DVM-500 User’s Guide
Digital In-Car Video System
Digital Ally DVM User Guide Rev. F (334/1.6.2) Page
13
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How to Use Covert Mode
Covert Mode allows an operator to record audio and video without attracting attention to the DVM. In Covert
Mode, the LCD screen and all illumination on the DVM is shut off, causing the unit to appear to be powered
down. Covert Mode can be useful for recording occupants inside the vehicle or for stealth recording of
suspects in low-light areas.
*IMPORTANT*
When approaching a DVM that appears to be powered down, briefly press any button on the DVM to verify
that it is not in
Covert Mode
before removing or inserting the CF card. [Briefly means about a ¼ second
stroke of the button.]
To Enter Covert Mode:
Press and hold the MENU/6 button for 2 to 3 seconds. The LCD screen and all LED lights will turn off, while
the DVM remains powered on.
Important:
The operator must exercise care to ensure that the DVM is completely powered off and not
in Covert Mode before removing the CF card. If the CF card is removed or inserted while the unit is
powered on it may cause invalid files to be created on the CF card. If the DVM is recording when the
CF card is removed, then the recorded file may become invalid. The CF card may contain an .asf and
.mtd file that appear to contain 0 KB of data. It will also create a Power.txt file that will display a
message to the operator the next time the DVM is powered on to indicate that it was improperly
shutdown.
Example of files that may appear on a CF card that has been removed from the DVM while it is still
powered on:
01F4999902007041602323501.asf files (video) - (0 KB file) - Invalid file
01F4999902007041602323501.mtd files (metadata) - (0 KB file) - Invalid file
Power.txt - DVM was improperly shutdown - (0 KB file) - Warning file
Uploading a CF card with invalid files into VideoManager:
If a CF card contains invalid files, then VideoManager will skip those files during the upload process.
VideoManager will not erase any files from the CF card in this situation. It will be necessary to run the
Erase/Format CF card process in VideoManager to remove the files. This process must be run by an
administrator or a user with the proper access rights in VideoManager.
To Exit Covert Mode:
Briefly press any button on the DVM. The LCD screen will turn on and all of the buttons on the front of the
DVM may be illuminated (depending on the BackLight setting).
