Hikvision Door Station Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Nov 30, 2017

Hikvision has entered the video intercom market, aiming to bring the race to the bottom to a whole new audience.

To see how it stacks up, we bought and tested their vandal resistant door station, the DS-KB8112-IM, to see how it compared to the Axis A8105-E from Axis, testing:

  • Full light image quality
  • Low light image quality
  • WDR performance
  • Audio quality
  • VMS integration
  • Mobile app integration
  • Installation issues

See our full results inside.

Interested readers should see our past tests of other door station models, including:

********* *** ******* *** video ******** ******, ****** to ***** *** **** to *** ****** ** a ***** *** ********.

** *** *** ** stacks **, ** ****** and ****** ***** ****** resistant **** *******, *****-******-**, ** *** *** it ******** ** *** Axis *****-* **** ****, testing:

  • **** ***** ***** *******
  • *** ***** ***** *******
  • *** ***********
  • ***** *******
  • *** ***********
  • ****** *** ***********
  • ************ ******

*** *** **** ******* inside.

********** ******* ****** *** our **** ***** ** other **** ******* ******, including:

[***************]

Key ********

***** ** *** *******, the **-******-** *** ******* positives:

  • ******** **** ******:*** ** *** ***** in **, *** ******-** produced ************ ******* ******* in **** **** ****** (<1lx) ***** **** ******** in **** ***** **** not (****, ********).
  • ****** ***** **********:*** ****** ********* ** Hikvision's***-******* ***** ************** **** **********, ******** users ** ****** ***** from ***** ****** ****** and ****** ***** **** very ****** *****.

*******, ***** **** ******* negatives, ** ****:

  • **** *****:**** *** *** ******* audio **** ****, ******** the **** *******'* ********** in ***** ************, **** with ***** ****** ** their ******* ********.
  • **** ***:*** ****** ******** **** digital ***, ********* ** moderate ************ ** ******** against ****** *********/********.
  • ******* *** ***********:**** **** *********** *** possible **** ***** ***** VMSes (***** *** *****). Despite ****** ** ***** support ***** *****, *** **** ******* did *** ******* ** any *** ****** *** ONVIF ** ****** ******* nor ** ****** ** officially ********** ** *****.
  • ************ ******:*** ******'* ***** ***** mount **** ************ ***********, with ** *** ** lock *** ****** ** place ***** ********* *** backplate *** * *****, difficult ** ****** *** screw.

*****

*** **-******-** ***** ***~$*** *** ******, ************* ***** **** other ********** **** ******* models, **** ** ******* *****(~$*** ******) **********(~$***).

Physical ********

*** ****** ** ********* from **** **** ******** we **** ******, ***** three ******: * ******* camera/button ****** ***** ******* inside * ******** *******, which ** **** ******* to * **** *****. This ****** ***** ** some ******** ******, ********* below.

*** ****** ******** ** 80° ****, ******** **** many ***** ****** ***** use **** ***** ** panoramic ******. **** ****** many, *** ******* ******** 940nm "*********" ** ************, which ******** **** ***** performance (********* *****).

*** ***** ***** ******** a ******** ******** ** the ********* ******:

******** ** *** **** A8105-E, *** ****** ** moderately ******, ********* ******* from *** ****, *** not **** ** ** mullion ******* (********* ********** a ****** **** *** for ********). *******, *** KB8112 ** **** ***** for ****** **********, ***** the *****-* ** *** IK *****.

Installation ******

*** ****** *** *** significant ************ ******:

  • ********* ***********/********: ******* ** its ***** ***** ************, it *** ********* ** position *** **** ******* in *** *****, **** slide ** **** *** backplate ******* ** ******. This ******** ** *** station ********** ******** ********/*****, or ********* ******* *** of *** ******** ***** entirely.
  • ***** *** *****: *** set ***** ** *** bottom ** *** **** station ***** ***** ** to *** ******** ***** was * **** ***** hex **** (~*/**") ***** was ********* ** ****** with **** *** ******** hex *** ******** ** Hikvision.

