Fake DS-2CD2132F-IWS?

[adamf]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to this forum and am sad to ask for help in my first post here .
I just bought a China version 5.2.5 DS-2CD2132F-IWS on Aliexpress. Second one from the same seller.
First one works as a breeze but the new one has faulty WiFi. It simply does not see any AP.
I'v already tried all I could, including examining and comparing output from webservices of both cameras (http://camip/Network/interfaces/2/wireless) - the worknig and faulty one. I'v also telneted to both cameras and checked dmesg output.
In the bad camera there is no trace of WiFi module output of this form:

[105615.081354] RTL871X: auth success, start assoc
[105615.087215] RTL871X: assoc success

On the faulty one also directory /proc/net/rtl8189es/wlan0 is missing

So I'm almost 100% sure that the camera is a hacked DS-2CD2132F-IS with only the web client interface of DS-2CD2132F-IWS. So I'm about to open a dispute and request partial refund from the seller (most likely a swindler ).

For this I need an absolute proof that the camera has NO WiFi module at all. Is there a webservise or shell command to proof that? I could off course open both cameras and examine the internals. But this is my last resort as the first one is hanging under the roof already...

 

[klasipca]

Is it listed -iws on the camera label

 

[adamf]

yes. it's marked as IWS on the camera itself & the box too.

 

[whoslooking]

I would try to re flash the firmware to see if that fixes it.

 

[adamf]

I would try to re flash the firmware to see if that fixes it.

You mean the TFTP method? I will give it a try then.

I just discovered that user epcjay has same problem (http://www.ipcamtalk.com/showthread.php/4789-AliExpress-Who-are-people-using/page16). He claims that "Factory Default" applied twice has helped him finally - weird...

 

[klasipca]

Is everything else identical, including IQ? There is a chance of that but it could be defect with a module out of factory. I highly doubt they would make a fake one and leave out an obvious feature.

 

[adamf]

Is everything else identical, including IQ? There is a chance of that but it could be defect with a module out of factory. I highly doubt they would make a fake one and leave out an obvious feature.

Yes, all the rest is completely identical with the working cam. I compared all printed (on the box) descriptions and those returned by the soft via webservices.

Just did TFTP reflash and nothing has changed at lest it's still working over ethernet, ufff.....
Thanks for help anyway

Concluding, the cam cannot see any AP, attempt to save manually entered valid AP data gives "Device error".
Web service for WiFi adapter (http://camip/Network/interfaces/2/wireless) returns HTTP 500 error, when the working one gives meaningful XML output.
So it really looks like the WiFi hardware is not working or not present.

Any other ideas how to verify that the hardware for WiFi is at all there, are welcome.

 

[skeet25]

Should be simple to verify whether the WiFi module is installed, if the 2132 is like my DS-2CD2532F-ISW. With the dome removed, I was able to see a small antenna.

 

[epcjay]

Although a different model, I had to factory reset my 2032 2x for the wifi to start working.

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

 

[alastairstevenson]

If you grab a copy of the kernel log (or even better the serial console if you have a TTL serial to USB convertor) instead you might see some references to what's causing the WiFi not to work.
Reboot first so it's not been cleared then:
cat /proc/kmsg

 

[adamf]

If you grab a copy of the kernel log (or even better the serial console if you have a TTL serial to USB convertor) instead you might see some references to what's causing the WiFi not to work.
Reboot first so it's not been cleared then:
cat /proc/kmsg

Thanks for hint! I did it for both cameras and saved them to network drive. Please have a look at them.
No WiFi - https://mega.nz/#!LgY1gDwQ!0MI-jUtOmrYQerpoLnbwdbFSn-TSjNmp5BOQXWWje-4
WiFi OK - https://mega.nz/#!LlAz0ara!xWoC3yJ9BRjYPD9lXnwFiYfC82e8eEmbAaIUiPRWfIA

The faulty one has no trace of WiFi module init sequence (no error even), which for the good one is like that:
...
<4>[ 47.695002] RTL871X: module init start version:v4.1.3_6099.20121214
<4>[ 47.933890] RTL871X: module init ret=0
...

Is it an absolute proof that the WiFi hardware is missing in my IWS?

 

[bp2008]

Absolute proof would be opening up the camera and finding where the WiFi module is in the good cam and is missing in the bad cam. And taking pictures. I don't think even an aliexpress seller could argue with that.

 

[alastairstevenson]

I agree with @bp2008 about the physical proof. A picture tells a thousand words ...
And you are correct that the kernel log shows that the WiFi module is either absent or non-responding. That's clear. Though it would have been good to get some entries on the end if you want to use it as evidence.
I wonder if it's an option that's cabled in, with all wires properly in place? I expect you will soon find out.

