Live view lagging on internal tablets

[ab12]

I have the G2 colorvu cameras and 7608-Ni-i2-8p system

I have 4 cameras connected and working fine in terms of general settings.

The challenge has come now that we are trying to setup some android screens in various areas of the property which show 1, or all of the cameras in a live view.

We've achieved this using hikconnect and the internal nvr IP, so a lan connection to the NVR.

The problem is that some cameras are lagging. So much so a person can enter the front door walk to the back and still show as outside the front door on the live screens. Closing and reopening live view solves the issue but shortly the screens lag again

Any help

 

[johnfitzy]

It's either a bandwidth issue or the android devices are struggling to decode the stream maybe.

Are you using the "Basic" or "HD" setting in Hik-connect? The "Basic" setting would probably suffice.

You can also try toggling "Hardware Decoding Preferred"... if it's on try turning it off... if it's off try turning it on (seen @JB1970 suggest that to someone recently, seems applicable in this case).

 

[David]

@ab12
I’ve a similar setup.

Could it be a Wi-Fi connectivity problem? For testing move a device closer to your Wi-Fi source.

David

 

[JB1970]

More than likely just a WiFi or tablet issue. You don’t mention how many tablets you’re trying to use simultaneously.

- Make sure you’re using the sub stream (basic) to view. The tablet may struggle otherwise.

- Do a WiFi Speedtest on the devices at their exact installed locations

- The WiFi router itself may not be up to the job if you’re streaming video to multiple locations simultaneously (mimo needed). Are you using your own router or the one provided by your ISP.

I have four Fire HDs around the home permanently streaming a single camera’s 720P 10fps sub stream without issue. However my ISPs hub (Virgin Media) is in modem mode and I have a UniFi UDR setup with additional access points.

 

[ab12]

More than likely just a WiFi or tablet issue. You don’t mention how many tablets you’re trying to use simultaneously.

- Make sure you’re using the sub stream (basic) to view. The tablet may struggle otherwise.

- Do a WiFi Speedtest on the devices at their exact installed locations

- The WiFi router itself may not be up to the job if you’re streaming video to multiple locations simultaneously (mimo needed). Are you using your own router or the one provided by your ISP.

I have four Fire HDs around the home permanently streaming a single camera’s 720P 10fps sub stream without issue. However my ISPs hub (Virgin Media) is in modem mode and I have a UniFi UDR setup with additional access points.

2 tablets being used
Fire HDs
I'm using the "HD" stream - the basic isnt clear enough? Is there a middle ground?
How have you set them as 720p 10 FPS?
Virgin router but signal is very strong the worst culprit tablet is sat right next to the router
Is mimo a mesh system? What does the unifi udr do for you in this case? Record the cameras? - could I get away with something similar?

 

[johnfitzy]

I'm using the "HD" stream - the basic isnt clear enough? Is there a middle ground?

There's no middle ground... but you can try using the max sub-stream resolution (probably 1280x720P for the sub-stream).

Also, ensure that "Adaptive Bitrate Streaming" is not checked on the "Network/Platform Access/Hik-connect/More Options" page of the NVR... if it is checked, when you use the "Basic" setting in Hik-connect, it may change/lower the sub-stream resolution settings.

 

[johnfitzy]

How have you set them as 720p 10 FPS?

You can set them on the camera's web GUI directly or on the NVR... here are the setting on the camera directly:

Also, if this issue is bandwidth/Wi-Fi speed, H.265 is better because it will compress the stream more... If the issue is the Fire tablets struggling to keep up/decode, then H.264 might be better...

 

[JB1970]

I'm using the "HD" stream - the basic isnt clear enough? Is there a middle ground?
How have you set them as 720p 10 FPS?

It is camera dependant. Hikvision always used a fairly low resolution sub stream. However the ColorVu and Hybrid models on G5 firmware can be set up to 720P. That's a huge difference and 720P is more than enough for viewing on a tablet.

Another consideration is decoding. You might find that the Fire HDs handle H264 better than H265 (H265 is more resource hungry to decode)

Virgin router but signal is very strong the worst culprit tablet is sat right next to the router
Is mimo a mesh system?

It's not just the signal strength that matters. On basic WiFi only one device can communicate at a time. MiMo (multiple in multiple out) helps with that situation. How good your WiFi is with Virgin will depend on the model. Hub 2, Hub 2AC, Hub 3, Hub 4 (square tower - s**t), Hub 5 (newest with the mesh panel on the front)

What does the unifi udr do for you in this case? Record the cameras? - could I get away with something similar?

