dexterash

As a side note... visible lights could help the "visitor" too...

With which cameras happens this and using what protocol?

I've seen some square boxes while encoding, that's why I asked. Since it's 1080p (or, at least, that's what I think) you should have a bitrate of about 8Mbps (btw, lower bitrate gets you lower details - hence the pixels on the guy's face) WDR is wide dinamic range and it's how the camera(actually the image sensor) reacts on differences between well-illuminated and low-illuminated areas (much like AWB) and should have nothing to do with fps (which is a parameter of encoding)

Quick question: CBR or VBR? If CBR, bitrate?

OK, then setup that NAS scheduler. You should have green/orange or red bars across days, depending on how you setup it.

Do you have a HDD on your DVR?

On a quick notice: dual-core can be at 700mhz/core or at 4GHZ/core and, also, embedded systems can have dedicated CPUs/extensions. Even an i386/i686 arch can be dualcore at 1.2 or at 3.6... would you put an equal sign between them? Was just making a point...

In the upper right it's a tickbox(the squared one) that's not fully white - thus means it's not activated. Could you please just click on it and make it white-filled?

Did you try enabling the second period too?

Well,if it was my main business, I would probably be broke by now (since most don't understand some things). What I wanted to point out is that: -firmwares can be cloned and modified easily - products are being copied, that means this is a regular thing; -I'm an IT guy: programming, networks (including Linux servers) & security (and, also, pentesting/"whitehat" hacking), so I always check for what devices I use and, if needed to update, where I get my update from -people are asking support directly from DAHUA, but not how to get support (from whom, where etc); trashing is not an option, asking for direct support will go to junk bin(I suppose!), but asking WHERE to get support might have results -I've never seen a major manufacturer explaining test points, JTAG and serial interfaces on their products (it's a major security flow, besides other problems) (side note: we don't own any firmwares; all products that are firmware broken will go to our local DAHUA's representative to be flashed there, on site, with the firmwares that are tested to be sure) I'm aware this sounds a little crazy, but I will not recommend anyone to (try) update their product using "any" firmware they can find. Having security cameras installed in the most sensitive places of your objective and leaving them with unknown/maybe buggy software is a major security flow. It's like providing a free access to your assets for anyone bad intended. And, trust me, there are people! For example, there's been an issue around with DAHUA's ONVIF implementation with no security. True, there is a test version of an ONVIF firmware that has some bugs. Using this firmware you just make an invite to your (free) security system. Also, as I stated before, with some testing, knowledge and hardware the firmware can be "read" and modified using open-source tools. Sounds nice, but also leaves a major security gap. (even here, someone posted a way to bypass any security and just delete the config of the recording camera... not the smartest thing I've seen)

I doubt that is a legit/original HIK Site. There are DAHUA named/cloned sites too... Since they are growing as a manufacturer, their exposure it's growing too, allowing others to use the fake products/names (I talk about fake products/copies, not OEM/reseller products - like SWANN, QSEE&others). Simple fact: Main HIK Site: http://www.hikvision.com/en/us/partner.asp - with no firmware downloads & others; only the usual SDK, CMS, etc; also, in the partner list, no link to that site, although they do provide partners from Europe Because I know how to flash and what can happen when you flash I advise people that are not used to this kind of stuff to stay away from that. These SoCs use bootloaders&other loaders that are stored inside them(initially flashed during the manufacturing process). The RS232 method can only check for the integrity of the file, not if the file is indeed what needs to be flashed and at what address. Because of this, devices can be very easily bricked (yes, I speak from my own experience with customers trying to "upgrade" their devices). L.E.: you stated HIK as a manufacturer that provides higher level support than DAHUA, that's why I asked L.E.: My fault (http://www.hikvision.com/en/us/contactHikvision.asp)! Sorry.

Where did you find HIK providing official support?(just curiosity) Also, Arecont is US based so they have(somehow) to provide support. The others are low-exposure (at least at an international level) companies, so... And just as an advice: firmware for flashing via NFS/TFTP/RS232/JTAG is completely different from what you flash via the web interface/standard tools provided.

