venturis

Maybe this is old news but I just noticed that there is a download link in the Hikvision Europe Download Portal containing a BETA version of iVMS4200 for Linux dated 20 Aug 2014. There seem to be a few people using Hikvision IP cams on Linux who might find this interesting. Link here: http://www.hikvisioneurope.com/portal/index.php?dir=Software/01%20%20%20Video%20Management%20Software/00%20%20%20iVMS4200/Hikvision%20iVMS-4200%20%28Linux%29%20[beta]/

Hi, I've recently installed a couple of Chinese sourced Hikvision 3MP IP Cameras for home use. The cameras are great except for an issue that occurs during daylight hours where the image alternates between bright (less contrast/more brightness) to dark (more contrast/less brightness) every second or so. The subject image is a well sunlit area with light colour paving that reflects the sunlight and some darker grassed areas. The alternating between light/dark affects both cameras I've installed as they roughly look into the same space. So I can rule out a faulty camera. The fluctuating image is playing havoc with the motion detection which sees the fluctuation as a motion event and records almost continuous. The images settle down in from midday onwards where the fluctuation completely stops. The cameras are pointing down. there is no direct sunlight into the camera lenses and in fact the sun is behind the cameras for the whole day. The alternating light/dark appears to be something like the iris opening/closing due to the bright subject matter. I've turned off Back Light Compensation. Auto white Balance is ON. Digital Noise reduction is set to NORMAL. Sensitivity is NORMAL. I'll try to post an image or short video clip but I haven't worked out how to upload that yet. LINK TO VIDEO CLIP ADDED: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2tlntmqf8vrb5tf/Hikvision%202CD3332%20Problem.mp4 (10 second clip - 3 mb)

In case it was missed, Version 5.3.0 for Hikvision IP cameras has been released on the US ftp site. Anyone brave enough to try it out? I'm still sitting happily on 5.1.6 with the English language hack. I've not seen anything that would compel me to upgrade at this point. If you do try it, please report back on any findings. The accompanying release notes seem quite comprehensive.

I'm sure that was introduced in an earlier revision firmware. As far as I know they have blocked the ability to flash an older firmware through the web interface but the TFTP flash method will let you roll back to an earlier rev in spite of what the release notes say. Please let me know if I've got that wrong.

Im running PCNVR on my home server and whilst I don't know the answer to your immediate question, I thought I might offer a couple of suggestions. In PCNVR under the Disk Management menu it will list all the available drives in the the system and I would have assumed that you could select more than one drive for storage but I cant confirm that as I only have the one drive myself. If that didn't work, your alternatives are: 1. Create a RAID1 system with 2 or more drives thereby making the multiple drives appear as one large drive to the operating system with a total capacity which is the sum of the individual drives. Depending on the operating system you are using, you can actually create a software RAID1 in Windows 7 and later operating systems without needing additional hardware. Ive actually done this myself with no issues on another system. If you want to take the purist route you will need to set up a hardware RAID1 using either your computer's on-board bios or invest in a dedicated RAID card. Either option is perfectly acceptable. It really depends on your budget and computer skills. 2. If your using Windows 8 as your operating system you can use "Storage Spaces" I think its called which essentially does the same as item 1 above but Microsoft has added a nice front end to make it easier to create and manage. 3. Use any number of 3rd party apps to do something similar to points 1 and 2 above. Just google it. Its definitely possible to achieve what you want to do.

Just a guess but try going back to version 2.02.02.03 as i had problems with playback functionality in both the last two versions.

They are people of few words Incidentally, I still can't get the "playback" to work properly since Version 2.3.0.4. Obviously wasn't one of the bug fixes. See my previous post here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=44717 When I search of "Motion Events" I always get exactly 2 results of some completely random motion event. Could be up to a week old. I can see all the motion events if I do the same search directly on PCNVR. They are definitely being recorded but iVMS4200 client will no longer find them. Works perfectly if I revert back to any iVMS4200 version before 2.3.0.4. I was going to send Hikvision support an email to describe the problem but cant find the right contact details.

I recently upgraded to the recently release version of iVMS4200 ( 2.03.00.04) which has a few changes from the previous version but mainly in the way that the Playback interface work. Since upgrading, I have not been able to get the iVMS4200 client to find any motion detection events in the playback interface. When I search for motion events I only get a single event, which was the one and only event that it shows from several days earlier but since then it will not find any other motion events. I know the motion detection is work properly as I have also been recording to a router connected HDD on motion event. I found that none of the previous versions of iVMS4200 would mark all the motion events on the timeline whereas, the camera web interface very nicely shows all the motion events as orange bars. Makes it easier to see at a glance where all the activity has been. Its a shame Hikvision cant duplicate this functionality in their desktop client. I also found that at some point, I could not longer stop iVMS4200 from pre-recording on motion event. It insisted on adding a 30 second pre-record to the footage regardless of what I set in the recording advanced settings. I've tried reconfiguring the camera and clearing out the settings and starting again. I am running the latest PCNVR and that has been running fine for many months and the Playback event search worked fine in the previous version of iVMS4200 so I can only conclude that the latest version of the iVMS4200 client is not finding the motion detection events properly. Ive been using iVMS4200 for a long time now so I would like to think I know how set it up correctly. Anyone else having similar experiences?

