Dahua: "We're Not Owned By The Chinese Government" 2016

Published Sep 15, 2016 15:58 PM

Discover the Dahua Difference.

This was Dahua's theme for ASIS 2016. They were quite clear with their response to our question: 

How is Dahua different from Hikvision?

And now, after the Times investigation of Hikvision, Dahua is doubling down on their Hikvision criticisms.

Not ********** *****

***** ******** **** **** **** **** different **** *********, ******* ****:

"**'** *** ***** ** *** ******* government."

** * ***** ** ****, **** is ****.*********'* *********** *********** ** *** ******* government***** *** ******** ** **** ******** shows **** ***** ** * ******* company******* ** ** *************** *** ***** ** *** ******* **********.

Other ***********?

***** ********* ** ****** **** ***** clear *********** **** *** ** *********, noting **** **** '**** * *** of *****' *** ***** ****** * year ******** ******* *** *** ******* (vs ********* *** **** *** *******).

*****'* ********* ***** ** *** **** topic *** **** ******:

Startup ** *********'* ******** ******

***** **** ********** *** **** *** a ******* ******* / ********. **** is ********* **** ** ***** ******* as **** ******* **** *** ****** out *** ** *** **** *** ******** on *** ***.

*** ********* ** ********** **** ********* and *** **** ** *****, ******* their ********** ***** **** *** *** greater ****** ** ***** ***, **** Hikvision **** ****** *** ******* **** **** market ********** *** ****** ** *****.

Differentiating ** ********** ********* 

** *** *** ****, *** ** market ** ************ ********* ** ******* government ********* *** ************* *******, ********** for ****** *************. ** **** ***, Dahua ***** **** ****** ** *** low **** *********** ******* *** ******** political ***** ** *********.

** *** ***** ****, * ******* company, **** *****, ********** *** ******* government ********** ** ******** ** *** well ** *******. **** '******* ** expression' *********** *** ********** *** *** one*************************** **-********.

** ******** *************** *** ****** ***** *********** *****'* **** ****** *********** ******** a **** ******** *********.

Vote: **** ** ***?

Update ***** ********* ******* *********

***** ***'* ******* ** ** ***** as *** ***** ********* *** **** out **** *** *** ****** ** Hikvision:

 

Comments (46)
U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 15, 2016

Chinese Flag

Image result for chinese flag

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JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2016
IPVM

Our front page image uses the Communist party flag, to emphasize the issue is not with the Chinese people but the authoritarian, one-party Communist rule.

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U
Undisclosed #2
Sep 15, 2016
IPVMU Certified

Dahua's most recent declaration embraces a most American tradition.

Which one?

JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2016
IPVM

Which one?

Freedom of speech.

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U
Undisclosed #2
Sep 15, 2016
IPVMU Certified

When in Rome...

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JI
Jordi Ibero
Sep 16, 2016
Imago IP Solutions

Not only a USA tradition...

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TA
Toni Alvarez
Sep 28, 2016

Not only USA tradition but many countries...

which ones are really still defending that???

Spain of course not.

JH
John Honovich
Sep 28, 2016
IPVM

Not only USA tradition but many countries...

To be clear, the point was not that the USA is the 'only' country with free speech but that the US division of a Chinese company, where 'free speech' against the government is not allowed, did it.

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Ari Erenthal
Sep 15, 2016
Chesapeake & Midlantic

Dahua struggled to define what other clear differences they had vs Hikvision, noting that they 'have a lot of heart'.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Sep 15, 2016

[Undisclosed 3 is a Dahua employee]

are you a distributor of Hik or do you buy it third party????

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Sean Nelson
Sep 15, 2016
Nelly's Security

dont they get large amounts of loaned money from the Chinese government though?

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JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2016
IPVM

Sean, from what we have seen, no. Take the $760 million in Dahua short term debt, the documents indicate to be commercial.

By contrast, the ~$6 billion for Hikvision is indisputably from Chinese government policy banks.

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SK
Solomon Kaminda
Sep 15, 2016

While it's true that Dahua is not owned by Chinese government, their representatives in Kenya are just as arrogant as the Chinese government officials. It is not wonder Hikvision has taken over the market in this developing part of the world. Ownership aside, this once preferred brand is losing it's market share in the East African Market.

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U
Undisclosed #2
Sep 15, 2016
IPVMU Certified

...their representatives in Kenya are just as arrogant as the Chinese government officials. It is not wonder Hikvision has taken over the market in this developing part of the world.

Then again, some Hik employees actually are Chinese governmemt officials.

