16-camera system stopped working. Any ideas?

We have a 16-camera system that stopped working a few days ago. The last recording shows a series of dark smudges on the feed, and then none of the cameras displayed video except for one. We replaced the DVR with the same model, but the issue remains. Does anyone have suggestions for what might be causing this? I’m completely stuck.

Are these IP cameras or analog?

ShieldedDwellings said:
Are these IP cameras or analog?

They’re using a DVR, so it’s most likely analog.

Melvin said:

ShieldedDwellings said:
Are these IP cameras or analog?

They’re using a DVR, so it’s most likely analog.

Yes, they are definitely analog cameras.

ShieldedDwellings said:
Are these IP cameras or analog?

A friend mentioned it could be a signal amplifier issue. Does that sound plausible?

This could be a power supply problem. Older power supplies can weaken and fail to provide enough power for all the cameras.

Craig said:
This could be a power supply problem. Older power supplies can weaken and fail to provide enough power for all the cameras.

You could try unplugging all the cameras and then plug them in one at a time to see if they work individually.

You should consider calling an installation company and having a technician diagnose the issue. While many people might suggest possible solutions, a technician can physically inspect and figure out what’s going wrong.

I’ve been in this field for over 20 years, and it’s common for end users to try troubleshooting themselves after watching a few videos, but these situations often need professional attention.

@Melvin
It’s not exactly a typical end-user scenario. This is for a small nonprofit that relies on volunteers and cost-effective solutions.

Milton_Joseph said:
@Melvin
It’s not exactly a typical end-user scenario. This is for a small nonprofit that relies on volunteers and cost-effective solutions.

Understood. Can you share the model of the DVR and cameras? That might help narrow it down.