chesterfield

Thanks for the info. I suspected that the licenses on the Avigilon NVRs may not be able to be moved. Which leaves me with the upgrade and expand option. I already have a few cameras spare, and wouldn't be buying new avigilon cameras for any extra channels that I need cameras for. I'd have them off eBay for a third the price, or new hikvision.

My current CCTV system consists of Avigilon Software running on a server and 12TB NAS storage, coupled to a mix of Hikvision and Avigilon cameras.I have a 12 camera license for the Avigilon, currently version 5.Im now at the stage where Im looking to add more cameras to cover different parts of the building and an outbuilding. I think I may need to go beyond 16/17 cameras, so would need another 4+1 camera licenses for the avigilon server (if they still sell them in groups of 4 or 1 only).Whilst I really like the Avigilon software and have stuck with it for a few years, Im getting a bit sick of the whole smoke and mirrors pricing with Avigion software and licenses whenever Ive had the need to upgrade or expand. I see there is a free upgrade to acc6 if previous licenses were bought after 1st July 2016. I bought my previous upgrade about 2 weeks earlier, ffs. So that's another probably £150+ to upgrade for the sake of two weeks. I'm getting a bit sick of the way I have to pay a chunk of money to upgrade the existing estate every time i want to add a couple more cameras. So I am now considering moving the whole lot to a Hikvision NVR and leaving avigilon. I actually prefer the Hikvision cameras I have to the Avigilon ones, especially when comparing the Hikvision Turrets to the Avigilon Domes. Low lying sun can sometimes catch the domes and all but wipes the picture out (probably not the most appropriate camera type for the location, my fault).All of my cameras are currently powered by POE, the vast majority of the wired network in the home is gigabit, and there is always a gigabit link back to the server room where the NVR would be housed. Not all cameras are connected directly back to the server room, they may connect into a POE switch at one point in the house and then there is a single gigabit backhaul from that switch to a switch in the server room.So, Im either now going to get another few camera licenses for Avigilon, at which point Im no doubt going to be told I need to upgrade to version 6 in order to add more channels, and whatever that costs. Or I go for the 16 channel Hikvision NVR and reuse the Avigilon Cameras that I can via ONVIF. Hopefully I can still employ motion detection this way too.What are peoples thoughts? Stick with the Avigilon software and add the necessary channel licenses or start again and go with a Hikvision NVR, and then Im good for up to 16 channels before more expense at the NVR end?Is my current network/wiring up to the job, or do I really need to get every camera back to the NVR individually?Id also like to have the ability to monitor remotely, and perhas even have a permanent monitor set up in one room/outbuilding.I love the avigilon system, but they are starting to p*** me off with the way they price, especially with regard to upgrades and adding cameras. Grateful for any input or opinion...

Thanks for the replies so far guys. My current setup is standard, 12 channels. Ive had pricing back for options to upgrade the number of channels on my existing setup, which is not out of the question, but still a bit steep (£470 ($600) for four channels including tax). Another option has presented itself in the possibility of purchasing a used 8 channel Avigilon NVR (Core) with software. This raises a few of questions which others may know the answer to here: Are licenses transferable to other people - i.e. can I even use this NVR standalone at my home without breaching some terms with AVigilon? Is it possible to move the license for these 8 channels to my current 12 channel setup leaving me with a total of 20 channels on one system? I assume this would involve some form of upgrade from core to standard on the 8 channel NVR, or indeed is it possible to "downgrade" my system to core in oredr to accept these 8 channel licenses. I dont really need standard now on version 5/6, but as it was the only one which allowed the level of remote access I needed way back on version 4, thats why I have standard, I'd be happy with the features of Core now if I could have the 20 channels in one location. Worst case scenario, the 8 channel box would have to sit as a separate entity on the network and Id have to connect my remote stations/phones to two different gateways - which is a bit messy. Any advice welcomed as always :)

Hi, I am currently running Avigilon ACC version 5 (5.6.2.26). I have a couple of Hkvision cameras attached model DS-2CD2335-I and they are both working fine. One is running firmware V5.4.23, the other V5.3.3. Both have motion detection configured and either trigger channel (on old firmware) or Trigger recording (on new firmware). These cameras work just fine. I have now come to add a 5mp version of the same camera (DS-2CD2355-I). It has the same firmware as one of the 3mp versions V5.4.23, I have run through all other settings and they match the same as the 3mp version. But for the life of me I cant get the 5mp version to trigger recording on the AVigilon ACC software. I cant see any obvious difference in setting or configuration between the 3mp and the 5mp Hikvision cameras, but the 3 works and the 5 doesnt. Can anyone suggest anything that may help? Perhaps a reflash of the 5mp camera? in which case could someone poin me in the direction of the most appropriate firmware?

