Hikvision cameras...

[Let's Ride]

1080p with hik vision turbo lite nvr.

 

Where are you situated?

[popcorn_skollie]

I've had a Hikvision setup on the property for years. Upgraded the old system sometime in the last few months. First off. Hikvision as a brand itself is massive. Globally. I might be wrong but I think they are one of if not the worlds biggest surveillance equipment manufacturer. With an extensive product range. From bottom of the barrel budget solutions to some real Thomas Crown Affair stuff. 

 

Secondly. Their software (or a version thereof) is open source. Meaning its free to use (and compatible with) basically any surveillance hardware you may have. In short hikvision is to surveillance what android is to smartphones. So just because it says Hikvision. Doesn't mean its all... Hikvision. As a result its the go to solution for everyone. From the few official distribution partners they have locally to the guy who recently changed the sticker on the side of his bantam bakkie from Frikkie's dstv solutions to Frikke's surveilance. 

 

I have a very basic Hikvision decoder/recorder and I use the hikvision software. But that's about it. I have 8 cameras. None of which are made by hikvision. 

There is limit to the distance at which you can run the cables necessary for higher resolution digital cameras (between camera and decoder) without an additional power source. As a result 2 of my cameras (which cover the very far end of my property) are 480p analog.  

The rest are 720p digital cameras. 

 

Moving on. There is quite a bit more to consider than just resolution here.

1080p seems to be the baseline standard resolution these days for just about any media consumption. Higher is better. But 1080p is good and we rarely settle for anything less.

But that's media and its an important distinction to make. There are some pretty good 720p cameras that offer higher visual fidelity than some cheaply made 1080p cameras.

How well the camera sensor handles low light conditions is probably a more important deciding factor than what resolution it outputs. Then there's frames per second and latency. How smooth the video plays back and how accurate its timing is. Higher resolutions and higher frame-rates require higher bandwidth and by extension, equipment that can deliver. So its entirely possible to have a set of 1080p cameras stuck with a box that can only decode 720p footage fast enough for you to watch remotely. Netflix might be great to watch in 1080p. But you shouldn't expect the same fidelity even if your cameras are 1080p.

 

For the most part the system works well for me here at home. I am able to see live footage on my TVs (via direct hdmi and/or rca input) and on my computers, tablets and cellphones over ethernet or wifi. Now on the cellphones and tablets I use the hikvision android app. Which is simple and easy to setup and use. Safe and secure too. But on a computer its a bit ***. 

There is no open source windows, mac or linux version of the Hikvision software. Instead remote access is only available via your web browser. You open your browser, punch in the ip address of your surveillance box (which you can obviously bookmark) then login with your credentials and presto. It wasn't a major issue until about a year or two back when the browser plugin required ended its support for both chrome and firefox. As a result it stopped working via my browser completely and after some digging discovered that I have to use internet explorer. Not kidding. I eventually found a way around that with a chrome plugin called 'IE tab'

A 3rd party browser plugin that re enables these redundancies from the old internet explorer.

 

Remote access. By this I mean being away from home and viewing your footage live while you are elsewhere. Now just because you are able to view footage on your phone while you are connected to the wifi at home. It doesn't mean it will work as seamlessly if you wanna check up while you're away. Being disconnected from your home network means you need a different set of connection settings. And additional security measures. For the longest time I struggled with remote access with little success. Until I discovered that despite using the correct remote access ip address. I wasn't able to view my cameras while I was away because the little surveillance box at home only allowed remote access via a specific port.

And by port I mean digital. A typical ip address looks something like this. 192.168.1.1:9000

The blue number here being your port. I had to call my internet service provider and request that specific port number be opened (at a fee) so that I could view my damn cameras when I'm not home. Something I had to redo after the upgrade.

[Mojoman]

I've had a Hikvision setup on the property for years. Upgraded the old system sometime in the last few months. First off. Hikvision as a brand itself is massive. Globally. I might be wrong but I think they are one of if not the worlds biggest surveillance equipment manufacturer. With an extensive product range. From bottom of the barrel budget solutions to some real Thomas Crown Affair stuff. 

 

Secondly. Their software (or a version thereof) is open source. Meaning its free to use (and compatible with) basically any surveillance hardware you may have. In short hikvision is to surveillance what android is to smartphones. So just because it says Hikvision. Doesn't mean its all... Hikvision. As a result its the go to solution for everyone. From the few official distribution partners they have locally to the guy who recently changed the sticker on the side of his bantam bakkie from Frikkie's dstv solutions to Frikke's surveilance. 

 

I have a very basic Hikvision decoder/recorder and I use the hikvision software. But that's about it. I have 8 cameras. None of which are made by hikvision. 

There is limit to the distance at which you can run the cables necessary for higher resolution digital cameras (between camera and decoder) without an additional power source. As a result 2 of my cameras (which cover the very far end of my property) are 480p analog.  

The rest are 720p digital cameras. 

 

Moving on. There is quite a bit more to consider than just resolution here.

1080p seems to be the baseline standard resolution these days for just about any media consumption. Higher is better. But 1080p is good and we rarely settle for anything less.

But that's media and its an important distinction to make. There are some pretty good 720p cameras that offer higher visual fidelity than some cheaply made 1080p cameras.

How well the camera sensor handles low light conditions is probably a more important deciding factor than what resolution it outputs. Then there's frames per second and latency. How smooth the video plays back and how accurate its timing is. Higher resolutions and higher frame-rates require higher bandwidth and by extension, equipment that can deliver. So its entirely possible to have a set of 1080p cameras stuck with a box that can only decode 720p footage fast enough for you to watch remotely. Netflix might be great to watch in 1080p. But you shouldn't expect the same fidelity even if your cameras are 1080p.

