Questions about POE network camera

dar124

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jan 21, 2012
Messages
2,004
A few months ago I posted here with some questions about setting up a network camera so I could "watch" the side of my house and part of my back yard. To keep things simple to install, configure and use (they've got an app that would make it easy especially for the wife to use via her phone). I've been looking at a couple different models of D-Link IP cameras. I initially was trying to decide between the DCS-2330 & DCS-2332 models, which were both WiFi cameras. But I'm thinking that if I'm going to run a wire for power, I might as well just go with the DCS-2310 and run a network cable for POE which would eliminate any issues with WiFi connections.


DCS-2330L

DCS-2332L

DCS-2310L


So now I'm wondering, if I do go with the DCS-2310, is there anything else that I'm going to need to do to meet POE requirements?? My thought is that I'd mount the camera on the back corner of the house, run the network cable along/under the siding and then into my basement where I've got a little 5 port Netgear switch (I could get the model #, etc later today) that I could plug it into. Would it be this simple or would I need some additional components because of the POE??
 
The only thing you'll need for the 3210L camera is a PoE-capable (should list PoE or 802.3af somewhere) switch as it feeds both the data and power over the same cable. You could run a separate power line, but that kind of defeats the point of PoE.

There's a few ways you could go about getting power injected into the network line, either directly from the switch itself (being PoE-capable) or via an external injection with something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Autoranging-S...8&qid=1430746845&sr=1-3&keywords=PoE+injector

I'd suggest maybe checking out some other brands as well, depending on the pricing you're getting. Big fan of Hikvision cameras (DS-2CD2032-I for example) as they provide great resolution and are quite reasonably priced. Just a thought.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Ok, I knew there was something additional that was needed for a POE device to work. That "NEEWER Wall Plug Injector" is a nice way of adding the POE option without having to buy a whole new switch!!!

One thing that I liked about the D-Link cameras was the ability to view them remotely (online or on my phone). Does the Hikvision have a similar option?? I saw in one of the Amazon comments that Blue Iris software was mentioned. I'd have to factor that into the overall $$ amount, whereas it's all included with the D-Link camera.

Something else to consider is the Hikvision appears to be a 3MP vs 1MP for the D-Link. I'll look a bit more into it.
 
The HIKvision cameras spank the Dlink's. You will still need a 802.11af switch or a PoE injector. HIKvision has both an app for Android and iPhone as well as a standalone PC DVR software all free. I don't use the PC dvr software because I went with a HIKvision DVR instead.
 
Last edited:
HIKvision and Dahua brands also have builtin server, so a centralized network video recorder is not needed if you only have a couple cameras. They can record directly to a Network Share or SD card(depending on model) and has a web server.
 
have you looked into Axis cameras? I'm currently running the m-3005v Poe
models. They have a local storage and also the option to use a nvr. What's nice is the software is free for 4 cameras. Gives you the ability to watch and manage them from your iPhone/android devices.
 
The HIKvision cameras spank the Dlink's. You will still need a 802.11af switch or a PoE injector. HIKvision has both an app for Android and iPhone as well as a standalone PC DVR software all free. I don't use the PC dvr software because I went with a HIKvision DVR instead.

HIKvision and Dahua brands also have builtin server, so a centralized network video recorder is not needed if you only have a couple cameras. They can record directly to a Network Share or SD card(depending on model) and has a web server.

Yep, I have no problem spending a few bucks on a PoE injector, which I'll add to my current switch. After reading a bit more about the HIKvision's they do seem like pretty good cameras. Do you have a recommendation for a specific model of HIKvision camera?? From doing some quick searching and reading today the HIKvision DS-2CD2032-I seems like a good option. It seems like a better quality and price than the D-Links that I was looking at. Just hoping that they'll be fairly easy to use (setting up, software, configuring, apps, etc). I also briefly checked out the 2 HIKvision apps on the Google Play store today and they also look good.

