Truchaos

"I agree with the idea.Hikvision provide very good free software for their capture cards and dvr`s and ip cameras like iVMS-2000 " I also would like to see a Hikvision forum. However, I disagree with your statement about their software being "very good". I have a Hikvision 8016 stand alone DVR and I've never been able to get the software to work. My IT person and I have spent many hours trying to resolve the 'no video problem'. Hikvision-USA tech support is basically non-existent because of the language barrier. In fact, the language issues with their tech support are the worst I've ever experienced and I've been a technician for 25 years. The 8016 works perfectly with a monitor connected directly to the DVR and the computer talks to the DVR but the Hikvision software just won't access the video on the DVR. When I complained to the company where I purchased the DVR, they said they have the same problems and reiterated my experiences of terrible Hikvision tech support. I'm sure their technicians know their stuff, but if they can't communicate it to the customer, they're not very helpful. So, to help the customers resolve their own technical problems, we need a Hikvision forum.

"^This. A 320GB drive can be had brand-new for under $50. For that matter, a 500GB can be had for under $60. Just get a dedicated drive for your video and be done with it. Add $20-$30 and get it in an external USB case." You can get a 2TB hard drive for $110 with free three day shipping. I have four of them in my 8016 Hikvision system and they work great. If this won't work, try Pricewatch.com for other hard drive deals. http:// http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148413&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3watch&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3watch-_-Hard+Drives-_-Seagate-_-22148413

"Also, I just had to finally scrap a 48 Channel Hikvision server that had a 24 TB RAID-5 in it. The clients were taking up to 10 minuets to pull video off of the Raid-5. I think the problem was more Hikvision software," How did you ever figure out the instructions for the Hikvision software? I have a stand alone Hikvision system which I've been trying to access via a computer with Hikvision software and I can't get it work. Both my IT person and I can't get it to view video on the DVR even using a router between the two. The computer talks to the DVR but the software won't access the video. The DVR works fine and I can view the stored/live video on a monitor connected directly to the DVR (using the remote control) but not via the Hikvision software. I've called Hikvision USA tech support but their language skills are literally the worst I've ever encountered via telephone support. Their online writing skills are nearly as bad. I'm pretty good with broken english but when I can only figure out a single word out of each twenty, there isn't much communication happening. I like the Hikvision 8016HFI, I just would like to use it to it's full potential. Of course I called the internet security company I bought the system from and they literally told me I should have bought a different system and that they couldn't help me. I'd like to add that someone commented that 4CIF at 30 frames per second would consume a tremendous amount of storage. My experience is that at maximum resolution, with 16 cameras and a somewhat busy environment 8 hours per day and some night activity (motion activated), I'm using about 1TB per month in storage. I installed 8 TB of storage and can record about 8 months of video with H.264 compression at 4CIF and 30 FPS. This is on the 8016HFI Hikvision system connected to analog 520TVL cameras.