Quick

I'm kind of homing in on Hikvision. So far I've decided on (2) DS-2CD2032-I, (2) DS-2CD2232-I5. Still need to pick one for the porch (something with a 2.8mm?) and probably the same for 1 interior camera. So where/who to buy from? 1) I want to be sure it's a genuine Hikvision (are knockoffs common?) 2) I want an English version (or is it simple to change the region code?) 3) I assume I want the latest firmware version? I'm confused here. Seems some people have some problems with the newest releases? and the newer firmware versions exclude one from downgrading? 4) I don't think I need a warranty from Hikvision as long as I can easily return the item if it has problems on arrival. Like returning to Amazon. I'm willing to forgo any warranty past that.

2 posts above yours. 3 weeks ago. Got them, installed them. Thanks.

Thanks guys. I have cameras and they're already hung (except for the inside one). Now I'm just working on terminating the cabling (wired the whole house with CAT6 for the home network at the same time). DS-2CD2032-I (v5.2.0-140721) 4 mm Front corners of the house. Bit more light out front with some street lighting and a porch light. and they're very discrete. DS-2CD2232-I5 (v5.2.0-140721) 4 mm Rear corners of the house. Pretty much no light. DS-2CD2532F-IS (v5.2.0-140721) 2.8 mm Front door. DS-2CD2732F-IS (v5.2.0-140721) 4 mm Interior - ceiling mount ZyXEL GS1900-8HP POE Managed Switch Pretty much dedicated network for the security cameras. Cameras <> POE switch <> Synology DS1513+. Have an extra d-link wireless router I can plug in temporarily to use a laptop to configure things, aim the cameras and talk to them directly. Fun project! (and I could get a job in IT when I'm done).

Thanks for the reply. I'm here in the US. My main concern was knockoffs. Was reading comments where people said they got generic boxes with unbranded cameras that they thought were knockoffs (one said it came with a plastic base/housing when it should have been metal.. I figured it might just be a newer model). I know that large manufacturers make their product for re-sale/re-branding by other sellers. Discounters often pick up batches of those so that was probably the case with those grey market units. Amazon sounds like the place for me. My concern for return is physically DOA/defective out of the box. Complicated is not a problem. I develop networking firmware for a living. I might have to spend a little time but I figure I have a fair chance of working through the configuration and operating it. Yes, I did read that the latest firmware could be downloaded from the site. I also read that some of the newer revisions had issues and some people were downgrading for their particular needs. I also read that newer versions of the firmware do not allow (or make it more difficult) to downgrade to an older version. So my question was not if I was able to upgrade. My question was IF I want the latest firmware. Implicit in that was if it is still fairly easy to downgrade then it wouldn't be an issue. Like if it's relatively easy to upgrade/downgrade by tftp'ing the image to the device instead of using the normal UI. The question about getting an English version had to do with how easily the region code could be changed. From my research it seems that the region code is separate from the upgrade-able image. Maybe it's in a different part of the memory/flash/whatever. It also seems that some of the discount vendors are liable to ship units set to Chinese or International even though they might say or imply it's the English/US version. Again, if changing the region code is doable then it wouldn't be a consideration. I figured there were one or a couple of popular vendors that people buy Hikvision from. Most if not all the Hikvision cameras on Amazon are sold by their marketplace partners/vendors and not directly by Amazon.

Thanks for the reply. Ok, wired it is then. I was just thinking it's a really short run to power. It's a long run to the router (maybe 30'-40') and a couple of trips through wall and ceiling/floor. The router, currently retired, always provided solid coverage for a little ways outside of the entire house and it's well locked down with wpa2 and mac white listing. But I get it. The wireless conditions could change in the future. $100 per drop in labor is very encouraging. I would be thrilled with that. I've been in the attic and I've been in the crawl space and I learned about fire risers... and I have the wired portion of my home network laying on the carpet. haha, temporarily for a couple of years now . Good opportunity to finally get that done at the same time.

I'm looking for a couple of camera suggestions for home exterior surveillance so I have some place to start researching. Initial searches didn't get me very far. I do have some idea of what I want (I think). I am technical but little experience in video. I have a Synology DS1513+ NAS and would like to use the Surveillance Station package available on that (I'm aware I have to buy licence(s) for attaching multiple cameras). I have a wireless N router (D-Link DIR655) I can dedicate to the surveillance system. I'm thinking wireless cameras to the router which is cabled to a port on the NAS (Router, NAS and cameras would be the only things on that network. I understand the weakness of wireless being able to be jammed or hacked but, in my case I think the flexibility and ease of installation/expansion might be worth the trade off. Also, I live in what amounts to a dump in an OK neighborhood so I feel the probability of ill intent with that level of sophistication to be very low. I do not have any idea of bandwidth requirements -- N is 54 Mbps? Cameras would stream to the NAS. Video would be accessed from there. The Cameras. Single story, rectangular house is set in the middle of the lot. Roughly 45' in front to the curb and about the same in back to the fence. 5' on each side of the house with no windows or doors so I'm not going to cover that. Initial plan is a camera at each corner under the eaves with maybe a 5th for the front door/porch. 90* field of view or close to it. I'd like to get something good for both night and day. High def enough for facial recognition. I expect a complication in the front is that I have a very bright porch light that stays on all night. I'm flexible but kind of expecting to spend $200 to $300 per camera? Maybe $400 if I really really had to? Don't know what's realistic. What I'm looking for is just something like, after reading the above, "This one or that one might do it". Then I can start there, look at the properties and features and research out from that. Of course if you care to expand on anything that would be appreciated as well.