Sir Lenscelot

Hi irish So easiest way is to enable virtual host, use the link to the guide I sent you. Login to your recorder by typing it’s IP address in the address bar of internet explorer remembering to start with http:// Then enable virtual host, once enabled if you head to the camera management section you should see a web link beside all the cameras, select the npr camera. Then login via the browser. You need to head over then to the image settings and advanced. From there you should be able to adjust IR making sure smart IR is enabled. Also look at shutter speed and HLC if available, use the other guide I sent you on recommended settings.

Hi Irish As I said, you need to access the camera via internet explorer, then you will have greater luck with this camera, there are far more adjustments that can be made.

Hi Irish First of all forget accessing settings with Ivms, options can vary between versions and recorders. To configure you need to use internet explorer. It looks as if your trying to access your cameras on a different subnet, it is likely although without confirmation from yourself you are using the Plug and play recorder with the cameras connected to the ports on the back. There is no connection between these ports and the core network. Easiest way to access these is to login to the recorder and enable virtual host as I have suggested before, this will allow a route through the recorder to access these cameras. More complex option is to note down the IP address of the camera in question, use an Ethernet cable from your pc to a spare port on the back of the recorder, if none spare just remove a camera(not the lpr camera) then plug in your laptop. Manually set your IP address to something in the same subnet as the cameras eg 192.168.254.200. Then type the IP address of the lpr camera in the address bar. This should get you to the login page.

SADP tool is useful although you could turn on virtual host if your struggling, this allows you to access the camera direct through the address of the recorder, see link for more info https://www.use-ip.co.uk/forum/threads/tutorial-using-a-hikvision-nvrs-virtual-host-feature.610/ Although username and password will still be required. On the newer recorder firmware there is an option to set a generic ipc password then you can sync password with recorder which will change all your cameras to the password you have defined. This could be your potential way round the issue.

Hi IrishAc In order to get this right i suggest that you access the camera directly rather than via the NVR, then you need to look at the image settings, adjusting HLC, Shutter Speed and IR intensity to suit your requirements. Easiest way is to park a vehicle in view of the camera until you achieve the correct settings. I have attached a guide which may be of some assistance when setting up ANPR Regards Installation Guide of Hikvision LPR camera-0514.pdf

I can’t comment for exactly your scenario but I have installed over 32 2mp h264 cameras on a system of less spec and had no issues. Even if you equate 12mp cameras to 6*2, total is only 24. I’m assuming your going to be using GV-VMS?. Install a decent video card and I wouldn’t have thought you would have an issue. I would install at least 4x8tb but would probably put in 4x10tb. I used to use geovision all the time but they seem to have lost their way so don’t really use it anymore. Software is kind of dated compared to alternatives.

I was just trying to balance the numbers because this recorder will take a maximum of 16 cameras including ip/tvi/analogue but not over 16 so I was verifying that you didn’t have any ip cameras using available slots. And by testing them at the recorder you were inadvertently disconnecting cameras to test these thus freeing up available slots so that they worked. But as you don’t have ip cameras attached then I say again, hookup a local supply and this will eliminate both the cable and your main supply from the equation.

A frame rate of between 10-15 is fine for most use cases. To put it into perspective it takes about 6 FPS to catch someone stealing something off a supermarket shelf.

If hiks a better solution, please post a link, I’m sorry but I’m not aware of hik manufacturing a speaker product? There is a powered PA solution, a speaker with a built in amp, built still needs power, so extra wires. I suggested that but the op decided to go with the amp solution. If there is an all in one solution that requires no extra cabling then great, I would like to know for future reference. Please provide a link? I’m merely having a discussion which is what a forum is for. The application is clear, it is for remote use, with at least 5 cameras so chances are he isn’t putting them all in one room. He calls it a property, not usual talk if it was his home. I may be wrong though.

Tom can you provide a link please as I’m not aware of a hik speaker and mic?

When did I ever say it wouldn’t work. I pointed out you could extend the cable however what you could do and what you should do are two very different things. In no case and I mean no case are PC speakers ideal. First of all pc speakers are stereo, the output on a recorder is mono, only one speaker will work without some alterations. Typically leads are prefixed with a 3.5mm jack. The output is RCA, again you will have to cobble something together. Extending cable is again messy. If your installing remote speakers, install speakers designed to be installed, e.g wall mountable with terminals at both ends. Install speakers you can expand upon. PA speakers are designed for public address it’s in the name, they are designed for voice applications. I’m not starting an argument just pointing out fact. I’m sure the people looking on here are looking for sound professional advice, not a hobbled together solution.

