IPC-T5541H-AS-PV Firmware
- Thread starter JonSnow
- Start date
JonSnow
Getting the hang of it
I'd like to try it out. Its best practice to stay as current as possible, doesn't have to be the latest.
I tend to update once a year and always keep a backup of the old firmware and configs so I can easily restore if I run into issues.
I tend to update once a year and always keep a backup of the old firmware and configs so I can easily restore if I run into issues.
Actually best practice for these devices is don't fix what ain't broke...and have them isolated from the internet as updates are usually only late security updates. If they are isolated from the internet then the security risk the firmware is intended to fix is mitigated anyway...
If the firmware update bricks the camera, then having the older firmware is useless. Plus manufacturers are also starting to prevent flashing older firmware. This camera is probably safe for that, but some newer models will allow firmware flashing to newer versions, not previous.
You really need to be asking yourself why are you updating? If it is just for grins and giggles or OCD behavior to be running the latest firmware, think twice.
A common theme around here is don't fix what ain't broke. If the unit is working and meets your needs, in many instances an update breaks what you had working and provides you with something you didn't need or bricks the camera. In most instances, updates are simply security vulnerability patches (usually years after the breach was found), but since we do not give our cameras internet access, the update is useless to us.
Unless the release notes specifically mention it fixing a problem you are experiencing, more than likely it won't fix an issue and may make the camera worse by removing functionality.
Here are issues I have seen people report here where they were upgrading just for the sake of upgrading:
Another thing to consider is that the same model could have different firmware for different chipsets used during the life of that model. So you run the risk of bricking if you do not know what chipset you have.
Here is an example - the HFW3549T1-AS-PV is available in 2 versions of firmware across 3 different chipsets for the same model camera:
Further, it is best to obtain any firmware updates from the vendor you purchased it from so that you do not run into issues. Any firmware you find here or elsewhere is obviously proceed at your own risk. We have many threads here where someone tried an update with a firmware they found on the internet and bricked their unit.
If the firmware update bricks the camera, then having the older firmware is useless. Plus manufacturers are also starting to prevent flashing older firmware. This camera is probably safe for that, but some newer models will allow firmware flashing to newer versions, not previous.
You really need to be asking yourself why are you updating? If it is just for grins and giggles or OCD behavior to be running the latest firmware, think twice.
A common theme around here is don't fix what ain't broke. If the unit is working and meets your needs, in many instances an update breaks what you had working and provides you with something you didn't need or bricks the camera. In most instances, updates are simply security vulnerability patches (usually years after the breach was found), but since we do not give our cameras internet access, the update is useless to us.
Unless the release notes specifically mention it fixing a problem you are experiencing, more than likely it won't fix an issue and may make the camera worse by removing functionality.
Here are issues I have seen people report here where they were upgrading just for the sake of upgrading:
- Dahua 5241E-Z12E that someone updated and then constantly reboots.
- Dahua 49225 and 49425 PTZ that Dahua intentionally removed autotracking with an update to force people to buy the more expensive PTZ.
- Hikvision DS-2DEA425IW-DW PTZ that Hikvision intentionally removed autotracking with an update to force people to buy the more expensive PTZ (*V5.7.3 220315 -Remove auto-tracking functions on DE4A).
- Hikvision ANPR camera losing half the FPS and loses the ability to read US plates - those are big deals to have happen, especially if you live in the USA.
- Hikvision ANPR DS-2CD4A26FWD camera that lost all ability to read plates - kinda makes a plate reader camera useless.
- Hikvision camera that the user lost ability to control the LED light function at night.
- Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 NVR that has the APIs changed. This is a big deal if you run automation.
- Hikvision wifi camera that loses the ability to use wifi after a firmware update and was intentionally removed due to too many complaints that the camera was dropping signal.
- DH-DB61 Doorbell that loses API functionality. A big deal for someone with automation.
- Hikvision iVM4200 v3.8 - loses the free ability to use the computer as storage and now need to subscribe.
- Dahua IPC-HFW1320S that started phoning home using 60MB/hr and costing someone thousands of dollars in data overages when he got his next mobile bill.
- Dahua 5442 that will not allow playback of the SD card.
- Dahua NVR58XX-4KS2 that had custom protocol (ability to add a camera via RTSP) removed possibly to force people to purchase same brand cameras.
- Countless other instances where the camera or NVR simply bricked and became useless.
- Countless examples where the camera or NVR went into Chinese.
- Manufacturers are now preventing their equipment to be updated with an older working firmware after it was updated to a more recent firmware.
Another thing to consider is that the same model could have different firmware for different chipsets used during the life of that model. So you run the risk of bricking if you do not know what chipset you have.
Here is an example - the HFW3549T1-AS-PV is available in 2 versions of firmware across 3 different chipsets for the same model camera:
- HFW3549T1-AS-PV-S4 uses the HX3XXX-Taurus firmware.
- HFW3549T1-AS-PV and IPC-HFW3549T1-AS-PV-S3 use the HX5XXX-Volt firmware
Further, it is best to obtain any firmware updates from the vendor you purchased it from so that you do not run into issues. Any firmware you find here or elsewhere is obviously proceed at your own risk. We have many threads here where someone tried an update with a firmware they found on the internet and bricked their unit.
Last edited:
JonSnow
Getting the hang of it
I wasn't aware they are doing shady things such as removing features, I can also see API changes breaking automation but that does not apply to me.
But noted on the don't fix what ain't broke
But noted on the don't fix what ain't broke
Yeah we have threads started here monthly after someone updated a PTZ and lost autotracking or their APIs stopped working and they are desperate for the older firmware to get it back.
I was bored last month and even though I say don't fix what ain't broke often, I thought "hey let me update a perfectly working camera to add 2D and 3D noise reduction that one of my other 5442 cams has" and totally effed up the camera. Lost the ability to set FPS and encode and bitrate and couldn't factory reset from the GUI. Fortunately I was able to figure out the API to factory reset (instead of having to get out a ladder) and had the previous firmware already (one of the reasons why I figured it was ok to try because I could revert back since I had the previous firmware), but it took awhile to get the camera operational. But even now with a factory reset several times and going back firmware, the image is much darker than it was before for the same settings.
I was bored last month and even though I say don't fix what ain't broke often, I thought "hey let me update a perfectly working camera to add 2D and 3D noise reduction that one of my other 5442 cams has" and totally effed up the camera. Lost the ability to set FPS and encode and bitrate and couldn't factory reset from the GUI. Fortunately I was able to figure out the API to factory reset (instead of having to get out a ladder) and had the previous firmware already (one of the reasons why I figured it was ok to try because I could revert back since I had the previous firmware), but it took awhile to get the camera operational. But even now with a factory reset several times and going back firmware, the image is much darker than it was before for the same settings.