Hikvision NVR 4.0 Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Nov 14, 2017

Hikvision has released firmware version 4.0 for select NVRs, touting two years of research and development, and claiming "the new generation GUI will allow operators to do a lot more, much more intuitively."

We installed this firmware on a DS-7608NI-I NVR to see how these new "smart" features work, including:

  • Target Detection
  • Event/Alarm Lists
  • Thumbnail Playback
  • Increased Search Speed
  • Simplified PTZ Control

UI differences are noticeable from the start, with users now prompted to draw a pattern to log in, instead of needing to type out an 8+ character password with on screen keyboard:

Inside, we see how NVR 4.0's other changes work, advantages and disadvantages, and how they compare to other low cost NVRs.

********* *** ******** ******** ******* *.* *** ****** ****, ******* *** ***** ** ******** *** ***********, *** ******** "the *** ********** *** **** ***** ********* ** ** * lot ****, **** **** ***********."

** ********* **** ******** ** * **-******-* *** ** *** how ***** *** "*****" ******** ****, *********:

  • ****** *********
  • *****/***** *****
  • ********* ********
  • ********* ****** *****
  • ********** *** *******

** *********** *** ********** **** *** *****, **** ***** *** prompted ** **** * ******* ** *** **, ******* ** needing ** **** *** ** *+ ********* ******** **** ** screen ********:

******, ** *** *** *** *.*'* ***** ******* ****, ********** and *************, *** *** **** ******* ** ***** *** **** NVRs.

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

*******

*********'* *** *.* ******** ******** ******* ***** ******** *** ***** in **** *********, **** **** **** *** **** ******** *****:

  • ***** **********:****** ********* ********** ******* ******* ****** ** **** ******, * feature *** ***** ** ***** *** **** ****, *** * more ******* ****** **** ******* ***** ***** ***** ** *****.
  • ********* ******:***** *** *** ****** ****** *** ******** ***** ***** *** select ****** *** ******** *** **********, ***** **** ****/**** ****** display ****** ** * **** **** * *********.
  • ***** ******** *****:***** *** *** ** ****** **** ** **** ***** *** continuous ********* *** ************* ******** ** ** ***** *** ***** video, ****** ****** ** ***** ******** ** ***** ****** ***** reducing *** **** ** ******* ***** **** ******** **** ***** playback.
  • *** ********* *******:*******, ***** *** ******* *** ******* ** ******** ********** ** PTZ *******, ***** **** ****/****/*** ******* **** * **** ** presets.

Drawbacks - ***** *** ********* ****, **** ********* ******* *** **** ********

*******, ***** ***** ******** *** *****, **** *** ******* ** the ***** ********* ** *** *** ****, **** ** ****** to **** *** *** ********* ** **** ********, ***** ********* are **** ****** ** ***.

************, ***** ******** *** ****** ******* ** ********* ******* ****, not ***** ** ***** ***** ******, ******** ***** ********** ** some *****.

Compared ** ******** ********* ********

*** ******* ******* **** **** ******** ** *** *.* *** Target *********, ***** *************, *** *** ********** **** *** ******** in ******** ********* *** **** **********. **** **** ********** ********* simply ** ***** *******, **** ** ***** ************ ***** **** icons *** ****** *********.

******** ****** **********, **** ******** *** ******, *** ***** ******** found ** *** *.* ** ****, **** ** ******* **** complex **, **** **** ******** *** ******* ******* ** ****, which *** ** ********* *** **** *****.

Target ********* ********** ** **** ****

*** *.* *** ******** **** ********* ***** "****** *********" **********, displayed ** *** **** **** ** *** **** ****. **** pane ***** ********** ** ****** ** **** ******, ********* ****** detection, ********* *********, **** ********, *** ***** *********, ** **** as *******, *****, *** **** *********.

**** ******* ** ******** ** *** **** ****, *** ******** VMSes ** ****. ****, **** ** ******* ******** ****** *** Milestone ********, ***** * ****** ****** **** ** ***** ** be **** ** ******** *** ***** *****, *** **** ******** additional ***** *** ******** ** *** *.*.