It makes absolute sense installing a higher quality camera than the monitor because when you use the digital zoom function to see who just robbed you then there will be more pixels within the image so it will be clearer when enlarged than the equivalent lower resolution camera. Remember ultimately this footage could be required as evidence, so the clearer the better.

Cortian is right, but let me clarify my opinion. Wifi can work in ideal scenarios, good quality WiFi for instance, ruckus or Cisco aironet or equivalent. But rarely WiFi is ideal. With the number of factors and variables that can occur it can be more problem than it’s worth. Even with the best WiFi, you have to remember that WiFi is a two way conversation. This is where the first issue comes, in my opinion after using many WiFi enabled cameras, the WiFi part is weak and substandard with small gain antennas. Second devices such as these require at least a -65dbm signal level to be able to operate properly. Rarely is this achieved across an entire site and in every corner of every room. So signal may not be strong enough in the optimum position for field of view. Interference can make and break your installation. You have to run power anyway so why not just run a cat5 and use Poe. Likely hood is your not going to be watching the cctv all the time, so do you want to risk a blip in communication that misses something important that can be caused by something as simple as someone walking in your hotel with their hotspot enabled on the same WiFi channel.

Tom is Right you need to be looking at professional cctv solutions, not your off the shelf add on solutions. All comes down to budget, how much you looking to spend? Also never go wireless unless absolutely necessary , even with enterprise WiFi the results can be unpredictable.

If only they provided a calculator like Axxonsoft??. I wouldn’t have thought you would have a problem but I would recommend using an nvidia card and GPU decoding. I would contact them and see if there is any kind of guidance for specifying hardware.

Because he wants to someone to hear him when they enter the property. PC speakers are designed for sound output from a PC, hence they usually have a short lead and 3.5mm jack. They are not designed for distributed audio throughout a property. So I say again, unless they are standing next to the recorder, what good are they. Potentially you could extend the speakers but again they wouldn’t be designed for mounting on a wall or recessing into a ceiling. Menorcarob, If it’s something like this it will be fine, just don’t exceed the total wattage for the speaker outputs, when using 100v line you add the wattages together. So this amp should be good for 2x15w 100v speakers for example. https://www.inta-audio.com/eagle-p650b-30w-100v-line-mixer-amplifier-p9157 Also make sure the speaker cable is double insulated. This is 100v after all so treat it with more care. If in doubt you can buy 100v line cable.

Also note that the HUH can also take more additional IP cameras if desired. So the long and short of it is that the HUH is the more capable recorder.

Not sure how pc speakers would apply to this application unless you wanted to talk to someone while they were stood in front of the recorder??? The professional solution as I said is distributed audio using a PA amp and typically 100v line speakers. These can then be scattered around the property and daisy chained together. This will only cover being able to speak to them, if you want them to speak back or listen to what they are doing, you will also need to install mics. Personally I find it easier to install cameras with the mics built in but if that’s no longer an option then something like this. https://www.systemq.com/Product/CCT619 However if you used POE to power the cameras, you will need a separate 12v supply to power them. Tom is right about the siren, use one of the relays on the back of the recorder. You will also need a 12v supply. I would suggest installing a 12v box supply for mics and siren.

Hi Macklington Just help me understand the numbers, so you said you have 3 camera's not working, but you also say this recorder has 14 other cameras on it. Its a 16ch recorder, can you please clarify? Does it include any ip camera's. Whats the breakdown of the camera's attached? when you say similar model, does this mean to say the ones that do work are different in some way?

Hi Chris Usually this requires a PA amp with RCA input then connecting to a 100v line Speakers but you may be able to find some kind of powered speaker out there if its only a small install. Regarding listening to audio, that's a real slippery slope to get involved in, has multiple privacy implications. it boils down to the fact people should have the right to a private conversation. For instance you could overhear a phone call to their doctor.

Looking at that, one recorder is a Hikvision NVR accepting IP camera's only. I assume you have no issue with that as we are discussing coaxial connected camera's. The Other is not a Hik recorder but an LTS recorder Hybrid, Taking Analogue, TVI, AHD and IP. This is the system you are having the issue with? Can you confirm?

