GaryOkie wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 1:13 pm
Thanks @eliamcrest for this update!
My AD110 was moved to a remote vacation cabin that I won't be traveling to anytime soon.
What I will do though is post an update on the Home Assistant forum giving them this info.
P.S. Any further word on the AD410 update or perhaps an early draft of the release notes as to what was improved or fixed?
I was also provided a new AD410 version to test just a couple weeks ago. I will have to inquire about notes about what was fixed with the update, but one of the new features I'm aware of is the ability to record continuously while motion alerts are enabled from the Smart Home app, something that previously could only be configured from Amcrest View Pro, Surveillance Pro, or an NVR/DVR.
It's a bit difficult for me to say concretely say much more about firmware that's being actively developed and tested, but I can still provide some further details once I ask the developers for a changelog.
@mattnaik - I doubt it's related. There is only 1 API, and it is still functional for the most part with this latest 20220907 update. It's only the capability to access events (motion/doorbell press) that was broken as far as I know. This could easily impact SSS as it did for HA, but authentication failures? Probably not.
I don't use SSS, but check what options there are for authentication. It should be "Digest". Also check other forums, searching for others that have more experience with SSS.
Thank you, GeryOkie!
I have already opened one for the previous issue, but it's very slow...
I feel like a beta tester.
To be honest, I expected a premium product and support as it had premium price.
You know while things might not be 100% on the front of FW updates it is people that complain and upset the support people that make others like a few OEM HIkvision brands that I own that don't even offer FW updates where you can go to a WebSite and DL the FW. If you want one you have to send in a Ticket and normally the FW you will get will be the same one you already have installed and they will give it to you to hope that what ever issue you're having is solved with a RE-Flash..
Problem is that Amcrest devices are not just run of the mill CCTV products. They offer many different types of connections like RTSP, ONVIF and others and while the products UPDATES when they are released might be found to stop the function of a 3rd party software or Hardware in theory for the most part the device is still functioning under normal App functions. So while Amcrest does want to make the end user happy they go back and try to fix what ever it was that was working before all at a NO COST for the End User and a Cost to Amcrest..
I have a camera from 2014 that has not had a FW update since, Because of that I use it behind a POE NVR or I Lock out the IP path when I connect to my local network because there have been many different security updates that have come out for updated products. If it wasn't for the fact it is a Zoom Dome 3mp camera I would have E-Wasted it long ago.
I'm sorry, but you are wrong.
Nowadays, when you buy an IP camera (especially in case you buy an expensive one) you expect quality. And expect support. And expect updates at least in the next few years. And sooo many other things as well. For free? "NO COST"? Not of course. It was built-in. That's why customers like me do not buy noname brands. If you really do not understand, I think you chose a not proper job.
And I bought that product, because that offered a feature set that I wanted to buy. If the product does not have it anymore, it will make me obviously "upset".
Thanks for the Reply. While what you are saying makes great sense to me and I am happy that I am not only person that feels that way. What I can say is that I have been in CCTV for many years and one of the reasons that I found Amcrest to start with was because of an issue that I had with a Hikvision OEM Company that I used to have loads of hardware from. Sure I still have a couple cameras and a few DVR's from them. I have 3 DVR's from another OEM Hikvision seller and about 12 or so cameras of theirs and while the second company I bought from, only bought because at the time didn't have a Amcrest DVR that worked with 5mp or 6mp Hikvision cameras..
Anyway both of the Hikvision companies have very bad Tech Support and one of the companies I have some very costly cameras from 2013 and 2014 that cost over a grand each.
Got 0 Support from them when I had a Question that was so easy. Then when in paying a moving company to move my things I had some of my CCTV come up missing in the Move. I contact them asking about access to one of my 960h cameras that I used all the time with my RS-485 Controller that was also missing. The response by someone that had Product Specialist in the name told me I was wrong that I couldn't do what I was trying to do with a controller let along from local DVR WebUI access. So after little more time and figuring out what I needed I sent him a Detailed message back with How to do what I was talking about and that camera was almost 200 dollars without a lens when I bought it back in the day... I get a message back saying that that camera is old and they don't even have one in the warehouse for testing blah blah blah.. So after that I don't buy hardware from them anymore. Besides that the first company have not come out of the Stone Age and only offer a Max of a 5mp where before they were saying 4mp was going to be the Max today they offer a 5mp lol but that camera buying from dealer is 132 without a lens and trying to find a 5mp lens isn't easy lol..
Anyway Amcrest is much better company and offer FW much longer support then any OEM Hikvision ever would. 159 for the AD410 is a fair price and they offer way more support for the products then most people.
I have another OEM Hikvision 2mp Doorbell camera and to this day still don't have a new FW for it lol.. Don't remember what year it came out maybe 2019 and the AD110 has had many FW updates and so has the AD410..
Sure I have some stand alone Battery only Doorbells that has had a couple of updates but are not supported with support anything like Amcrest does..
@warning said "I feel like a beta tester". That's because he was indeed one - along with anyone else downloading the new firmware for their doorbells without a changelog or reviewing the forum for new issues, as well as what was fixed or improved.
Amcrest obviously does limited testing and has had to face a flood of users requesting back-level firmware to restore essential functionality for both the AD110 and AD410. That's beta testing done bad.
"...it is people that complain and upset the support people" - they need to be upset! Not at the user's complaining, but at the developer's and QA team that is releasing defective firmware along with somehow thinking a changelog isn't needed.
Even when it has been repeatedly pointed out to Amcrest here in this forum and in support tickets that the latest AD410 firmware is defective for a significant user community relying on the doorbell's API event handling to work, the firmware has not been pulled nor has a breaking change/bug note been added to warn users. This is firmware release done bad.
"the AD110 has had many FW updates and so has the AD410" - As I recall, there were many teething issues with AD110 firmware that would mysteriously (and unintentionally) remove important features that were in a prior version. These features were not just with the API but with SmartHome features as well. So yeah, there were quite a few AD110 firmware releases, but probably only 2 good ones. As to the AD410, I've yet to see a single usable release.
The SmartHome app Firmware Update tab is not in sync with the Amcrest download site. The original 20210220 firmware is "Up to Date" it says. Unless a user knew to check the download site or this forum, they would not know there was ever a newer firmware released. And if anyone subscribed to Amcrest firmware notifications by email - well, I've yet to see one. Instead, you get a flood of marketing email with no way to opt out of just them. That's firmware notification done really bad.
It's not all bad when your MO is to wait and see and monitor the forums, and not be an unsuspecting guinea pig. There is obviously a lot here that Amcrest can do to improve their processes.
