Review-OEM 4mp AI Cam IPC-T5442TM-AS Starlight+

[David L]

Couldn't find any, so now that I am switching to BI from my Hikvision NVR, I just ordered 1 of each from Andy, mainly because I have areas of my house that get very little to no external light so the Dahua will be better there with it's IR capabilities. But will try and set them both up at the same location to see how the Dahua fares in full color vs the Hik. E.g., in my backyard the Hik at 1/6 or even 1/12 exposure delivers an incredibly well lit picture, but motion is obviously compromised so IR would probably work better there. My front door on the other hand I can run at 1/60 (even at 1/120) in full color and thanks to the street lights across the street I get a great picture so no need for IR there.

Sounds like you have a good plan.
You know I looked again, sorry, I could not find it either, I have watched so many lately. I know I watched a bunch of ColorVu and Darkfighter videos. I have read 30 pages of this Thread so far, I think I made the right choice with the 5442, also talked to Andy PM. I just got my Power Supply today, so I will be bench testing the CAM this week, hopefully.

When mounting I will be trying out this Tool I bought a few years back for $40, hopefully it will help in placement.

 

[pbc]

I'm excited for this test! The Hik has a bigger f1.0 aperture (compared the 5442's f1.6), so it looks like the Hik should have an advantage... I'm curious to see how that plays out in a "same location" test.

Have never used Dahua's before ... so will try to figure out how to set up the cam when I get it.

Sounds like you have a good plan.
You know I looked again, sorry, I could not find it either, I have watched so many lately. I know I watched a bunch of ColorVu and Darkfighter videos. I have read 30 pages of this Thread so far, I think I made the right choice with the 5442, also talked to Andy PM. I just got my Power Supply today, so I will be bench testing the CAM this week, hopefully.

When mounting I will be trying out this Tool I bought a few years back for $40, hopefully it will help in placement.

What does that tool do exactly? I.e., how would it help in placement?

 

[David L]

What does that tool do exactly? I.e., how would it help in placement?

Well I saw an installer a few years back with something similar, he had his laptop up with him on a ladder and had a live view of the camera showing, I asked him about it and he referred to the cable he had connected to his laptop which helped him in placement/focus/etc. He said you can buy the expensive CAM Testers with screen built on or this cable. When I found this type of cable I bought one knowing one day I will be up on a ladder too We will see how it works...

 

[pbc]

Hmmm..I've always just used my ivms-4500 Hikvision app in the past since cameras would immediately be recognized by the NVR and show up on the app quickly.

 

[David L]

Hmmm..I've always just used my ivms-4500 Hikvision app in the past since cameras would immediately be recognized by the NVR and show up on the app quickly.

Yeah I played with IVMS-4500 on my Hik Doorbell CAM. This tool is most likely outdated these days. Is this the equivalent for Dahua?

DahuaWiki

dahuawiki.com

 

[pbc]

Yeah I played with IVMS-4500 on my Hik Doorbell CAM. This tool is most likely outdated these days. Is this the equivalent for Dahua?

DahuaWiki

dahuawiki.com

No idea, this will be the first Dahua I'm purchasing. I'll probably hook it up to my Hikvision NVR first anyhow, so will probably show up on the ivms app.

 

[David L]

No idea, this will be the first Dahua I'm purchasing. I'll probably hook it up to my Hikvision NVR first anyhow, so will probably show up on the ivms app.

My first too

 

[bigredfish]

Yes. Just bought another VF bullet I now have 3 at home and 3 fir the HOA plus 12 installed at a buddies house

 

[CCTVCam]

Well I saw an installer a few years back with something similar, he had his laptop up with him on a ladder and had a live view of the camera showing, I asked him about it and he referred to the cable he had connected to his laptop which helped him in placement/focus/etc. He said you can buy the expensive CAM Testers with screen built on or this cable. When I found this type of cable I bought one knowing one day I will be up on a ladder too We will see how it works...

