SOLVED: Dahua Cam: Recording to SD card doesn't work. Why?

[Fastb]

All,

Because of the many benefits, I decided to put an SD card in my HDBW4421E-AS Dome.

Based on my reading here, I bought this SD card, based on the recommendations:
Samsung 64GB 80MB/s EVO Select

I'm not getting recorded video. It's either me
A- doing something wrong, or
B- the SD card holder has a problem, or
C- other?

A) I surf to the cam UI, and click on playback. There isn't anything showing on the timeline, and the filelist is blank. There's nothing to play back. Am I doing something wrong?

B) The micro SD card holder was loose. Specifically, the swinging cover didn't snap tightly into place. The spring force of the contacts would unlatch the cover. With some careful bending of the cover retention notches, the card now stays in place. I'm reasonably certain the card is installed properly, since it has indexes to place the card precisely over the contacts.

C) Other problems?

I'm reluctant to remove the card from the cam, since the bail/cover of the card holder is finicky. Is testing the card in a laptop the next troubleshooting step?

Thanks!
Fastb

 

[Fastb]

All,

In researching a solution, I found this tidbit about recording to an SD card, though the post is for a different camera (Huisun mini-PTZ), and the post is from Dec 2015:

"- Recordings cannot be downloaded via webui. This appears to be a bug as a button clearly exists and the file appears to progress in downloading (to the local client machine) to 100%, however no local file is ever produced."

"- The only way to 'pull' recordings off of the camera at this point appears to be to physically remove the SD card and read the SD card using a computer."

So I have formatted the SD card, using the cam's UI. I'm not sure if that was needed or not. Anyway, it formatted successfully. Still no recorded video that can be viewed from the cam's UI, in "Playback" screen.

A puzzle....

Fastb

 

[bigredfish]

You sure you told it to record to "Local"?

On my Bullets its under Storage/Destination - then tick the boxes for Scheduled, Motion Detect, Alarm...

 

[Fastb]

bigredfish,

Thanks for the reply.

My brief A to your Q: "Yes"

See pic.



And "Schedule" is set for 24/7
And "event type" to record is for all types, 24/7

Other hunches?

Fastb

 

[Fastb]

So the problem went away.
I think the formatting of the SD card was my missing piece.
The camera started recording much later.
(After formatting, it didn't start recording for a long time. So I thought I still had a problem)
I can browse to the cam, playback recorded video/audio, and download video clips. Though I haven't found where they were downloaded to, LOL! The cam's web ui reported the download was successful, so the problem is between my seatback and keyboard....

Fastb

My post didn't get a lot of replies. Maybe not a lot of people use an SD card in their camera? So I posted a poll, first time....

Some threads on using the SD card:
Question about IP Cams with micro SD card onboard storage - Is it necessary?
Dahua best microSD cards - suggestions?

 

[bigredfish]

On my PC something magically created a folder C/users/username/Webdownload and 5 sub folders. That's where they end up.

I can download two ways, by the timeline or via the list. Also either mp4 or .dav

I found that my version of windows media player can't deal with the MP4 file for some reason? so I download the .dav and convert to MP4 using BigaSoft converter which is pretty cool free tool.

 

[nayr]

SmartPlayer by Dahua and Handbrake convert DAV's just fine

 

[bigredfish]

Yep now I recall seeing that! damnm I kinda liked the "magic" part, you broke my bubble

I use Smartplayer also, I just find BigaSoft has a ton more features and options..

 

[nayr]

BigaSoft spams this forum like a bunch of dickheads, Ive reported at least half a dozen so far.

 

[bigredfish]

Didnt know that.

 

[Arjun]

Is it possible to replace the two Phillips screws (holding the plastic bottom cover--access to micro SD Card slot) with Torx?

 

[looney2ns]

Is it possible to replace the two Phillips screws (holding the plastic bottom cover--access to micro SD Card slot) with Torx?

Sure, why not?

 

[Arjun]

I'm still trying to understand why Dahua went with the Philips screws to begin with, lol

Sure, why not?

 

[looney2ns]

I'm still trying to understand why Dahua went with the Philips screws to begin with, lol

Because some design engineer put it in the build specs.

 

[fenderman]

I'm still trying to understand why Dahua went with the Philips screws to begin with, lol

Why in the world does that bother you?

 

[Arjun]

Phillips screws are easy to strip, strip one and good luck finding a replacement cover

Security torx would have been a better option IMO

Why in the world does that bother you?

 

[nayr]

none of the torx screws on other cameras are security torx.. and its not like the tools are not widely available; if someone comes prepared with tools, get a dog and a gun to take care of em

rarely are PTZ's installed within reach.. high zoom down low means you'll have too many obstacles to overcome to reach any distance.

 

[fenderman]

Phillips screws are easy to strip, strip one and good luck finding a replacement cover

Security torx would have been a better option IMO

Really? That's Nonsense...

 

[Arjun]

May be that's why they say to stick to the screws that come with the camera kit

Really? That's Nonsense...

 

[fenderman]

May be that's why they say to stick to the screws that come with the camera kit

Huh?