***** *** ***** *** ********* ** ****** ******** ** *** event. *******, ***** ** ** **** ** *** **** ******** timeline, *** *** ***** ****** *******. ***** **** ***** ****** to ******** *** **** **** *** ******** ***** ** **** period ** ***** ** **** **** ******** ******* ** ******.

**** **** **** ******* **** ***** **** ********* *******. *** clip ***** ***** * ***** ****** ********* *** ***** (***** right), ***** ********* ****** *********, *** **** *** ******* ** the ****** ********* ****.

Alarm **** ** **** *******

********* *** ******** ** "***** ****" ** **** ******* ** the *** ***** *********, ***** ** *** *** ***** **** an ******** ****** ** *** *****. ******** **** ***** **** a **** ** ******, **** ** ****** ****** ******, ****** detection, *** *********. ****** *** ****** ********* ********** *****, ***** may *** ****** ******** **** **** ****, **** ****** ****** and **** ** ****.

**********

******** *.* ***** ******** ****** ****** ** **** ** ********** thumbnails ******* ** ****** * **** ** ***** ** ** previous ******** *** **** ***** ******. ******** * ********* ***** playback ***** ** *** ********. **** ******* ** **** **** similar ** *** ****** ****** **** ************ ***** ** ******* low **** *********.

Fast ***** ******

**** ********* *****, ***** *** *** **********/***-***** ***** ** **** back ** * ****** ***** (** ** *******), **** *** NVR ********* **** ** ****** ** ***** ** *****. **** makes ******* ***** ********* ** ***** ******, ** ********** ********** may ** ******* *******, *** ******* *** ****** ****** *** flagged ** ******/********* **** ** ****** ***** ** ******** **** viewing ***** ***** ****.

PTZ ******* **********

********* ********** *** ******* ** ******** ****:

  • ***** *** **** ** ****:******* ** ***** ** ****** ********, ***** *** ****** ***** and **** *** ***** ** **** ****.
  • ****** **********:**** ********* ****** *********, * ********* ** *** ***** ** automatically ******, ***** *** ** ******* ** **** *** ******. This ***** ****** ******* ****** **** ***** *********/**** ********* ******, which ********* ******* **** * **** ** *** *******.

Web ********* *******

*** *** ********* ** *** *.* ******** ** *********** *** same ** ******** ******** *** ****, ********, ******, *** *************. However, ********* *** ******** *** ******* ** ******/******* ********** ******** on *** ***, **** ** ****, ****, *** ********* ** SADP, ****** ** ********** ******** ** ******* ******* ********** *** unused *********, ******* ** *********'********** ***** ** ****** ******** *.*.

Versus ***** ****

*** *.*'* ********* *** * ************** ****** ***** ***** *********, such ** *****, ** ****.

**** *********'* ***** ******, ***** ****' **** **** ******** **** of ****** *****, **** ** ***** **** ** ****** ********** found ** *** *** *.*.

*********, *****'* ********/****** ************* ** ******* ** ******** ******** *** simple ***** ******. ** ********* ****** ** ******** ********** *** available.

Firmware ****

*** ********* ******** ******** **** **** ** **** ****:

  • ********* **-******-**/**:*.*.** ***** ******

Comments (17)

Thumbnail newheadshot

Sean Nelson

Nelly Security | 11/14/17 09:02pm

**** ** *** *** ***** ** ** * ********* ******* right ***. ********* ****** ******** **** ****** **** ********* ***** of *** ****. *** **** ****, ** ***** ** * fair *****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Sean Nelson | 11/14/17 10:50pm

**** ** *** *** ***** ** ** * ********* ******* right ***.

*** *** **** *** ******** **** **, *** **** **** one *****, ********?

Thumbnail marty2016

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | 11/14/17 09:17pm

********* *********, ********* ********, *** ***** ***** *******.......

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 11/15/17 12:02am

* **** ******* ******** ***** * *** ** ***** ** one, *** * ******* *** *** ** *** *** ******. What **** **** ** ** ** **** ** ****** ** playback *** ******. ** *** *.* ************ ****, **** ** could **** * *** **** ** ****.

