FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TrueLook has been a recognized leader in IP network web camera management since 1995. Since its inception, TrueLook has served up over 3 billion images to over 100 million unique users on every continent in the world (including Antarctica).

Yes. The camera displays live images and live streaming video. Anytime you aim the camera or click the “request new image” button, you are presented with a new live image. In rare cases, in order to increase usability over slower cellular connections, the camera may show a very recent image instead of forcing the user to wait for a new image. However, a new live image can always be fetched at any time.

TrueLook cameras are mounted and plugged in to a standard 110V outlet (solar power is also available). Our built-in 4G LTE modems automatically dial home to our TrueLook servers. Users can access TrueLook with any web browser, just like any website. This web interface provides the user with all the tools to interact with the camera.

Our cameras and most other hardware ships within 2 days. The exceptions are solar equipment which typically ships within 5 days and mobile trailers which can vary depending on the options you choose. For current shipping time on mobile trailers, please contact us.

The answer is “virtually unlimited.” TrueLook can handle as many requests as any web server. Multiple users can view and manipulate the same camera at the same time without conflict. The only exception to this involves live streaming video from a PTZ robotic camera, as our team of physicists have not yet developed a way around the space-time continuum. Multiple people can simultaneously watch a live stream, even though the camera cannot be physically aimed by multiple people without affecting one another.

No. TrueLook works just like any other website. If you are online and have a modern browser, you can access TrueLook from anywhere at any time.

None. TrueLook cameras ship with built-in 4G LTE cellular modems and connect to the TrueLook service automatically. The only exception is our indoor cameras, which can be configured to use your local ethernet if you wish.

You will receive a camera, mount, and enclosure, with all the necessary cabling. If you are using a solar package, solar components (panel, battery, battery enclosure) are included as well. All hardware is shipped in such a way to reduce potential transit damage while still being very simple to install.

TrueLook also includes our hosted service, access to all our tools and features, free-forever media hosting, and unlimited support from our NC office.

Yes. All server and camera connections are completed over TCP/IP. The camera interface operates entirely over HTTPS, meaning all data is accessible only via an encrypted connection. TrueLook also has user-level security. User accounts can be created for each project, limiting access to unwanted viewers. Users can be assigned varying levels of access.

All our camera systems now include HD security recording. You can view video recordings directly from our interface to investigate thefts or jobsite incidents. Time-lapse videos are a separate feature – TrueLook can record any number of simultaneous time-lapses. These time-lapse videos are also playable anytime directly from within the TrueLook interface.

Yes, it is simple to either embed or link to the camera on your current webpage using simple HTML code. This code can be found in the Admin area of the interface.

TrueLook is an entirely web-based application. Any modern browser can use TrueLook.

All our video files, such as time-lapse videos, are in mp4 format, so you will need to make sure your browser of choice supports mp4 videos (which almost all browsers do).

No, outdoor TrueLook cameras have an enclosure which protects them from the elements. A variety of options for the enclosures are available to handle extreme hot, cold, and wet environments. Rain, snow, dust, or dirt may accumulate on the camera enclosure and obstruct the view. These are usually self-correcting with the weather, but you may want to wipe the enclosure’s lens area if it gets too dirty.

A Fixed-Position (sometimes shortened to “fixed”) camera is a non-robotic camera that is placed in one position and can only view the same area. There is no way to command the camera to look at a different location. Users can still digitally zoom in and out. See Fixed-Position cameras for more information.

PTZ stands for pan-tilt-zoom. This means the camera can be steered in almost any direction up/down/left/right and then zoom with a powerful optical lens. The cameras are often called robotic camera because they use motors to steer the camera to the area you wish to view. See PTZ cameras for more details.

With optical zoom, the image you see is always the highest resolution, no matter how far away you zoom. Digital zoom, which is used on fixed position cameras, can begin to lose image quality when zooming. TrueLook’s PTZ cameras have optical zooming so you can trust that you’ll always get the highest quality zoom.

Yes. You are free to move your camera at any time to any different location or site. Moving a camera in the middle of a scheduled time-lapse will cause the final video to “jump,” which is usually not desirable.

Also, when moving your camera from one project to another you should always let us know. This lets us keep your projects separated in your TrueLook dashboard and ensures that we’re billing you properly.

TrueLook makes installation incredibly simple; you just mount the camera and plug it in a power supply. While no technical expertise is required, we do offer full installation services, if you would like to have someone else manage the process for you.

A typical camera installation requires two components:

• Power – All TrueLook cameras require power for operation. The typical kind of power requirement is an 110V AC power receptacle nearby the camera’s mounting location. The camera hardware will terminate in a standard 3-prong AC connector for you to plug into your power receptacle. Additional power options and configurations are available for the equipment. Solar power is also an option.
• Mounting – TrueLook’s outdoor cameras come inside an enclosure which is then mounted to an existing structure. Enclosures are typically secured to a vertical pole (telephone pole, crane beam, etc.), on rooftops, or against a vertical surface/wall of a building. We design our equipment to be as simple as possible for customers to self-install. Of course, we know there are always special circumstances regarding the above items, and we’re always willing to work with you to find the best fit for your particular location.

At the end of your construction project, let us know you are ready to turn off your camera. We will make sure your time-lapses are stopped, and will pause or stop the billing process. You can still log in to your project within our interface, but you simply won’t see a live camera anymore. All your media will be available for export from our cloud hosting. You will have access to your media from our cloud hosting free forever.