ride525

Buellwinkle, Thanks for taking the time to reply. We do have two PCs, one desktop that is "on" all the time (it sleeps when my wife is not checking email or Facebook), and my laptop. Which Hikvision NVR software runs on the computer? The "iVMS 4200" software? I found that a bit awkward to use, even more so than the Lorex Client. I did like the Lorex NVR pretty well, with the exception the Lorex has absolutely no selection of cameras, just a 4mm bullet and a 4mm dome. Swann isn't much better, they also have a 2.8mm-12mm varifocal camera, but both JoeyJoey and the one Costco review said it's very hard to get and keep focus on it. (Like I said, I really like the 12mm bullet.) This is just for my residence, but I'm at a good location to also read license plates for bad guys coming in (or leaving) and the 12mm does a great job of that, at least in the daytime. And I already have a "POE switch" since I didn't want to have eight wires coming into the house. There is a POE injector to power the camera, and a switch hooked up to it in the garage. That part works great. If I got the $380 Hikvision, I could add a 4TB Seagate HDD from Amazon for $154. (Is it simple to add, just mount it and plug in the cable, and all the software is already on the NVR?) And could I just hook the Hikvision to the internet, and up to eight cameras could be seen by it, correct? I'm guessing that the Hikvision NVR would work fine with the Hikvision cameras, correct? And there would be software like Lorex to allow viewing over my android phone, and computer or tablets when I am away? Thanks again, Jeff

I'm not sure there currently is a way to put Hikvision firmware on the Lorex NVR. I have successfully changed firmware on the Hikvision cameras with .dav files. However, I tried three different NVR firmware versions (different dates) on Europe website, and one on US, and all four .dav files gave a almost immediate "Update Failed". Any ideas for a NVR that will work well with the Hikvision Chinese cameras? I have $800 invested in the Lorex with 4 cameras, which I can return to Costco. And I have a wonderful 12mm Hikvision camera.

Or any NVR as well?

So does this mean if someone gets locked out of their Lorex, Swan, or Hikvision NVR, maybe forgot their password, that a "secure code" could be generated to get back in?

JoeyJoey did it for the LNR 200 series. I have the LNR 300 series. They are supposed to be hardware alike, but 300 series has more software to get on Lorex Cloud. He has a bunch of suggestions for how to do put Hikvision firmware on the Lorex. But it likely involves getting a secure code, since the admin/password from Lorex or Hikvision did not work after he did his awhile ago. He got the secure code from Hikvision, but it took about 20 tries before he figured out the "start date", which I think is the date the Lorex was installed.

Downgraded the Hikvision firmware twice, which was an adventure in itself. Camera sent from Wrightwood would only take US firmware first time, from 5.1.2 sent, to 5.1.0 US. Then Chinese firmware worked ofine, downgraded 5.1.0 to 5.0.2. The Lorex cameras I have has 5.0.0, with no possible (Lores) upgrades. But still can't manually set up the Hikvision camera in the Lorex NVR. Called Costco and then connected to Lorex. Lorex Client software can see the camera, and can acutally display the Hikvision camera if it's connected as a device, but NVR still unable to connect to Hikvision camera. Lorex said only the following only are compatible with my Lorex LNR380 even though others have connected to LNR200 series with both Hikvision and Swann. FLIR, Digimerge, Panasonic, Sony, Dynacolor, Samsung, AXIS, Arecont, Bosch, Canon, Honeywell, Pelco, Panasonic, Vivotek I really like the 12mm Hikvision camera, it does exactly what I want it to. Any thoughts you have for using it with the Lorex/Swann NVR's would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeff

How many posts does it take before you become "established member"? Thanks

Many thanks to JoeyJoey for trying to get this to work. What he didn't mention that this very same camera (Hikvision 12mm) worked in his Lorex NVR a year or more ago. I have a newer Lorex 300 NVR, JoeyJoey says it's the same hardwre as his Lorex 200 NVR. The camera continues to work on JoeyJoey's NVR, except now he has Hikvision firmware on it. JoeyJoey thought maybe downgrading the firmware on the Hikvision camera might enable it to work with my Lorex NVR. Any thoughts or suggestions to get my Hikvision 12mm camera working? Thanks, Jeff

Changed password from Hikvision default of 12345 to 000000 that Lorex uses. Changed HikVision camera Ip address to near what was getting assigned manually by LOREX, to 10.0.0.9. I can see the camera online now, in Chrome browser. But still don't see it in Lorex NVR. Suggestions? I know JoeyJoey got this combo of camera and Lorex NVR working. Thanks Jeff

I recently purchased the Lorex 382 NVR with 4 cameras (4mm) from Costco for $799. I successfully set it up using a POE injector and switch for the four cameras then hooking that switch up to my home network, as well as the Lorex 382 NVR to the home network. But I would like to hook up a couple of 12 mm (or better zoon) cameras, and be able to see license plates . I found this Hikvision 12mm, will it work? http://wrightwoodsurveillance.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_91&products_id=278 Other suggestions? Thanks, Jeff

Joey, could you describe anything special you did in the setup, or did the Lorex just find the camera fine? Thanks! Jeff

Quick question, why would anyone use the "hard way" instead of the "easy way"? Thanks

Ordered 12mm Hikvision camera today. Will report back after I receive it. Thanks to all for your help and thoughts.

Edited above post with contents of this post. Sorry, I could not delete this post.

This is interesting to me, as I've been thinking of getting the Hik 12mm bullet to be able to identify license plates of cars going by (at least in daytime). I was a bit concerned that my Lorex NVR may "lose" some quality, since the hikvision 12mm camera is 3mp, and my Lorex NVR is 2MP (1920x1080). But this thread says (if I understand it correctly), that the 2mp on the Lorex will be at least the quality of the 3mp. (But sounds like the 2mp will lose some FOV to the 3mp, most especially in vertical.) Thanks to everyone for testing this.

Thanks buellwinkle. I actually came across the 12mm camera first from your great review at networkcammeracritic.com . So, if I understand you correctly, if I purchase a camera from Wrightwood Surveillance in the US, even though it's a China Region camera, I won't have the problem with the English menus disappearing? Could you explain why this is, how a China Region camera purchased in China has language problems, while the China Region camera purchased in the US does not? EDIT: Actually the cameras are coming to Wrightwood with Chinese menus only. Wrightwood has to change them be English, which I assume means going back to previous firmware. If I buy a camera from Wrightwood, will I be able to update the firmware for English menus? Or am I stuck at English menus for firmware that Wrightwood ships? And will I be likely able to use the Hikvision camera on my Lorex NVR? Thanks for your thoughts.

What is the problem with Lorex (who is made by Hikvision, or at least some are)?

Or what if I just did not update the Hikvision 12mm camera? Or waited to update until safe?

I have that same 12mm Hikvision camera, it works well, but.... now there is the whole English not working on new firmware updates issue. So I advise against it unless you want the hassle of editing binary files on each update. This one can be adjusted and is in English on all firmware updates. I would get this one and flash it to the latest hikvision firmware, which will be in English. http://www.costco.com/Swann-HD-1080p-3MP-IP-Vari-Focal-Add-on-Bullet-Camera.product.100089466.html Thanks for your response. I hadn't realized there was an issue with English not working on firmware updates. I thought that that there was dropdown menu in English. I had considered the Swann camera at Costco. Advantage, it's easy to return. Disadvantages: It's a lot bigger and bulkier than the fixed focus bullet, twice as long and over twice the weight. They one review on Costco says it's hard to get and keep in focus. The fixed focus camera should be a bit sharper. The variable focus camera costs more.