Expert Advice

Contributor: Paul Broome
Company: Sensormatic VPD

Multiplexer Applications & Troubleshooting Guide

Undocumented Multiplexer Functions

MV9Oe series (includes MV94e, MV99e, MV96e, MV16i.)

Hold in the "function" button while pressing:
  • Menu = Enter the menu.
  • Up Arrow = "Soft reset" to factory menu settings.
  • Down Arrow = Color bars (no function in these models.)
  • Left Arrow = Alarm count screen (on later models only.)
  • Right Arrow = Toggle time/date on/off.
  • Tape = Diagnostic mode (decodes its own output when a cable is connected from VCR out to VCR in.)
Holding in the highest number camera button while applying power provides a hardware reset which configures the unit properly for Robot brand.
  • Hold camera 4 button and apply power = MV94e.
  • Hold camera 9 button and apply power = MV99e.
  • Hold camera 16 button and apply power = MV96e & MVl6i.
* This will happen regardless of the number of camera inputs. (Ex. If you hold in camera button 4 on an MV96e, it thinks it is an MV94e.

Holding in the "next to highest" camera button while applying power provides a hardware reset which configures the unit for American Dynamics brand. There will be some minor differences in the menu. The time/date screen will say "Chromaplex." There will be no color bars on the menu screens.

MV209 and MV216 additional items:

"Function," "Down Arrow" = Motion set-up summary screen.

"Function," "Left Arrow" = Alarm summary screen.

Older multiplexer versions (MVI6E, Mv94, Mv99, MV96.)

On the oldest units, the "Function" button is labeled "CTRL" for control.

"Function," (or, CTRL) "Up Arrow" does a soft reset to factory menu settings. There is no warning screen. This can be done accidentally.

"Function," "Down Arrow" and "Function," "Left Arrow" have no effect.

"Function," "Right Arrow" toggles the time/date only on software version 1.3 and 1.4. The date can not be removed on earlier versions.

To perform a hardware reset, hold in the #3 camera button while applying power.

Older Simplex Versions (SMV99, SMV96, SMV16.)

Limited functionality.
  • "Function," "Seq." = enter menu. No others active.
  • "Function." Up Arrow" = reset to factory menu defaults.
New Simplex (SMV9O4, SMV99, SMV916, SMV1O4, SMV116.)Hardware reset is accomplished by holding in the highest camera button while applying power.
  • "Function," "menu" = enter menu.
  • "Function," "Up Arrow" = reset to factory menu defaults.
  • "Function,"" Down Arrow" no function.
  • "Function," "Left Arrow" Alarm count screen.
  • "Function," "Right Arrow" = Toggle time/date.
Functionality Test - Duplex: The overall functionality of a duplex multiplexer can be verified by performing a "loop back" test. Install a cable from the VCR in to the VCR out connectors on the multiplexer. Hold in the "function" button while pressing the "tape" button. This puts the multiplexer in a mode where it will decode its own output. The decoded video will display on the screen. The update speed will be dependent on the record speed set in the menu. Set the unit to the fastest speed for best results. The loop back function (cable from VCR out to VCR in and pressing Function/Tape) will not work on simplex units. It does not have the circuitry to do both encoding and decoding at the same time.
  • To reset AD multiplexer versions, hold in the next to the highest camera button while applying power.