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.
Here are issues I have seen people report here where they were upgrading just for the sake of upgrading:
- A Dahua Z12E that someone updated and then constantly reboots comes to mind,
- The Dahua 49225 PTZ that loses autotracking with an update come to mind,
- A Hikvision ANPR camera losing half the FPS and loses the ability to read US plates - those are big deals to have happen.
- A Hikvision camera that the user lost ability to control the LED light function at night.
- Countless other instances where the camera simply bricked and became useless.
- Countless examples where the camera went into Chinese.
Don't do it unless it is fixing a problem you are experiencing or adds a feature you really need.
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....
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Thanks!