Review-Dahua SD1A203T-GN Starlight Mini PTZ

[HoosierD]

A bit of an old thread here, but I got my SD1A203T-GN from Andy, it's been powered up a few days with some pre-settings populated. This morning (after sitting in my dark 70 deg office overnight), parked on a box, the unit is REALLY hot. Sides and top (black area in this orientation) are >105 deg, and the bottom (normally top) was up to 113 deg. Is this normal? IR has been on all night, but I can’t see how that would do it?

Photo is of the bottom after trying to shed some heat.

 

[looney2ns]

A bit of an old thread here, but I got my SD1A203T-GN from Andy, it's been powered up a few days with some pre-settings populated. This morning (after sitting in my dark 70 deg office overnight), parked on a box, the unit is REALLY hot. Sides and top (black area in this orientation) are >105 deg, and the bottom (normally top) was up to 113 deg. Is this normal? IR has been on all night, but I can’t see how that would do it?

Photo is of the bottom after trying to shed some heat.

Typical. IR running will increase the heat from higher power draw.

 

[darrenph1]

If you are standing under this camera, how loud is the PTZ function? Would someone be able to tell that you were moving the camera around? Thanks!

 

[m3tpe]

Yes, the holes are drilled and taped.

How hard was it to drill the holes into the PFB203W? Do you have picture? What kind of tape did you use? Foam sealant waterproof tape?

 

[aristobrat]

If you are standing under this camera, how loud is the PTZ function? Would someone be able to tell that you were moving the camera around? Thanks!

Mine's mounted about 7ft up on my front porch. Residential neighborhood, so not totally quiet (i.e. cars driving by, neighbors a/c unit running, etc) but not super loud. Standing directly under mine, if I listen for it, I can barely hear it move. If I wasn't listening for it, I wouldn't notice it.

 

[looney2ns]

Mine's mounted about 7ft up on my front porch. Residential neighborhood, so not totally quiet (i.e. cars driving by, neighbors a/c unit running, etc) but not super loud. Standing directly under mine, if I listen for it, I can barely hear it move. If I wasn't listening for it, I wouldn't notice it.

Same here, I can barely hear it when standing on a ladder next to it. Also depends on which pan speed you use.
Majority of people would never hear it or even notice that it's a camera.

 

[looney2ns]

How hard was it to drill the holes into the PFB203W? Do you have picture? What kind of tape did you use? Foam sealant waterproof tape?

With a good bit, it shouldn't be hard at all. It's aluminum.

 

[m3tpe]

With a good bit, it shouldn't be hard at all. It's aluminum.

still okay to route the wire into the center hole through the grooves?

 

[HoosierD]

If you are standing under this camera, how loud is the PTZ function? Would someone be able to tell that you were moving the camera around? Thanks!

I have mine indoor near our living room. I've spied on the family with it and they have no idea. It is very quiet.

 

[m3tpe]

Doesn't do auto tracking right? Like having the camera follow an object?

 

[MixManSC]

Nope..... would be nice but you have to step way up in money for that. Or get a consumer A46 which is not terribly good.

 

[sipekey]

Hi All

I am hoping to get some help. Just got my SD1A203T-GN from Andy. Camera is great itself and the built quality is very good but I am currently having an issue with the camera.

I am able to use PTZ function through the web interface but I am not able to use the PTZ controls through blue iris.

@looney2ns I believe you are running the same camera with BI. Would you please give me some insights how you have configured the camera through BI?

Thanks

 

[aristobrat]

In BI, when you added the new camera, did you use the Find/Inspect button? BI configured the audio and PTZ automatically for me when I did that.

 

[looney2ns]

Hi All

I am hoping to get some help. Just got my SD1A203T-GN from Andy. Camera is great itself and the built quality is very good but I am currently having an issue with the camera.

I am able to use PTZ function through the web interface but I am not able to use the PTZ controls through blue iris.

@looney2ns I believe you are running the same camera with BI. Would you please give me some insights how you have configured the camera through BI?

Thanks

Used find inspect in BI is all I did.

 

[nymphaeles]

Hi All

I am hoping to get some help. Just got my SD1A203T-GN from Andy. Camera is great itself and the built quality is very good but I am currently having an issue with the camera.

I am able to use PTZ function through the web interface but I am not able to use the PTZ controls through blue iris.

@looney2ns I believe you are running the same camera with BI. Would you please give me some insights how you have configured the camera through BI?

Thanks

I had this issue in the past and I got it fixed by selecting Amcrest/Dahua as the type of Network IP camera> I think it has to do with the protocol used by Blue Iris to communicate with the camera.

 

[darrenph1]

I had this issue in the past and I got it fixed by selecting Amcrest/Dahua as the type of Network IP camera> I think it has to do with the protocol used by Blue Iris to communicate with the camera.

View attachment 31486

Thanks! I couldn't figure out why it wasn't working but this did it!!

 

[lasakro]

I have a "T" on the way which is PAL. Does anyone have a link they can post to the latest NTSC firmware? Seems that, for me at least, that all the links on the Dahua Technology Download Center aren't working. I've tried 2 different browsers.

 

[aristobrat]

Not sure if this is the latest (sometimes Andy will post a version that hasn't made it to Dahau's website yet), but I'm running the 180404 build, which just downloaded fine for me via the camera's product page page here:
SD1A203T-GN

You may have to click the link twice before it opens to the page. There should be a Downloads tab, then a Firmware tab. You'll have to pick your country and then enter in an email address, but it did just download OK now for me.

Since this camera is digital only (no analogue outputs), you shouldn't have any problems running the PAL version of the firmware in the US. I wanted to mention that in case your camera shows up with a newer version of firmware that can't be downloaded via their website yet.

 

[lasakro]

Super, that works. Thank you. I'm anal and prefer 60Hz and 30/60fps.

 

[pb11186]

Mother nature still not cooperating, so here are some messy garage videos.

If you watch the reflection in the car window, you can see the IR lights following the pan of the camera.
There are 3 IR emitters, spaced equally around the base.
I think they do surprisingly well.

You can see some reflections in the dome because of the way I have the cam temporarily mounted on the shelves. This normally, I don't believe, would be much of an issue.

All camera settings are at factory defaults, except for the Mic volume, it has been turned down in some of the videos. 25fps, 4096, CBR, H264H, recorded in Blue Iris.

Garage is completely dark except when the car pulls in.



Some old guy hobbling through.


Tour of the junk in the garage.


Moving car action.


Daytime Footage.



Outdoor Nighttime

Hey looney2ns! Great review on this camera. I just got the same one. What is your tilt range? Mine only goes from 20 degrees to 90 degrees. But specs say it is 5 degrees to 90 degrees, it wont let me get into any menus to allow me to go to 5 degrees. Curious if you know how to get me there!

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