I would want the camera to record the video clips it gets down to a folder on my WHS 2011 server. Is there an issue with setting something like this up?? Or is it all done thru the HIKvision software??
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
As a HIKvision dealer, I can say for sure that the built in web interface can handle setting up recording to a network share.
 
As a HIKvision dealer, I can say for sure that the built in web interface can handle setting up recording to a network share.


Sounds good, thanks for the response Dawizman!!! Nice to hear that from a HIKvision dealer.

For what I'm looking for does the HIKvision DS-2CD2032-I look like it's the best fit?? Or are there any other comparable models to the DS-2CD2032-I that I should look at??
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I've been working on this for a while now, slowly getting to the point of buying and setting this camera up. I did decide to upgrade my router and switch first. So I now have a Gigabit network in the house and I also now have an available port on my switch for the camera.

So now that all of that is taken care of, I've started looking online for the cameras again. I've mainly been looking on Amazon, and it seems like the big issue is making sure that you're getting the US version of the camera. Is there a way to assure that I'm getting the US version?? I've tried looking for US sellers, but it's hard to get a lot of info on the seller from Amazon. On eBay you can clearly see "ships from China", etc. and avoid those items.

I (obviously) want a good price on the camera, but also done want the hassle of having to return and re-buy a camera until I find one that is a US model.
 
+1 Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I
I have 4 of these on an HP PoE switch.
Still working great 6 months later.
Here are some screenshots from the iphone app, free, and stupid easy to use.
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/1.PNG
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/2.PNG
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/3.PNG
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/4.PNG
(screenshots are from before I set up a NTP server)

Using the built in camera software to a standard windows (SMB) share. DVR stuff works great.

Only thing you need to be aware of is Infrared (night vision) attracts bugs.
 
Hikvision cameras are beautiful. Make sure you end up with the US/international version and not the rebranded Chinese version (from what I've read, always comes in a brown box).
I recommend coughing up for the Poe switch up front and be done without all of the injectors. Will make things less cluttered and less to troubleshoot when problems arise. My .02

Good luck!
 
+1 Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I
I have 4 of these on an HP PoE switch.
Still working great 6 months later.

Hikvision cameras are beautiful. Make sure you end up with the US/international version and not the rebranded Chinese version (from what I've read, always comes in a brown box).


Yep, from what I've heard the Hikvison's are pretty good cameras.

Where did you guys get your camera's from?? As I stated above I've been looking on Amazon and it is a bit difficult to try to get info on the seller and verify that the camera will be a US version and not the Chinese version. Thanks in advance for any info.
 
+1 Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I
I have 4 of these on an HP PoE switch.
Still working great 6 months later.
Here are some screenshots from the iphone app, free, and stupid easy to use.
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/1.PNG
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/2.PNG
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/3.PNG
www.quickesthosting.com/~spirit/hik/4.PNG
(screenshots are from before I set up a NTP server)

Using the built in camera software to a standard windows (SMB) share. DVR stuff works great.

Only thing you need to be aware of is Infrared (night vision) attracts bugs.

hi, could you tell me what model# switch you are using with poe?
 
Yep, from what I've heard the Hikvison's are pretty good cameras.

Where did you guys get your camera's from?? As I stated above I've been looking on Amazon and it is a bit difficult to try to get info on the seller and verify that the camera will be a US version and not the Chinese version. Thanks in advance for any info.

Best advice is to read the reviews as to which sellers sell the legitimate versions. I know I've received the Chinese version before and back it went!
It's obviously in a brown box. It's covered in detail in most of the hikvision reviews. Browse through other models, even if you're not buying them, to gain more info on what you need to look for.
 
I got: HP 1910-8G-PoE+ (180W) Switch(JG350A)
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/networking-switches/product-detail.html?oid=5257668

The 65watt version should work just fine as well, with 4 cameras on, my switch is telling me peak usage was 17watts.

I bought both the cameras and switch off newegg. Don't see the switch or cameras directly on newegg anymore, but the 65watt version is there. Managed is a good thing, being able to remotely reboot a camera... tho I never had to, they just work.
 
