Annke Firmware to Hikvision Firmware: HOW TO

[Miodragz]

Greetings I have Annke G500 bullet older version [without mic and card slot on camera]
Model: I51DE
Firmware Version: V5.5.110 build 200120
Firmware Version Property: B-R-E7-0

I think that our system on selection of Hikvision firmware needs to be updated.

So in my case it would be E7 folder where available E7 firmwares are as follows:

• V5.5.112 build200213
• V5.5.114_Build200417
• V5.5.120 build200604
• V5.5.90_Build190725 [This version is obsolete in comparison to original Annke firmware so I would not consider it]

Ok so in each of these folders there is PDF file with details about new firmware as well as with description of cameras supported so:
- V5.5.112 build20021:
Fixed Bullet DS-2CD1043G0E-I 4MP, DWDR, H.265
Fixed Dome DS-2CD1143G0E-I 4MP, DWDR, H.265
Fixed Turret DS-2CD1343G0E-I 4MP, DWDR, H.265

- V5.5.114_Build200417
Fixed Bullet DS-2CD1043G0E-I 4MP, DWDR, H.265
Fixed Dome DS-2CD1143G0E-I 4MP, DWDR, H.265
Fixed Turret DS-2CD1343G0E-I 4MP, DWDR, H.265

- V5.5.120 build200604
WIFI Bullet Kit DS-2CV1021G1-IDW(D) 2MP, DWDR
WIFI Bullet Kit DS-2CV1041G1-IDW(D) 4MP, DWDR
WIFI Dome DS-2CV2121G2-IDW 2MP DWDR
WIFI Dome DS-2CV2141G2-IDW 4MP, DWDR

FW 112 as well as 114 seems like right ones and these Hikvision products look alike Annke C500 series, but FW 120 is completely different.

Also I would like to point out:

• Annke C500 has 5MP 15fps where Hikvision firmware is 4MP 20fps - maybe there are some other differences as well;
• There are new C500 variants that have mic and card slot - it seems that these are Hikvision DS-2CD1043G0E-IF, DS-2CD1143G0E-IF and DS-2CD1343G0E-IF models and at mentioned website there is no FW for these cameras.

 

[Miodragz]

Ok just did upgrade:
Annke C500
Model: I51DE
Firmware Version: V5.5.110 build 200120
Firmware Version Property: B-R-E7-0

First I made upgrade to 112 and than to 114 - everything works fine.

Is there procedure to backup current Annke firmware?

 

[Miodragz]

Update:
In another thread on forum I found an interesting link with firmware files that are newer than on EU server. Please be aware that this is not official website.

http://hikkorea.ipdisk.co.kr:100/publist/HDD1/Welcome to HikvisionKorea/펌웨어/IPC/

I will try to update my camera with 116 FW found here

 

[cyrusbyte]

Greetings I have Annke G500 bullet older version [without mic and card slot on camera]
Model: I51DE
Firmware Version: V5.5.110 build 200120
Firmware Version Property: B-R-E7-0

I think that our system on selection of Hikvision firmware needs to be updated.

So in my case it would be E7 folder where available E7 firmwares are as follows:

• V5.5.112 build200213
• V5.5.114_Build200417
• V5.5.120 build200604
• V5.5.90_Build190725 [This version is obsolete in comparison to original Annke firmware so I would not consider it]

FW 112 as well as 114 seems like right ones and these Hikvision products look alike Annke C500 series, but FW 120 is completely different.

If you notice the V5.5.120 is different because the file name starts with IPCK_ instead of IPC_ and I have a note that if it doesn't follow the same format avoid it because it is for special cameras.

Also I would like to point out:

• Annke C500 has 5MP 15fps where Hikvision firmware is 4MP 20fps - maybe there are some other differences as well;
• There are new C500 variants that have mic and card slot - it seems that these are Hikvision DS-2CD1043G0E-IF, DS-2CD1143G0E-IF and DS-2CD1343G0E-IF models and at mentioned website there is no FW for these cameras.

There are several models of the C500 Some use the E7 firmware and some use the E7S firmware.
So in the same E7 Platform folder there is a special E7S_ firmware specifically for those, but as far as I can tell there is not any newer firmware for the E7S versions after V5.5.111 .