Thanks for that, I shall try and see if I can load a new firmware on this camera, but unsure where I would get the a different one for the 2355. Its currently running the same version as the 3mp that works. (5.4.23) I thought this was the latest version for the 2355 camera. The quest goes on... Thanks for the replies so far and apologies for the slow responses. life has a habit of getting in the way of these things.

Hi, Apologies for the delay in responding, I had a family holiday. Installed the 3mp camera in place before I went - all worked well. Ive returned and upgraded the ACC to laest version, still no luck with the 5mp camera. The 3mp works perfectly, but the 5mp with the very same software version doesnt trigger the recording. All settings the same on both cameras (other than image size). Does anyone have an other suggestion as to why this may be?

Hi, Im currently running Avigilon 5, with a compbination of Avigilon and Hikvision cameras. All recording to the server locally no problem. Im looking to add some form of off site/cloud storage. Is this possible out of the box from ACC, or am I into enabling second streams and pulling them from elsewhere? Even if it is just for 10 second clips whilst ever motion is recorded rather than the whole motion event each time. Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to accomplish this?

Thanks ericq. I do have the standard version, and wondered about scheduled backups, however while that overcomes the bandwidth issue, it means that any motion detected during a possible break in would not be backed up until the evening after the event, so in the event of the security system being located and destroyed or stolen, then the recordings also go with it. I could go the route of uploading clips to the cloud upon motion detection, but given the number of cameras and frequency of movement, this may be unrealistic. I may have some strategically placed cameras which would not show movement as often and set these to only upload of motion is detected, specifically one trained on the system itself so as to capture onto the cloud anyone who may access the room with the cctv server and attack/remove it. The system itself is in a locked rack, and the actual storage could be located elsewhere so as to maximise the time the system has to capture and upload images before somebody hellbent on finding the cctv system. Thanks for the tips, its given food for thought.

A fairly newbie question, but as the maximum resolution that the avigilon analogue encoders will pass through is 720 x 560, is there any point in using analogue cameras with more than 720tvl in conjunction with these encoders? Any responses greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Anyone had experience in connecting to a mixed version environment with Avigilon Client? I have two sites, one running avigilon server 5, the other running version 4.12. Gateway set up on both (with corresponding versions). If I install Client Version 5, I can quite happily connect to the version 5 site (client pc is on same network as the version 5 server), but cannot connect to the version 4.12 server even if I add the IP manually and select the port 50080 for the version 4.12 server If I install the Client version 4.12, then I can connect to the 4.12 server (as long as I add the site manually with its IP, because it is on a different network). But I cannot connect to the version 5 site, even if adding the correct IP and port 38880. The andriod app will happily connect to both sites and display my chosen cameras from each site. Has anyone else come across this problem? What was your solution? It appears you cant have both versions of the client installed at the same time either. Any suggestions? Many thanks for any help.

Yep - Just had a quote back from my usual supplier it does seem that there may be a reasonable way to upgrade. Buy a single channel ACC4 license, gives a spare camera license, but also gives a free upgrade, and that upgrade will upgrade all licenses connected to the server. Works out £115 + Vat in the UK. Seems Reasonable?

Installing the latest version of 4.12.0.48 does not allow it to be installed with version 5 on the same machine. No matter what the release notes state. If you install version 4.12.0.48 and then install version 5, it upgrades the installation. Only one installation is on the machine. If you install version 5 and then install version 4.12.0.48 then this again overwrites version 5 and you still only have one version installed. The ONLY way to run both appears to be to run the standalone version. Even Microsoft can manage to allow different versions of excel/word etc to be installed on the same machine. Oh well, at least there is a solution that will workaround until I get round to upgrading the 4.12 to version 5. Sadly missed out on the free upgrade for one site as I had version 4.12 before Sept 12.

Not received anything - maybe send again?

Ok, so for mixed server environments, or for people who have the necessity to monitor sites that have different server versions, the only available option is to have both versions of the client installed on the same PC. Can you advise how you managed to install both versions of the client on the same PC? When I install version 5, it overwrites version 4.12. Similarly if I try and install version 4.12 when I already have version 5 installed, it wants to overwrite again. There does not appear to be an option during the install to select where you want the software installing (i.e. install each version in its own directory).

Many ISP's (here in the UK at least) will be able to tell you what type of usage the data was/is. i.e. standard web, streaming, P2P, gaming, etc.

