How to connect alarm device to VIGI NVR, Discover everything you need to know about the TP-Link VIGI NVR system — a powerful network video recorder for smart and secure surveillance. Ideal for homes, businesses, and offices.

What Is TP-Link VIGI NVR? A Complete Guide to Smart Surveillance

What Is TP-Link VIGI NVR? A Complete Guide to Smart Surveillance

Looking for a reliable, scalable, and intelligent security system? The TP-Link VIGI NVR series offers powerful video recording and smart surveillance management — perfect for homes, offices, and businesses of all sizes.

Why Choose TP-Link VIGI NVR for Your Surveillance Needs?

The TP-Link VIGI NVR (Network Video Recorder) is part of TP-Link’s professional VIGI security lineup. It ensures smooth video recording, remote monitoring, and smart detection — all with high-definition clarity.

Key Advantages:

• ✅ Up to 4K Ultra HD Recording

• ✅ AI-Powered Smart Detection (motion, intrusion, human/vehicle classification)

• ✅ Remote Viewing via VIGI App or Browser

• ✅ Expandable Storage (Supports large HDDs)

• ✅ Multiple Channels (4 to 32 cameras)

• ✅ ONVIF Compatible with Third-Party IP Cameras

• ✅ Easy Plug & Play with VIGI IP Cameras

Looking to connect your IP cameras seamlessly? The VIGI NVR integrates effortlessly with TP-Link’s VIGI camera range.

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Ideal Use Cases for TP-Link VIGI NVR

Whether you run a small store or manage a large building, VIGI NVR fits multiple scenarios:

• 🛒 Retail Shops – Monitor customers, prevent loss

• 🏢 Offices – Enhance employee and asset security

• 🏬 Warehouses – Keep track of logistics and stock

• 🏡 Homes – 24/7 monitoring and safety

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How to Set Up TP-Link VIGI NVR (Step-by-Step)

1.🔌 Connect the NVR to your router and power source.

2.🎥 Plug in VIGI IP Cameras (via PoE or Ethernet).

3.📱 Download and open the VIGI App (available on iOS and Android).

4.🧭 Use the Setup Wizard to configure recording and detection.

5.🔒 Start monitoring via smartphone, browser, or desktop.

TP-Link VIGI NVR Models Overview

Model	Channels	Max Resolution	Storage Support
VIGI NVR1004H	4	5MP	6TB
VIGI NVR1008H	8	5MP	10TB
VIGI NVR1016H	16	8MP (4K)	2x HDD slots
VIGI NVR1032H	32	4K	2x HDD slots

🔍 Tip: Always check camera compatibility before installation. Learn more on TP-Link’s official support page.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the market for a dependable and smart surveillance solution, the TP-Link VIGI NVR series is a top contender. With cutting-edge features like 4K recording, AI detection, remote control, and expandable storage — it’s a future-ready system for both small and large setups.

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• TP-Link VIGI NVR

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Objective

This article provides configuration for connecting external alarm device to VIGI NVR and the steps to configure alarm in/output.

Requirements

• VIGI NVR (such as VIGI NVR4032H)

• External Alarm Devices

Introduction

VIGI NVR (with Alarm In/Out Interfaces) supports external alarm devices, which can be used to trigger alarms after NVR events, or to detect environmental abnormalities and provide abnormal signals. The alarm input receives the alarm signal. There are various types of commonly used external detectors, such as sound sensors, infrared sensors, smoke sensors, etc. The alarm output sends out alarm signal. VIGI devices can trigger alarms through external alarm devices such as external alarm lights, sirens, buzzers, etc.

To complete the configuration, you need to finish both the hardware installation and software configuration.

Hardware Installation

Before connecting the external alarm device, connect the included terminal block to the corresponding alarm interface on the VIGI NVR.

Alarm In

Please connect the positive terminal (COM port, +) of the alarm input device to the alarm input port (ALARM IN 1-16) of the NVR, and the negative terminal (NO/NC port, -) of the alarm input device to the ground terminal (G) of the NVR, as shown below.