 

[cyrusbyte]

Ok just did upgrade:
Annke C500
Model: I51DE
Firmware Version: V5.5.110 build 200120
Firmware Version Property: B-R-E7-0

First I made upgrade to 112 and than to 114 - everything works fine.

Is there procedure to backup current Annke firmware?

As far as I have found no. I did find that some older firmware version have a workaround to the limited ssh shell that you can get to the full shell and from there have access to the entire file system. So that may be where trying the older firmware like V5.5.90 maybe worth a try. Also if you are able to get to the full file system might be able to find the file that limits the capabilities of the camera. I read some of this in old posts from several years ago (wish I would have booked marked them) but can't seem to find them. If anybody finds any info on this would be nice to have it posted here.
You do have the capability to enable ssh access with the SDK.

 

[cyrusbyte]

Update:
In another thread on forum I found an interesting link with firmware files that are newer than on EU server. Please be aware that this is not official website.

http://hikkorea.ipdisk.co.kr:100/publist/HDD1/Welcome to HikvisionKorea/펌웨어/IPC/

I will try to update my camera with 116 FW found here

I have heard on other forums that some cameras/firmware are region specific so there is a possibility that it may be region locked so if you flash it even though it has the English language that it may only show Chinese/Korean or just fail to flash. Would be curious to know if it works.

Oh, before I got this method I found that there was a Hikvision tool (not from hikvision) that was able to change the region/language in the firmware files that I had did some testing with. Unfortunately it no longer works with newer firmware so that was a dead end due to the tool not actively being updated.

 

[Miodragz]

I have upgraded to 116 and it works without any issues so far.

 

[Miodragz]

Also you may want to look at following topics:

Hikvision FIRMWARE TOOLS - change language, extract files and create own firmware

Firmware Mod Tool for Hikvision NVR and IP camera devices. What is this tool? It’s a short piece of code that makes it easily possible to change the ‘Language’ flag on the firmware update files that Hikvision provides for their range of NVRs and IP cameras. The user does not need programming...

ipcamtalk.com

Hikvision G1 5.5+ firmware Exploring the Cam & attempting unlock

The G1 runs on ambarella S3L (also used in dahua cams) minishell below will work with U-Boot 3.1.6-279309 (May 11 2017-13:36:13) or earlier https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/unrestricted-root-shell-on-g1-cameras.23213/#post-221134 However will not work with U-Boot 3.1.6-297597 (Aug 30...

ipcamtalk.com

Regards.

 

[cyrusbyte]

Also you may want to look at following topics:

Hikvision FIRMWARE TOOLS - change language, extract files and create own firmware

Firmware Mod Tool for Hikvision NVR and IP camera devices. What is this tool? It’s a short piece of code that makes it easily possible to change the ‘Language’ flag on the firmware update files that Hikvision provides for their range of NVRs and IP cameras. The user does not need programming...

ipcamtalk.com

Hikvision G1 5.5+ firmware Exploring the Cam & attempting unlock

The G1 runs on ambarella S3L (also used in dahua cams) minishell below will work with U-Boot 3.1.6-279309 (May 11 2017-13:36:13) or earlier https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/unrestricted-root-shell-on-g1-cameras.23213/#post-221134 However will not work with U-Boot 3.1.6-297597 (Aug 30...

ipcamtalk.com

Regards.

The first one no longer works (at least for any firmware I had access to for my newer cameras) and is what I was referring too earlier.

The second one is very interesting and I had not run across that forum yet somehow. This definitely gives me another rabbit hole to go down when I get some time.

 

[dison4linux]

You made my week!
I had success doing some of the C800s already, following other's instructions, but it hadn't yet clicked that the Firmware Version Property includes the "platform" to be looking for on the HikVision site...
Following your instructions I was able to get my C500 Turret w/Audio (I51DM) upgraded to 5.5.111_200908, but that seems to be the newest for the E7S on the HikVision site.
I was hoping to get a new enough firmware to not have to use the browser plugin, but that's not the end of the world.

