Review - TOP-201 Super Mini 720P HD IP-Cam (The Cheapest IP Cam So Far !!)

[stepz]

I just got my top201 and opened the case and remove the p2p sticker and take picture of the pcb (see attached image).. I can't see the "e" in 3518e.. how do you *physically* distinguish between a 3518c or 3518e (only 3518 is written). Also note the pcb is different from the genuine 3518e that can be found at aliexpress (see http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Pre-...t-Video-Analytics-Hi3516C-1-2/1838582703.html

 

[stepz]

Here's how the 720p compare to the Hi3516 1080p...

Its like the image is taken from the 720p part of the 1080p.. in other words, the 720p image has narrower field of view top and down compared to the 1080p.. and they seem to resolve similar details..

The top201 is confirmed to work with NVR. but using one no password requirement is necessary so you can plug any NVR in a corporate network and view all the top201 videos irregardless of password.. won't they do a firmware upgrade over this?

The stock lens is long barrel.. could it cause narrower field of view.. what would happen if you replace the lens with any other.. would the field of view change?

I can't understand the Exposure Mode part. when it is set to Automatic.. the Minimum Time is 0.25600 and Maximum time 65.53600.. when you change the Minimum time to say 64. the image doesn't get brighter but even dimmer.. using a longer exposure is supposed to brighten the image.. this is even when I set the FPS to 1 to 5.. no change.. any idea why?

 

[bennybubble]

Hi,

Yesterday I got my new TOP-201 camera which worked (almost) right out of the box ...
I ran the UPNP utility in the CMS software to make it available from the outside world, all ok!
Using MEye (for Android) I was able to see and record video, lovely !

So I decided to upgrade both CMS and firmware which went both very smooth but the only downside is now that I cannot access the stream over the internet using the MEye app on my Android phone anymore.

Has anyone seen this before ??

Original firmware :

• Build Date:2014/10/23 16:54:2
• System: V4.02.R12.00006510.10010.1407
• Serial ID: 24852887674a4ef2

New firmware :

• Build Date:2015/5/18 13:17:43
• System: V4.02.R12.00006510.10010.140700
• Serial ID: 24852887674a4ef2

Above information was copied from Version Window when logged into the device using firefox, using CMS gives (off course) the same values.

Is there a place where I can obtain the older firmware to see if I can get it to work again ?
Is there a revision list of old(er) firmware?

br
-ben

 

[ruppmeister]

Hi,

Yesterday I got my new TOP-201 camera which worked (almost) right out of the box ...
I ran the UPNP utility in the CMS software to make it available from the outside world, all ok!
Using MEye (for Android) I was able to see and record video, lovely !

So I decided to upgrade both CMS and firmware which went both very smooth but the only downside is now that I cannot access the stream over the internet using the MEye app on my Android phone anymore.

Has anyone seen this before ??

Original firmware :

• Build Date:2014/10/23 16:54:2
• System: V4.02.R12.00006510.10010.1407
• Serial ID: 24852887674a4ef2

New firmware :

• Build Date:2015/5/18 13:17:43
• System: V4.02.R12.00006510.10010.140700
• Serial ID: 24852887674a4ef2

Above information was copied from Version Window when logged into the device using firefox, using CMS gives (off course) the same values.

Is there a place where I can obtain the older firmware to see if I can get it to work again ?
Is there a revision list of old(er) firmware?

br
-ben

Sounds to me like perhaps you have a different IP address after the firmware update? You ran UPnP the first time, have you run it again to open the port in your router?

 

[bennybubble]

Sounds to me like perhaps you have a different IP address after the firmware update? You ran UPnP the first time, have you run it again to open the port in your router?

Thanks for your reply!

After the update, the (fixed) IP address remained the same. I expected this to be default again but it was the same as before (true for all network settings).

-ben

 

[bennybubble]

Thanks for your reply!

After the update, the (fixed) IP address remained the same. I expected this to be default again but it was the same as before (true for all network settings).

-ben

I now also noticed that FTP and email do not work (anymore), anyone experiencing the same problem ?

-ben

 

[stepz]

I tried replacing it with a pinhole lens (see attached).. it can barely fit because there is no screw left and the posts that hold the pcb is quite long. Does anyone have any idea how I can cut the 4 pcb support to make it shorter so the pinhole lens can be adjusted more front to have enough screw in the lens holder? Is there an electrc circular saw cutter that is just 5mm in diameter?

 

[DaveP]

But with the pinhole lens fitted ... does it focus ?

 

[stepz]

But with the pinhole lens fitted ... does it focus ?

It can focus but only half *single* thread left so if you touch the lens.. it can fall down inside.. so it either must be glued or the posts cut shorter. But then using the pinhole lens. the field of view is quite small. Now I understood why the stock lens is bigger.. because it's no longer useful with very small field of view if pinhole lens used.

Anyway. Using a thermal imager, the SOC almost reach temperature of 70 degees Celsius.. the operating limit.. the 1080p Hi3516c version definitely reach above 70 degrees. Do you know what is a good heaksink that can fit the 11x11mm SOC of the top201 and 13*13mm SOC of the 1080p version? I'd use the camera in very hot ceiling and want a thermal cooling solution to extend the life of this mini cams.

 

[GaretJax]

Error: 8000274d (refused; check IP address and port) 0

Hello all,

I am still in the investigation stage of using these cameras with BI. I have had them running for about 6 days in BI and twice they have given me the above error. Last time it happened, I had to reboot the camera to get it back up and running. I really haven't changed many BI settings since I just don't know what I am doing.