Note:

1. The ground terminal of the alarm input (ALARM IN) requires the use of the G terminal shown in the above illustration and cannot be connected to the G terminal of the ALARM OUT connector.

2. Normally Open (NO port) means that under normal conditions, the circuit is open and no current passes through the NVR, when the alarm is triggered, the current passes through the NVR and the NVR alarms.

3. Normally Closed (NC port) means that normally the circuit is closed, and the NVR will alarm in case of a circuit fault or alarm trigger.

Alarm Out

The alarm output can be connected to either DC or AC loads. When used as a control switch for AC circuits, it is imperative to use an external relay to avoid damage to the equipment and the risk of electric shock.

Power by DC

Please connect the positive terminal (+) of the alarm output device to the positive terminal of the NVR alarm output port (ALARM OUT), marked 1~4. Then, connect the negative terminal (-) of the alarm output device to the corresponding ground terminal (G) of the NVR alarm output port (ALARM OUT).

Notes:

1. The alarm output port of the VIGI NVR is compatible with DC loads of up to 24V.

2. The NVR alarm output port (ALARM OUT) positive pole (marking 1~4) and the corresponding ground terminal (G) must be connected in a one-to-one manner, and cannot be mixed.

Power by AC

Please be aware that the normal AC load voltage is too high to trigger the alarm. Consequently, when external AC loads are connected, it is necessary to use an external relay, as illustrated in the schematic below.

Software Configuration

After connecting the external alarm device to the VIGI NVR, we need to configure alarm device on the VIGI NVR GUI or Web interface.

Alarm Input

Step 1. Select the Alarm input port from A1 to A16, we can also modify the Alarm Name for the port.

Step 2. Enable this alarm input.

Step 3. Select the Alarm Type.

Normally Open (NO) means that under normal conditions, the circuit is open and no current passes through the NVR, when the alarm is triggered, the current passes through the NVR and the NVR alarms.

Normally Closed (NC) means that normally the circuit is closed, and the NVR will alarm in case of a circuit fault or alarm trigger.

This depends on the type of alarm input device.

Step 4. Set up Arming Time. The Alarm input will only work during the set time interval.

Step 5. Configure Linkage Method.

For Regular Linkage, we can choose ‘Buzzer’ and ‘Screen Prompt’, or ink with any output port, when the alarm is triggered will let the linked port output signal.

For Recording Linkage, we can also choose to link with any channel, when the alarm is triggered will let the corresponding channel start video recording.

Alarm Output

Step 1. Select Alarm Output port from A1 to A4, we can also modify the Alarm Name for the port.

Step 2. Duration of device alarms.

Step 3. Arming Time settings. The Alarm output will only work during the set time interval.

Step 4. Set the alarm linkage on the Event setting page.

Conclusion

You have successfully set external alarm devices on VIGI NVR.

Get to know more details of each function and configuration, please go to Download Center | TP-Link to download the manual of your product.

How to connect an Alarm device or Audio device to VIGI Camera

Objective

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to connect an Alarm device or Audio device to a VIGI Camera

Requirements

• VIGI Camera (with an alarm/audio interface, )

Introduction

This article applies to VIGI cameras equipped with an alarm/audio interface.

Commonly used external alarms and audio equipment include:

Type	Role	Common Devices
Audio In	Used for sound collection	microphone, pickup
Audio Out	Used for sound output	speakers, subwoofers, loudspeakers
Alarm In	Built-in sensors detect environmental abnormalities and provide abnormal signals	smoke detectors, infrared detectors
Alarm Out	After receiving the alarm signal, it alerts the user	buzzer, alarm light

This article will describe how to connect the above external alarm/audio devices to the VIGI camera.

Hardware Installation

Before connecting the external alarm or audio device, connect the included terminal block to the corresponding alarm or audio interface on the camera.