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JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2016
IPVM

Solomon, thanks. What is Dahua doing wrong and Hikvision doing right in Kenya?

I'd be really interested to know more about their operations in Kenya.

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MS
Max Scott
Sep 15, 2016
IPVMU Certified

"not owned by the Chinese government"

Hey, at least it's true!

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

When Dahua (or their OEMs) can simply get me a working firmware update, I will start to have a little more faith. I have had many people try to assist me in finding a working firmware, but none have succeeded.

IPC-HDBW5421E-Z

These shipped with firmware version 2.40.0.10. We are trying to find version 2.40.0.30 or newer. I can find many versions in PAL only format, but none that work that are NTSC versions. If anyone can point me in the direction of a working firmware download, I would greatly appreciate it.

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Ethan Ace
Sep 15, 2016

We installed 2.400.0000.30.R20160623 (love those long build numbers) on our 5421 without issues.

Also, to be somewhat fair to Dahua USA, HDBW5421E-Z is an international part number. It's HDBW54A1EN-Z here.

Though to flip that, our 5421 came from an authorized US distributor earlier this year.

In summary: ???

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

Any chance you can share the BIN file? I keep getting reps willing to help, only to hit dead ends finding valid files. Then there is the China delay in getting anything direct from them.

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U
Undisclosed #6
Sep 15, 2016

https://dahuawiki.com/INT/IPCamera/DH_IPC_HDBW5421EN_Z

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Ethan Ace
Sep 15, 2016

Curious: where did you buy the HDBW5421E-Z?

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

We've bought these from 4 different sources in total, but the majority of them was from SavvyTech. I have been working with Savvy on getting this resolved, but they are at the mercy of Dahua China. They have tried their best.

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U
Undisclosed #6
Sep 15, 2016
U
Undisclosed #2
Sep 15, 2016
IPVMU Certified

I can find many versions in PAL only format, but none that work that are NTSC versions.

Is the problem with the PAL firmware that the HDMI output comes out at 25/fps with PAL colorspace? I've wondered about this before, when almost buying a PAL model thinking that the HDMI would be unaffected, but chickened out.

Or are you using the analog output?

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Sep 15, 2016

[Undisclosed 3 is a Dahua employee]

Dahua has two features that Hikvision does not. one is being able to playback while watching live and the other is that with the auto focus cameras dahua has, if you manually move the zoom, the focus follows. with Hikvision gov't, you have to move both manually. Just little things but it is better. Also Dahua has industry veterans while Hik has arrogant people maybe due to their dominance. I have had issues with Hikvision people and their attitudes

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

The Smart Series cameras autofocus, just like the Dahua. But, you are correct that some of the Value Series with motorized lenses do not autofocus.

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U
Undisclosed #4
Sep 15, 2016

Really, I have had nothing but arrogance with Dahua. Anytime you tell them something about their buggy ass products, they just act like noone else has complained about it and they wont fix it.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Sep 15, 2016

[Undisclosed 3 is a Dahua employee]

Nothing like that has happened to me, in fact I like the Dahua brand better and I also like the fact i do not have to compete with the hik "retail" brand. Lets face it, there will be only Hik and Dahua left as the others (speco, everfocus, dwd) are non existant.

I have had that arrogance with Hik so i guess it goes both ways. Dahua is as good as Hik, it just took them longer to come ton the US market.

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

I had a need for a firmware update from Hikvision. Contacted my RSM and had the link to a working firmware in a few hours.

I have been banging my head for months now trying to get a firmware update from Dahua. It has been agonizing.

Hikvision, right now, IMO, is years ahead of Dahua. And don't think that the Dahua branded struggle isn't about to start in the US, just as the Hikvision branded battle started a short time ago.

While both companies have treated me respectfully, Hikvision has delivered, where Dahua hasn't yet.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Sep 15, 2016

[Undisclosed 3 is a Dahua employee]

Give them a chance. Remember all the headaches Hik had when they first came out? No one bought their product as it was horrible and over priced. If every manufacturer dropped their pricing as low as Hik, they would all be doing what Hik is doing. Dahua will be a big factor and will take some of the hik owned chinese government backed customers.

Every manufacturer has issues. Find one who is perfect....

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

Heck, I am not setting the bar at perfect. I just want a firmware download! That is a pretty low bar.

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U
Undisclosed #6
Sep 15, 2016

https://dahuawiki.com/INT/IPCamera/DH_IPC_HDBW5421EN_Z

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

U6M,

Thanks for the link. I hadn't been given that link yet. I was only given the US based Wiki page. While that file did download and seem to be the correct firmware, it still didn't work.