I can use the camera web interface to review the motion events but can't do the same with iVMS4200. Since my last post I tried again and iVMS4200 found two seemingly random motion events but none of the other 50-100 events that also appear when using the camera interface. I've reverted back to the previous version of iVMS4200 until this bug is fixed.

New firmware out on Hikvision Europe site. No change log. Personally, I'm going to stick with 5.1.6 since its been working fine. For the more adventurous among us here is the link. http://www.hikvisioneurope.com/portal/index.php?dir=Product%20Firmware/Cameras/DS-2CD2xx2/V5.2.3%20build%20141024/ Anyone updating to this version please feedback your findings and comments.

Yes, I know CBX posted some time back that 5.2.3 was available on the USA ftp for the 2cd24xx and 2cd25xx cams (and tested on the 2cd2xx) but this is specifically a 2cd2xx release so I thought it might contain some 2cd2xx specific changes, but yes, the date code on in the file seems to indicate that its the same as the 2cd24xx release. Hikvision has a history of making its firmware releases confusing at best.

Hi Don, 1. php curl and GD methods are installed on the web server. I get the following messages when running "SecureImageDisplay.php" with the debug enabled "Your web server allows the IP Cameras port to be opened using php GD methods. Your web server allows the IP Cameras port to be opened using php Curl methods." 2. I set $ipcam_url to "http://IP:80/onvif/snapshot". This url does not require user/password authentication and when entered directly into a browser will return a snapshot image from my camera. 3. I have also edited the remaining php files with the necessary IP addresses for my server and paths as indicated in the files. After doing all the above, I have commented out the debug line "$check_for_blocked_port = true" with a "#" Finally, I uncommented "#include("RestrictToSecureImageDisplayHtm.php");" and only this line in "SecureImageDisplay.php" When I try running "RestrictToSecureImageDisplayHtm.php" from my browser, I get the "Accessed Denied" graphic in response. I also tried the alternate "RestrictToSecureImageDisplayLogin.php" after commenting out the alternate line and get the same "Access Denied" graphic. Interestingly, I don't get prompted for a User/Pass when calling "RestrictToSecureImageDisplayLogin.php" which I was expecting to get. Sorry, I cant provide more information. As I mentioned I have another web facing site running on the same server using php which works so I am reasonably confident the php is running.

Also. Here are secure methods to do this. That can also support allowing PTZ controls as well better bandwidth control: http://foscam.us/forum/showing-secure-methods-using-php-to-display-your-ip-cameras-t8721.html While the demonstrations above are using Foscam IP Camera models. They do work for any other IP Camera models or Imaging devices that support HTTP or HTTPS access methods. The methods allow any Internet browser capable device running on any Operating System and using any browser to be able to see your IP Camera. Without the need to download/install anything or be required to have specific media players installed on any device, to do so. Don Hi Guys Anyone managed to get Don's scripts working for the Hikvision dome cams? (ie. 2cd2xx2 or simiilar series). I've tried and failed abysmally... I have very little knowledge on setting up web pages but I have managed to install PHP and IIS and have another web facing site up and running. I followed the instructions in the ZIP files supplied and managed to get as far as testing the "SecureImageDisplay.php" but never found the right syntax to put in the script for pulling the snapshot from my Hikvision 2cd2332. I tried both http://IP:80/onvif/snapshot and also http://IP:80/Streaming/channels/1/picture (user: admin pass: 12345) both of which work when entered directly into a web browser. Since then I have managed to get myself in mess and now get an "Internal Server Error" when trying to pull up the "SecureImageDisplayLogin.php" page. I've removed everything and started from scratch but still get the same error. Anyone have this working with Hikvision?

This problem was reportedly fixed in Version 5.1.2. firmware according to the release notes. At least that's what I interpreted the note as meaning. Taken from 5.1.2 release notes: "Solved: Cameras with 3MP may flicker in high light scene" I haven't had the problem since updating but I think the issue for me only occurs during the summer months when the sun is a lot more intense and objects in the scene are particularly bright and contrasty. Next summer will be the true test.

It doesn't look like you have the IR switched on?