Juggling a laptop up a ladder doesn't sound very safe for either you or the laptop. Wouldn't it be easier to use remote viewing on your mobile phone with maybe a case with a strap you can attach the phone onto the back of your wrist - something like this leaving your hands free to hold the ladder?:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VUP-Universal-360°Rotatable-Compatible-Charcoal/dp/B07PFW33S5/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=mobile+phone+wristband&qid=1592299670&s=electronics&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUVlTQkg1REtWSTQ0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjYyODE2MUJVUEJUMFFINDRVNiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzYzMTQ0RkU3MllCTUpaMUQ4JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[David L]

Juggling a laptop up a ladder doesn't sound very safe for either you or the laptop. Wouldn't it be easier to use remote viewing on your mobile phone with maybe a case with a strap you can attach the phone onto the back of your wrist - something like this leaving your hands free to hold the ladder?:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VUP-Universal-360°Rotatable-Compatible-Charcoal/dp/B07PFW33S5/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=mobile+phone+wristband&qid=1592299670&s=electronics&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUVlTQkg1REtWSTQ0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjYyODE2MUJVUEJUMFFINDRVNiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzYzMTQ0RkU3MllCTUpaMUQ4JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Good idea. So since this is my first Dahua CAM setup. Are there any other tips other than in Cliff Notes that you or anyone can direct me to, maybe a guide?
Should I setup CAM, IPed then setup BI stream and use BI App outside for placement?

I am reading the Dahua Camera Initial Setup section in Cliff Notes

I found this in WIKI:

 

[sebastiantombs]

I always set the IP first, but do it on the bench, inside. Then set passwords, shut down PnP and all the other little details and then get the stream up in BI. Once that's done it's your choice regarding how you set it up, for field of view, when it's in position. Using the web GUI of the camera is a little easier than UI3 because it's more of a real time view. BI introduces a delay which can be annoying when fine tuning the field of view and any specific video settings and you can't set any of the video parameters from UI3, brightness, contrast, etc.

 

[David L]

I always set the IP first, but do it on the bench, inside. Then set passwords, shut down PnP and all the other little details and then get the stream up in BI. Once that's done it's your choice regarding how you set it up, for field of view, when it's in position. Using the web GUI of the camera is a little easier than UI3 because it's more of a real time view. BI introduces a delay which can be annoying when fine tuning the field of view and any specific video settings and you can't set any of the video parameters from UI3, brightness, contrast, etc.

Thank you. great advise. I have a 10 inch netbook I can try too, I use to use it to program Adtrans...or a tablet may work too, as long as neither fall of my a-frame painters ladder

Really appreciate everyone's help here.

 

[TechBill]

Head to ebay. There are plenty of second hand PoE managed Cisco, Dell, and HPe switches.

Those second hand PoE+ switches are high wattage room heater switches.

 

[samplenhold]

a-frame painters ladder

Basically I use an iPad and the cams web interface. The only ladder I have used is a 6' step ladder. I bungee the iPad to the top of the ladder and adjust the cam as needed. But I really like @CCTVCam wrist strap. Have a few more cams to install and will have to pick this up!

 

[biggen]

Those second hand PoE+ switches are high wattage room heater switches.

You don't need PoE+ unless you have specific needs.

If the second hand market doesn't have what you need then bust out the pocket book and buy new. Those are the only two options.

 

[TechBill]

You don't need PoE+ unless you have specific needs.

If the second hand market doesn't have what you need then bust out the pocket book and buy new.

Sometimes, it's good to future proof.

Maybe we want to add a PTZ camera to play with in future.

 

[biggen]

So you are going to buy an entire PoE+ switch because you might move to a single PTZ camera in the future?? I have two Dahua PTZ cameras and both are standard PoE.

But knock yourself out. Sounds overkill for a home switch but if that floats your boat...

 

[TechBill]

So you are going to buy an entire PoE+ switch because you might move to a single PTZ camera in the future??

Knock yourself out.

shakes his head. "one of those"

It's more than that ..

Google: Benefits of PoE+ over PoE switches

-hints- read about "wattage" and how can it benefit standard PoE devices . . .

 

[Slugger]

So you are going to buy an entire PoE+ switch because you might move to a single PTZ camera in the future?? I have two Dahua PTZ cameras and both are standard PoE.

But knock yourself out. Sounds overkill for a home switch but if that floats your boat...

The price difference is minimal. These can be had for <$100 with 48 ports, PoE+ and layer 3 switching!

 

[CCTVCam]

Good idea. So since this is my first Dahua CAM setup. Are there any other tips other than in Cliff Notes that you or anyone can direct me to, maybe a guide?
Should I setup CAM, IPed then setup BI stream and use BI App outside for placement?

I am reading the Dahua Camera Initial Setup section in Cliff Notes

I found this in WIKI:

View attachment 63963

David, firstly I should have said that POE device you found was a nice find and may be useful in some situations. I definately think up a ladder a laptop could be a hindrance though. As for advice, my experience is limited and for the highly technical stuff, I suggest other members are in a better place to advise especially Southern, Looney and Fenderman.