Does anybody know of a list of Hikvision cameras that are compatible with Avigilon software? I already have a system at home using Avigilon cameras and software, and am now looking to install a syatem at a small commercial building. Some 14 cameras in total. I have again found that in the couple of years since installing my residential system, the pricing from Avigilon remains clouded in smoke and mirrors. The software pricing seems reasonable enough to me having received a few quotes, but the hardware prices (cameras and encoders) seem to vary quite a bit and also seem somewhat steep. As an example, Ive got quotes of £180 + Vat (£216 or $345) for a 1mp Avigilon micro dome, where as I can get a 1.3mp Hikvision with IR for about half that. A 3mp Hikvision runs at 25% less than the 1mp Avigilon Micro Dome. What are peoples favourite camera brands to hook up to the Avigilon software? Any reasons why you prefer one over the other. (I know it will all depend on circumstances). I will have around 9 internal cameras, and will probably go for either decent analogue cameras with encoders due to the small areas covered, or low resolution IP cameras. All depends on how the prices stack up between extra camera licenses on the Avigilon software required for the IP cams, or the additional cost of the encoders to use 4 cams per channel and lower the number of required channels on the ACC software. 5 external cameras will most probably be IP due to the area needing covering plus distance from camera to subject requiring a bit more resolution than analogue will offer. Any thoughts from people with experience hooking different cameras up to the avigilon ACC?

Ahh thanks for that. I assume thats some sort of International Security Convention?

Long time no post from me Just searching to see what others were doing/have done with wireless having just sorted my own. Admittedly it is only a short (50m) wireless distance, but culdnt go wired at this point due to the cable having to cross driveways and gardens, so went wireless until building works are carried out. I got an avigilon external dome (2mp) running at 30fps across a wireless bridge that cost around £70 ($100 or so). POE injector at the camera location to avoid having to run power and data to the cam. two access points, one in client mode, both with the addition of an external directional antenna - job done. Mine is just a domestic installation, so not using commercial grade equipment (though I see no reason why my solution wouldnt work for smaller commercial installations) but thought I'd post up just in case there were any others looking at implememnting wireless within small scale solutions

O/T Just asked the chap that supplied my cameras for pricing on the new 3/5mp H264 avigilons. The manual set up of the existing 5mp was by far the most annoying bit of my setup, so would be good to use the auto focus/zoom models for the rest of the cameras. Im not convinced of the quality of the picture Im getting from the current 5mp with its lens (cant recall the make/model of the lens) so am keen to see the difference on the auto zoom/focus ones. If the auto is better than the manual one I currently have, I shall be replacing the manual focus one with auto and relocatin the manual version to another location where a pixel perfect shot is not as important to me.

Yep, i have 3 avigilon h264 2mp domes and found the setup a LOT easier on those with the remote zoom/focus. If they don't release a 5mp dome with remote zoom/focus shortly then i will be going with something like the axis for any other higher mp cams im going to add. The pro cameras once put in a housing aren't really my taste for a domestic install. i prefer the look of a dome on a house rather than cam in box.

The specs of the p3367 look quite good to me. The Avigilon is rated slightly better at 0.03lux in monochrome, but the remote zoom and focus on the p3367 is an awful lot better than the Avigilon, as that was one of the most annoying aspects of the 5mp Avigilon dome. Looking at the price of the Axis it is also very similarly priced to the Avigilon once you add a chosen lens to the Avigilon. It will certainly be on my list to look at for another 5mp cam overlooking the rear of the property.

Will try and get the full res pics up tonight when I am back at home and have access to the client/server. Only have web access at present as I still havent bought the gateway add on just yet. I shall also post the settings of the camera. I believe from memory this is set at 1/50. 1/30 at night left just a little too much motion blur for my liking, especially with just the garden lighting. I am hoping that with ample IR floodlighting that I may be able to even bring this down to 1/100, but that may be ambitious. I still need to adjust the focus slightly as the focus is a little too near. Id prefer focus on about midway down the shot. The intention is to have futher cameras covering areas closer to the house, and leaving this camera covering a main area of the front. Other cameras are a 2mp internal H264 dome, and 2 x 2mp External H264 dome. (Avigilon again) I am enjoying the learning exercise with this install (which is my first play with any cctv equipment). Learning about lighting and how it affects the cameras in different locations is interesting. I know that the install would have been finished a lot quicker using a professional installer, and I would not have these issues with lighting and learning how and where to position things, but Im enjoying it so dont mind the extra time its taking me. An issue I found out I have with one of the cameras is that it looks across an area which has a wall with the central heating boiler vent sited on it. Every day, twice a day I get about half an hour of steam being recorded at a lovely 30fps. I have tried to remove this area from the motion detection best I can, but removing the whole area where steam could be detected will also remove a doorway from being monitored. So I'm looking into extending the flue for the vent to move it out of shot

