don't upgrade firmware : IP2M-841 cams

[Oldtechy]

WARNING : don't upgrade firmware : IP2M-841 cams

being nagged to upgrade F/w every time I went to playback ... annoying;
so , against my better judgment, I upgraded f/w ...

1st : their automatic upgrade hung-up,
_ so I manually downloaded/installed "latest fw - Only for IP2M-841B "
{V2.420.AC00.15.R}

BAD RESULTS:
_ now ALL previous video-files on SDCARD are INACCESSIBLE

SDCARD still shows FULL , but ONLY video since fw upgrade can be played back ..

AMCREST programmers are just awful.

[PeZzy]

Copy the .dav files off the sdcard onto your computer, then delete them off the sdcard. If that's your only problem it is pretty minor.

[Oldtechy]

Copy the .dav files off the sdcard onto your computer,
then delete them off the sdcard.
If that's your only problem it is pretty minor.

Dear Capt. Obvious
fwiw : using the latest f/w, the CAM browser-interface
does NOT show ANY VID-files recorded prior to update.
So, NONE can be downloaded using the CAM app.
AND since this CAM is locked away in a custom-enclosure,
in a secure location that is INconvenient to access;
so getting fingers on the SDCARD would
_ be quite the hassle. {thanks amcrest}

This shocking CAM f/w issue was ONLY the 1ST-symptom observed.
so, I posted-quickly, so that others may be aware.

btw: your condescension is invigorating, so thanks for that.

[Oldtechy]

grr. amcrest script-kiddies have done it again ...
_where is the adult supervision ?

re: IP2M-841 f/w upgrade {V2.420.AC00.15.R}

warning : suggest don't install this patch (ignore CAM-prompt)

• summary : ( after 12 hrs use ; maybe more later ? )
  • offers nothing useful to consumer/user;
    breaks key browser-app-features,
    cause user to re-tune many image/motion parameters.

{issues after f/w upgrade :}
1- CAM record/playback only .MP4 files to/from SDCARD

2 - CAM browser-interface will

• _ no longer list or play .DAV files on SDCARD, (only MP4 files are)
  _ reverting to prior f/w : does NOT fix the issue (worse?)
  ( e.g. CAM records to .dav but browser-app only list/playback *.MP4 !!!! )

3 - Carefully-tweeked Camera Config Profile-settings botched-up,

• especially for Low-Light conditions; resulting in grainy, twinkly video

4 -Previously-tuned, Motion-Detection protocols rendered useless :

• _ now essential continous recording

5 -Months of meticoulus adjustments to camera-profiles & motion-detection

• parameters must now be repeated.

6 - Link to "cloud storage" (who uses that?) @ top-center of bowser-app ( marketing !!!)

>>> proper testing of these "upgrades" is required from any outfit concerned about quality ...
>>> Don't ya think ?
hey amcrest coders ? need something useful to do ?

_ how about fixing the lame motion-detection scheme ( peek at how Hikvision does it )
>>> 1st : include separate Day or Night settings for sensitivity & threshhold ,

[amcresthell]

Glad to see it wasn't just me. I also found this gem, can others please confirm if they've encountered it:

All adjustments to the main record schedule page under Storage -> Schedule fail to save. Even clicking Reset Defaults, and then saving results in "Save failed". The only configuration that will successfully save is if General and Motion are enabled 24/7. Anything else will to save.

This basically requires you to be continuously recording, rendering motion detection pointless/useless.

[Oldtechy]

• but wait, there's MORE !

... after spending many hours, resetting the low-light configuration
_ to again get an acceptable image and
_ prevent "continuous" motion-detection ....

... I discovered this A.M, that the normal-light (Day) image configuration was
_ also "botched" by this f/w update. The "auto" change from B/W to CLR was 2+hrs LATE, and the image was too-dark, grainy, glittery ... causing .... { wait for it } . CONTINOUS-MOTION RECORDING. grrrrr.

Discovered also, that this f/w update "turned-OFF" the AUDIO capabilities WAAAT ????? ...
The audio-settings were correct, so I did a "REFRESH", which appeared to FIX that issue.

suggest : NEVER INSTALL AMCREST updates, until proven safe by other users.
in 40 yrs in IT, I've never encountered such "awful" practices.

[Oldtechy]

after checking ... I don't experience that issue.

• ... can others please confirm if they've encountered it:
  All adjustments to the main record schedule page
  under Storage -> Schedule fail to save.

[PeZzy]

btw: your condescension is invigorating, so thanks for that.

I wasn't being condescending. Your post gave no indication of your level of expertise.

[Oldtechy]

wait, there's more :
... AUDIO does NOT record ... { problem with MP4 file format? }

this recent f/w update has caused the CAM recordings to have "NO AUDIO "

Although, in "live" mode, one can hear CAM-audio in browser-interface ...
Playback of recorded-files is "totally quiet" ...
either using browser-app or
replaying downloaded-file with any 3rd-party video programs.

[FinickyBob]

Gone are the days of flow-charting, testing and debugging.