You didn't drag it offtopic, actually it's (very) on topic. Some will always want and go for cheap. The question is: are their valuables cheap enough to be protected by cheap? And not cheap as in product, but cheap as in less-reliable solution(the eternal problem of reliability). Even if the products that compose a security solution are cheap, that doesn't mean the solution is cheap (heck, a mechanic's tools can be cheap too, but can anyone service a car? And would anyone rely on their work?) Getting back to OP's idea, how many would understand that the products are cheap, but the solution "linking" the products isn't cheap, since it requires knowledge in the field, (at least!) some IT experience (and, preferably, general IT security experience)... Manufacturers will try to stop you doing some mistakes when implementing their products, but that comes with some costs...

Oh, please... I can provide a higher resolution pic... that just looks like a low-bitrate recording! But I don't have one wearing the red-wearable-thingy! Please do excuse! Just not my taste...

If it was a sidebusiness, you shouldn't be mad. On the other side, security should be a VERY serious business (you should know something about, since it's your main job,somehow). People buy security cameras for their own security(DUH). Then, they start to play&poke around with them (as with some nice toys). What happens if, during the "playwork', the cameras are needed to record some event? Instead of protecting a XYZT$ house, they end with an 150$ object that SHOULD HAVE DONE something, but it didn't do anything. And this, in a one-in-a-lifetime shot. Just like a wedding. So...whom do you blame?

I have a bunch of firmwares too... Anyone wanna try killing their camera? Including the main bootloader(as in dead SoC until resolder)?

Nice point! I'm not sure we can compare a wedding(or some other important event in someone's life) with security, but you are right: people have to know how to sell (via quality, support, customer service etc). Of course, products can be(and are) cheap, but using them in the right way is not anyone's job. In the same way people complain about "not being supported by the manufacturer" (in a general case, DAHUA), has anyone been told/teached by Canon or Nikon how to photograph? In a "professional" way? Or how to chose lens, flashes and other accessories? My bet is on "not". At least, not on a "how to guide".

Recording MP cameras is space consuming, so SD cards/Flash Media will keep your recordings for 1-2 days (usually); the expected role of "local" storage should be backup, when network storage fails. Recording to NAS depends on the protocol. As I stated before, FTP is not good for this, since it can't return free disk space(thus the IP Camera will just write to the NAS untill it's full). Of course, using NFS or CIFS should be ok and it's a good option, but you need cameras that support this. Also, some of the cameras need to write up logs (for motion detection, for example). You would require a software/station to read the records&logs and manage them. Although this Wikipedia article is good, it's outdated and very general.

Please make a difference between NVR and STORAGE. A NVR will initiate connections to camera, store, decode/display stream and manage the recordings. In the STORAGE mode, the camera will connect to a storage device, uploading it's recordings. If this is done via FTP, the camera is unable to read the remaining space and manage the recordings; in this case No decoding/displaying is needed here (usually can't be done in real time).

Try PSS. Will make your life easier with downloading.

Oh, lol. I have no gain or something writing about DAHUA. It's just my experience and my observations. I'm fond of their products. We do test some other brands too, but we will never say what's bad about a brand or what security holes there are. That would give some ideeas to any "not-welcomed" person that reads this forum. The same happens to firmwares. Also, I doubt any reputable/DAHUA recommended seller would do mistakes. Of course, the one that DAHUA will recommend could be 10-30% above "lowest price", but they will give you what you need/desire. I've never seen around here an official point/e-mail from DAHUA. Has anyone really ask DAHUA where to buy, buy from that place and complain of poor support?

In a DAHUA based product you still have a question(usually).... With Panasonic (or others) you trust a product that's been used for years... So what you want? An "old" laggy, approved technology or a young, "rebel" tech?

Was I joking or I was telling the truth? Any antivirus/firewall or any safety solution for DVRs/NVRs and IPCs that can be installed? How secure is your installation?

Well, I thank you for installing my backdoored firmware... Now I just have to sort out your IP... (Don't alarm, that's quite difficult to checkout in the mass installing all sorts of firmware... ... ... ... Damn... Not found... or was it a joke, maybe?)

What's your experience with DAHUA updates? Of course it has this implemented. But: -people try to update with *any* firmware they find on web, including test releases; even if it's available and trusted/checked (CRC&product model&other) by DAHUA, it's a test/unreliable release; thus, the equipment will flash it and ... whatever happens, praise! -people try the low-level/SoC update that fails and then play the "i don't know why this happened" card (Some of the)People will go for the lowest price, rather than the official channel. So, they buy it from China, via many sellers (even ones that clone). They aren't interested what happens to your device, but they will give you firmware with "improvements". So flash it and... I hope you get my point.