I figured I would share this story so that others can be warned:
Sometimes late last year (2014) I got screwed by an Aliexpress seller. He sold me 3 cams (DS-2532-iws) international version but I received chinese with hack obviously for much higher price.
I had asked him repeatedly if they were international version, english label, red-white box the whole shabang. He said yes in writing.
I disputed on Aliexpress and in the process I HAD to demonstrate that the cam was hacked and send pictures of screen. So I upladed official firmware and got Chinese only menus. (v. 5.20)
Aliexpress dragged my dispute for 3 months. There is no way to call them or get answers. You are told that the case is reviewed y their "experts". Bunch of bull. They just protect their countrymen no matter if they are crooks or not. They will simply not help an american.
I even forwarded them a written confirmation from Hikvision that they are for chinese market only and they were illegaly sold with hacked software. Aliexpress was simply pretending it did not understand.
I am an experienced linux user and I consider myself not an idiot. However, I simply have no idea what I could have done better other than not buy from Aliexpress. At least on eBay you have better protection against liars.
So there you have my story. I came here hoping I can find some reasonable hacks.
Frankly, I think that Hikvision would do much better to not put so many roadblocks. They should simply say that you get no support and/or warranty if cam was not purchased from authorized dealer. Even better forget the whole dealer bull and sell on Amazon same camera for all. They would make a fortune.
Sometimes late last year (2014) I got screwed by an Aliexpress seller. He sold me 3 cams (DS-2532-iws) international version but I received chinese with hack obviously for much higher price.
I had asked him repeatedly if they were international version, english label, red-white box the whole shabang. He said yes in writing.
I disputed on Aliexpress and in the process I HAD to demonstrate that the cam was hacked and send pictures of screen. So I upladed official firmware and got Chinese only menus. (v. 5.20)
Aliexpress dragged my dispute for 3 months. There is no way to call them or get answers. You are told that the case is reviewed y their "experts". Bunch of bull. They just protect their countrymen no matter if they are crooks or not. They will simply not help an american.
I even forwarded them a written confirmation from Hikvision that they are for chinese market only and they were illegaly sold with hacked software. Aliexpress was simply pretending it did not understand.
I am an experienced linux user and I consider myself not an idiot. However, I simply have no idea what I could have done better other than not buy from Aliexpress. At least on eBay you have better protection against liars.
So there you have my story. I came here hoping I can find some reasonable hacks.
Frankly, I think that Hikvision would do much better to not put so many roadblocks. They should simply say that you get no support and/or warranty if cam was not purchased from authorized dealer. Even better forget the whole dealer bull and sell on Amazon same camera for all. They would make a fortune.