********** *** ****** ** get **** ** ***** issues ***** ********** ******* stations, *** ***** ************ are ****** ** ** frustrated *** ***** ********** time ********** ******** ** other ****** **** ******* mounting. ** ****** ***** issues ** **** *****:

Weak *****

***** ** *** ****** was **** ** *** tests. **** *** ******* standing ** ~*-*', ** was ************, ****** *****, even **** *** ****** turned *** *** *** up (*****). *** **** was **** ** ******* audio, **** *** ******** intelligible *** ****. ***** in ***** ************ *** find *** ******'* ***** lacking.

Image ******* ***********

** ****** *** **** station ** * ******** entrance ** * ********, a ******* ************ *****. Below ** *** **** field ** ****.

** **** ***** *** Hikvision ******** ****** ******* to ******** *** *******, however *** ****, **** true ***, *** **** to ******* **** ****** both ** *** ******* as **** ** *** background.

Even ********: ********* ******* *******

****, *** **** ******* was ****** ** * vestibule **** **** **** lighting, ****** **** ****** sunlight ** *** ****, shown *****:

** **** *****, *** Hikvision **** ******* ******** similar ******* ******* ** the **** *****-*, **** slightly ****** ******* *** no ********* ********** ** recognition *******.

Low *****: ********* ***********

** ***** **** ******** lights ********* ~**** *** Hikvision ******** *********** *** subject, ***** *** **** A8105-E ******** ***** *******. At **** ***** *****, though ***, *** ********* KB8112 *** *** ****** to ***** **** **** IR **, ******* ** day/color.

Dark: ********* ****** *******

*** ** *** ***** in **, *** ****** provides **** ****** ****** than *** **** ***** when *** ***** ** very ****, ~*.**** ** this *******. ******* ******* are ***** ** *** Hikvision **** *******, *** obscured ** ***** ** Axis.

Limited *** ***********

******** ** *********** ******* ** *** spec ******, *** ****** ** not ******** ** *****'* conformant ******* *******.

** *** *****, ***** support *** ****, **** only ***** ****** ******* (ODM) **** ** **** the **** ******* ***** stream. ********, *****, *******, Milestone, *** ******* ***** were ****** ** *** connect *** ***** ** direct *******.

**** ********* ** *** video *** ***** ******* worked ******* ******.

Limited ********* *** ***********

********* *** ******** ******* firmware *** ***** -* series **** ** ********* the ******, ********* ** their *******. *******, **** integration ****** ******** **** indicated ** ******** ***** on *** **** **** of *** ***** *** user ********* (***** *****). This **** ** *** displayed ** *** *** interface ** ****-****.

************, ***** ** ** way ** ****** *** these ****** ** *** UI (*****, ***, ** client ********).

Hik-Connect ***********

***** *********** **** ***** and *********'* *** **** was *******, *** ****** worked **** **** ********'* Hik-Connect ***** ********, ******* users ****** ******* *** incoming *****, ******** *** way ***** *** ********* of *** ****.

Master *******/**** ******* ***

**** **** **** **** focuses **** ** *** KB8112 **** ** * standalone *******, *** ********* has **** ************** ****** *********** **** ******* ***** to ***** ******** ***. In **** *************, ***** may ** ******** **** the ****** ******* ******* of ***** ****** *** or ***** ********, **** typical ** *********, *****-****** housing, *** ****** ******** applications.

Test **********

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

  • ********* ******: **.*.* ***** 170728
  • **** *****-*: *.**.*

Comments (18)

Thumbnail mecontrolxxlusertile

Brandon Knutson

11/30/17 05:27pm

* ******** ******. **** *** *** ***** **** **** * fail.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

11/30/17 07:22pm

**** ** ***********. ** ****** ******* *** *********** *** ** needed *** ******** ******* ** ******* ** ***-******* *** ***** was ** **** ****** ** ***. * ****** ** **** is ********* *** ****** ** ********* ********.

Thumbnail me

Campbell Chang

12/01/17 06:23am

*'** ***** **** **** ***** ******.

