Review-AI NVR 4216-I

[looney2ns]

Dahua NVR 4216-I from EMPIRETECANDY

Review unit courtesy of Andy (@EMPIRETECANDY) in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Andy's ipcamtalk vendor forum: link
Andy's AliExpress store: link
Andy's Amazon store: link
Andy's Email: kingsecurity2014 (at) 163 (dot) com

Price Approximately US $270 shipped
Link to camera on Andy's AliExpress store: US $267.15 6% OFF|New AI NVR4216 I 16Channel 1U AI Network Video Recorder ， free DHL shipping-in Surveillance Video Recorder from Security & Protection on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
(price and link valid 10/2/19)

16 Channel 1U AI Network Video Recorder non-poe version

This units fan is quiet. I mentioned and have shown some of this unit capabilities here:

> 16 Channel IP video access
> Smart H.265+/H.265/Smart H.264+/H.264/MJPEG
> Up to 4 Channel perimeter protection
> Up to 2 Channel video stream face recognition/8 channel picture stream face recognition ( with FD camera)
> Up to 12 face pictures /sec processing
> Up to 10 face databases with 20,000 face images in total

Full Spec Sheet: Link
Quick Start Guide: Quick Start
Manual:User Manual

Go here'] [/URL]Main Processor Multi-core embedded processor
Operating System Embedded LINUX
Perimeter Protection
Performance 4 channel, 10 IVS rules for each channel
Object classification Human/Vehicle secondary recognition for tripwire and intrusion
AI Search Search by target classification (Human, Vehicle) by targe
Face Recognition Performance
Max 12 face pictures /sec processing
2 channel video stream face recognition / 8 channel picture stream face recognition ( with FD camera)
Stranger Mode Detect strangers' faces(not in device's face database).Similarity threshold can be set manually.
AI Search Up to 8 target face images search at same time, similarity threshold can be set for each target face image.
Database Management Up to 10 face databases with 20,000 face images in total. Name, gender, birthday, address, certificate type, certificate No., countries®ions and state can be added to each face picture.

Database Application Each database can be applied to video channels independently.
Trigger Events Buzzer, Voice Prompts, Email, Snapshot, Recording, Alarm Out, PTZ Activation, etc.
Audio and Video
IP Camera Input 16 Channel
Two-way Talk 1 Channel Input, 1 Channel Output, RCA
Display Interface 1 HDMI, 1 VGA
Resolution HDMI/VGA: 3840 x 2160, 1920 × 1080 , 1280 × 1024, 1280 × 720 , 1024 × 768
Decoding Capability 2-ch@8MP(30fps), 8-ch@1080P(30fps)
Multi-screen Display 1/4/8/9/16
Recording Bandwidth 200Mbps (80Mbps when AI function enabled, based on Dahua private protocol)
Compression Smart H.265+/H.265/Smart H.264+/H.264/MJPEG
Resolution 12MP, 8MP, 6MP, 5MP, 4MP, 3MP, 1080P, 1.3MP, 720P, D1 etc.

Record Mode
Manual, Schedule (Continuous, MD(Motion Detection) , Alarm, IVS)
Record Interval 1 ~ 120 min (default: 60 min), Pre-record: 1 ~ 30 sec, Post-record: 10 ~ 300 sec

 

[looney2ns]

Ok, I've been working with this NVR now off and on for going on 3 weeks, with the hopes that some of the problems was something I was overlooking. I don't believe that is the case now.

I've tested the NVR with this camera reviewed here: Review-Dahua IPC-HFW7842HP-Z AI, ANPR Ultra 8MP Varifocal Starlight Cam | IP Cam Talk

To put it mildly, they don't play well together.

I started with the camera reset to factory defaults. Nvr wouldn't find it, I reset NVR to factory defaults, still wouldn't find it. In the end I had to manually add the cam to the NVR on the registration screen. I repeated this a couple of times and same results each time.

After adding the cam, going to it's settings in the NVR resulted in.....nothing. It wasn't pulling the video nor the settings from the cam. After clicking "refresh" 4-5 times, it finally pulled the info.

So next I was anxious to set up ANPR in the NVR, since the camera has ANPR as well. You can see the setup screen in the photos below. It would not let me set the camera to "enable". It also would not let me draw the rule. Everything else, I could set. I then go to the cams interface, and same thing. It won't let me set those two items. It did before, when I first tested the cam on it's own. And it did a respectable job at snap pics of cars and plates, see review linked above.

So I left the setup run for 5 days, it was very hit and miss at what it would capture. Today for example, out of 39 vehicles that passed the cam today, only two were captured. See pics below.

So then I moved onto Face Detection, nada, zip. I and my wife walked paste it at least 20 times each and it didn't capture anything at all. Grrr.

I am setting the smart plan, then setting the appropriate options on the left side.
Straight IVS is the only trigger I could get to work in the NVR.

