diff --git a/doc/motionplus_config.html b/doc/motionplus_config.html
index 282cda6..9cb61b2 100644
--- a/doc/motionplus_config.html
+++ b/doc/motionplus_config.html
@@ -1297,6 +1297,14 @@ <h3><a name="netcam_params"></a>netcam_params</h3>
           </div>
           <p></p>
 
+          <div>
+            <i><h4>interrupt</h4></i>
+            The duration in seconds permitted for reading an image from the netcam source.  For the initial connection
+            to the camera, the maximum duration is set equal to three times the interrupt specified.  The default
+            number of seconds is 20.
+          </div>
+          <p></p>
+
           <div>
             <i><h4> params_file </h4></i>
             <ul>
diff --git a/src/netcam.cpp b/src/netcam.cpp
index e281d01..907d77b 100644
--- a/src/netcam.cpp
+++ b/src/netcam.cpp
@@ -1340,7 +1340,7 @@ int cls_netcam::read_image()
 
     interrupted=false;
     clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &ist_tm);
-    idur = 10;
+    idur = cfg_idur;
 
     status = NETCAM_READINGIMAGE;
     img_recv->used = 0;
@@ -1543,8 +1543,6 @@ void cls_netcam::set_options()
             std::to_string(cfg_height);
         util_parms_add_default(params,"video_size", tmp);
 
-        idur = 55;
-
     } else if (service == "file") {
         MOTPLS_LOG(INF, TYPE_NETCAM, NO_ERRNO
             ,_("%s:Setting up movie file")
@@ -1689,6 +1687,7 @@ void cls_netcam::set_parms ()
     filenbr = 0;
     filelist.clear();
     filedir = "";
+    cfg_idur = 20;
 
     for (it = params->params_array.begin();
         it != params->params_array.end(); it++) {
@@ -1702,6 +1701,9 @@ void cls_netcam::set_parms ()
                 capture_rate = mtoi(it->param_value);
             }
         }
+        if (it->param_name == "interrupt") {
+            cfg_idur = mtoi(it->param_value);
+        }
     }
 
     /* If this is the norm and we have a highres, then disable passthru on the norm */
@@ -1720,7 +1722,6 @@ void cls_netcam::set_parms ()
     clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &ist_tm);
     clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &icur_tm);
 
-    idur = 5;
     interrupted = false;
 
     set_path();
@@ -1784,7 +1785,7 @@ int cls_netcam::open_context()
 
     clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &ist_tm);
 
-    idur = 20;
+    idur = cfg_idur * 3; /*3 is arbritrary multiplier to give connect more time than other steps*/
 
     set_options();
 
diff --git a/src/netcam.hpp b/src/netcam.hpp
index c5b1058..7c1630b 100644
--- a/src/netcam.hpp
+++ b/src/netcam.hpp
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ class cls_netcam {
         int         cfg_width;
         int         cfg_height;
         int         cfg_framerate;
+        int         cfg_idur;
         std::string cfg_params;
 
         std::vector<ctx_filelist_item>    filelist;