M Series Firmware - 5.04.050_250124 Released

[JB1970]

As reported by @johnfitzy 5.04.050_250124 has been released. First released on the US website and now on the global firmware search page. I've compared file properties from both and they are identical.

There were multiple issues with 5.04.020 so I'll detail what is/isn't fixed in this version once I've loaded it (which I'm about to now). It's important to note that what we as installers/users call 'bugs' are often an intended change by Hikvision engineers and may just not be to our liking!

As these threads can get unwieldy I've reserved a couple of posts below. More to follow.....

 

[JB1970]

Lock Screen Password
With System Config > Basic Info > Lock Screen Password set to off, the previous version would still require the pattern or password to be entered following a reboot when exiting the live view. This is resolved in this version (reported first in the other thread)

Playback Timeline Human Motion Markers
The markers for motion detection were missing in both local playback UI and Hik-Connect in version 5.04.020_241106. This was patched and fixed in 5.04.020_250113 (available on UK portal). That fix carries over into 5.04.050 thankfully.

Normal Playback - Human Vehicle Filter plus Play Strategy
1 - Human and Vehicle filter are enabled by default. No change there.
2 - Selecting Normal Playback > Settings (gear wheel) > Skip Normal Video on is temporary. For any setting on the Play Stategy fly out menu, the settings are only maintained while the Playback tab remains open on the local UI toolbar; once closed they revert to the default settings.

I've been told that the above is intentional and I'm not a fan of this change. Previously (prior to 5.04.020) selecting normal playback would have the Human/Vehicle filter icons deselected. By having Play Strategy > Skip Normal Video turned on, playback would always start at 00:00 on the selected day. The Human and/or Vehicle filter icons in the lower left could then be used as a one click toggle enabling you to skip between alerts but revert to full timeline playback if something of interest was detected. To get that same functionality now you have to:

• turn on Skip Normal video
• leave the Playback tab open in the toolbar
• each time you change camera deselect both Human and Vehicle filters
• manually move the timeline back to 00:00

I can't imagine a valid reason for that change.

Normal Playback - Playback Speed
The playback speed can only be adjusted during normal playback when the Human and Vehicle filters are deselected. The icons are missing to adjust speed and the options are greyed out in Play Strategy.

Normal Playback/Event Playback - Lower 'Actions' Toolbar
In normal or event playback moving the mouse pointer above the timeline causes the transparent actions toolbar to be revealed. That toolbar contains actions for Capture, Clip, Digital Zoom, Tag, Lock, Audio on. However, using the Smart Search in Normal Playback or More > Dual VCA > Motion, Intrusion, Line search in Normal or Event Playback will prevent that toolbar from displaying. If you need to use any of those functions you will have to exit out of the search first. Unfortunately that means that to continue on you'll need to start the search and draw the area or line from scratch.

Intercom/Doorbell Camera
Previously it wasn't possible to add a door station to the NVR. You can now add the doorbell camera as an Access Control Device without needing to use RTSP.

In version 4 UI you could add IoT alarms. That enabled you to configure an alarm for when the outdoor station was called. I cannot find any way of doing that in this version. In Event Center > Event Configuration there is no option for IoT alarms as there was in V4 and nothing for Access Control Event. Maybe I'm missing something but I've searched everywhere.... In Event Search > Event Type 'Access Control Event' is an available search type. I used to use this search to show every time someone had called on the KV6113 outdoor station and could configure linkage actions for the call button being pushed. That doesn't seem to be possible :-(

 

[JB1970]

Reserved 2

 

[Dan]

Thanks @JB1970

I've also found this firmware in the UK Download Portal and the folder there includes a note saying this firmware "Resolves No Human Vehicle Filter" but no details of if it fixes any other issues.

I'll speak to Hikvision support and see if they can provide any more information about this new firmware.

 

[JB1970]

Thanks @JB1970

I've also found this firmware in the UK Download Portal and the folder there includes a note saying this firmware "Resolves No Human Vehicle Filter" but no details of if it fixes any other issues.

I'll speak to Hikvision support and see if they can provide any more information about this new firmware.

