xavier4or

Thanks buellwinkle - good pictures. Is the lack of external / additional illuminators causing the grainy look on my roof picture? I am ok with "dark spots" but surprised the overall grainy look of the picture. Otherwise love the new cameras so far.

Yes, exact same camera - Hikvision, 5 MP

Hmmm - attached is a snapshot of all the cameras I have installed so far. Some are definitely better than others for picture quality (different environments for sure) - but I will play with the DNR, gain, etc and see how it goes.

Is the lack or external / additional illuminators causing the grainy look in the picture? I am ok with some dark areas but the overall grainy look is what my first issue that I am trying to solve. I will turn down the gain tonight when it is dark and see if that helps. Weird that a couple of my external cameras don't have this grainy look and some do...

Aham, hi - iVMS-4200 and iVMS-4500 are for different OS platforms as you probably know. 4200 for client based (desktop, laptop, server, etc) while 4500 is for mobile (phone, tablet, etc). A lot more functionality in 4200 but the main reason for me to use it is for local recording (PCNVR) and viewing via a computer at home. I use 4500 a lot as well - but generally while I am away from the house - or too lazy to walk over to the computer.

Thanks - this actually helped. I was trying to set-up recording via the local drive option vs the storage server option. After uninstall PCNVR (for clean install of v2) and setting up the storage server, adding the HD, etc - I think it is now working! And iVMS 4200 V3? The latest version i show via their ftp site is v2.00.08.50.

Harieta - what time of distance and setting are you looking at? I have a couple of the dome versions that you have (DS-2CD7283F-EIZ) and been pretty happy with the quality so far. Any pics that folks might be able to help with?

I am trying to enable playback from the internal SD card... Here is where I am at: * Added 32gb SD card and formatted via the web interface (Adv config, Storage, Storage Management) * Enabled record schedule - motion detection. * Enabled motion detection via Events, 80 sensitivity However I can't see any recorded files via on the Playback tab on the web interface... Any thoughts? Thanks! PS Added my first picture from the HK camera. I still need to figure out the the right camera settings - but happy to have it working.

Well it seems like only there only a handful of micro-SD cards that are supported: http://www.hikvision.com/en/support_more.asp?id=177 But I am confused if my SanDisk Extreme Plus 32GB MicroSDHC falls into the SDHC category (support then) or the MicroSD category (not support then)... From the HK website: Tested-compatible SDHC Card • Apacer: 4G/8G/16G • Transcend: 4G/16G • Kingston: 4G/8G/16G/32G • SanDisk: 4G/8G/32G • KINGMAX: 4G/8G/16G • A-Data: 4G/16G All the HIKVISION network cameras that support SD card storage are also compatible with SDHC card. Tested-compatible TF (microSD) Card • Kingston: 2G/4G/8G/16G • Sandisk: 2G/4G/8G/16G • Transcend: 4G/8G • A-data: 2G

Regarding the HK recommended Bitrates: ftp://ftp.hikvisionusa.com/Technical_Bulletin/2014/IP%20Camera%20Recommended%20Bitrate%20v2.0_20140219.pdf Why does the 5MP only have the settings for 8 fps? I have 5MP dome version and trying to figure out the best settings. Thanks!

Yes, factory reset is my last resort option - I am not sure if that will remove the CBX region changer that I have applied. I guess I can always re-install it... But I'm not sure what I broke so I don't do it again. I went into the HK SADP program and changed the port to 8000 (and added port 8000 to my router) but that didn't help either.

Still playing with my first HK camera and all is going pretty well... But I changed the ports on my router and camera (via the web interface) and now I can't access the camera via the web interface anymore. I verified the camera internal IP address via the router and 4200 SW - and the video streaming is working fine. I also tried to access the camera via IE and Chrome with 192.x.x.x:xxxx (adding the port) but no luck. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong? Thank you!

nope - doesn't work.

I have outgrown my 8-port POE switch and was going to upgrade to a 16-port POE switch but I was reading that is better to have 2 or 3 POE switch for load balancing? Is this true / recommended set-up (2-3x POE switches)? Thanks!

