4MP License Plate Recognition IP Camera, Indoor Outdoor PoE ANPR LPR Bullet IP Camera with IR 328ft Night Vision, IP67 Waterproof, International English Version, 2CD7A46G0/P-IZHS 8mm-32mm

This is a really high-quality product from Hikvision. It arrived in its original packaging, and everything looks and works exactly as expected. Very satisfied with this purchase!

The packaging is first-rate, and instructions for the physical setup are easy to follow. After that, you'll be needing a friend that knows about setting this up, because you'll be asked questions you know nothing about, and not asked about many of the features you probably bought this for. The literature is IKEA type instructions, followed by technical parameters in 40 or so languages. There's a QR code on the camera, but it returns an Error 500 message. I've been playing around with the camera for a few weeks, and figured out some things on my own. But it has only managed to detect one vehicle event, when a minivan parked about 5 feet in front of the camera. It has recorded/recognized/identified exactly zero license plates, even though I have enabled every license-plate related function I can find in the set-up menus. It records motion-detection events nearly constantly, but doesn't discriminate between things moving in the wind, cars driving by, or my dogs. I'm sure that, in time, it will perform as desired. Right now, I'm frustrated because the setup looks easy, but doesn't seem to DO anything. I called the phone number provided for HikVision (pronounced HIKE-vision) technical assistance, but got told that the serial number of my camera isn't in their database. I was asked where I bought it, and when I said "Amazon", got told that HikVision doesn't provide support for stuff sold on Amazon. Even from the HikVision store on Amazon? Nope. Sorry. That's all. Call Amazon. I chatted with Amazon customer support (Vaphunii, Aphuno, Ankush, and Somnath: Not judging. At least they didn't tell me their names were "Alan" or "Will"). All 4 could not answer where I could go for tech support, but could "recommend that you contact the manufacturer for any assistance with warranty, replacement, or refund information." Repeatedly. They assured me several times that they "understood my concern", then re-pasted the "warranty, replacement, or refund" script. I got told Amazon doesn't do the technical support. I didn't ask Amazon FOR tech support: I asked them WHERE TO GET IT. They never did understand my concern. I asked to be transferred to a lead or supervisor, but they couldn't, or wouldn't. I really didn't expect more from Amazon, once they had my money. As of 2025.01.07, that's where I am. I'll update if the situation warrants. If I don't, it means I solved it without any help from HikVision, 318NET, or Amazon.

Ok, first off... if your not familiar with AI cameras this process, with the instructions provided is going to drive you bonkers and it is not for you. Being fairly comfortable with AI cameras and what their abilities and limitations are, I find this camera to be seriously lacking in its ability to provide accurate information. I have record functions on in the camera which are useless because it will not properly download anything on the provided interface, I do have it sending pictures to an ALPR service which is providing about 50% accuracy from 25 feet away at a very slight nearly head on angle. At night the camera is 100% useless as a vehicle tracking camera so from 6pm-6am its just a decoration. For some reason, it will not record at all to Blue Iris or Amcrest despite being able to connect and view them from both. I was expecting alot more from a camera in this price point.

Friendly setting

Camera was easy to setup and the license plate recognition works reasonably well during the day time and twilight hours. Night time performance is limited but vehicles can be detected although there is a lack of details. Even though I have the sensitivity set at its lowest point there is a lot of false motion triggering which takes up memory space. The DDNS setup was a bit tricky requiring help from NO-IP and I'm still trying to resolve the camera not updating the IP address when a power outage cures even though it appears to update when the ISP does an IP update or when I de-power the router to obtain a new IP address. When I attempted to get product support directly from Hikvision I got the following message "The serial number(s) that have been provided for the device(s) is either NOT from the North American Region, products purchased outside of our Region, purchased from unauthorized distributor(s) (Such as eBay, or Amazon), or simply not Hikvision products.", which is concerning. So Beware of purchasing this product or any other Hikvision product from Amazon as it most likely will not be supported by Hikvision. I haven't tried the Amazon support yet but will be in the next few days to try to resolve the DDNS IP address update.