***** **** *** **-**** *** *** ******-*** ******** *** ****** which ***** ****** * ****** ***** ** *** **** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Campbell Chang | 12/01/17 12:30pm

********, * ******* ***. **** ** ** ************* ** ** Hikvision *****.

*** *******, **** ** ****** ********* ** ******** *** ***** **************:

*** ************* ********* **** **** **** *** ****** *** *******.

Dennis Ruban

12/03/17 06:37am

*'** *** **** ******** **** *** *** * *** ****** to ******* ** ** ****-**** ** **** *** ***** **** no ****. *** ****** ************ **** **** ******* **********? * don't ***** ******* ***** ******** *** *'* **** ****** ** avoid ***** *****

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Dennis Ruban | 12/03/17 04:40pm

** *****'* **** **** ****-****. *** ***** ** **** ********* for ******** ****** ********** *** **** ************ ***.

Thumbnail img 20180328 180024

Fabian Muyawa

LONTECH SYSTEMS | IPVMU Certified | 12/03/17 03:57pm

**** ** * **** ******* *** ** ****** * **** for ******* ***********. ******* **** **** **** ** *********** *********** towards ****** *******.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

12/04/17 01:34am

***** **** ** ***** **** ** * ********** ** **'* doorstations. *** ******** ** *** **** ********.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 12/04/17 01:54pm

*****'* **** *** ** ***? ** * ******* ** ***** be * ********** ** ****, ***** ** **** ** ******?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/04/17 03:07pm

**** ***** **** * ******* **** *** ****** ** ***********. Axis *** *** ****** ** ** ******* **** *** **** name ***, ** ***** ** ***** ** *** ** * separate ******** *** ***** ***** * *********** ****** ** ******* under *** ** ****. ** ***** ***** ** *** **** manufacturer ***, * ***** *** **** ** *** **** ******** and ******** ********.

Thumbnail mecontrolxxlusertile

Brandon Knutson

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 12/04/17 03:52pm

**** *** **** ********.

** ***** ** ***** ***** ** **** ****** ** ***** door ***** ** *** ** ****** ***** * **** **** badly **** **** ***.

** ******** **** ******** ** *** ***** *** ****** ****** have ****** ***** ******* *** *** ***********.

**'* ***** ******* *** *** *********** ********** ****** *** *********.

Undisclosed Distributor #3

12/04/17 08:37am

***** **** * ***** *** ** ********* ******** *** **** ****** *** ***** * *****

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #3 | 12/04/17 02:36pm

***, * ***** ***** ** **** *** ***** *** ******* it *** *** ** **** ****a *** like it.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/04/17 03:13pm

***** *** ******* *** ******** *** *******, ***** **** *** re-branding *** ******* **** *** **** ************ **** ****** **** their ******** ****. ** ***** *** ****** ***'* **** ** Hikvision ** ***, *** ****'** **-******** *** ******, ** ***** Beward *** *** *** **-******** **** *** **** *** ***** manufacturer.

** ********* *****'* **** *** ******, ***** ****'* *** *** didn't **** *** ********.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

12/04/17 01:21pm

** * *** **** ******* ** **** ***** *** ******** hack ** **** ****? **** ***** ** * ***** ******* when *** ***** ******* **** ****** ******* ***-***.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/04/17 02:38pm

** ** ***** *** **** ******, ** *** ***** ****** *********** ** *** *** *******, *** *** ** ******* ** Brian's **** *********** ****** *******. *** ** *** ***** *** ** ******** *****, **** none **** ** *** ***** ** ***.

Gerald Spradlin

12/06/17 12:51am

******** ****** ********* ***** **** *****/******* ********* ********.
* ****** *** **** ********** **** *** *****, ** *** way, **** ***** ******** ***** ** *** ******* ********* **********. It's ****** ********* ****** **** ***** ******* ** ********* *********. 10,000 ****** *** ***** *** ********* **** * ********* ***** brand? ***********.

thomas worthington

ESRM Communications, LLC | In reply to Gerald Spradlin | 04/09/18 12:07am

***** ***** ** *** ******* ******?

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Maglock Selection Guide on May 16, 2019
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
China PRC Government New National Video Surveillance Standards on May 14, 2019
The People's Republic of China (PRC) government has released a new set of overarching standards for authorities to follow when they install video...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 21, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Covert Facial Recognition Using Axis and Amazon By NYTimes on May 20, 2019
What if you took a 33MP Axis camera covering one of the busiest parks in the US and ran Amazon Facial Recognition against it? That is what the...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
LifeSafety Power NetLink Vulnerabilities And Problematic Response on May 20, 2019
'Power supplies' are not devices that many think about when considering vulnerabilities but as more and more devices go 'online', the risks for...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact