Region locking - have I made an expensive mistake?

[damame]

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
I am UK based and recently purchased an ANPR camera from a US retailer due to the apparent same model being 30% cheaper after all costs taken into consideration.

The US retailer was great, super fast delivery, but sadly as I’m trying to set the camera up I see I am unable to change the region from Americas and Africa, and I have a concern that the firmware is optimised to read plates from the country specified as selected in the webpage interface.

It is only now that I have become aware of the notion of region locking. I’m embarrassed to admit it hadn’t crossed my mind.

At this juncture I see I have 3 options:

- return it and take the hit on delivery/import taxes and buy the correct UK one which is significantly more expensive

- try the camera and hope it works as is. If I do this I think I’d struggle to return it

- try and find some way of getting the firmware updated to the UK version, but I’ve no idea how I could “force” the camera to do so.

Any guidance gratefully received.

 

[alastairstevenson]

At this juncture I see I have 3 options:

A suggested 4th option (though admittedly optimistic) would be to ask the US retailer for advice and help.
They apparently were happy enough to sell and ship you the device - they should be able to assist with how it could possibly be used outside the USA..

 

[damame]

A suggested 4th option (though admittedly optimistic) would be to ask the US retailer for advice and help.
They apparently were happy enough to sell and ship you the device - they should be able to assist with how it could possibly be used outside the USA..

thanks for your reply. I did contact the vendor who suggested I return the camera (at considerable cost and loss of import fees paid upfront). Do you believe there is something they could do, or am I clutching at straws?

Or am I being too dismissive and that the camera would be able to read UK license plates even if configured to a different region? I’m not sure what the region/country setting does as far as ANPR function is concerned.

 

[IAmATeaf]

Have you checked to see if there are specific versions of the firmware for specific regions?

 

[damame]

Have you checked to see if there are specific versions of the firmware for specific regions?

Yes, there appear to be. There is a UK specific firmware which I downloaded but says is incompatible when I try to apply it.

 

[alastairstevenson]

It might be best to clarify with the vendor that they made a mistake when they shipped you a device that they should have known you could not use, and therefore they should bear the cost of returning it.

If it's anything like region-linked IPCs and NVRs the region setting is coded in the flash in a well protected area and cannot simply be changed using stock firmware.

 

[gpower07]

you can simply download the uk firmware and flash it. as long as it not the chinese version. i do that all the time.

 

[damame]

you can simply download the uk firmware and flash it. as long as it not the chinese version. i do that all the time.

I tried doing this but was presented with an incompatibility error unfortunately.