After much research and help from others on this and other forums, I bought Blue Iris and ordered a 2DS2142 from BHPhotoVideo.com in the US (hasn't arrived yet). BHPV says they are an authorized distributor of Hikvision products in the US, so I don't expect to get a gray market product but I did read in the US/English version of the user manual to look for the letters "CH" in the serial number to make sure (http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/Tools_82.html).
I have a couple of questions about the tools and software I see listed at http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/, which the manual says is where I get my tools and firmware updates (I am reading the manual, and have keyword searched it before posting these questions)
1) What is Hikvision Tools, do I need it, should I install it? Couldn't find it mentioned in the manual.
2) The manual mentions iVMS-4200 software on the product CD. Is this the preferred tool with which to manage the camera? I don't see it available for download from http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/ so it must not be very camera dependent (or maybe it checks for updates itself)
3) Is iVMS-4200 the right tool to apply firmware updates? (section 12.7.4 in the manual, pg 157 - sorry for the detail, I am trying to do my own homework and not waste everyone's time educating me)
I have a technical background in computers and networks, but I'm new to this level of video. Looking for the framework of tools to start managing my 2142 and future Hikvision cameras.
Thanks in advance
I have a couple of questions about the tools and software I see listed at http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/, which the manual says is where I get my tools and firmware updates (I am reading the manual, and have keyword searched it before posting these questions)
1) What is Hikvision Tools, do I need it, should I install it? Couldn't find it mentioned in the manual.
2) The manual mentions iVMS-4200 software on the product CD. Is this the preferred tool with which to manage the camera? I don't see it available for download from http://overseas.hikvision.com/us/ so it must not be very camera dependent (or maybe it checks for updates itself)
3) Is iVMS-4200 the right tool to apply firmware updates? (section 12.7.4 in the manual, pg 157 - sorry for the detail, I am trying to do my own homework and not waste everyone's time educating me)
I have a technical background in computers and networks, but I'm new to this level of video. Looking for the framework of tools to start managing my 2142 and future Hikvision cameras.
Thanks in advance
