I've neglected my system. Should i update firmware?

[Steve Bowman]

Hello all, I've been absent for some time, but am recently thinking of adding a camera to my system.

I've sort of lost touch with my specific hardware, and would like to avoid too many trips up and down a ladder.

I took a screenshot of my setup screen to show my current hardware.

Would upgrading the various cameras be helpful?

Thanks.

 

[Steve Bowman]

is it possible to know the model of the 1st 3 cameras from the version #? two are the same. Probably IPC-HDW5231R-ZE for 1 and 3

 

[Steve Bowman]

And my NVR - Is there advantage to upgrading it?

Web Version: 3.2.3.98477

Onvif Version: 2.4.1

System Version: 3.216.0000000.0, Build Date: 2018-06-05

 

[wittaj]

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.

Don't do it unless it is fixing a problem you are experiencing or adds a feature you really need.

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

In this instance, Dahua added an S# designation after the model number (while Hikvision adds a C), but many do not and then you try to update with a firmware not compatible with your chipset and potentially brick it.


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.

Many units being sold are Chinese hacked units into English that will either brick or go into Chinese upon updating. Some vendors will be upfront and tell consumers that as part of their website, but many do not or the consumer forgets...here is one such example....

 

[Steve Bowman]

Actually, the 5231 camera is 2 - same as 4

1 and 3 are dome cameras of some model I'm not sure of.


Thanks for that reply, I'll look that over in the morning.

 

[adamg]

It can be entertaining to upgrade firmware every year. But usually there are no problems that need fixing, and sometimes the upgrade will modify some functionality you care about. The more advanced and special features you use (such as motion tracking, object tracking) the higher the risk a upgrade will modify it for the worse.

It looks like the N43 has a much newer firmware, and I have good luck lately with firmwares from this page:

DahuaWiki

dahuawiki.com

 

[Steve Bowman]

Thanks for that, I'm nit having any problems, was just thinking about it.

I'm not real impressed with those n43s compared to my other ones. I picked them up cheap, so my expectations weren't very high anyway. But I guess I was hoping for better video quality or something. Especially in low light.


I will say I'm not very impressed with the interface on my nvr. I guess I don't know what to expect with upgrades. Would that improve?

As far as special features, I only utilize that on one of my cameras to detect vehicles coming up the driveway to set an external alarm. Trip wire I think. But that's one of those areas in the nvr that I think are a little hard to understand.

 

[wittaj]

Well the N43s are 4MP on the 1/3 sensor, which is a sensor designed for 720P, so yeah they will perform horrible in low light as they need over 4 times the amount of light as a 720P on the same size sensor. You would be better off with 720P. 4MP needs to be on at least a 1/1.8" sensor. Your Z12E will do better in low light than the N43s as the Z12E is on a larger 1/2.8" sensor and is only 2MP.

Updating the NVR will not change the interface. NVR updates are usually security baseline fixes only, but look at my post above of functionality lost when people updated and lost functions they used. You would have to get a new NVR for a new interface.

You would be better off to update cameras to newer models than updating firmware...