 

For the most part the system works well for me here at home. I am able to see live footage on my TVs (via direct hdmi and/or rca input) and on my computers, tablets and cellphones over ethernet or wifi. Now on the cellphones and tablets I use the hikvision android app. Which is simple and easy to setup and use. Safe and secure too. But on a computer its a bit ***. 

There is no open source windows, mac or linux version of the Hikvision software. Instead remote access is only available via your web browser. You open your browser, punch in the ip address of your surveillance box (which you can obviously bookmark) then login with your credentials and presto. It wasn't a major issue until about a year or two back when the browser plugin required ended its support for both chrome and firefox. As a result it stopped working via my browser completely and after some digging discovered that I have to use internet explorer. Not kidding. I eventually found a way around that with a chrome plugin called 'IE tab'

A 3rd party browser plugin that re enables these redundancies from the old internet explorer.

 

Remote access. By this I mean being away from home and viewing your footage live while you are elsewhere. Now just because you are able to view footage on your phone while you are connected to the wifi at home. It doesn't mean it will work as seamlessly if you wanna check up while you're away. Being disconnected from your home network means you need a different set of connection settings. And additional security measures. For the longest time I struggled with remote access with little success. Until I discovered that despite using the correct remote access ip address. I wasn't able to view my cameras while I was away because the little surveillance box at home only allowed remote access via a specific port.

And by port I mean digital. A typical ip address looks something like this. 192.168.1.1:9000

The blue number here being your port. I had to call my internet service provider and request that specific port number be opened (at a fee) so that I could view my damn cameras when I'm not home. Something I had to redo after the upgrade.

Yes, I also had problems viewing the cameras in a browser and had to use that IE tab plugin.

For a company that seems so well positioned in the security camera market, there are a lot of complaints about this issue as well as security issues...

 

This is the kit I bought, I checked pricing from physical stores and it seemed a good buy (as well as saving me having to drive into town and have to take time off work as the closest shop isn't open on weekends!)

 

https://www.takealot.com/hikvision-1080p-hd-8-channel-complete-kit/PLID54503563?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI15TV-oaz4wIVweR3Ch0SHAJQEAQYAyABEgIHdPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[kosmonooit]

For remote access, you would open the ports on your router and would generally have to do a port mapping in the NAT. That would also mean having to assign a fixed IP to the DVR/NVR and adjusting DHCP accordingly, All basic networking stuph which any half whit IT guy should be able to do. That is not something the ISP has to do or has control over.

 

Other option is if you have Universal Plug and Play turned at the router, and the DVR/NVR supports this, it might be able to find its way to the Internet without port mapping but that feature can cause other issues and vulnerabilities, such as camera hacking since IP cameras also make themselves available to the Internet unless you turn that feature off.

 

Other thing is your public IP  address probably changes everyday by your ISP. Two solutions: Add a fixed IP your ISP package if you can otherwise make use of a Dynamic DNS service so that you can set up a domain name like mycctv.noip.com  and that will always be updated to your current IP, that has to be setup on your router. There are a few free services otherwise you must pay for a subscription.

[kosmonooit]

Yes, I also had problems viewing the cameras in a browser and had to use that IE tab plugin.

For a company that seems so well positioned in the security camera market, there are a lot of complaints about this issue as well as security issues...

 

This is the kit I bought, I checked pricing from physical stores and it seemed a good buy (as well as saving me having to drive into town and have to take time off work as the closest shop isn't open on weekends!)

 

https://www.takealot.com/hikvision-1080p-hd-8-channel-complete-kit/PLID54503563?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI15TV-oaz4wIVweR3Ch0SHAJQEAQYAyABEgIHdPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

 

What is the model number on your cameras? that spec is a bit vague

[Let's Ride]

Remote viewing is simple. Add the serial number to the hik connect.com website after you have logged in. Then type the serial number in on your dvr.

 

Download the hik connect app and you should be sorted.

 

Dvr just needs to be connected to the internet. Use a lan cable either to a modem or what I do is put in a wifi extender and connect the dvr to that. Less cabling.

[kosmonooit]

Remote viewing is simple. Add the serial number to the hik connect.com website after you have logged in. Then type the serial number in on your dvr.

 

Download the hik connect app and you should be sorted.

 

Dvr just needs to be connected to the internet. Use a lan cable either to a modem or what I do is put in a wifi extender and connect the dvr to that. Less cabling.

 

Remote viewing can be simple. If the stars line up for you.

 

That's one approach via their portal in you have Hikvision, which has its +'s and -'s, not needing dynamic DNS or fixed IP but then its via their system which then has access to your box.

 

But still your DVR or NVR will have to be able to access the net, there could be 'issues' with port mapping and uPnP etc  but I guess you have that all sorted or it worked first time for you.

[kosmonooit]

I haven't had much luck with the Hikvision app, especially on tablets. Quite frankly its pants.

[BSG]

We have 12 Hikvision cameras, bullets and domes, on various points on 5 hectares and it works good for us viewing permanently on a screen in the office and from the app on my cellphone. We're going to add 4 more cameras.

 

But service from the company who is doing the installation is up to bolloks.

[popcorn_skollie]

For remote access, you would open the ports on your router and would generally have to do a port mapping in the NAT. That would also mean having to assign a fixed IP to the DVR/NVR and adjusting DHCP accordingly, All basic networking stuph which any half whit IT guy should be able to do. That is not something the ISP has to do or has control over.

 

Except I don't have fibre or adsl. Hell there aren't even landlines here.

I have wireless internet... or Wibre. A Mikrotik dish on my roof and a router supplied by my isp. Something I unfortunately don't have the access to.

 

I do have several access points and switches for my lan and all my IPs are static. 

Including the hikvision box.