That's the version that Kyle from Hik support sent me a couple of weeks ago @Dan. I mentioned it in the previous 5.04.020 post as it was just a revised build date. It did fix that one specific issue but didn't address anything else and some of what I did get back to them about was put down to intended changes.

 

[Dan]

Thanks @JB1970

I just noticed, there are so many subtly different version numbers it is easy to lose track

I'll ask Hikvision support about the new V5.04.050_250124 from the global site and see what they say.

 

[bigmick777]

Held back on the last updates (thanks to this forum / JW!). Hopefully this version addresses the previous issues but will wait and see

 

[Dan]

**Response from Hikvision Support** - There are no official release notes available yet for this new firmware, but Hik support has provided the below list of the release note contents suggesting which issues have been resolved by this firmware:

1. Mosaic Function
2. Capture Schedule Interval Supplement
3. Combined Alarm
4. Playback Multi-Channel Clip
5. Supports Uniform Front and Back-End Perimeter Rule Frame Specifications, Supports Decagon Rules
6. WEB Supports POS Retrieval
7. WEB Supports Image Retrieval
8. Logs Add Alarm Type
9. Device Local Supports Time Zone Lock
10. HC (Hikconnect) Supports Voice Broadcast to IP Speakers Linked via NVR
11. SIA/CID Protocol Configuration PR Enable, Heartbeat Enable
12. Visual Intercom Channel Access, Supports Mingmiao Access, Supports Motion Detection Recording
13. Auxiliary Port Supports POS
14. Device Local Supports SVC Network Frame Extraction Configuration
15. Alarm Device Linkage Display OSD
16. Supports IOT Server Port Configuration
17. Automatic Backup Function Supported
18. Channel Filtering Function Supported
19. Reverse Playback Supports Multiple Speed Adjustment
20. Capture Schedule Supplement Motion Detection, Alarm, Motion Detection and Alarm, Motion Detection or Alarm Type Options
21. No Password Verification After Disabling Screen Lock on Reboot
22. Local Supports Polling Configuration for Multiple Auxiliary Ports
23. Mouse Status Display on Interface After Plugging or Unplugging Mouse
24. Local Perimeter Supports Alarm Confidence Configuration

 

[sportster]

This likely falls in the category of "who really cares ?"

FWIW, this is just a small heads up on how NTP has changed with HIK's recent firmware changes. It likely applies wherever you have a Time Server configured.

1. prior to 2025, the M Series NVR (and G5 cameras) would send out a "single" NTP request once every XX minutes. XX minutes was configurable by you, the end user.
2. now, in 2025, with V5.04.050 the NVR (and G5 cameras) sends out 2 x NTP requests once every XX minutes. The 2 requests are back-to-back <0.1 ms apart. This repeats every XX minutes.

Why the back-to-back double NTP request <0.1 ms apart ? Hikvision trying to solve a problem of dropped NTP packets ? I don't know. In my case, I have plenty of excess bandwidth. On a good day, my switches are maybe 1% busy.

This double NTP request was observed when testing with Wireshark on:

• DS-7616NI-M2 @ v5.04.050 and
• 4 x G5 cameras @ V5.7.19 build 241207 & V5.7.20 build 241120.

Arguably, it's not an issue. The extra load on my Time Server is literally, less than negligible.

If I had 1000 cameras all hitting a public time server, the admins of the public time server might be annoyed & cut me off. Then again, if I had a 1000 cameras I wouldn't be hitting a public time server. I'd be running my own internal time server for such a configuration too.

Anyway, just a heads up. Carry on.

 

[rickwookie]

As reported by @johnfitzy 5.04.050_250124 has been released. First released on the US website and now on the global firmware search page. I've compared file properties from both and they are identical.

There were multiple issues with 5.04.020 so I'll detail what is/isn't fixed in this version once I've loaded it (which I'm about to now). It's important to note that what we as installers/users call 'bugs' are often an intended change by Hikvision engineers and may just not be to our liking!

As these threads can get unwieldy I've reserved a couple of posts below. More to follow.....

