EViS

Thanks MrHappy. You seem to have missed the crux of what is being asked here: Are Hik known for releasing product information way in advance of actual product release dates?

A pandemic? Cannot say I have. It's more a case of the fact that some suppliers don't even have these listed in their stock catalogues, whilst others aren't aware of any pricing (or lead times).

Does anyone know, or can best-guess, when the DS-2CD2386G2-ISU/SL 4k G2 turret cameras with strobe lights and speakers are likely to be released? No suppliers that I have approached can find any stock availability or pricing on these. I've only been able to find a couple video reviews. Are Hik known for releasing product information way in advance of actual product release dates which means I may be waiting quite some time for one of these?

These days, using trade desks in isolation is nuts if you're after the best prices (and sometimes advice too). More often than not there's a better price online with a faster service when you account for deliveries directly to your door.

We source much of our AV and lighting installation kit from ADI ?. In terms of official Hik distributors, it's fairly obvious just from reading application forms that anyone can register an account ?. The security aspect of Hik is a concern, but once installed behind a VPN, I won't lose any sleep at night.

Seeing as you're more familiar with Dahua, is there a large difference in the AI capabilities between their products? Already have an account with ADI who are a registered dealer. But have opened a couple of other accounts with other online UK approved distributors for some price-sensing ?. Although, is there a supplier you could recommend in particular (happy for you to PM if you prefer).

Basic calculations are for 1no 6TB Purple drive encoding in h265 which should provide me with 20 days of stored video. However, I have yet to research what the optimum framerate should be. I've seen 15fps mentioned a couple of times, however that does seem very low to me. Could you offer some insight, al-yeti?

Do any of you have any experience with the Deepinview IDS cameras or NVR's? How further advanced are their algorithms and features from what has been included into the Acusense cameras/recorders?

Ah yes, I have no doubt this technology has been around for decades already. A bit like speech recognition, originally developed by IBM in the 60's has only just made it's way into the mass-consumer market with Alexa, Google, Apple, etc releasing their services around it. Although admittedly it has vastly been improved upon. I'd be interested to know how far behind the Dahua and Hik AI is from the commercial offerings? From what I have researched, it's even miles behind what the likes of BlueIris software offers.

There seems to be very little difference between Hik and Dahua offerings and the price difference is also marginal, so I settled with the former as I was already slightly familiar with their model numbers. I was also torn between these and setting up a custom BlueIris system. However, my days of enjoying to tinker and maintain Windows (or even Linux) systems are long gone! With the primary requirement being that I want notification of any human and vehicle movement outside the property, I have narrowed my choice down to the Hikvision DS-7608NI-I2/8P NVR and DS-2CD2386G2-IU Acusense cameras. The cameras are a higher MP than what I require with a marginally increased image sensor when compared to the 4MP cameras which may result in a slightly reduced night visibility. However, being the G2 version, they offer additional AI features over the DS-2CD2346G1-IU (although I understand that the G2 version of the 4MP should be within the UK shortly so I may just hold of until then). I have looked at the likes of DS-7616NXI-I2/16P NVR's with Acusense (Deepinmind) AI included. However, with these being fairly new to market and minimal reviews to go by, I'm not sure I want to take a punt on one just yet. I'm also unsure whether combining Acusense cameras with an Acusense NVR is going to offer any additional features, either now or with future firmware upgrades. Although it would be good to hear your views on this? It would be good to hear some of your guy's comments on the above setup and whether it's likely to meet my requirements (unless of course it means I'm convinced back to the idea of beams and detectors ?).

Not quite sure I follow what you mean here, James?

What are the community thoughts on which option provides more flexibility or is worth the upfront cost: Hik's Acusense tech built into the cameras which undertake AI processing and then feed video to an NVR, or Acusense (Deepinmind) NVR's which undertake AI processing from video fed by 'dumb' Darkfighter or ColorVu cameras? The latter option seems to be newer and less reviewed, possibly due to higher upfront costs on smaller (6 or less) CCTV setups. I do however like the centralisation of the image processing but unsure whether the price premium is worth it?

What is your reason for not using CCTV for the external notification side of your system, in the manner that Peter does? I'm just trying to educate myself on the pro's and con's of both and what influences the choice ?.

Duh! Of course it will, hence the use of IFTTT! Is this one of the reasons you guys don't class anything by Pyronix as 'top end'? They're panels are fairly 'dumb' in what they can control and connect with? Or is there a more underlying issue of security with their panels (wireless aside for the purposes of the question)?