Very true - I wonder if that (reliability, no single point of failure) - was the message from another thread I was reading... I originally thought the poster was indicating you get better throughout / bandwidth / mux'ing by have 2-3 POEs switches - but maybe it is from a "don't put all your eggs into 1 basket" standpoint as you mentioned. So do most folks have 2-3 switches at home for their cameras then?

Hi. Still setting up my 1st Hikvision camera and it is working inside on the house on WIFI but when I try 3g/4g connection (turn off wifi) it doesn't work. I thought I read somewhere that AT&T blocked port 554, so I changed the camera's RTSP port to 555 and changed the port forwarding on my router to 555 as well. But no luck. Thoughts? Thanks again folks - without this forum - I would be SOL!

Ugh - so i have toggled: * Port 554 to Port 555 (ATT issue?) * Internal IP to External / WAN IP * Camera Config NAT, Auto to Manual Port Mapping Mode (I read somewhere that auto selected will cause a bug) But still haven't been able to see the camera outside the house. Any suggestions? Or can someone list what settings that have used? Thank you!

Thanks! I just changed the IP address in iVMS 4500 device info to my external WAN IP - but I get an error message "Error Code 0". The external WAN IP does work on WIFI in the house - but not with WIFI off.

Woohoo - I see the camera picture now! I didn't realize I had to change the IP address to my local network - and I now can see the camera via the web browser and iVMS 4200! On to getting the PCNVR or iVMS 4200 storage server working...

Ok, sorry I must be doing something wrong... Got my first Hikvision camera (converting from the Logitech cameras) and have plugged it into my POE switch. The 3 lights (Power, Link, Act) show it is working correctly. So I am trying to access the camera from IE using the default IP address of 192.0.0.64 but I get an error message - "this webpage is not available". Do I need to change something on my router? I can see the camera on iVMS (with the x.x.x.64 IP address, serial number, etc) but having separate issues getting iVMS work - so trying the web browser method. Any guidance on what I am doing wrong? Thanks!

Argh - so confused. I am being trying to set-up the iVMS 4200 for this functionality. See below text for a copy from their user manual. Am I reading this wrong? What is the difference between Hikvision PCNVR and this iVMS storage server functionality??? Sorry for newbie questions. Purpose: The storage server performs as a NVR installed on the PC. The record files can be stored in the storage server and you can search the files for remote playback. Before you start:、 The storage server application software needs to be installed and it is packed in the iVMS-4200 software package. When installing the iVMS-4200, check the checkbox Storage Server to enable the installation of storage server.

Did you install the Hikvision PCNVR or the iVMS 4200 storage server? I am curious because I see both SW version available but I think the iVMS 4200 V2 is the latest. And wondering which one I should install for my local PC to act as a NVR.

Thanks - this helps. I would be using a PC based DVR - and presume the settings will be the same?

Stolt - did you get this working? Any other "tips or tricks" you have learned from this? I just ordered my first HK camera and thinking about how to get the SW working to stream to my iphone and ipad as well. Thanks! --Clay

Hi – looking to upgrade my current Logitech Alert home security camera (1 indoor, 5 outdoor, all POE)… I have been looking thru various forums today (lots of good info) and thought I would see if there is guidance or suggestions that might help me out. Some of the camera / system requirements: • Needs to support POE (I want to re-use the Cat 6a wire that I have already run) • Want the camera to provide a “Windows desktop” camera SW (full feature), additional license fee ok if SW is good • Want the camera to provide iOS and Android apps • Looking for a mid-to-end high camera system. Around $500-700 a camera, weatherproof, night vision, SD card storage, etc… I am thinking about the Digital Watchdog cameras, maybe: http://digital-watchdog.com/products/?route=product/product&product_id=804 The cameras seem to be full feature and their SW seems pretty good. I download their DW Spectrum client for Windows and connected it to their demo cameras – and also downloaded their iOS and Android app. From a 10-15 min “test drive”, I was impressed. Thank you for any guidance! --Clay