Dahua Starlight Varifocal Turret (IPC-HDW5231R-Z)

[tangent]

Understood, I was originally thinking that I would probably purchase a kit to get me started where the NVR and 4-8 cams come in a bundle like Swann or something. Yet, now I'm thinking that it would be cheaper to choose each item separately and I bet Swann is just a repackaged components from Hikvision and/or Dahua or as one guy said "CRAP". Also, it seems that it's a HikVision/Dahua world is striking a balance between quality and economy....

Generally the kits are older models (higher profit margin) and lower quality cameras. Most are fixed focus 2.8mm which is a wider angle than you need in many instances.

The NVRs in kits from swann, lorex, qsee won't work with IVS or smart events like line crossing (AFIK) which give for more useful motion detection alerts.

 

[Crazykiller]

Can this camera be used to identify an event, whether it be Intrusion, Tripwire or Motion Detection and then direct my Dahua Starlight PTZ SD59230U-HNI to the event? If not, what is it lacking that I might find in a different Dahua camera choice?

In combination with a NVR it can.
A single camera doesn't know if there are more cams and can't trigger them. In the event configuration on the NVR you have more options what should happen if an event occurs.

With the PTZ Activation checkbox enabled you can setup which channel should go to a preset, tour or pattern.

You are also able to activate recording for other channels when an event occurs on that channel.

 

[weigle2]

In combination with a NVR it can.
A single camera doesn't know if there are more cams and can't trigger them. In the event configuration on the NVR you have more options what should happen if an event occurs.

With the PTZ Activation checkbox enabled you can setup which channel should go to a preset, tour or pattern.

You are also able to activate recording for other channels when an event occurs on that channel.

Nice! This works like a charm. Almost useable as a 'Poor Mans' autotrack if you have enough fixed cams set up in adjacent areas.

Thanks!

 

[Crazykiller]

Nice! This works like a charm. Almost useable as a 'Poor Mans' autotrack if you have enough fixed cams set up in adjacent areas.

Thanks!

Not only poor mans autotracking. I think it might be more reliable if you have enough fixed cams or multiple rules in your cam, triggering your PTZ in the right direction.
I see my PTZ as an addition to the regular cam. To watch something special when I'm looking in the app, or to support the other cams in events.

 

[MacFun]

Not only poor mans autotracking. I think it might be more reliable if you have enough fixed cams or multiple rules in your cam, triggering your PTZ in the right direction.
I see my PTZ as an addition to the regular cam. To watch something special when I'm looking in the app, or to support the other cams in events.

Does the PTZ automatically zoom in on the motion or event and try to track it like a human videographer? I saw this once on an Axis cam and it was very impressive. It was like a pro videographer was on the scene .

If it does do this automatically what does it take to support this? In camera smarts or fancy NVR smarts or alien technology?

Thanks,

Robert

 

[beepsilver]

@Crazykiller Thank you for the detailed response! Very helpful!!!

 

[thobben]

Is it possible to connect the cam to a ZWAVE motion sensor? Or to include a trigger event from the network share. exapmple: when a special trigger file exists on the network path the cam makes a movie

 

[Go3Team]

Is it possible to connect the cam to a ZWAVE motion sensor? Or to include a trigger event from the network share. exapmple: when a special trigger file exists on the network path the cam makes a movie

Yes, not directly though. The camera does detect motion on it's own though. The camera should be able to record to a network share on it's own.

 

[Crazykiller]

Does the PTZ automatically zoom in on the motion or event and try to track it like a human videographer? I saw this once on an Axis cam and it was very impressive. It was like a pro videographer was on the scene .

If it does do this automatically what does it take to support this? In camera smarts or fancy NVR smarts or alien technology?

Thanks,

Robert

What you are asking is auto tracking. My post belongs to PTZ reactions, triggered by other cams through the NVR.
Auto tracking is a feature of the pro and ultra PTZ, in the case your decision goes with Dahua. It uses intelligence within the cam. Some do better, some do less.

