Is Hik-Connect down or is it just me?

[coffeeKing81]

Hi guys,

I’ve had amazing information & help in the past when I first set my system up in August & was hoping if someone shed some light please as I’m

Now at the end of my tether. Is hik connect down or is it just me?

The system I am running is the following:-
DS-7608NI-M2/8P
4 x colour vu DS-2CD2387G2-LU

Since having the system set up over the last few months hik connect via the iPhone app has gone down a few times but always came back on itself.
Last month it went down for a few days and re connected after a re boot, a month later and it’s been down for a few weeks.

I have re booted the NVR & my internet router several times & unlinked and re linked with hik vision several times.

I have tried to problem solve as far as I can I changed the DNS & alt DNS to what is recommended & changed the IP address to as high as I think my BT router allows.

I am still getting hik connect status as unlinked with the following connection error:- Offline(0xe0000105)

Obviously we want the app to work as it gives you alerts but is there an app we can access the NVR though that’s better than the kill connect app.

Your help would be greatly appreciated as we are now concerned that we have wasted allot of money on a system that has a really poor app as our NVR & monitor are in our loft.

I have attached a picture to what my settings previously were & had been working to what I have changed to with no change to getting connected. The first pic is what my settings were and the last pic is what my settings are now.

Thanks and kind Regards

Andy

 

[JB1970]

Hik-Connect is very rarely ‘down’. I can’t remember a time when it was even for a short period. The likelihood is your config or connection.

Network settings. While I’d always advise a static IP address, Hik-Connect will work happily without one. Never pick a static IP address unless you’re 100% sure that what you pick isn’t in use or could be used by something else. So in this instance you would be better using DHCP, but manually set Primary DNS to 8.8.8.8 and Secondary to 192.168.1.254 (your router)

Connectivity. How is the NVR physically connected to your network. Ideally it would be hard wired - if it is, try another cable. If you’re using powerline adaptors or a WiFi adapter, the connection might not be stable. Regardless of how it’s connected, a simple test would be to unplug the connection from the NVR, connect to a laptop and run several speed tests to test the link. Also with that laptop ping 8.8.8.8 - if you can’t get a response from the DNS server, the Hik-Connect server address can not be resolved to an IP address and a connection won’t be possible.

 

[coffeeKing81]

Hi JB1970,

Thanks for your response, funnily it seems to have connected itself tonight out of the blue, it’s showing on the app as normal. It has maybe happened 3-4 times since we have been setup usually a re boot has resolved it, I hadn’t changed any settings until a few days ago when I made changes recommended on the forum.

As per the first picture I had it connected as DHCP and all had been working well even with the auto obtain DNS settings, changing them to what I found on the forum had not mad any difference either, I turned DHCP off as per advice on a settings thread on this & picked the last (highest number) that the router supports. I will make sure that I edit these again.

The NVR is located in the loft and is connected via Ethernet cable to a BT power line adapter which is getting good full signal all both the lights are on and are blue, I shall try the suggestion of connecting a laptop to this, will a MacBook Air be ok for testing this.

So the alternate DNS server should be my routers IP and not the 8.8.4.4

As always thanks for your advice, I used to think I knew quite a bit about computers, but trying to resolve this system I feel a bit over my head. Wish we had it professionally installed instead of a self setup.

 

[JB1970]

As per the first picture I had it connected as DHCP and all had been working well even with the auto obtain DNS settings, changing them to what I found on the forum had not mad any difference either, I turned DHCP off as per advice on a settings thread on this & picked the last (highest number) that the router supports. I will make sure that I edit these again.

Yes it was quite possible me who said to not use DHCP and use a static address with high number (as IP addresses are usually allocated incrementally from the lowest to highest in the DHCP pool, it would be unusual for a device to get assigned that number). It's usually fine but once or twice I've been bitten when someone else has statically used the same address I've picked. There's a 'test' button which pings the address to see it's not in use before you press save/apply, however if the device with the clashing address isn't powered or present at the time, that won't work (so not foolproof)

The NVR is located in the loft and is connected via Ethernet cable to a BT power line adapter which is getting good full signal all both the lights are on and are blue, I shall try the suggestion of connecting a laptop to this, will a MacBook Air be ok for testing this.

This issue you're having will likely be caused by the power line adapter. They can work, and I've used them myself on numerous occasions. I've had a couple of jobs where they've proven problematic; working while I'm there but causing spurious disconnects later. They work best:

• when on the same electrical circuit. That's very unlikely in your case as the NVR is in the loft and the router will be on the ground floor (assumption). It's likely the power line units will be on two different circuits.
• when on different circuits, if the they're not on different RCD's as the signal has to go through a coil. There's a fair chance you have dual RCD's in your consumer unit with the upstairs sockets on one and the downstairs on the other. It's possible that you have newer RCBO's, where every circuit incorporates its own RCD features.
• the powerline units at each end should always be connected directly into the wall socket and never into an extension lead.

As you can see, the above makes powerlines a poor choice. You can speed test now and get a reasonable result, but when connected that signal path between the units is constantly changing and could be unreliable for something like the CCTV that is reliant on maintaining a connection.

So the alternate DNS server should be my routers IP and not the 8.8.4.4

It's not critical. The primary DNS server should be a public one such as Googles 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 or Cloudflares 1.1.1.1. You can use your routers IP address as a secondary and it will forward DNS requests to BTs preferred server to be resolved.

I wouldn't waste any time messing with the settings. Assuming your WiFi is OK, if you can't get a cable from the NVR to your router, just get a TP Link travel router and use that in client mode. It'll effectively make your NVR a WiFi client (TL-WR802N £21.50 on Amazon)

 

[coffeeKing81]

Hi JB1970

Once again thanks so much for you in-depth explanations and help.

The explanation of the BT power line plug makes sense as to why it works for a while then stops!

I have just gone ahead and purchased the TP link above that you suggested so that I have a stable connection in the loft as the wifi range up there seems full when im in the loft with my phone.

Hopefully I will have no more issues and a much more stable system.

Thank you

Cheers


Andy

 

[JB1970]

Hi JB1970

Once again thanks so much for you in-depth explanations and help.

The explanation of the BT power line plug makes sense as to why it works for a while then stops!

I have just gone ahead and purchased the TP link above that you suggested so that I have a stable connection in the loft as the wifi range up there seems full when im in the loft with my phone.

Hopefully I will have no more issues and a much more stable system.

Thank you

Cheers


Andy

Be sure when you set it up, you set it to 'Client' mode. That will mean the TP Link serves only the NVR which is what you want. Don't be tempted to set it as a repeater.

 

[coffeeKing81]

Be sure when you set it up, you set it to 'Client' mode. That will mean the TP Link serves only the NVR which is what you want. Don't be tempted to set it as a repeater.

Hi JB1970

Thank you very much for your in depth help with this! Wish I could buy you a pint!

What you recommended has worked and since having the TP Link installed we have had no issues since…… finger crossed!

You have saved me tearing my hair out lol

You’re a total Legend!

Have an amazing Christmas & New Year M8

 

[JB1970]

Hi JB1970

Thank you very much for your in depth help with this! Wish I could buy you a pint!

What you recommended has worked and since having the TP Link installed we have had no issues since…… finger crossed!

You have saved me tearing my hair out lol

You’re a total Legend!

Have an amazing Christmas & New Year M8

That's great news, glad you've got it working properly.