1.1 Connect the Audio In device (using a microphone as an example)

• 3-wire system microphone for CCTV camera

Refer to the following diagram for the connection:

• Microphone with RCA connector

Some microphones have dedicated interfaces for power and audio, which are pre-made connectors. Refer to the following diagram for the connection:

1.2 Connect the Audio Out device (using a speaker as an example)

Refer to the following diagram for the connection:

1.3 Connect the Alarm In device (using a smoke sensor as an example)

When an external alarm device detects an abnormal situation, it sends a signal to notify the camera, which then immediately takes corresponding measures to address it. There are various types of commonly used external detectors, such as sensors for sound, infrared, smoke, etc., which are connected to the Alarm In port of the device. Using a smoke sensor as an example, the connection diagram is as follows:

1.4 Connect the Alarm Out device (using a buzzer as an example)

VIGI devices can trigger alarms through external devices such as alarm lights, sirens, buzzers, etc. These alarm devices are connected to the camera’s Alarm Out port. Using a buzzer as an example, the connection diagram is as follows:

Configuration

After connecting the external audio/alarm devices to the VIGI Camera, we need to configure audio/alarm device on the Camera Web interface. The following configuration uses the settings page of InSight S345ZI as an example.

2.1 Configuration of Audio device

Follow the steps below to configure Audio settings.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Camera > Stream > Audio.

Step 2. Configure the following parameters and click save.

• Audio Output: Speaker Out refers to the built-in speaker (the default setting), while Line Out refers to the external speaker (S345ZI just has an external speaker interface).

• Mute: Toggle to mute the speaker of the camera. It’s enabled by default.

• Output Volume: the volume of the speaker during the two-way audio.

• System Volume: the volume of the sound alarm and other system prompt tones.

• Audio Coding: Select the encoding type of audio.

• Audio Input: Select audio input device. Micin refers to the built-in microphone (the default setting), While Line in refers to external audio device.

• Input Volume: Adjust the volume of the input device.

• Noise Filtering: Enable noise filtering to remove the noise from the video. It’s enabled by default.

• Audio Switch: Turn on the microphone. It’s enabled by default.

• Restore: Click to restore to factory default settings.

2.2 Configuration of Alarm device

Follow the steps below to configure Alarm device settings.

Alarm input

Step 1. Go to Settings > Event > Alarm Device > Alarm Input.

Step 2. Select an Alarm Input Number. Check ‘Enable the alarm input’. Edit the Alarm Name.

Currently, the camera has only one alarm input port, so this option only has AI1.

Step 3. Select the Alarm Type from the dropdown list.

• Normally Open Type means that under normal conditions, the circuit is open and no current passes through the device. When the alarm is triggered, the current passes through the device and the device alarms.

• Normally Close means that normally the circuit is closed, and the device will alarm in case of a circuit fault or alarm trigger.

Step 4. Refer to Set Arming Schedule for setting scheduled time. Drag the time bar to draw desired valid time.

Notes:

• Each cell represents one hour.

• The default setting is 24/7.

• Up to six time periods can be configured for a day.

Step 5. Set linkage methods as needed. If you want to link the alarm output device, you need to check the “Alarm Output” option. The “Alarm Output” option is disabled by default.

Step 6. Click Save.

Alarm Output

If the device has been connected to an alarm output device, and the alarm output No. has been configured, the device sends alarm signal to the connected alarm output device when an alarm is triggered.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Event > Alarm Device > Alarm Output.

Step 2. Select the Alarm Output Number according to the alarm interface connected to the external alarm. Currently, the camera has only one alarm output port, so this option only has AO1.

Step 3. Enable the Alarm Output Device. Edit the Alarm Name.

Step 4. Select the Alarm Duration from the dropdown list.

Step 5. Click Save.

Conclusion

With the steps above, you have successfully set the external Alarm device or Audio device to a VIGI Camera.

Get to know more details of each function and configuration please go to Download Center to download the manual of your product.

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