##### Before #####

Device Name                    IP CAMERA
Device No.                    88
Model                        I51DM
Serial No.                    I51DM20210308AAWRFXXXXXXXX
Firmware Version            V5.5.111 build 210108
Encoding Version            V7.3 build 201022
Web Version                    V4.0.51 build 201105
Plugin Version                3.0.7.16
Number of Channels            1
Number of HDDs                0
Number of Alarm Input        0
Number of Alarm Output        0
Firmware Version Property    C-R-E7S-0

##### After #####

Device Name                    IP CAMERA
Device No.                    88
Model                        I51DM
Serial No.                    I51DM20210308AAWRFXXXXXXXX
Firmware Version            V5.5.111 build 200908
Encoding Version            V7.3 build 200825
Web Version                    V4.0.1 build 200730
Plugin Version                3.0.7.16
Number of Channels            1
Number of HDDs                0
Number of Alarm Input        0
Number of Alarm Output        0
Firmware Version Property    B-R-E7S-0

 

[cyrusbyte]

For anybody wanting to try to modify the source code of the cameras (linux based) this guy did it with a reolink which should be very similar Hacking Reolink cameras for fun and profit

 

[Miodragz]

In the attachment you can find original firmware for I51DE (Annke C500 bullet) as a backup.

 

[majones]

Thanks for the helpful post!

Here’s my experience:
C800 bullet (earlier model I91BD without audio) – Hikvision G1 platform - successful update via camera’s web page directly to IPC_G1_EN_STD_5.6.5_200316
C800 bullet (current model I91BL with audio) – Hikvision G5 platform - successful update via camera’s web page directly to IPC_G5_EN_STD_5.5.114_210512
NC400 bullet (model I81HC) – believed to be Hikvision E7 platform but didn’t attempt to update as stock firmware is V5.5.114 build_200904 and Hikvision is same (? - apart from date) IPC_E7_EN_STD_5.5.114_200417

FYI, the differences I have noted in the newer C800 relative to the older version are: larger and heavier, more use of plastic, has audio, one versus 2 night LEDs, doesn’t have H264, has microSD slot, doesn’t have Smart Event.

 

[cyrusbyte]

Thanks for the helpful post!

Here’s my experience:
C800 bullet (earlier model I91BD without audio) – Hikvision G1 platform - successful update via camera’s web page directly to IPC_G1_EN_STD_5.6.5_200316
C800 bullet (current model I91BL with audio) – Hikvision G5 platform - successful update via camera’s web page directly to IPC_G5_EN_STD_5.5.114_210512
NC400 bullet (model I81HC) – believed to be Hikvision E7 platform but didn’t attempt to update as stock firmware is V5.5.114 build_200904 and Hikvision is same (? - apart from date) IPC_E7_EN_STD_5.5.114_200417

FYI, the differences I have noted in the newer C800 relative to the older version are: larger and heavier, more use of plastic, has audio, one versus 2 night LEDs, doesn’t have H264, has microSD slot, doesn’t have Smart Event.

Thanks ill add that to the notes for those models that "should" be able to upgrade from web interface without SDK..
Also another users noted that the I81HC wouldn't upgrade so my best guess is its a special one-off that doesn't have Hikvision firmware support..or at least yet.

 

[db0511]

Can someone confirm if the C800 turret has Smart Events

 

[majones]

I don't use Smart Events but I own an old-style non-audio C800 turret (I91BF) and a new-style audio C800 turret (I91BM). I have updated both cameras to Hikvision firmware, 5.6.5 and 5.5.114 respectively. I don't recall what the original Annke firmware offered, but the updated non-audio version web page shows Smart Events as available and the audio version doesn't. It looks like a number of features have been added and dropped in the C800 range, but I'm not aware of a complete listing.

 

[PhatsMV]

I have managed to upgrade my Annke N48PAW NVR, 6x I91BF’s and most recently the I51DM.

Smart events (Line Cross/Intrusion detection) where added to my NVR and I91BF’s but not to the I51DM. I now have to decide if smart events or audio is more important.

 

[majones]

Maybe use your NVR as a POE switch, and set up Blue Iris on a Dell refurb to do all the smart stuff?

 

[cyrusbyte]

I have managed to upgrade my Annke N48PAW NVR, 6x I91BF’s and most recently the I51DM.

Smart events (Line Cross/Intrusion detection) where added to my NVR and I91BF’s but not to the I51DM. I now have to decide if smart events or audio is more important.

What firmware did you use for the NVR?

 

[user8963]

Oh nice to read that someone had managed it with sdk.

i updated all friends annke cams via TFTPD/TTL in 2019. Looks much more easier with SDK