 

[Crazykiller]

Is it possible to connect the cam to a ZWAVE motion sensor? Or to include a trigger event from the network share. exapmple: when a special trigger file exists on the network path the cam makes a movie

I don't know the sensor and if it has i/o ports or not. This cam doesn't have Alarm i/o, so you can't connect a sensor directly. For this you'll need a cam with i/o.
The cam won't monitor a network path for the appearance of a file. But if you have a base for you home automation, you might trigger the cam to do the things you want it to with API calls. You could use curl or wget for example.

 

[aristobrat]

Understood, I was originally thinking that I would probably purchase a kit to get me started where the NVR and 4-8 cams come in a bundle like Swann or something. Yet, now I'm thinking that it would be cheaper to choose each item separately and I bet Swann is just a repackaged components from Hikvision and/or Dahua or as one guy said "CRAP". Also, it seems that it's a HikVision/Dahua world is striking a balance between quality and economy....

Another gotcha with rebranded cameras like Swann etc is that they sometimes disable functionality in the firmware, and usually prevent (or make it extremely hard) to replace their firmware with the “real” version.

I’m not sure if it would be cheaper to choose items separately (vs buying a kit), but I think you will end up with a much better system in the end!

 

[beepsilver]

I see there are many folks who recommend matching FPS and Framerate on cameras in general to avoid problems such as stability or ghosting during recording. The Dahuas (and others) come setup with double the Framerate in relation to the FPS. What is the best setting, matching Framerate/FPS or leaving it as it was configured?

Have reviewed post #4102 in this thread regarding one benefit of matching the two settings for those that have NVR recording issues.

EDIT: Thanks @bigredfish for pointing out my mistake. Meant to compare FPS with iFrame Interval, not FPS with Framerate.

 

[beepsilver]

Back in March, post #2268, Andy said:
Better put inside it, if take out when rainning date the lens will have moisture on the lens, that one dahua put this inside it, before some guys take out, the camera blurry.
There is no need to open the camera, and we also don't recommend using the SD card for this camera's recording. Easy dying, if the seal not sealed well when raining days, then camera die easily.

Wondering if anyone has had sdcard issues and what the consensus is on using sdcards in this camera. I plan to put this cam under an eave where it may get exposed to sideways rain/snow several times a year, but generally will be dry.

 

[thobben]

I don't know the sensor and if it has i/o ports or not. This cam doesn't have Alarm i/o, so you can't connect a sensor directly. For this you'll need a cam with i/o.
The cam won't monitor a network path for the appearance of a file. But if you have a base for you home automation, you might trigger the cam to do the things you want it to with API calls. You could use curl or wget for example.

Wow. Thats cool. I will build my home Automation with a raspi / raspbian and openhab2 or fhem + zwave.


So API calls would be a good solution to pass events through to the IP cam. Can you give me a hint to the documentation oft the API call library?

 

[bigredfish]

@beepsilver I think you mean I-frame interval to framerate (FPS)

Yes, my experience is matching these produces better overall image

 

[woolfman72]

Anyone have an idea of what is the best audio settings for this camera and blue iris? It picks up voices fine but when nothing is happening it really is quite horrible. It's like listening to a bad mp3 file that screeches.

 

[beepsilver]

Thanks @bigredfish--I need more sleep!

 

[fenderman]

Anyone have an idea of what is the best audio settings for this camera and blue iris? It picks up voices fine but when nothing is happening it really is quite horrible. It's like listening to a bad mp3 file that screeches.

Thats because you are using improper settings...in the camera enable the noise filter and adjust gain if needed...

 

[pinko]

Anyone have an idea of what is the best audio settings for this camera and blue iris? It picks up voices fine but when nothing is happening it really is quite horrible. It's like listening to a bad mp3 file that screeches.

I just this camera set up today. No problem with Audio on the default settings. At the given price point, I quite happy with the audio.

 

[aristobrat]

Anyone have an idea of what is the best audio settings for this camera and blue iris? It picks up voices fine but when nothing is happening it really is quite horrible. It's like listening to a bad mp3 file that screeches.

For my setup, setting "Noise Filter" to "Disabled" solved that problem. Not my solution -- someone else posted in earlier in this thread...