I am beginning to wonder if there is an issue that is preventing the upgrade now. My next step is to default the camera and then try uploading again.

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Ethan Ace
Sep 15, 2016

I think there is a really simple issue and the Dahua employees reading this may be able to confirm.

You're looking at an OEM camera, from SavvyTech, and trying to use Dahua branded firmware. I have tried to do this on multiple OEMs and it has never worked.

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

I could be wrong, but all of the firmware that start with "General" are for OEMs and the ones that start with "DH" are for Dahua branded.

The link that U6M gave above was the General version.

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U
Undisclosed #4
Sep 15, 2016

Dahua didnt just come out, theyve been around for a while. The problems jon is describing is the same problems they have always had. Buggy issues with no real response to them. Then they will come out with a firmware that fixes something and breaks another.

Hopefully the USA team has some pull with the China HQ, if not then same ol same ol.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Sep 15, 2016

[Undisclosed 3 is a Dahua employee]

absolutely, but i am sure Hik had the same issues when they first came into the US market. All i am saying is the the Dahua product is just as good and in some cases better and it is not everywhere like Hik is. Hik oversaturated the market and that will hurt them in the long run.

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 15, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

I will give you some slack. There are some features that Dahua have that we prefer too, but overall, right now, Hikvision is a clear leader. We can get better pricing with Dahua OEMs, and the OEMs are really good people, but they can only help so far.

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U
Undisclosed #6
Sep 15, 2016

Hey "Undisclosed Manufacturer 3"... kindly remove your inane banter from the thread.

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JH
John Honovich
Sep 19, 2016
IPVM

Dahua USA's comment is no fluke as now Dahua corporate has come out with its own attack on Hikvision:

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #7
Sep 19, 2016

I would think The Times approached Dahua and other Chinese brands for comment before the release of the article on Friday morning, hence the strong denial coming out days beforehand.

While I'm really glad it's happened - I do think it was unfairly focused on Hikvision. If The US government can approach Apple and request them to undertake underhand things then I can only imagine what is going on in China between these other brands and the government there with the human rights record they have, and the threat of 'escalation'.

I strongly expect that now the focus has been placed here then the other brands (Dahua, UNV etc.) will get a name-check in subsequent follow-up pieces.

JH
John Honovich
Sep 19, 2016
IPVM

With 180 votes, members overwhelmingly see Dahua's declaration as good differentiation.

Interestingly and bullishly for Dahua, integrators voted 9 to 1 positively on this while manufacturers were just 2 to 1 in favor of it.

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U
Undisclosed #4
Sep 19, 2016

Whats funny is Dahua would have never known to use this as a marketing tool if it hadn't been for IPVM, otherwise, they would have used it WAYYY before now.

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Jon Dillabaugh
Sep 20, 2016
Pro Focus LLC

Ok, today we finally received assistance getting the Dahua 4MP cams upgraded and can now verify the firmware version 2.240.0.15.R did indeed fix the RTSP issue. I was asked not to disclose the way we were able to push the firmware, but I would gladly tell others via PM if needed.

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Solomon Kaminda
Sep 21, 2016

This is the ordeal I suffered under Dahua here in Nairobi, Kenya. I think Dahua has started pissing on the feet of its customers through their distributors here. They lie without butting an eye. I consider this atrocious to say the least.

The background of this story is that I bought a Dahua HDVR in 2004. This year, the machine locked (Blocked) its Admin User Account. I sent it back to the distributor together with a a customer's IPC which had developed a similar problem. The distributor reset the DVR's password but not the IPC's which they kept holding. On arrival, the DVR developed the same problem and was returned once more. This time along the technician claimed that the DVR was not giving any signal via the VGA connection. The machine was thus returned to our workshop without the problem being sorted. I connected the DRV to a HD screen and it picked the signal. I wondered what kind of technicians Dahua had. They were using VGA screens to get the signal from a HD resolution which had been adjusted to 1080. I thus had to reset the signal to signal and then had the machine returned to have the password reset once more. It is at this point that hey requested for payment of US15! I declined to pay on account that this was part of service expected from Dahua. The machine was returned unattended. When inquired about the IPC, they seemed to have no clue. As I write, I don't know the fate of my IPC (a 1.3MP)

I found this unprofessional. I tried contacting Dahua through all possible channels. They would not respond. I was forced to go to Facebook and post my complaint on their wall.

This is the engagement I got from the Nairobi distributor/ customer care! The verdict is yours, members.

A chat between Dahua and me on their service

U
Undisclosed #8
Sep 28, 2016

OMG what can be said about that. This person Shazid Shazz Khan should be fired.

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