So where is a good place in the US to order from? Most of their approved vendor lists are wholesale distributors.

Dawizman, can I order from you? Want some DS-2CD2032-I for the new house.
 
I went thu a handful of the DS-2CD2032-I camera listings on Amazon. I read thru the various reviews again, but it seems like sometimes the review is for the product and not for the seller, which can make it a little difficult. I also sent an email to a few of the sellers to verify the version of the camera. Hopefully I get some responses that'll make it a bit easier to narrow it down to a few of the listings that I can confirm as the US version.
 
Been kinda pondering on setting up cameras myself due to high theft increase in my city. Those Hikvision cameras do look nice for the price, but can't find anywhere to buy in Canada. It seems hard to find POE Wired cameras now since most are going wireless nowdays, which is completely retarded for something meant for security. You need to run power from a location that has a UPS anyway so POE just makes so much more sense.

I like the idea that it can write to a network drive, no need to get PVR software, just setup a basic Linux system with a bunch of raided drives and you're golden. How does that feature work exactly, does it write small bits of videos when there is activity? What happens if the camera is destroyed do you end up with a corrupted file or will you see up to that point?
 
So, I received some responses to the emails that I sent to the Amazon sellers.

A few sellers responded saying they did sell the camera in the brown box, but assured me it would work without issues (or something to that effect). Some of those emails were a bit hard to comprehend. Lots of improper grammar etc, which is another indicator that they're not a US seller and therefore might not be a legit US version of the camera. And after looking thru just a few of their reviews, it's fairly obvious that those email responses weren't truthful.

I also received a handful of responses from sellers stating that their cameras were the US version, in the red & white box. So I feel I've effectively whittled down the large list to a small number of quality of cameras. And if nothing else I have in writing that they sell the red & white boxed US version, just in case I get a brown box from one of those sellers. :D
 
The sellers that I've received responses from so far confirming that they sell the US version camera in the red & white box:


NetView - email stated "all products sold by us are US version that comes in red/white retail packaging and we also provide our own standard to week warranty from the date of purchase which includes parts plus labor".

SafeGuard Designs - they stated "a red and white box using the CCRW serial for unlimited updates".

TMEZON-CCTV Security KING - they stated "US version and it's the Leather box , the manual is chinese but the version and the CD is English". (I'm a bit leary of this one).


The other emails either haven't got a response or response that I got clearly indicated a brown box or the Chinese version.

Hope this info helps others out there get a legit US version!!!
 
i just got one of these installed and it's so awesome!

way better then my cheapo zmodo.

my only problem is i am unable to get ezviz to work.

does it work?

anyone else using this with your hikvision?
 
The sellers that I've received responses from so far confirming that they sell the US version camera in the red & white box:


NetView - email stated "all products sold by us are US version that comes in red/white retail packaging and we also provide our own standard to week warranty from the date of purchase which includes parts plus labor".

SafeGuard Designs - they stated "a red and white box using the CCRW serial for unlimited updates".

TMEZON-CCTV Security KING - they stated "US version and it's the Leather box , the manual is chinese but the version and the CD is English". (I'm a bit leary of this one).


The other emails either haven't got a response or response that I got clearly indicated a brown box or the Chinese version.

Hope this info helps others out there get a legit US version!!!
Go with one of the first two. The second one said the EXACT thing you want to see. CCRW. Do not accept anything else except the international/English version. You will regret it. The third seller is trying to deceive you into buying a Chinese version that has been hacked to have English language in the software. That's cool and all until a security patch is released or you need to update the software for some other reason. Then it goes back to Chinese language. And, you start from scratch having to hack the camera again to display English. And that update you just performed? Oh, that possibly included a patch to prevent the camera from being hacked again. Not worth my time. Not worth my worry. I'll pay $20 more to the person selling me the legitimate version every time.
 
hi, could you tell me what model# switch you are using with poe?

If you don't want to throw down for a PoE switch, you can get a multi-port PoE injector. I use one of these to run 4x Ubiquiti Nanostations and an x86 thin client (repurposed to act as a pfsense box) from a single power brick.

