Q2U

ALL HANDS ON DECK!!! " title="Applause" /> LET THE FLASHOLICIOUSNESS BEGIN!

Both of my SWNHD-820CAMs report... Firmware Version V4.0.9 130106 Encoding Version V4.0 build 121228

You go zikronix!!! If there's an option, save the firmware version currently installed on the camera before flashing with the Hikvision firmware. I just want to add, people like you -- brother zirkonix -- is why we won the war. And went to the moon. And sunk the Titanic (unforunately).

Welcome Diane & Tom! " title="Applause" />

Those folks all migrated to Land Rover because of what it tells the neighbors about them: "I can afford to drive an unreliable over-priced vehicle that breaks down all the time and costs a small fortune to fix."

Evil Twin .

Have you ever tried Axxon Next? Axxon Next: The New, Innovative Open-Platform Video Management Software

That sounds kinda crazy, no? Or shall I say the software installation requirements are rather unique?

Yes, this certainly resembles my Dahua IPC-HDB3200C 2.0 MP Camera. If you have good lighting (like Buellwinkle said) I think that these cameras provide a decent image IMO.

How about some more SWNHD-820CAM video fellas! " title="Applause" />

Right. I've never seen a 12v external power supply with the word "switching" printed on it. What I do see is "Output 12v" (and the the amperage printed next to it). So I have no idea how I would know if the power supply I had was "switching" capable or not. Why don't you just give me the camera's 12v amperage spec. Opps. I just looked at an old Trendnet 4 port 10/100 switch I had lying around. The exteral power supply is labeled "Switching Power Supply." So, FIM again for Q.

Welcome! " title="Applause" />

No, I don't. I must be one of the idiot 90% you were previously trashing.

Not without a decent UPS! Opps! There's another $300! Unless you decide to utilize Q's VMS server power strategy: Image the hard drive and set BIOS switch titled "Remember power state" to ON I guess only a geek would think that's funny. I'm still chuckling.

Well, isn't it enough that people brick DVRs&others through web/net updates? Should they brick products via low-level flashing too (which is 95% unrecoverable without desoldering SoCs)? This is from my personal experience with people updating DAHUA's products... 90% don't know what they do, but think they will get a better product (like a software update will ever sky-rocket a hardware's performance...). Any reasonably modern firmware update utility is going to run a routine that first checks the hardware being flashed against the firmware attempting to load, and will not allow one to flash with an incorrect product firmware. This should leave power failure during firmware update as the only possible non idiot-proof possibility. Manufacturers figured this out a decade ago. So why can't Dahua?

Outstanding (and good thinking)! But funny thing is this: my subnet IP scheme is 192.168.111.xxx and (as I remember) each of my Swann cameras was defaulted at 192.0.xxx.xxx. HOWEVER, the IVMS software running on my 192.168.111.xxx computer recognized both of my cameras. I was surprised, but that's the way it was. Please be sure to tell us everything you can about your cameras! " title="Applause" />

A switch's port is a port is a port bro. A "POE port" simply means that the port also provides "power over ethernet" (specification IEEE 802.3af or IEEE 802.3at I believe). An ethernet cable contains 4 pairs of twisted cooper wire. If I remember correctly ethernet only uses 2 of those twisted pair and the other one or 2 twisted pair can carry power. Hense "power over ethernet." Or sumptin' like that. I'll put my dunce cap on and go stand in the corner now. What I mean by "a switch's port is a port is a port" is that you can plug your PC and/or router into any of the ports...you may plug a non POE device (like your routher or your PC) into a POE port...but your POE powered cameras must be plugged into one of the switch ports that provides POE (in addition to the network connectivity which all switch ports provide). The other issue is that most switchs are rated for providing only xxx watts. Example: a 48-port switch rated to provide a maximum of 186 watts would be able to provide 15.5 POE watts to only 12 of its 48 ports. In addition, I have noticed that you have to read very carefully to read that many an "8-port POE switch" only actually proved POE juice to four (4) of the 8 switch pots. Some switches come right out with this. On others, it is kinda buried in the switch specs. Caveat Emptor City bro.

I dunno bro. You probably know more about this stuff than me...maybe a VLAN configuration issue? I dunno Alternatively you may send your cameras to me for free configuration. Please mail to... Alan Qader Dropbox 187 New York, NY 10001

No. The IVMS software saw both my cams on its own. Do you have the PC running the Ives software plugged into the same switch as the cams? Are your cams plugged into one of the switch's POE powered ports (not all your switch ports may be POE powered)? Are you using Cat5e or Cat6 rated cable? Did you crimp your own ends?

Australia can have him back bro...we've too many nuts over here already. But hats off to Ensign Ewart! And Scotland FOREVER!

Listen up: when you're not home and The Bad Guys are at your door your VMS will sense motion, activate camera(s), and will send an alert and an email to your mobile device. Attached to the email sent by the VMS is a 20-second video clip, so you can immediately get a grip on what is happening. Then, if you so desire, you can run an app on your mobile device and view a live video feed from any (or all) of your cameras. You wouldn't want that? He means you pay someone to monitor the video feed from a central station.

I thought all you guys carried big freakin' swords over there and stood around on top of the mountains all day screamin' "F R E E D O M ! ! !" As a result, I would think that the thieves would be too scared to steal anything.

There's a lot you can do in addition to cameras, such as motion detected security lighting. They make a superb motion detection light which holds two 100-watt flood lights (I use 90-watt equivilent LED spots which are very expensive). The fixture is $50.00. On at dusk, off at dawn and a bunch of other user definable options. Mount a couple high up and you'll make that area very uncomfortable. In addition, a steel Bilco type basement door will fortify that entrance they kicked in and to get one of those suckers open they'll need a torch. But as for cameras, you really need to start with a budget. You can get decent (not great) 2 megapixel cameras for $200.00 each. Don't skimp on the PC, get an i7 machine with a 64-bit OS. You're going to need an 8-port POE switch with all 8 ports supplying POE. You're going to need a broadband internet connection and a smartphone (or other such mobile device). Five cameras is $1,000.00. A basic i7 machine is (at least) $650.00. A POE switch that supports 8 POE ports is probably around $250.00. $150.00 for DIY Cat5e cabling. $150.00 for software and apps? $200.00 for stuff I forgot. I'm thinkin' you're looking at approximately $2,350.00 for a decent 5-camera system which would allow you to easily add additional cams for $200.00 each. In addition, watch this BBC video. It is fascinating... 'Watching eyes' poster reduces bicycle thefts

Jim, my bet is that these cameras are going to run well with any video management software, or network video recorder, that supports common standards. They run just fine (at least no issues yet) with my VMS (Blue Iris\RTSP over port 554). And, yes, my cameras also run very warm.

I think you'll be very satisfied running BI on an i7. You know, new PC's which come with Windows preinstalled are simply LOADED with BloatWare. You'll get a performance boost by wiping the system drive and installing a nice fresh copy of Win7. What's another $100.00 after all, eh?