Hikvision NVR + IPCam - no substream available

IPCam newbie here - and a stumped one at that! I really hope some of the experts on here have encountered this before and can point me in the right direction? (Or can please tell me if PEBKAC applies )

Having used a Hikvision DVR for a bit at another site, I was familiar with its performance, and decided to stick to Hikvision when installing IP cameras at my own property. I installed the DS-7116NI-SN/P NVR, and as a start, hooked it up to a single DS-2CD2022WD-I 2MP IPcam.

When I log onto the camera with the web interface, I can configure both the main and substreams. When I connect to it using the iVMS-4500 mobile app, it defaults to substream (fluent) and everything works brilliantly.

However, when I connect the camera to the NVR (either via the main network or via the POE switched ports - it doesn't matter), I do not have the ability to configure / pick the substream on the NVR. I only get options for Main Stream, and Main Stream (event).

If I then use the web interface of the NVR, or the mobile application, it will not display the substream, and my only option is to view the main stream. This will never work as my internet speed will not handle the bandwidth required to view the main stream.

Reports on here suggest I need to reset the camera to factory settings and leave it switched off for 30 seconds. I've done this - several times. I've played with various settings. I've tried the default "plug-and-play" configuration as well. Nothing gives me access to the substream from the NVR!

However, if I setup the camera using a "custom" protocol, I can point it to both streams from the camera, and that will work correctly, albeit at a lower resolution for the main stream. But returning to the Hikvision protocol removes the settings again!

Has anyone encountered this? Do these NVRs not support passing the substream for viewing? Or is there something simple I'm missing? Maybe a firmware bug?

NVR firmware: 3.0.17
Camera firmware: 5.3.8

Thank you!

In IVMS-4500>Device Management>Group Tab did you add the camera to the your server's "Group"?

Hotelone said:

In IVMS-4500>Device Management>Group Tab did you add the camera to the your server's "Group"?

Click to expand...

Indeed - it is there. But this happens even in the web interface - no need to use the software.

I've attached screenshots of the settings for both the camera and the NVR via their respective web interfaces. Note that on the camera I have the substream option available, and can configure the resolution. But on the NVR, it shows Main Stream(Event) instead - no option to configure the substream.

When doing a live view on the NVR and selecting substream, it errors out with "Live view failed".

IVMS-4500, isn't that just the mobile versions? I cannot get any playback to work from that on an android tablet.

On the PC it's the IVMS-4200 as best as I can tell from the copy off Nelly's support site, and that has the groups and server tabs. The mobile 4500 version doesn't handle it that way.

Sorry, IVMS-4200.

The default substream resolution (640 x 360) for the new cameras (4 MP/2 MP with WDR) is a weird number that most older NVR doesn't support (without upgrading firmware) if you can't find the firmware for your NVR, log into the camera and lower the substream resolution to 352x240 and you should be ok.

Apologies, my previous update must have broken an unpublished rule because a moderator never approved it for posting.

I managed to get feedback from HikVision and the above posted by Fruit was the solution.

Interestingly enough, after it shows up in the list, the substream resolution can be bumped up again and it continues to work. But only until the next power cycle, when the process has to be repeated.

No newer firmware for the 7100 series NVRs exist. The firmware on my device is even newer than any available on the web that I can find. So I'm just going to live with the lower-res substream - it is quite acceptable for mobile use, so no problem there.

Thank you for the help! (Hopefully this post gets approved so that there is at least closure to this thread.)

Thanks all!

I'm experiencing a similar issue. I have a Hikvision 2385 (8mp) IPC and I'm receiving an error message on the Hikvision NVR stating that substream is not available. On the Hik-Connect App I receive an error code 91 message and the cam does not load up. The NVR recognizes the cam on plug and play. I can view the cam on my monitor ( mainstream) but no substream

what have you set the substream to ?
I get a similar message on my NVR, i just remove the alert on that in the settings, as it all works anyways

I have a HikvisionDS-7616NI-I2 / 16P, and a 8mp (2385) and when I select to change settings on sub-stream, i receive an error message that says, this camera does not support this function.

Can you access the camera web GUI directly via Virtual Host, and does that give an error also?

Has somebody fixed this in the past?

I have a Hikvision NVR with 8mp CAMS and on just one of the cams the NVR claims the substream is not supported?

On the cam it allows me to config both streams fine and I changed settings to get the NVR to recognise the stream. I did not reboot the NVR each time if I changed the substream IPcam settings though.

I think it worked before but now it doesnt anymore?

thanks you . reseler compony hikvision

Any solution for this substream error, just experienced it today and its drive me mad.

Same.
The sub-streams of only the Hikvision IP cameras are shown. 9 'other' cameras (might it be an ONVIF issue?) give the HCNetSDK.dll[91] error.

The official answer from Hikvision Customer Service Center

"Dear customer,

The initial configuration of stream type is Auto-change Stream Type.

During live view, an error message prompts and the error code is 91. It means this channel does not support sub-stream.

For 4200 3.0, please go to System Configuration-Maintenance and Management- uncheck Auto- change Stream Type, click save, then go to Main View page –choose main stream to get live view."

This works. But iVMS performance really sucks. I mean clicking and waiting for 5 to 10 seconds for a menu to pop up? On an i7 with 16Bg RAM and a SSD?
Unheard of.

If anyone has a better idea please holler.

Sorry for extremely late update.
We finally fixed the machine by reinstalling Windows 10, then all ancillary software (iVMS included) and then updating video drivers. Dunno why it worked this way around - video drivers were obviously updated on original install before other software. Credit to one off bored techie.

If you got error 91 in IVMS-4200 and don’t want to change auto stream type in IVMS-4200 setting, follow this step to fix it

1. Login directly to camera
2. Go to settings -> Video / Audio
3. Select Video tab, then select Sub stream in stream type
4. Change the resolution to higher
5. Change the bitrate
6. Save then go to System -> Maintenance
7. Reboot camera, it should work in IVMS-4200