There are prettier versions with more ports and enclosures for a few dollars more.
 
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Go with one of the first two. The second one said the EXACT thing you want to see. CCRW. Do not accept anything else except the international/English version. You will regret it. The third seller is trying to deceive you into buying a Chinese version that has been hacked to have English language in the software. That's cool and all until a security patch is released or you need to update the software for some other reason. Then it goes back to Chinese language. And, you start from scratch having to hack the camera again to display English. And that update you just performed? Oh, that possibly included a patch to prevent the camera from being hacked again. Not worth my time. Not worth my worry. I'll pay $20 more to the person selling me the legitimate version every time.


I definitely agree FNtastic. I'd rather take the time to do some research and pay a bit more up front to be sure I wont have any issues than to save $20 and have all kinds of hassles with it working or trying to return it, etc.
 
just got my camera connected to my nas via nfs and i been using the playback feature from my phone and it is awesome at 1080 res!

im surprise how fast it is on both wifi and 3g off lame att and it streams without any stuttering.

has anyone has more than 1 camera and stream all 4 at once without any quality issues?

my uplink is 5mbps which helps alot
 
So, I ordered a Hikvision camera last week. I got it on Amazon, from the seller NetView. They had previously sent me an email stating "all products sold by us are US version that comes in red/white retail packaging and we also provide our own standard to week warranty from the date of purchase which includes parts plus labor".

I'm holding them to it and hopefully later this week I'll get a US Hikvision in a red and white box!!!
 
So yesterday, I get home and ...


GGt0GhrgBPo0K8LK2EvfA7Db6Apxqcmouh6LSXk3hkM=w1308-h736-no



Gotta love that red and white box!!! Thank you NetView!!! :D


I'm going to look to physically install the camera in the next week or so. After the camera is installed, are there any suggestions / recommedations as far as configuring it?? From a previous post here in this thread the camera should have a "built in web interface to set up recording to a network share". That is pretty much what I want it do and I'm hoping it's a pretty straight forward process.
 
I got a few from eBay (UK) a few weeks back (before I read this post) and they're in a brown box. What are the issues? Simply the language?

I'm also keen to learn a bit more about the software. I'm upgrading from a Ubiquiti setup and they're NVR software was really good (interface etc). Initially with the Hikvisions i've iVMS 4200 but it looks more like a client then a server. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
 
I ran a POE camera to my back fence wall. I used outdoor rated PVC in-ground conduit for it (had to trench) and mounted it on a back wall. Cabling was standard plenum cable (what I had on hand).

There's not much to these, a lot better than the old analog setups.
 
I got a few from eBay (UK) a few weeks back (before I read this post) and they're in a brown box. What are the issues? Simply the language?

I'm also keen to learn a bit more about the software. I'm upgrading from a Ubiquiti setup and they're NVR software was really good (interface etc). Initially with the Hikvisions i've iVMS 4200 but it looks more like a client then a server. Can anyone point me in the right direction?


I think the "issue" with the non-US version is that after a firmware upgrade it could default back to the Chinese language. Also you dont get support from HIKVision USA because it wasnt bought from an "authorized dealer". I read a lot of the Amazon reviews prior to buying and figured that it'd be better to put some time in now to assure that I got a US verion.
 
Earlier this week I went thru the HIKVision box and looked at the camera & items that came with it a bit closer. After looking at the cap that seals the network cable connection, it looks like one end of that cap needs to be put on the network cable and then the network cable end put on. But I purchased a cable from Monoprice that came with the ends already terminated. I'm a fan of doing that so that there wont be any connectivity issues because I didnt make a good connection when terminating the cable.


i6Cr0U1hYjgQs2tJwjYOwAgAYH6Ieaap1VVSbP-os2s=w657-h467-no



oytXwhDTb2PtNtnyQtGIdS5RRl39j-u8fDk8ryUnmpY=w608-h474-no



First I though that I would bring the cable into work, cut one of the ends off, put the cap and gasket on and then have one of our networking guys put another end on the cable (since they do that every day). But that would still leave the possibility of a connectivity issue.