Undisclosed End User #2

11/15/17 05:01am

** ** ******, ******* ** *** *** ***** **** ******* me ****** * *** ** *********** ** ********* *** **********. The **** **** **** ********* **** * **** *** ** operate ******* ******* ***** ******* **** **** **** *** ****** at * ****, *** ********, ******** *** ********** ****** ******, makes *** ********** ******** **** ********* **** **** *** ** wrong. *** ********** **** ** ** ***** ** ** *** cameras, ** *** * ********* ***** ******* **** ** *** exported ******. **** * ******** ***** **** * ****** ***** the **** *** *** ****** **, *** **** **** ** the **** *** **** ** *** *****, *** **** *** timestamp *** **** ** *** ********.

* ****** **** ***** ******** **** **** ********* ** **** new ********. ** ***, * **** **** *** ***** **** consuming ********* ** * ***, *** **** **** **** *** come ****** *** ** **** ** ***** ** *** *******.

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 11/15/17 12:07pm

*** ** *** ********* ******* * **** **** *** *** time, ****, *** ******* ****** ** ** *******. ***** ******* turned ***** *** ** **** *****?

Undisclosed End User #2

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 11/15/17 12:43pm

*** ** *******. * ******* **** *** *** ********* *******. I'm **** *** *** **** **** **** **** **** **** exporting *****.

*** ****** *** **** ***** *** ****** ** ***********. ** need *** ******** ** ** ******* ** ** *******, ** metadata *** ** ******** ***** ******* **** *** *****. *** do *** ******* **** ******* ****** ** ******? **** ******* after * ***** ******? *** ***** ** *** ******* *** not ****** *********, ** * ***** ***** ** ** *** server ** *** ***. * ** *** ****** **** **** approach ** *******. * **** **** ** **** *** ******* server **** *** ****.

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 11/15/17 12:45pm

*** **** ** **** * ******* ****** ********* *******. *** should **** ***** *** ******* ** *** ******** ***** **** keep ********** ****** ********.

Undisclosed End User #2

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 11/15/17 01:03pm

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

Undisclosed Integrator #3

11/15/17 11:58am

** **** *********? * ****** ****** ********** **** *******, *** a ***** ** *********.***'* ******* (*******/********/********) ***** ** ******* ** 4.0 ******** ************, **** *** *** ****** *** *********. *********-**/**.

****://***.*********.***/**/*************.****?****=*&******=**&*******=**&*******=*****&*******=*****&*******=*****

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 11/15/17 12:04pm

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

****, *** *** ***** **** ***** ****** *** * ******* realistic *******...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 11/15/17 12:20pm

#*,***** *** ********* ***** **** - ******** ******* ****. *** ****** ***** **** ********* *** ***** ***** *******/********* to *******.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 11/15/17 12:37pm

****** ****, *** ** ***-** ****** ** *** ****** *** rest ** *** *****?

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 11/15/17 12:38pm

**’* **** ***** ****/**** **** ** *** ******* *****....

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 11/15/17 12:39pm

* **** **** ********* *******/****** ******** *** **** **** ** going ** **********, * ******'* *********.

* ** ***** ****** *** ***** ******* **** ** ****** coordinate ******* ***** *** * *** ** ****** *** **** go ** *** ******** **** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 11/15/17 12:42pm

**** ** ***, ********* *** *** **** ** *** **** that **** ** *** ********* ***********/***** ***-*** ******** ***** ***** can ** ********** ******* *** *** ********.

Thumbnail cmd social media logo circle

John Bazyk

IPVMU Certified | 11/16/17 02:46pm

** ***** **** **** ***/**** ***** ** ****** *** ** general ****** *** ** ****** **********. **** ***** **** * huge ***********. ***** * **** ** ************ ********* *********, ** general, * ***'* **** **** **** **** ** ** ****** harder **** ****** ** **** ***** **'* ****-********. *'** ****** at ****** ** *** ********* **** *** **** *** ***** and **** ** **** ****'* ***** ** ******* **** *****. It's ******** ** **** ***** ** **** ** **** ******* soon ** ***** ***/**** *** ** **** ***.

