How’s the trial version lately?
- Thread starter Heavyopp
- Start date
marceldegraaf
n3wb
I installed the trial version of BI last week, and as far as I can tell it's feature-complete, or at least complete enough to properly evaluate the software. It does put a "Blue Iris Evaluation Version" watermark prominently on all camera feeds but that's not really an issue while evaluating. I've tested a heap of other NVRs and I loathe having to run a Windows VM for Blue Iris, but it's so impressive feature-wise that it's a no-brainer to go with BI for my new setup.
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
Does the trial version quit running after 15 days, or does it add the watermark after 15 days, or something else???
IAmATeaf
Known around here
The trial puts the watermark on it at startup and after the trial period is over, no more cameras can be seen live or recorded.
The same download can run in demo/evaluation mode for 15 days. During that time it has all the same features as the full version except the words "Blue Iris Evaluation Version" appear on every camera feed and alert.
After the 15 days, the program will stop running as a service, will no longer allow you to record new footage but it will let you manually open previous footage (.bvr files) in the BVR viewer.
If after the 15 days, you put in a valid registration code, you can again have things running. I found you may have to set it to record as service again, and possibly recreate camera groups but otherwise the camera settings, triggers, alerts, etc. will still be there.
After the 15 days, the program will stop running as a service, will no longer allow you to record new footage but it will let you manually open previous footage (.bvr files) in the BVR viewer.
If after the 15 days, you put in a valid registration code, you can again have things running. I found you may have to set it to record as service again, and possibly recreate camera groups but otherwise the camera settings, triggers, alerts, etc. will still be there.
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I’d like to read the instructions for BI. Is there any way to get that before downloading the program?
I've attached the help file for the latest Blue Iris release (5.8.5.2) here.
thanks for this, downloaded and reading - surprised it’s not pinned up top
IAmATeaf
Known around here
It gets updated with each release according to the changes being made so unless somebody regularly updates it it would quickly get out of date although the bulk of the info would be useful.
Need a little help —
I downloaded BI to SSD - how do I specify storage on the HDD? Running demo version.
I’ve read that storage direct to HDD was not possible in older versions of BI demo version. Is this still true?
I downloaded BI to SSD - how do I specify storage on the HDD? Running demo version.
I’ve read that storage direct to HDD was not possible in older versions of BI demo version. Is this still true?
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IAmATeaf
Known around here
Hopefully I wasn't asking a dumb question because some unregistered software packages run indefinitely with watermarks and/or a reduced feature set. In my specific case I'm wanting to try BI+CPAI to see if it's a good workaround for the Dahua cameras not being able to detect animals. From reading through the CPAI threads I think it's a real possibility that a newbie to CPAI (like me) could easily eat through the whole 15 day BI trial before getting to a usable installation, then I'd need at least a couple more weeks to see how it performs. The bottom line is I have to decide to walk away from trying, or buy a BI license I might never use.
Obviously it would be dependent on much wildlife one gets and the frequency, but I think within 15 days you would know that this is something that would work for you. Obviously once you buy it you could then fine tune it to your exact needs, but to simply set it up with very sensitive motion detection and CPAI set up to trigger on animals wouldn't take that long to do. CodeProject downloading and firing up takes longer than setting up a camera LOL.
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
You can request an extension of the trial from BI support.
For you, I believe that. No problem with the animals walking by, as we have lots of regulars. One of my next projects is to post signs "Warning, deer-resistant plants" so the buggers will quit eating them.
You will be shocked how easy it is to set up motion detection in BI. The default motion detection is a good start.
Add camera.
Uncheck move 100 pixels
Uncheck reset at 67%
Set make time at 0 or 0.1 seconds.
Turn on CPAI and tell it to trigger for animals and/or the animals that CPAI detects.
Let BI do its thing.
And your NVR makes it easy.
Simply use the NVR as the POE switch and bring the cameras in from the NVR.
In BI, you select add camera and put the IP address of the NVR into the IP address location. Put in username and password and hit find/inspect and let BI do its thing.
Then about halfway down is a pull down for Camera number and pick camera 1 and then hit ok. The camera should show up. Then add camera and the select copy and copy this camera and then change the number 1 to a 2 and repeat for your cameras.
OR depending on your NVR, it may populate all the cameras in the main and substream pulldown boxes and you just select a camera number and then add another camera and select the next pulldown.
I’ve been on the storage tab, won’t let me drag the “new folder“ to dedicated storage drive from drive C.
Do I delete or trash “new” folder in C drive and create a another “new” folder on the dedicated hard drive? Haven’t tried it, didn’t want to get stuck in front of computer all day. Just in case it’s not obvious I am not a computer guy.
I also can’t figure out how to get my camera into night mode but I haven’t searched that yet.
dahua 180 cam is what I have up on my test rig.