/from the camera from ever reaching the internet, yet the camera can see it's favourite NTP server and get the time. Everyone's happy then?

I had to do this with a NAS device which, despite offering a choice of NTP servers + "user" just ignored my settings and would only set time when allowed to see the Internet. So ... I did the above with my DNS proxy/hosts file and it resolves where _I_ want it to. And works.

Gotcha, these cameras are TP-Link C320WS. I have to hookup something in the middle to see what link wants. Then an RPZ on DNS can do the rest in pointing to the "right" mother to give his milk.