So confused on firmware for IPC-COLOR4K-X ?

[JesseSR]

I'm so confused righit now on firmware for IPC-COLOR4K-X model?

CHOICE #1
This thread, IPC-T5442T-ZE IPC-T5442TM-AS IPC-T5842T-ZE SMD 3.0 Smart IR Latest New Firmware From EmpireTech, makes it seem like the SMD 3.0 V2.8 2022 Aug Version is the best one to run on 4K cameras...

(even though the first post doesn't specifically list the IPC-COLOR4K-X model number -- EmpireAndy himself says "esp the 4K models..." and "has big improvement on the 4K..." so it leads me to believe this is his current recommended version???)


CHOICE #2
But then this thread, IPC-Color4K-X 20210908 FW , makes it seems like the 20210908 FW makes it seem like its the best one to run for 4K cameras? (I -used- to be on this but was getting a lot of false positive IVS triggers -- which led me to updating to General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.11.R.211105.bin)


REASON FOR ASKING...
I'm asking about Choice #1 and Choice #2 because I just realized I -may- have loaded in improper firmware on all my IPC-COLOR4K-X cameras more than a year ago?! The cameras ARE working (though I get more false positives than I like, which I why I think I upgraded from 20210908 FW in the first place) but... wondering if I should go with Choice #1or stay with the firmware I'm on now? (which I think is the General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.11.R.211105.bin release)

Cam1	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam2	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam3	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam4	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam5	2020-12-26 V4.500.0000000.0.R	VTO - unsure model?	Seems to be the most current firmware?
Cam6	V2.840.15OG00D.0.R, Build Date: 2022-08-18	IPC-T5442T-ZE	Purchased more recently so it has newer firmware
Cam7	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam8	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam9	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam10	V2.840.15OG002.0.R, Build Date: 2021-09-08	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam11	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-3.6MM	May have wrong firmware loaded
Cam12	V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05	IPC-Color4K-X-2.8MM	May have wrong firmware loaded

Can someone make sense of this for me? I'm leaning on upgrading to Choice #1 above as it seems like Andy says that's okay to run on 4K color cameras. (I still get way too many false positives on flying insects, deer, cats, etc. so just trying to get updated here to see if there's any improvement).

Thanks for clarifying this. (I'm hoping I'm not the only one confused by this lol)

 

[wittaj]

I believe Choice 1 is for the 5842 which is the 4K sensor put on the 5442 1/1.8" sensor and would not be the correct firmware for the 4K-X on the 1/1.2" sensor and why he mentioned 4K as it improves the image for that MP on that sensor.

BTW - great to see you here again and sorry to hear your cams are giving you false triggers. My 4K-X cams have still been rock solid.

 

[JesseSR]

Hey Wittaj , long time no chat. Looks like you recommend for me to stay AWAY from Choice #1 then.

Two follow up questions...
1. So the COLOR 4K-X's most recent firmware is STILL 20210908 FW and hasn't been updated since 2 years ago?
2. Should I just leave my COLOR 4K-X's on V2.840.0000000.11.R, Build Date: 2021-11-05 as they are now? I'm not even sure it's a valid firmware for the COLOR 4K-X's but it's working. -shrug-

 

[JesseSR]

i Just found on Andy's website (Download Firmwares) that the 4K-X camera has a firmware of General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.25.R.230425.bin so maybe I'll give that a try and see if any of the false positives are better with it?

Didn't even know Andy had a website but, cool!

 

[tmxv4128]

I have three Color 4K-X cameras running in my system: 2.8mm, 3.6mm, and 6mm. The firmware on each is: MultiLang_NP_Stream3_V2.840.15OG00D.0.R.220818.bin
Working perfectly with no problems at all.

 

[CCTVCam]

Use CPAI if on a pc. It will filter all the triggers for you. I've only had single false positive in a year - causeed by a deep shadow that had the rough outline of a human crossing the trip line. Even then, I run only 50% certainty.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

i Just found on Andy's website (Download Firmwares) that the 4K-X camera has a firmware of General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.25.R.230425.bin so maybe I'll give that a try and see if any of the false positives are better with it?

Didn't even know Andy had a website but, cool!

yes the 4K-x full color model one can use the 2023 fw. This version not support smart IR .
yes website active at July.

 

[The Automation Guy]

yes website active at July.

You need to edit your signature and add a link to it. That will help people find it.

 

[JesseSR]

I loaded General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.25.R.230425.bin (from Andy's firmware website) on one of my IPC-COLOR4K-X cameras last night.. did 2 defaults before the firmware, and 2 defaults after the firmware, and then re-added all my settings and IVS rules etc. (they STILL haven't fixed the bug where turning on IVS borks your shutter speed settings, etc. which has been happening for, years??!!). But anyways, I'll try this newer firmware on a camera for awhile before considering to update any of the other ones.

I like that Andy has a firmware website now though, that is really nice.

 

[CCTVCam]

I'm using this on mine;
IPC-Color4K-T and Color4K-T180_IPC-HX5(4)XXX-Taurus_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V3.120.0000000.14.R.230227

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

You need to edit your signature and add a link to it. That will help people find it.

Currently we add website and contact email to all camera's box or on camera's label.

 

[JDreaming]

Currently we add website and contact email to all camera's box or on camera's label.

View attachment 170332

The Automation Guy meant your signature in this forum still have AliExpress linked instead of your new official website link. Adding website and contact email to all camera's box or on camera's label help, but for those people who haven't bought cameras from you for a while might not have known.

A link to your official website from your signature help us lazy people easy one click away to your new store in case of uncontrollable urge to buy a new camera after reading the forum.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

I tryied but all going grey now, lol.