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

FLIR Launches Body Cameras Unified With VMS (TruWitness) on Dec 11, 2018
While FLIR is best known for their thermal cameras, now they have expanded into body cameras, launching TruWITNESS, a public safety focused body...
Ubiquiti $79 Flex IP Camera Tested on Dec 07, 2018
U.S. Manufacturer Ubiquiti has released a 1080p, integrated IR IP camera, selling it directly for $79, making this one of the least expensive IP...
Infinova's Xinjiang Business Examined on Dec 07, 2018
As pressure mounts for companies to stop doing business in China’s Xinjiang region amid a severe human rights crisis, IPVM has found Infinova sold...
Akuvox Intercom Profile on Dec 06, 2018
Akuvox, a Chinese manufacturer of VoIP products, is expanding heavily into Video Intercom products with disruptive pricing targeted for commercial...
VMS Live Monitoring Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone, Network Optix on Dec 05, 2018
Viewing live video is the first interaction and most common task most users have with a VMS. Who does it best and worst? Who offers the most...
Fullerton Returns, Joins OpenEye on Dec 04, 2018
Eric Fullerton became one of the most famous people in the industry as the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Milestone as Milestone became the...
Hanwha L Series Lowest-Cost Camera Tested on Dec 04, 2018
Hanwha has released their lowest-priced IP camera line ever, the L series, that competes on price with low cost competitors Dahua and...
Startup Qumulex Aims For Unified Platform, Adds Infinias Access Founder on Nov 29, 2018
The startup founded by former Exacq executives, Qumulex has hired Wayne Jared, founder of access control manufacturer Infinias and most recently a...
Vintra "AI-Powered" Video Analytics Startup Profile on Nov 27, 2018
Vintra is a Silicon Valley startup focused on AI-based video analytics. They had booths at IACP and ISC West demonstrating their hosted or...
Top Manufacturers Gaining and Losing 2018 on Nov 26, 2018
This is the 5th year IPVM has tracked manufacturers gaining and losing: Top Manufacturers Gaining and Losing 2014 Top Manufacturers Gaining and...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Imperial Capital Security Investor Conference 2018 Review - ADT, Resideo, Alarm.com, Arlo, Eagle Eye, ACRE, More on Dec 14, 2018
Imperial Capital Security Investor Conference is an event matching industry executives with financiers that frequently leads to future funding...
Cisco Meraki New Cameras and AI Analytics on Dec 14, 2018
Meraki has released their second generation of video surveillance with 3 new cameras, AI-based video analytics, and 2 cloud-based storage...
Foolish Strategy: OEMing Facial Recognition on Dec 13, 2018
Almost as 'hot' as face recognition marketing right now is OEMing facial recognition. Last year, they were a who's who of company's with...
DVR Examiner - Video Recovery from Recorder Hard Drives on Dec 13, 2018
Bypassing passwords and long download times on-site, DVR Examiner collects and organizes video evidence directly from a hard drive extracted from...
2019 Access Control Book Released on Dec 12, 2018
This is the best, most comprehensive access control book in the world, based on our unprecedented research and testing has been significantly...
Huawei Hisilicon Quietly Powering Tens of Millions of Western IoT Devices on Dec 12, 2018
Huawei Hisilicon chips are powering, at least, tens of millions of Western IoT devices, such as IP cameras and surveillance recorders, a fact that...
FLIR Launches Body Cameras Unified With VMS (TruWitness) on Dec 11, 2018
While FLIR is best known for their thermal cameras, now they have expanded into body cameras, launching TruWITNESS, a public safety focused body...
Startup Sunflower Labs' Autonomous Drone Security System on Dec 11, 2018
Startup Sunflower Labs is claiming a unique design on a home security system, combining autonomous drones and 'Sunflower' sensors. Imagine an...
The 2019 Video Surveillance Industry Guide on Dec 10, 2018
The 300 page, 2019 Video Surveillance Industry Guide, covers the key events and the future of the video surveillance market, is now available,...
Multi-Factor Access Control Authentication Guide on Dec 10, 2018
Can a stranger use your credentials? One of the oldest problems facing access control is making credentials as easy to use as keys, but restricting...

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