Then I thought that I could try to skip using the cap to seal the connection by putting some dielectric grease on the connection. But I've never used dielectric grease, so I figured that this wouldnt be a good way to try something out for the first time. I also heard that it's messy, so not sure I'd want that all over the siding, etc.

After a bit of searching online, I finally decided to use this Coax-Seal to seal the connection. I ordered it earlier this week and received it yesterday. It will be under the siding, but just a 2nd layer of protection to assure that no water makes it in!!!

Finally getting closer to installing this camera!!!
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I finally got this camera installed and the network cable run under the siding and down into my basement!!! It took a while, but now I just need to connect it to the POE injector, install the Hikvision software and then do a bit of configuring.


The corner of the house before the install.


RI_zW2Lo-96eD-vXsDtxI_ifwCvrqy-QbqgYdZpZfZj63sFQFjBOm0Lbj8zPkHXbDKMZjqkdUza5TlpBKeBHNK1hVBL1DnmwWHpa2ZtuVN0kmyYfNAGBdPrl_A9kCTVe8ohFvyIDRpTFzl0ifufknOaLVSbJonGi7WGPFLNcWfN30A_H9vy58XqO_X8pTzZy60JhAK1Wj5Q4l6NUaP6pJUMC4bTi8qOg3MdC_Jtw0wURfgc2ji4fY1gMnBR4zP1Uv5jyxhkqVGapWBmWiMKEZTltXRkP4ldM4X3MAfvfXugthLaRHUCteL-bWLUAChVF34cZeUIl4wKRLPDHeJXAVVy_1OIfyfHBYlNm3CK-WArV-EQ8asVpYZHi5Cj8wNg9eQEMSF8HeYf3OnGvzgWRJ_7uwES4ZLdxTAFaLt5o4nGzm-tFTIwKAmtomCtSvOTPT0rg0wjWxtX-UcZadoZEiBtKhHsfFMupk_8E8xP-w4p1R7Hz3jTbLtBmLUejiNLqv-gtBg3qPsbOPxcEOmMNmoNWofi9RRB9f1hYQlX4q1k=w410-h728-no



During the install.


Os7WvVsyitz7h7UBf4oMahoooKHwgb7uQSties9NxRTRfH5XiAGE8hh_X20IswqLjgrL6JWskGnOoCYaKZYyijrtYQsM2Eqt3qaUOdQocVx0phtSQenUJmdIk1OJmaR6VE0-ALf4V1XIIyxByGl_QBI76lwvUUGWFx8uzVRcnACCu1RcUUbMK5IHJbGSC7aAMWIiS2WXMR151rkj7eHblnmsTK9N2fpqhpxY2MLSbFLXMBK1nAYdVjbxqthexxsOAqgeqpbLqzlLoCzwJt5kdcHfulbJpAlI1NHPG6bvqQNXAW3lQMnofiIcXG3H819dixFhs6e7tKEJu9MAJUesO4gA41HvXFF6U6kWX_168Tzl-v9J6qQVK4stmY6NA2YkW4DCGYeiikguikMUkelt0amRv1qil7E1m5C51QtKsfwjr5bT88ZBbsojLvMCS2nGVtQbKpHyalI0bT2A9Aq6a5bP_vBVC_a6NbPhGgYJmHNrok8SkhfoQsKdFXH7QRDKhBc0-56jaj8zhurGk2U3gXaPX-P9dDMUNvRR9ka5hhc=w410-h728-no