Was that you on the ColorVu 3.0 webinar just now ask:
"Support - Are there any plans to fix 'Dual VCA'? Smart Search and VCA Search no longer work for non Human/Vehicle targets on any G5 platform firmware version. The last working version was 5.7.15build240411. I'm hoping the function will work on these new models and will be fixed in previous." and if so, did you get an answer?!

 

[JB1970]

Was that you on the ColorVu 3.0 webinar just now ask:
"Support - Are there any plans to fix 'Dual VCA'? Smart Search and VCA Search no longer work for non Human/Vehicle targets on any G5 platform firmware version. The last working version was 5.7.15build240411. I'm hoping the function will work on these new models and will be fixed in previous." and if so, did you get an answer?!

Lol - yeah it was. It wasn't you who mentioned Unifi was it? The answer (if it were intended for me) was wrong as he indicated that Smart Search was available on M series when in fact it's not possible to search for non human/vehicle events using Smart or VCA search. I'm sure @alfaclvi would love a one on one with Hikvision Dave

It has proven on a few occasions to be fruitless dealing with Hikvision support. Every time they forward your issue, another case number gets generated and then sometime after you just get bombarded with 'Case Closed' e mails...

@rickwookie - last time I asked such a question during a webinar/HCSA course I was one of the winners of the prize draw. My prize mysteriously never arrived so I'll assume I wasn't supposed to be critical.

I've just realised the one question that should've been asked in that webinar....when will they be available in the UK...

 

[alfaclvi]

Can't say something... I am EOL too

 

[Tomasz]

Hi. Some time ago I updated my NVR and noticed one big change. The DS-2CD2347G2H-LISU/SL camera with V5.7.19 build 241207 software in the Hik-Connect application started marking movement other than human or vehicle on the day bar.

 

[alfaclvi]

@Tomasz Those markers are not the VCA/Smart Search. These are the Event Notifications set on Event Configuration.
The problem above is critical and not just an issue. It concerns the specifications and a basic function of something that they sell. They cannot change this with sneaky tricks.
They have fixed this in the past and on firmware V5.7.10_SP_220830. For all NVRs...!!! and not just the NXI-I(E) DeepinMind or M.

 

[johnfitzy]

Held back on the last updates (thanks to this forum / JW!). Hopefully this version addresses the previous issues but will wait and see

Is this the best release to run now? I'm thinking yes

 

[JB1970]

Is this the best release to run now? I'm thinking yes

Probably as good as it's going to get. The inability to add door stations to the NVR was a big issue for some users and now at least you can get the video streamed and recorded via the NVR (even if you cannot configure intercom alarms as you could in V4). The other things mentioned (such as missing speed change icons in smart search, missing toolbar, non sticky playback strategy settings) seem like they could be intentional changes by Hikvision. In the list of of changes that Dan obtained from Hikvision there's not a lot your home user will be interested in. I'm still tempted to drop mine all the way back to V4 just because search and playback was easier with fewer mouse clicks.

 

[alfaclvi]

I'm still tempted to drop mine all the way back to V4

Yes, this seems to be the only solution for our, previous generation ColorVU 2.0 and NVRs. Till someone confirms for example the ColorVU 3.0 or the newer generation NVRs K/VPRO or M, support such functions with V5 firmwares

 

[johnfitzy]

I'm still tempted to drop mine all the way back to V4 just because search and playback was easier with fewer mouse clicks.

hang in?

 

[JB1970]

hang in?

I do wish I had a spare to mess with. It’s guaranteed that if I downgrade mine and spend time setting it up again, another update will come along that I’ll want to try out. I just miss the ease of use of those old versions.

When NVRs and DVRs first started migrating from V3 to V4 GUI, I didn’t like it. But very quickly I realised that V4 not only looked better than V3, it was actually easier and more intuitive to navigate. I’m not getting that same feeling regarding the move from V4 to V5 unfortunately. The interface is modernised but, to me, it’s badly designed.

 

[alfaclvi]

I'm sure @alfaclvi would love a one on one with Hikvision Dave

Hi JB
I am sure he(Hik-Dave) did not understand your question. He understood that this concerned the VCA, AI by NVR or VCA by NVR......