Do you use any form of CCTV with the AI inputs as per Peter's setup, or is it solely beams and sensors? How do you use beams/external sensors to control your heating? I would have thought it would be internal PIR's which would control that as anything external couldn't be configured to know whether you're personally in the property or whether it was just a courier delivering a parcel?

Thanks once again, I'm currently researching the difference between Dahua and Hik. One thing which may sway me and it would be good to have some confirmation on is whether the Enforcer panel would work seamlessly with the Hikvision cameras in regards to providing loud audible notifications through the panel's built-in speaker as and when the AI picks up human or vehicle movement, as well as working with keyfobs so that audible notifications can be activated as and when we leave the house or lock-up at night? Or is there a more efficient/modern way of achieving the above?

That's very helpful once again. I'll plough some more time into researching CCTV now ?. As a basis, is there a system that is your go-to for residential installations which strike a balanced mid-high quality to price ratio? (I appreciate that there will be variances in camera specs depending on the site which is being monitored).

The beams would run parallel with the building's walls, approx 10 metres apart.

Thanks Peter, that's been super helpful and has caused me to revisit the idea of CCTV which I previously discounted as still being inferior to a more traditional alarm with individual sensors. You said earlier that "beams will continue to sell for a while" whilst CCTV becomes cheaper. But quality beams aren't exactly cheap and are fairly comparable in price to good quality cameras. So, as I touched on earlier, in what residential scenario would you install beams (or external tri-sginal PIR's), as I was proposing originally, over a quality 'smart' CCTV system as you have demonstrated?

Could you expand on how I would be using these in the wrong way? They would be mounted on opposing walls either side of the boundary.

In your experience, have car lights and sudden changes in cloud cover been an issue with FA, as per @norman's reply above?

Steady on ?. So as a form of notification, would you say that CCTV should result in less FA's than external beams, even at night? How can I expand on the system of mobile push notifications to result in a loud alarm/chime being heard inside which has a chance of waking me up? Or could this be done in-app on the mobile (i.e. android)? If CCTV is as reliable as you attest, in what scenarios are beams still used? Long open spans of farmland, wide open commercial spaces, etc.? Whereas in most residential situations, CCTV should be a superior option?

I'm using the "core" as being the exterior boundary to the property (i.e. the beams). If that primary system fails, the external PIR's facing towards the entrance doors should activate. If these secondary layers of security fail, the internal sensors/PIR's (to be installed at a later date) will provide the final level of defence. However, by the time anyone has gained entry, it's already mostly too late (IMO). The CCTV being used instead of the beams/external pir's is a spanner in the works (as per my other thread). But it could be argued that if used in isolation, these are only providing one level of security as opposed to fitting in between level 2 (external pir's) and level 3 (internal pir's and window/doors sensors). Although I may be missing what you're trying to get across with your reply ?? I fully expect this. But would you therefore advise that it's a waste of time/money installing?

The priority for the time being is to 'secure' the perimeter and outbuilding. I'd rather be notified that someone is lurking outside before they actually try to gain entry. However, in the future I may wish to expand the system to include internal PIR's, shock sensors, a bell box, etc., hence opting for the Enforcer panel now. Could you expand on what makes this an odd setup in terms of securing a boundary and external access points? The idea behind the beams is to limit the number of false alarms. Although I appreciate the PIR's won't be as effective. Thank you for confirming the difference between the beams. If I do opt for these, I'll go with the SL version to allow hard-wiring in the future. I've done my best to research the pro's and con's between using CCTV vs beams and came to the conclusion that beams are less likely to FA and more likely to capture any human movement. I am assuming your experience is the opposite to this? I'm not interested in CCTV being used as evidence of any breaches/crimes (as we all know this is futile), but I am interested in using it to confirm any notifications (from broken beams or otherwise). However, if CCTV can indeed work as efficiently as beams and external PIR's, I'd much rather opt for these as a simpler (and potentially lower cost) setup. What would your suggestion be? Bearing in mind the access to tech/installation manuals for a non-alarm trade.

The model numbers are clearly made to confuse the end consumer retail market, and they do a good job of it ?. But definitely don't want cheap and cheerful, something along the lines of a 5MP DS-2CE72HFT-F28 or 8MP DS-2CE78U1T-IT3. Or would you not class that as premium?