I can positively confirm the Chinese cams updated to firmware 5.1.2 or later no longer are able to be used with iVMS4200. I have been using iVMS4200 on my cams since version 5.0 firmware but after updating to 5.1.2 the no longer worked without the hack. I did the experiment myself and using the English hack the cams work fine but if I update them with the Chinese firmware without the hack iVMS4200 will no longer see them. It's possible that the block on Chinese cams was only introduced into iVMS4200 in the most recent release. It seems likely that iVMS4200 would need to check the cam somehow and determine if it is a Chinese or US cam before allowing it to be used. The check is obviously not serial number related as the serial number still contains the CCH reference indicating a Chinese cam so it must be just checking the language marker somehow.

Nice work but does this actually make the camera an English camera in the same way that the firmware hack does? The firmware hack or the CBX conversions turns the camera into an English/US model which means that it can be used with iVMS4200 which blocks the use of Chinese cameras. If the mod essentially substitutes the menu items for English rather than Chinese it is likely the camera will still be recognized by iVMS4200 and even the firmware updates as a Chinese model. Anyone care to confirm?

I don't have any idea if this is in any way related to your post but the release notes of Ver 5.1.6 firmware contains the following which makes mention of not having to input a username/password to get an MJPEG stream from the camera. "Optimize MJPEG sub stream command, no need inputting username and password after input URL. URL format is “http://ip:port/Streaming/channels/1/preview?auth=xxxxxxx”. Here xxxxxxx is base64 encrypted verification." Can anyone explain what that means and how to I create a base64 encrypted verification?

Some details on the particular model of camera and the type of mounting would help narrow down the possibilities.

If everyone isn't already completely over hearing about new firmware for Hikvision cameras, the 5.1.4 firmware has been pulled from the USA ftp and been replaced with 5.1.6 today. Can't say if its the same as the 5.1.6 that appeared and disappeared from the European site but hopefully I'll have time to try it out in the next couple of days I hope.

The beta firmware was replaced by the final (non-beta) release a few days ago. Downloaded but not had a chance to see how it differs from 5.1.6 or 5.1.2 for that matter.

I'm not sure if the Swann cameras have the same settings as the Hikvision camera's but I had a similar problem with one of my Hikvision 3MP domes. The Hikvision cameras have a setting called SMART IR which lowers the IR output if the amount of light on the subject is bright enough but it has the effect of making dark areas even darker. It is particularly unhelpful if like yourself you have a highly reflective object in the field of view which tends to cause the IR power to drop and then it fails to properly illuminate the dark areas. I turned the setting OFF on my camera and it solved the issue.

I wanted to chime in with my experience with the Hikvision 3MP domes at night. I have 4 cams installed around my home in various locations whilst the day images are very crisp and clear the night images leave a little to be desired. The cam mounted at the front of my home is a 2CD2332 3mp 2.8mm and is installed on the second story where is gives a nice almost panoramic view of my front yard and driveway. There is almost no artificial light in the area except for the built in IR illuminator on the cam. The closest street lights are 50 metres in either direction of home. At night an IR sensor turns on the porch light when people walk past but I still find that at the default 1/30 exposure, people are just a smear on the image. I would get nothing useful from a night time image if an intruder wandered in. Nothing I can do short of illuminating the area with more light will make the image better. I read with interest about the low light capability of 720p camera vs 3mp cameras. The Hikvision specs state the 3mp has 0.07lux min at F1.2 whilst the 720p version is 0.01lux min at F1.2. I've ordered a 2CD2312 720p camera to compare the low light performance with my 3mp 2CD2332 in the same location. Expecting to get it within the next week. Ill post some images of both when I can. If someone knows of some comparative images that have been done elsewhere would be great to know.

I gather from your post that you are trying to record footage from your camera 24/7. The iVMS4200 is really desiged as a client app to retrieve footage from a Hikvision DVR or the PC_NVR. It sounds like you should be using the Hikvision PC_NVR software which is also a free download and is specifically designed to act as a software DVR to run 24/7 on a PC. The iVMS4200 can be used as a remote client to review live and recorded footage from the PC based PC_NVR. Both iVMS4200 and PC_NVR look similar in many ways but the PC_NVR is specifically tailored to run 24/7 on server or standalone dedicated PC. I've been running PC_NVR on a HP Microserver with 5 cameras for months and never had a crash. I use the iVMS4200 as a remote client from by desktop and also use the iphone and android apps to view/review footage from the PC_NVR. The software works very well and the PC_NVR seems to have very low resource requirements. I'm running it in a virtual machine on my Microserver with only 2GB memory reserved under Windows 7 x64.

Sorry I know its getting off topic a little but can you explain how you had it set up on firmware 5.1.2? I use iVMS4200 PC_NVR and if I tried to enable that option on my iphone it would give an error. Do you have it directly pushing messages from the individual cameras?