 

[Arn0]

I have three Color 4K-X cameras running in my system: 2.8mm, 3.6mm, and 6mm. The firmware on each is: MultiLang_NP_Stream3_V2.840.15OG00D.0.R.220818.bin
Working perfectly with no problems at all.

I was wondering if you're satisfied with you 6mm ? I'm looking for that type of lens (EmpireTech or Dahua), to complete the coverage, on a specific place.
Would be great if you can share screenshots, as I've seen that the sides (blur) can be the weakness of this model in 6mm.

Thanks !

 

[CCTVCam]

6mm is not the best for focus in the range. Hence why Andy stopped selling them. Might be better to consider a 3.6mm or if not suitable as too wide, a 5442 varifocal instead. The very latest models (there are now a lot of varinats of these cameras so beware), have on paper at least, sensitivity approaching that of the 4kt. I cannot comment on how this translates in practice as never seen one and haven't seen anyone on here with one of these latest versions either. Either way, please not the shallower dof on the 4kt as a trade off for light gathering.

 

[tmxv4128]

I was wondering if you're satisfied with you 6mm ? I'm looking for that type of lens (EmpireTech or Dahua), to complete the coverage, on a specific place.
Would be great if you can share screenshots, as I've seen that the sides (blur) can be the weakness of this model in 6mm.

Thanks !

I like each or the variations of the Color 4K-X cameras, but they must be used in specific applications. The 2.8mm is the best overview camera I have used. The low light capability (with color) is unmatched. Even with the aperture at 1.0, the depth of field is very good. I've swapped it out with a 5442T-ZE, 5442TM-AS (2.8mm), and 4K T180, but I always return to the 4K-X. I'll attach a screen shot, taken a few minutes ago.

Just a step back from the 2.8mm is the 3.6mm. It tends to have a bit more contrast than the 2.8mm, but whereas the 2.8mm looks sharp up close, the 3.6mm needs some distance to look its best. 10'-12' to infinity is a good starting point. Closer than 10' starts to get blurry.

The 6mm provides a great image, but your subject needs to be about 28' or more away. Yep, that far away. Depth of field is very poor; however, in the right situation it really shines. For instance, if you have a mailbox, gate, or entryway you would like to monitor, this would work well. It is NOT an overview camera, but if focused on one point, it is surprisingly effective. It is not the type of camera that if someone walked up to you would be able to make an identification. Best description of it would be presbyopic. On my back driveway that doesn't have much light, I use a 5442TM-AS 6mm. It is fabulous. Best low light grabber of all of my cameras at that focal length. If you don't mind using IR, consider using that cameras instead of the 6mm 4K-X.

I don't have the time today, but what I could do in the next few days is mount all three Color 4K-X cameras at the same vantage point as the attached (2.8mm) screenshot. That would provide the info you need to determine which is best for you.

 

[CanCuba]

Here's a night shot from my 2.8mm 4K-X. It's mounted about 7m above the street level and 9m back. I have lots of light (19,000 lumens from the LED panels alone).

Couldn't ask for a better overview cam, IMO.

 

[tmxv4128]

I was wondering if you're satisfied with you 6mm ? I'm looking for that type of lens (EmpireTech or Dahua), to complete the coverage, on a specific place.
Would be great if you can share screenshots, as I've seen that the sides (blur) can be the weakness of this model in 6mm.

Thanks !

I finally got around to making a video that demonstrates the 4K-X cameras (2.8mm, 3.6mm, and 6mm). Just for the heck of it, I also included the Color 4K T180 at the end. One of the things I have found difficult when setting up cameras is guessing which camera will work best at a specific position or for a specific purpose. Since there are still lots of questions about the Color 4K cameras on this forum, I thought this video might help. I uploaded it just now to YouTube in 4K resolution, so hope it looks ok.

For my setup, I mounted each camera at the same position at the front of my property next to the street. I did this on different days, so they would be exactly the same. I even used the same camera settings for each of the three Color 4K-X cameras. Day: Manual 0-2 shutter, 0-35 gain, Adv 3d = 26, Adv 2d - 26, WDR = 24, WB = outdoor Night: Manual 0-8 shutter, 0-40 gain, Exp Comp = 36, Adv 3d = 51, Adv 2d = 39, WB Red=13 Blue=42 Illuminator=off H264H @ 15fps and 10,000 bit rate

I used the power pole in the image as a focal point. Note that half-way across the street is 26 feet from the camera, the power pole is 54 feet away, and across the street to the neighbor's house is 94 feet. Nothing exciting happened on the three days I swapped out the cameras, but I tried to get some videos of automobiles and people out walking to give an idea of the resolution--especially concerning the 6mm camera, which doesn't get many favorable reviews on here; but I like how it works. That is why I included the man walking his dog about 58 feet away and then again about 5 feet from the camera when he crossed the street and passed by in the opposite direction. Even up close, the image isn't that bad.

I'll attach a diagram of the layout, so you can see how it was set up. One other note is that each of the three Color 4K-X cameras has the latest firmware from Andy (3_V2.840.0000000.25.R.230425) and also the Color 4K T180 (3_V3.120.0000000.21.R.230418).





YouTube Link:

 

[bigredfish]

Nice job

 

[IAmWatchingYou!]

@EMPIRETECANDY and anyone else coming across this thread. Playback from local SD via the web interface and DMSS app is not functioning after an upgrade to the latest firmware release:
General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.25.R.230425.bin

The DMSS app will show "Failed to connect"
The web interface will not respond when double clicking on an event.

Downgrading back to:
General_IPC-HX5XXX-Volt_MultiLang_PN_Stream3_V2.840.0000000.25.R.230425.bin
resolved the issue.