 

[adamf]

I agree with @bp2008 about the physical proof. A picture tells a thousand words ...
And you are correct that the kernel log shows that the WiFi module is either absent or non-responding. That's clear. Though it would have been good to get some entries on the end if you want to use it as evidence.
I wonder if it's an option that's cabled in, with all wires properly in place? I expect you will soon find out.

Physical proof is there. I'v opened the device and put it apart as much as I could without damage. I'v found the unfortunate RTL8189ES WiFi module and the antenna intact. Well, now this means that this is about hardware malfunction - bad news for me, as I'm shortsighted .

Could that be the diode (orange element)? It looks cracked inside, or this is normal? I will try to measure it's conductance.

Here is overall look from the top. Although the WiFi module is on the other, less accessible side

 

[Del Boy]

What happens if you put 5.3.0 and use Chrome to translate the Chinese? Does it work then?

 

[adamf]

What happens if you put 5.3.0 and use Chrome to translate the Chinese? Does it work then?

I have doubts about putting Chinese 5.3.0 in place of 5.2.5 as I'v read of many "bricking" cases afterwards. Anyway, do you have a trusted source of this firmware?

 

[alastairstevenson]

The tftp updater is pretty safe as a recovery mechanism.

Here are a couple of sources:
http://www.hikvisioneurope.com/portal/index.php?dir=Product Firmware/Cameras/DS-2CD2xx2/

Support models:
DS-2CD2012-I, DS-2CD2032-I, DS-2CD2112-I, DS-2CD2132-I, DS-2CD2212-I3/I5, DS-2CD2232-I3/I5, DS-2CD2312-I, DS-2CD2332-I, DS-2CD2412F-I(W), DS-2CD2432F-I(W), DS-2CD2512F-I(S)(W), DS-2CD2532F-I(S), DS-2CD2612F-I(S) , DS-2CD2632F-I(S) ,DS-2CD2712F-I(S) , DS-2CD2732F-I(S) , DS-2CD2022-I, DS-2CD2112F-I(W)(S), DS-2CD2122F-I(W)(S), DS-2CD2132F-I(W)(S), DS-2CD2422F-I(W), DS-2CD2522F-I(W), DS-2CD2622F-I(S), DS-2CD2722F-I(S), DS-2CD2T12-I3(I5), DS-2CD2T22-I3(I5), DS-2CD2T32-I3(I5)

http://overseas.hikvision.com/en/download_89.html
4th one down.

Software Description：

DS-2CD2012-I,DS-2CD2032-I,DS-2CD2112F-I(W)(S),DS-2CD2132F-I(W)(S),DS-2CD2312-I,DS-2CD2332-I,DS-2CD2412F-IW,DS-2CD2432F-IW,DS-2CD2512F-IW(S),DS-2CD2532F-IW(S),DS-2CD2612F-I(S),DS-2CD2632F-I(S),DS-2CD2712F-I(S),DS-2CD2732F-I(S),DS-2CD2T12-I5,DS-2CD2T32-I5,DS-2CD2112-I,DS-2CD2132-I,DS-2CD2212-I5,DS-2CD2232-I5

http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/download_89_p2.html
7th one down.

[FONT=微软雅黑]DS-2CD2012(D)-I、DS-2CD2032(D)-I、DS-2CD2112(D)-(I)、DS-2CD2114WD-I、DS-2CD2112F(D)-I(W)(S)、DS-2CD2132(D)-(I)、DS-2CD2132F(D)-I(W)(S)、DS-2CD2212(D)-I3(5)、DS-2CD2232(D)-I3(5)、DS-2CD2312(D)-I、DS-2CD2332(D)-I、DS-2CD2412F(D)-I(W)、DS-2CD2432F(D)-I(W)、DS-2CD2512F-I(W)(S)、DS-2CD2532F-I(W)(S)、DS-2CD2632F(D)-I(S)、DS-2CD2712F(D)-I(S)、DS-2CD2732F(D)-I(S)、DS-2CD2T12-I3(5)(8)、DS-2CD2T32-I3(5)(8)[/FONT]
[FONT=微软雅黑][/FONT]
[FONT=微软雅黑][/FONT]

http://www1.hikvision.com/cn/download_more_714.html
Section 02

 

[Del Boy]

You've got nothing to lose!

Be interesting if that fixes it. I'm convinced 5.2.5 hacked doesn't work well with the 5.3.0 F or W cameras a lot of the time.

 

[epcjay]

Didnt see your reply but did you factory reset twice in a row already?

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

 

[adamf]

Didnt see your reply but did you factory reset twice in a row already?

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

Yes, already did that many times in sequence - did not help. My next attempt is to try 5.3.0.