Lorex Invalid Camera Video Standard – (Reasons & Solutions)

Are you getting Lorex’s “invalid camera video standard” message? We will help you!

Lorex system can connect multiple cameras, but some settings must be correct to transmit the video feed to your display.

The invalid video standard can be due to resolution, network, or hardware issues.

Fixing the invalid camera video standard on Lorex will require you to check all the settings regarding resolution, video format, and data transmission.

Moreover, you might need to reset some configurations to the factory default and start over.

Lorex Invalid Camera Video Standard – 7 Solutions

Solution #1: Adjust The Correct Format

When facing the Lorex “invalid camera format” issue with your system, it might be due to a mismatch between the camera’s format and the DVR settings.

For example, you have an AHD camera while the DVR is set for HD-CVI. 

Here is how to fix that:

1. Go to the DVR’s Main Menu.
2. Open the “Camera” section.
3. Select “Settings.”

Now, follow these steps:

1. Identify the camera channel you’re using.
2. Find out your camera type (check the box or specs).
3. If it’s an AHD camera, mark the “AHD” box for that channel.
4. Save the settings.

The DVR will restart. Once back up, you should see your camera’s live view correctly. That aligns the camera format with the DVR and resolves the issue.

Just make sure you know your camera type for the right adjustments.

Solution #2: Check The Resolution

If your TV or monitor displays error messages such as “Mode Not Supported,” “Format Not Supported,” or “Out of Range,” it indicates a compatibility problem between your DVR/NVR and the display.

Below are some guidelines you should employ to solve the issue.

1. Navigate to the Main Menu and select “System.”
2. Choose “Display” from the left column.
3. Select the “Resolution Bar.”
4. Pick a resolution that falls within your monitor or TV’s supported range.
5. Apply the changes.
6. Save the settings.
7. Reboot your DVR/NVR to activate the new resolution settings.

Once the system has restarted, verify that the resolution has been correctly adjusted.

You can reconnect the DVR/NVR to the original video source if the resolution is correct and the errors are resolved.

Note: The Lorex DVR/NVR comes pre-configured for 1280 x 1024 resolution. That causes trouble sometimes. Thus, you must follow the instructions above to fix the issue.

Solution #3: Restore The Factory Default Resolution

If you’ve changed your recorder’s display output to a higher resolution, such as 4K Ultra HD, but your monitor doesn’t support it, you might experience issues like loss of video signal or a black screen.

To resolve this and restore the default display output, follow these steps:

Alert: Before changing your recorder's display output to a higher resolution, verify that your monitor can support the new resolution, especially 4K, to prevent video signal loss.

NR900 Series and N881/N882 Series

For NR900, N881, N882, N883 recorders:

1. Plug in your recorder.
2. Press and hold the FN (function) button to restart the system.
3. The lowest available resolution will be enabled to ensure compatibility with various monitors.

N861 Series

For N861 and N862 recorders:

1. Plug in your recorder.
2. Continuously tap the panic button so the Lorex screen appears on your monitor.
3. Once the Lorex screen appears, the reset is through.

Your recorder will display the lowest resolution to ensure compatibility with various monitors.

D841/D861 Series and N841/N842/N843 Series

For D841, D861, N841, N842, N843 recorders:

1. Plug in your recorder as you press the panic button.
2. Hold the panic button until you see the Lorex screen on your monitor.
3. Once the Lorex screen appears, the reset is finished.

Don’t be scared if only the lowest resolution shows up at first. You can set up the system from there.

Note: Following the steps above will reset your recorder's display output to the factory default, which is the lowest resolution supported. 

That should help restore compatibility with monitors that have lower resolutions.

Solution #4: Update The Firmware

Another potential cause behind the issue is that the current firmware is outdated.

That can happen on your DVR/NVR or any other device used to access the camera’s feed.

The software might fail to auto-update, so you must check how to perform a manual update below and eliminate the issue.

Update Your DVR/NVR

While some options vary on the different NVR and DVR models, updating will be the same for all devices.

1. Go to Main Menu.
2. Click on Settings.
3. Locate the “System” option.
4. Click on “Upgrade.”
5. Locate and click on “Check for Updates”.

Update The App

Are you using the app to access your camera’s feed? It can also glitch if you haven’t updated it in a while.

Here is how you can check if you have the latest version installed:

1. Open the Lorex Home app.
2. Tap on “More” and access the Device Settings.
3. Click on “Firmware.”

Update The LSHSC

Perhaps you own a Lorex Smart Home Security Center. Such a device is also helpful to monitor your multiple cameras.

And just like the NVR and DVR, glitches will happen if a recent update goes missing.

1. Ensure that the device is connected to the internet.
2. Access “Device Settings” from the home screen.
3. Go to “Device Info.”
4. Click on “Software Version.”
5. If a new version is available, it will show up right away.
6. Install it.

Solution #5: Adjust The Network

While many Lorex cameras are powered directly through the DVR/NVR, others are Wi-Fi.

The Wi-Fi cameras might show additional trouble when one of the settings is not adjusted correctly.

So you must do the following:

1. Go to the Lorex system.
2. Open the Wi-Fi settings.
3. Check if the cameras are connected to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz network.
4. Find the user guide or the info page of your camera on the Lorex site.
5. Switch the connection if necessary.

Just to ensure, you should restart your router (turn it off, wait a minute, turn it back on).

Also, you might want to restart the cameras before switching the connection (in case you are trying that method).

Solution #6: Check The Electrical Feed

We have to consider two different situations. That’s because Lorex provides cameras wired directly to the recorder and others that connect via Wi-Fi.

The first type uses PoE (Power over Ethernet), and the other is connected via a power adapter.

So do the following:

For PoE Cameras

These are the first steps:

1. Disconnect that camera physically.
2. Check if there is an issue with the recorder or switch’s port.
3. If possible, try a working camera on that same port.

The actions above will help you learn about the actual problem. For example, the cable might be damaged, prompting you to replace it and solve the issue quickly.

Moreover, the camera might be the issue, which requires resetting it.

For Wi-Fi Cameras

If you have a Wi-Fi Lorex camera that presents a power issue, do the following:

1. Disconnect the current power adapter.
2. Try connecting it to a different power outlet.
3. If the camera still doesn’t turn on, try a different power adapter.

That way, you will learn whether to replace the power adapter or try resetting the camera.

Solution #7: Reset The Camera(s)

Perhaps nothing above has helped you get the camera feed, so you still get invalid camera video standards on the Lorex system.

In that case, it is valid to try resetting the camera so it goes back to the factory defaults. You must set up all the systems from there again, but it should work.

1. Ensure your camera is connected to the Recorder via Ethernet.
2. Locate the reset button on the camera (usually on the back).
3. Hold the button for a while.
4. Disconnect and connect the Ethernet cable while you press the button.
5. Hold for at least 15 seconds before releasing.

After that, ensure the camera turns on and connects to the system.

From there on, adjust the video format and resolution so no incompatibility surfaces.

Quick Recap

Lorex’s “invalid camera video standard” message might pop up when you try setting up the system for the first time.

It indicates that one part of the software or hardware is not adequate with the rest. Following the solutions above will help you make everything work just fine.