When this error is reported, CMS can't connect to the camera either. I have applied the latest firmware (as of a few days ago) to the camera.

Any thoughts?

 

[stepz]

Picture attached is a Flir thermal camera picture of the top201 that maps its processor temperature.. it shows about 67 degree Celsius.. maximum operating limit is 70 degree Celsius.. but the camera is put in open air with good ventilation.. but when you hide it on top of ceiling of inside small cabinet (that is what covert camera are for).. it can reach above 70 degree Celsius.. I think a good heatsink for the processor is a Raspberry Pi heatsink with size of 9mmx9mm http://www.amazon.com/Addicore-Rasp...6751950&sr=8-1&keywords=raspberry+pi+heatsink

 

[Bradley Parsons]

Quick question in regards to contrast/brightness settings via the web UI.
When I make adjustments and log out then back in the settings don't appear to persist, is there a save button I'm missing somewhere?

 

[ruppmeister]

Quick question in regards to contrast/brightness settings via the web UI.
When I make adjustments and log out then back in the settings don't appear to persist, is there a save button I'm missing somewhere?

Glad you asked this since I experience the same on mine and don't know what I am doing wrong...

 

[stepz]

I tried using heatsinks in the 3518e chip.. but it doesn't work.. this is because heatsinks only work if there is cooler ambient temperature.. but the inside of the top201 is like inferno.. next i'll try to connect pure aluminum directly from 3518e chip to metal case and see the rate of heat dissipation of the metal case with respect to time. In other covert cam.. im measuring even 80 degrees Celsius in the chip (10 degrees above safe operating limit of 70 degree Celsius (note in the Core i5 intel processor. cpu temperature average just 59 degree Celsius so 80 degree Celsius is not good).

 

[Waldmensch]

Hi Guys,
I have bought such a cam a few days on ebay. I have checked the whole thread but could not find an answer. My plan is to use this camera as webcam for a website. I would need an option to get a picture every X seconds, independent whether there is a motion or not. The only thing I found is the FTP upload on motion alert. Don't think that it delivers pictures if a landscape is filmed. I have seen that snapshoots over http are not possible. Is there any other way? I have seen in the options menu that the camera can be triggered over an external alert (high or low). What have to be done to send such alert? Is there a conector on the board which can be used by e.g. an arduino as trigger, pulsing every X seconds to generate a FTP upload?
Is it possible to avoid the deep folder structure on the FTP? It's a lot of script work to find out what the last picture was.

Here is what I sniffed with wireshark about the cam. The Menues over IE are the same as shown on the images in this thread

{    "Name": "SystemInfo",
    "Ret": 100,
    "SessionID": "0x25",
    "SystemInfo": {
        "AlarmInChannel": 2,
        "AlarmOutChannel": 1,
        "AudioInChannel": 1,
        "BuildTime": "2014-10-23 16:54:02",
        "CombineSwitch": 0,
        "DeviceRunTime": "0x00000CE6",
        "DigChannel": 0,
        "EncryptVersion": "Unknown",
        "ExtraChannel": 0,
        "HardWare": "HI3518E_50H10L_S39",
        "HardWareVersion": "Unknown",
        "SerialNo": "8931c344f31c5dcc",
        "SoftWareVersion": "V4.02.R12.00006510.10010.1303",
        "TalkInChannel": 1,
        "TalkOutChannel": 1,
        "UpdataTime": "",
        "UpdataType": "0x00000000",
        "VideoInChannel": 1,
        "VideoOutChannel": 1
    }
}

<br><br>

in this Post is a screenshoot with the Snapshot settings. What is ment with the checkbox "Regular" and could it be that regularily images are made? If yes, what is the intervall and how I can fire the FTP upload from there? http://www.ipcamtalk.com/showthread...P-Cam-So-Far-!!)?p=28481&viewfull=1#post28481

 

[Bradley Parsons]

Does anyone have a download link to v4.02.r12.00006510.10010.1303?

 

[bls]

Does anyone have a download link to v4.02.r12.00006510.10010.1303?

I just updated my IPC Board Camera web page at http://ve6sbs.sbszoo.com/projects/ipcam_ipc/50H10PE-S/50H10PE_mods.htm and included a link to that version. (At least I'm pretty sure it's that version. I have several different versions saved and it's hard to tell which is which without IPC including the .10010.1303 in the file name, but my camera has the version you want and the Build date matches so I'm pretty sure it's the right version and, if not, let me know and I'll try again. )

Barry

 

[Bradley Parsons]

Thanks mate your a life saver, that version did the trick and restored my cameras wifi.

When I upgraded to the most recent version I lost wifi on both camera boards, there must be something different in that particular firmware that enables usb wifi modules.

I just updated my IPC Board Camera web page at http://ve6sbs.sbszoo.com/projects/ipcam_ipc/ipc_mods.htm and included a link to that version. (At least I'm pretty sure it's that version. I have several different versions saved and it's hard to tell which is which without IPC including the .10010.1303 in the file name, but my camera has the version you want and the Build date matches so I'm pretty sure it's the right version and, if not, let me know and I'll try again. )

Barry

 

[Luc3as]

I have one camera with stock firmware. Is there any way to download the current bin file with firmware and later use it for downgrading other cameras ? thank you
it is 6510 device

 

[skywise]

Does anyone know the camera's URL for grabbing just a single jpg?
The application I'm wanting to use the TOP201 only needs a single image every few hours (or on demand)