Again, this all works fine when using the camera standalone recording to the SD card.
So this is pretty much a bust. I sure it's all fixable with firmware updates, but geeez.

Anyone see's anything glaring that I over looked let me know. On to more pictures.

 

[jmcu]

Thanks looney2ns, I been waiting to see this AI..

 

[teemu81]

Since this NVR can perform facial recognition with cameras that have the facial detection feature you can add to the NVR channels of a XVR-X series with facial detection options activated an use your HDCVI cameras as facial recognition cameras

 

[looney2ns]

Since this NVR can perform facial recognition with cameras that have the facial detection feature you can add to the NVR channels of a XVR-X series with facial detection options activated an use your HDCVI cameras as facial recognition cameras

Is that a statement or a question?

 

[teemu81]

Is that a statement or a question?

I've already tested it with a XVR5104HS-4KL-X and a cheap HDCVI camera an the results were quite acceptable, face recognition was working even when the installation of the camera wasn't optimal for face detection (mounted too low on a table). You might want to give it a try to that option when you make the review.
The model I've used is the NVR4208-8P-I but it should work as the NVR4216-I

 

[Arjun]

looking forward to pictures of the user interface

 

[looney2ns]

Post #2 updated.

 

[bigredfish]

Have you tried the Web GUI @looney2ns ? Sometimes I find it actually works better than the machine interface..

 

[looney2ns]

Have you tried the Web GUI @looney2ns ? Sometimes I find it actually works better than the machine interface..

Yes, I failed to mention that, but I have been through the web gui as well.

 

[looney2ns]

And Smart PSS latest version doesn't show many of the options related to AI.

 

[Arjun]

Looks like this is still in its infancy stage, but the tech is definitely not a gimmick. I know Axis has implemented this stuff pretty well but it costs a premium. Hopefully, firmware updates will help. In the meantime, its better to wait and play with the AI features in the cameras themselves.

 

[Arjun]

@looney2ns How's the fan quality and overall noise? I know in the previous model, some members on the forum had to replace the fan overtime.

 

[c hris527]

Thanks @looney2ns, A little disappointing but not surprising for a consumer level NVR at this point in the game as @Arjun pointed out. Same goes for SmartPss also. I was kind of excited when the review came out but I can wait this out and see how this technology develops.

 

[Steveee]

Hi looney2ns,
I have the 5216-16P-I , and I have to agree about it not playing nice with the 7842 camera, but after a lot of trail and error I did get face detection and recognition working alongside IVS tripwire. I used the web interface for the NVR and the camera to make settings, don't know if this makes the difference?
I have not tried the other AI features as I had enough problems getting this to work for me, but once working I think the AI is pretty good. Just a lot more difficult to set up than it should be.

 

[looney2ns]

@looney2ns How's the fan quality and overall noise? I know in the previous model, some members on the forum had to replace the fan overtime.

I can't hear it 5ft away. So far, it's running fine. It's been running roughly 4 weeks, continuously at this point.

 

[looney2ns]

Hi looney2ns,
I have the 5216-16P-I , and I have to agree about it not playing nice with the 7842 camera, but after a lot of trail and error I did get face detection and recognition working alongside IVS tripwire. I used the web interface for the NVR and the camera to make settings, don't know if this makes the difference?
I have not tried the other AI features as I had enough problems getting this to work for me, but once working I think the AI is pretty good. Just a lot more difficult to set up than it should be.


View attachment 48563 View attachment 48564

I have to assume that the 5216 model has firmware features that this one is lacking, this is a lite model. I really wonder if since this is one of the Ultra model Cameras, that an Ultra level NVR would be needed to gain all the features of the cam. Complete conjecture on my part.

And at your point it should....not....be....hard....to....get it to work, if the firmware is good.

 

[Arjun]

That would make sense, too much load on this model perhaps, may be these smart features don't suit the lite models. Paying the extra premium may be worth it but only if the better hardware becomes available at some point.

I have to assume that the 5216 model has firmware features that this one is lacking, this is a lite model. I really wonder if since this is one of the Ultra model Cameras, that an Ultra level NVR would be needed to gain all the features of the cam. Complete conjecture on my part.

 

[looney2ns]

I have reviewed several Dahua products over the past couple of years, that definitely were not ready for prime time at release, and some of them were never cured of their many ill's.
DB10 and DB11 doorbells come to mind.

 

[Arjun]

I think there are too many products on the market these days not ready for prime time but companies rely on consumer feedback to improve on successive iterations. I don't mind review samples, but if companies expect consumers to pay for half-baked goods then that's a big no-no. Samsung for example, did a good thing pulling the Galaxy Fold off the market temporarily, made improvements, and re-released the product; the product is still not perfect, but its a start in the right direction.

I have reviewed several Dahua products over the past couple of years, that definitely were not ready for prime time at release, and some of them were never cured of their many ill's. DB10 and DB11 doorbells come to mind.