Avigilon 5mp dome, 300W floodlight, garden lights are 17w, distance from camera to top of image aprox 125ft. Sorry, don't know lumens from each light, will check. I intend to get some IR floodlight illumination as houses across the street may not appreciate floodlights on all the time. The problem I am having at present, prior to having adequate night time illumination is that setting the motion sensor to pick up movement at night, results in it being overly sensetive during the day - slight light changes on the big white bonnet/roof of the vehicles causes LOTS of false motion detections during the daylight hours. Turn the sensetivity down to clear those during the day, and it will pick up virtually nothing short of a whole vehicle moving at night. At present Im letting it chew disk space during the day on false hits and ensuring motion at night gets captured. Hopefully once the area is lit well at night, I can turn the sensetivity down to tune out the fale hits during the day. Or I could just go PIR detection, but really cant be bothered - would rather just throw extra disk space at it to be honest. Anyway.... Floodlight & garden lights: Garden lights only:

Ive used Avigilon at my home. Was it expensive? Compared to some, probably. Do I think its easy to use? Yes. Does it work well even over the ridiculously slow broadband connections we/I have in the UK? Yes. Am I happy with the product given what it cost me? Yes. That'll do for me

Just thought I would post up as an end user of the Avigilon software. I am fairly IT knowledgeable, but this is my first cctv system, and home installed. So thought a "novice" user opinion would be useful. I now have three of my initial four cameras installed (Im pretty busy at weekends and there isnt yet enough daylight left at the end of the working day here in the UK to do anything after work). Aim is probably 8 cameras total in time, though if I use Avigilon encoders which use single cam license, may go above this number. I have one of the cameras set up using Homeplugs (the 200mb version works, tested with a cheap 85mb and they dont work). This is the internal 2mp dome. The other cameras are external 2mp dome, and 5mp dome. The 5mp dome was a bit of a pain to install due to the manual focus. But using an Ipad/tablet I was able to overcome this somewhat, but Im still not 100% happy with the focus. It was the last camera I installed that day, so daylight was running low at the time of finishing - the focus is a little too close and I think Id preffer it to be a little sharper on slightly more distant objects. The other outdoor dome was quite easy to set up. It took longer placing the conduit to the camera than it did mounting the camera and setting it up. The beauty of the remote focus/zoom on the H264 2mp dome meant setting up the view on this one was relatively quick and painless. Just use a tablet (or actually I had a good view of the TV screen in the room which the camera is located outside) for positioning, then sort the focus and any zoom required remotely. The internal dome is in a position which makes hardwiring a little impractical for now, and resides in part of the building that will be demolished as part of the revovations, so I opted to try homeplug connection. While the Devolo 85mps would allow the camera to connect to the server, once a medium level of movement was present, the picture would pixelate and be useless. I put this down to the original specification of homeplug 1.0 technology. A quick test using Homeplug AV standard (200mbps plugs) and the picture is fine, will run and record the 2mp at 30fps no problem, as this camera will see little movement at all on a regular basis, I may as well stick with the 30fps. I am still undergoing a little bit of trial and error on the motion detection sensitivity and threshold, especially with the 5mp dome as this is in an area that does include some trees/hedges etc, so some careful exclusion of these items so as to not record moving leaves was necessary, though there is still a bit of a balancing act, as I may have excluded the trees, but the shadows they cast do cross an area where I wish to detect movement. The rain today has not helped either, as this camera is in an area that does get hit by rain - so I shall be looking for some form of shield etc to try and prevent rain on the dome setting off the motion recording. As I currently have a 2TB system for the 4 cameras (one more external 2mp dome to mount) then Im not too concerened with the system recording raindrops at present, as I would rather have it record too much during rain than miss any actual movement should I switch it off during adverse weather. Using the system to view recorded events is incredibly easy. Searching for events by either time or pixel area is also very fast and easy, even across an internet connection with a 0.5mb upload. The slow upload speed at my home however means that playback of movement across the internet connection is very jerky or slow. So what I have done if I really want to review movement while I am away from home, is bookmark an area and export this to a file and then playback in the standalone player installed on my local pc in the office. The process for this is again very easy to do. I need to install either some further dusk till dawn lighting (or a photocell for existing exterior lighting) in two locations, and also some IR lighting for the internal camera - again dusk till dawn or timer controlled, in order to improve two of the recording areas . Altogether though, I find the Avigilon software and cameras very easy to set up and use. There may be cheaper stuff available, but the ease of use this system gives me is great. I am now looking for a compatible "cheap" covert ip cam to use as a "nannycam". I was looking for some thing that could be disguised as a smoke detector/alarm pir. Any suggestions that will be compatible? Alternative is an Avigilon encoder and then four cheap covert analogue cams (may as well use the 4 channels of the encoder if I go to that expense).