Change Dahua camera from Chinese to English

[AlwaysSomething]

Can you take a Dahua camera that is in Chinese and change the language to English? Can I just flash different firmware?

Someone is selling some used cameras but said they were in Chinese so I'd like to know before I buy them.

Which reminded me of something else. Is there a way to verify the camera model if the tag was removed? I thought I read somewhere once the camera is on the network you can add some parameters in the url and it would output the camera id/model (e.g.: IPC-XXXX) and maybe a little bit more info like serial number maybe. I think this was used to also identify the Dahua model number if the camera was a reseller brand (like Amcrest).

Thanks in advance.

 

[flynreelow]

Can you take a Dahua camera that is in Chinese and change the language to English? Can I just flash different firmware?

Someone is selling some used cameras but said they were in Chinese so I'd like to know before I buy them.

Which reminded me of something else. Is there a way to verify the camera model if the tag was removed? I thought I read somewhere once the camera is on the network you can add some parameters in the url and it would output the camera id/model (e.g.: IPC-XXXX) and maybe a little bit more info like serial number maybe. I think this was used to also identify the Dahua model number if the camera was a reseller brand (like Amcrest).

Thanks in advance.

dont buy that shit.

just buy from andy.

 

[CCTVCam]

You've put yourself in a world of hurt. EVen if you can find some English firmeware that would go on, with every firmware update you might try you risk bricking the camera. Wrong firmware = no camera.

Best advice, stick it on ebay, buy an International or US version. Andy on here sells International versions that most of us use.

 

[flynreelow]

You've put yourself in a world of hurt. EVen if you can find some English firmeware that would go on, with every firmware update you might try you risk bricking the camera. Wrong firmware = no camera.

Best advice, stick it on ebay, buy an International or US version. Andy on here sells International versions that most of us use.

this.

 

[looney2ns]

Bad idea.

 

[tangent]

Don't buy it.

If you happened to already have such a camera you best course of action would be:

• DO NOT USE A DAHUA NVR, you'll run into region lock problems
• Use google translate in your web browser to limp along altering settings.
• On your PC running VMS software like Blue Iris, add a second NIC to keep the camera from phoning home.

It's also likely to be a bit underwhelming spec wise and there may be better cheap cameras if you can't stomach spending enough for a good camera.

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Dahua locked the fw, so you can't do update to English.
And local Chinese cams and overseas cams are different.

 

[kobebeef]

Can't be changed.
There is read-only data on the processor.
Used to distinguish the Chinese version and the export version.

 

[TonyR]

Is there a way to verify the camera model if the tag was removed? I thought I read somewhere once the camera is on the network you can add some parameters in the url and it would output the camera id/model (e.g.: IPC-XXXX) and maybe a little bit more info like serial number maybe. I think this was used to also identify the Dahua model number if the camera was a reseller brand (like Amcrest).

Try this: issue the following HTTP command with a browser and you'll get YOUR response; mine is at the bottom:

http://username:password@Camera-IP/cgi-bin/magicBox.cgi?action=getSystemInfo

appAutoStart=true
deviceType=IPC-HDW5442TM-AS
hardwareVersion=1.00
processor=HI3516DV300
serialNumber=????????????
updateSerial=IPC-HDW5442TP-AS

 

[AlwaysSomething]

Thanks all for the responses.

I have bought about a dozen cameras from Andy as I can (including a few in last's week sale) and am very happy buying from him.

FYI - It would have only been used with BI which is using a 2nd NIC to block the cameras.

@TonyR That was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you.

 

[CCTVCam]

And local Chinese cams and overseas cams are different.

Just out of interest Andy, what's the difference? Do the CCP keep the best ones for yourselves?

 

[EMPIRETECANDY]

Chinese market use cheap ones, overseas better quality.