Well answer the question then, i did, you used the post to focus on security vulnerabilities inherent to all internet connected devices. not limited to Chinese manufacturers. Pete wants the best solution to give his family piece of mind without being cost prohibitive. Why not actually answer his question and suggest some alternatives and the reason why?, include recent events in security if you must but do it in a comparison with an alternative product, not just saying all chinese CCTV is bad. You can pretty much find flaws in any device. That's why firmware updates exist. We can't pretend that everybody has got money to throw at network security or CCTV so if they must use Hik, dahua or whoever why not just give some simple tips like. Never use the default password, use a secure password with a combination of uppercase, lowercase, symbols, numbers and of a decent length Keep all devices regularly updated with the latest firmware and bug fixes. Employ a reputable company that consists of people trained in network security, IT companies are usually better for this. Disable P2P, uPNP, anonymous login, hikconnect and anything else that might communicate with the outside world. Also Disable upnp on your home router. Make sure you have the built in firewall in your router enabled and correctly configured. If possible lock down access to only access from specific ip addresses, Even better utilise an encrypted vpn connection for indirect access with a firewall with vpn specific traffic management. Only open access to the recorder and not every camera individually, then your limiting exposure. If you don't absolutely need remote access don't expose yourself to the internet in the first place. We can all sit here and quote some really expensive alternatives but then pete might not bother at all, then god forbid he or his wife falls, at which point it becomes less important that the chinese might have been watching.

I’m sorry but the use of cloud apps is the lazy way out. If your going to use this then your basically agreeing for someone to watch you. How can you secure a network that you have no control of. Like I said before, proper network security wil l reduce risks in any product not just the Chinese ones. When do backdoors or exploits contribute as spyware?. There’s nothing to suggest anything more here than poor judgement by the manufacturers. In dahua’s case, the devices are so cheap that security was probably an afterthought. There is no definitive proof so your conclusion is merely conjecture. Most of the electronics you use is made overseas. Does that mean you stop using them, no. You take reasonable precautions. In this case network security. You said the USA imposed a ban which by the way was signed off by the man that wants to build 3145 km wall across the Mexican border. Microsoft software is exploited daily which is why I am told to constantly upgrade my computer. Does anybody stop using it?, Does the US ban that?, I think not. If Microsoft was Chinese and part owned by the Chinese government then maybe. Why not go one further and call windows update a backdoor. Microsoft have the opportunity to install anything they want on millions of devices. Does anybody question it. No because it’s a necessary evil. Yes hik may have dropped the ball making it so easy but is it in there best interests to destroy their market share. Surely if anything underhand with the Chinese government was going on it wouldn't it make more sense to reap the revenue and use it for more targeted purposes. Also why make it so obvious and easy to find, like any government they have the means to employ the very best engineers but they resorted to secret urls and password hashes that can be copied. Doesn’t make sense. My point is not always things are black and white, there are always angles to any news story.

Not my stupid comment but yours. When did I say hik was the best, I merely pointed out for the price point they offer one hell of a package. Do you just quote what you read, do you do any thinking for yourself? I assume like myself you live in the west, where everything you see hear or read is engineered for us, sold as independent but ultimately has some bias, whether that’s pride in your country or some other motivation, it’s the way of the world. You think if you lived in the east the story would be the same, I think not, it would be that the Americans are spying on us or whatever. How do you think an exploit is found, by people that want to find them. If somebody ultimately wants in then they will get in. Like any incident that involves cyber security it’s all about target value. Why do hik get news coverage because they are pushing so much product, it’s that simple. Backdoors don’t get found in your favourite products because nobody actually cares about them. Why breach the 10 you buy when you can breach 1000’s. I didn’t say that people shouldn’t care who’s watching them but what do you actually thinks going on, the Chinese have rooms full of people watching you take a nap. It’s all about target value. And as for the 16000 then they must have been installed by plug and play installers like yourself using manufacturers proprietary services and servers to relay images. Because correct setups by networking professionals, it would be impossible to mix up video streams from different sites.

Completely agree. So the basis for not using a product according to Tomcctv is that the USA don’t like them. This is a country than bans kinder surprise eggs but every man and his dog has a firearm. Please don’t make me laugh. A conspiracy theorist might say that there are very few cctv cameras made completely in house, let’s face it just about everything we use is made of parts manufactured overseas. Does that mean my ikettle is listening in. Or someone is making me a cup of tea without my knowledge. Who knows? It’s also in a countries best interest to discourage the use of these products for its own gain. Chinese companies especially hik are dominating the market and for good reason, The features for price point are undeniable. It’s understandable countries like the USA might be a little worried. Any manufacturer could be manipulated politically to introduce backdoors from one country to another. Why is one country more trustworthy than the other. One of the best cctv software systems I have seen is produced in Russia. This thing takes deep learning to the next level. Should we be frightened to use it? Unfortunately we live in a world where these systems are now required, with proper care and due diligence then the rewards far exceed the risks. I would like to steer the conversation back to the original question and say that, Personally I think internally I prefer domes as they look tidier and less obtrusive, I prefer a varifocal if your willing to pay a bit more as then you can set to suit when installing. As others have said just have IR then if needed it’s there, you won’t get a black image when someone turns the lights out. Use a manufacter your happy with. I’m sure your family’s worry is more about being there in case of emergency and not whether the Chinese have suddenly taken an interest in your decor.