hMpXUgJozgsOhcBC5mJPGM41HLmu7eRCuC12u8CQUKoIUTyrVyCDciPG87ZsKLT20e2HeoV6DI5u1T_wUJ6VH1M10BRBHMWBVU-_HuAZO0XPOBBau7LZCsMqZ2E_zB55m7axX9hojCvNlEJXV8l4zKSzXtJm-1I9OGcu8voZdDECTxnOj00gweeyDdD63WOPf9tsU2fMZJO0_tuQyTn8tWXwq2vSWPKYLmuxtK-Xyv3qMLfWRP8dvKT3CjVwNEZfLrOCyoqAgun98RWSYPAcZl8LtXUyfPqk6yah3830WXcYAoMCqeRk_sKBjrPF0U09qPUcKpYVG1z0QYIGD1Bmr94ftk437A4Ci3T8NXbhyW_w8mFl-134IMOr0_9f20ApZ8q1LkpQ6J3uALR0hHz-iAkjQcJ0E-dx9x-ynF3hUpO8FquPLZNyh0TN2PXwIqCf-XLJ78AO6JRP5UznuqIEZlfDk9nJXpQIGeazDqeo6K2yAaDBD4Pl0FHRSDmstwyCgoKtZAHtz-3nCE-G216_-WKvs3--DxD4KxCdjmaaGGw=w410-h728-no




FQvTPpYbW5inngk98hqlZohgpmefT2RROrVqx_zp_tgbay6rTmGEPPfa4YzsqLHVN7kA56aqioCzHz5FJOKDmdv6yf-qvfS8muBRKmtEZoY0dvo-8XzIvjNoTEbDbMj2bmCYH9Be89kExHvb3jkLGsv02qIIRmvRq-7oPjxQR0ci0LU3WmYRo3Yz8ELgWgknRiR9MZm19c2ZFri_ZCc6ozJKJHdOGJUzJebRdf18bxTzqSR_lZuQ3tiSstgkx69fcFfSQw5IOx69fJhd7A9zFsvBfbLXGpXv2xkTCvMCY-vDG9e5pIsQoHdt1nxLdjKt195FthKdgR24Qt__06rm6LeADfATBXF0WfvXY7PhaktdUM3IEUXOv-n74fIG5oLYo_TMFdLmBPSLFGRttqqsXPc4erS_pg0dDd3Yd7CVWnAE9_dwrk_snbGOUMAqhZwNV4n3117c5lUePiTmo68_U6kO0qDxpBeRxG2MGa0HdNq_oB1k15yM8plnuStZmBMNnhBNjg-5I55CBVcJ8xn3iBXNjU-S=w412-h731-no




Thinking about the next few steps here, should I install the Hikvision software on my server or just on my desktop PC. My thought was that the desktop PC will get shut off periodically, but the server stays on almost 24/7. Wasn't sure if the camera will need the Hikvision software to run 24/7 or after the initial configuration if the camera will be good on its own??
 
Last edited:
I'm seeing them. I did have some problems recently with the pictures showing up, but not sure why. I upload them to Google and have never had any issues before, but they wouldnt display the last few times I tried to inclued a pic in one of my posts. But now it seems like they're showing again (at least when I look at the thread)??
 
I'm seeing them. I did have some problems recently with the pictures showing up, but not sure why. I upload them to Google and have never had any issues before, but they wouldnt display the last few times I tried to inclued a pic in one of my posts. But now it seems like they're showing again (at least when I look at the thread)??

i dont see them :confused:
 
I don't see the pictures either. You got the Hikvision 2032 right? 4mm lens?
 
I don't see the pictures either. You got the Hikvision 2032 right? 4mm lens?


Yea, I'm not sure what's going on with the images. They'll be there, I'll refresh and they're gone. But I am seeing them again now. I've removed the images and then gone back to the images on Google and added them in again. Not really sure why they're not showing up, but I'm gonna continue to blame Google. :D :D

I did end up going with the DS-2CD2032-I. It's all set up and connected. I can log in and view a live image from the camera at home via the camera's IP address. But I'm having some problems setting it up to view remotely (both with the HIKVision website and also with the iVMS-4500 app on my phone). I havent gone thru the iVMS-4200 software to set up recording yet. I searched online and found some manuals for the camera, but havent had much luck configuring it. I've set up an "inbound rule" to fwd ports 80, 554, 443, 8000. But still no luck.
 
Back
Top