Using the ISPs supplied router can be problematic for a few reasons. They're fairly basic and built for low cost:

• Virgin can/will update your device at any time.
• Call Virgin with an issue, and even if you don't put a pin in the back and reset it, they can do that remotely without your knowledge (I've had multiple incidences of this and settings are wiped)
• The settings can be restrictive
• You're reliant on them keeping you up to date with their latest device (I have customers still on Hub 2)

However with Virgin you can just set it to 'modem mode' and plug in the router of your choice to LAN port 1 (the others get disabled). The VM hub then just acts as a cable modem, with your own router providing all WiFi and routing.

Unifi is great as it's better than a standard mesh. The UDR (Unifi Dream Router) I use is an all in one WiFi router. However I have several Unifi WiFi access points around the home cabled to the network. My devices only see one WiFi network but the brains in the router is constantly measuring the signal strength between my devices and the access points. When there's a stronger signal it seamlessly transfers my device to the next access point (for fixed devices I can lock them to a preferred access point). Effectively I could start watching a HD film in my drive at the front of the house and wander around the house and into the back garden without ever losing connection.

 

[ab12]

It is camera dependant. Hikvision always used a fairly low resolution sub stream. However the ColorVu and Hybrid models on G5 firmware can be set up to 720P. That's a huge difference and 720P is more than enough for viewing on a tablet.

Another consideration is decoding. You might find that the Fire HDs handle H264 better than H265 (H265 is more resource hungry to decode)

It's not just the signal strength that matters. On basic WiFi only one device can communicate at a time. MiMo (multiple in multiple out) helps with that situation. How good your WiFi is with Virgin will depend on the model. Hub 2, Hub 2AC, Hub 3, Hub 4 (square tower - s**t), Hub 5 (newest with the mesh panel on the front)

Using the ISPs supplied router can be problematic for a few reasons. They're fairly basic and built for low cost:

• Virgin can/will update your device at any time.
• Call Virgin with an issue, and even if you don't put a pin in the back and reset it, they can do that remotely without your knowledge (I've had multiple incidences of this and settings are wiped)
• The settings can be restrictive
• You're reliant on them keeping you up to date with their latest device (I have customers still on Hub 2)

However with Virgin you can just set it to 'modem mode' and plug in the router of your choice to LAN port 1 (the others get disabled). The VM hub then just acts as a cable modem, with your own router providing all WiFi and routing.

Unifi is great as it's better than a standard mesh. The UDR (Unifi Dream Router) I use is an all in one WiFi router. However I have several Unifi WiFi access points around the home cabled to the network. My devices only see one WiFi network but the brains in the router is constantly measuring the signal strength between my devices and the access points. When there's a stronger signal it seamlessly transfers my device to the next access point (for fixed devices I can lock them to a preferred access point). Effectively I could start watching a HD film in my drive at the front of the house and wander around the house and into the back garden without ever losing connection.

Thank you this makes a lot of sense!

Will try everyone's recommendations.

The unifi bits (dream router and accessories points) seem a bit too over the top for this house (only a 5 bed with minimal current WiFi challenges (have a virgin wireless extender fitted. Do you have any recommendations of a lower cost mimo mesh that would be suitable for a more "standard user"?

 

[ab12]

You can set them on the camera's web GUI directly or on the NVR... here are the setting on the camera directly:

View attachment 12341

Also, if this issue is bandwidth/Wi-Fi speed, H.265 is better because it will compress the stream more... If the issue is the Fire tablets struggling to keep up/decode, then H.264 might be better...

Thanks. If I set the substream like this for live tablet viewing but leave the main audio and video stream at highest will it still record the best picture possible on the NVR?

 

[johnfitzy]

^^^^^^
yes

And if you haven't already make sure you check this:

Also, ensure that "Adaptive Bitrate Streaming" is not checked on the "Network/Platform Access/Hik-connect/More Options" page of the NVR... if it is checked, when you use the "Basic" setting in Hik-connect, it may change/lower the sub-stream resolution settings.

It's really annoying... if it's on, Hik-connect actually changes (lowers) your sub-stream settings when you connect.

 

[ab12]

^^^^^^
yes

And if you haven't already make sure you check this:



It's really annoying... if it's on, Hik-connect actually changes (lowers) your sub-stream settings when you connect.

I don't have that option show up on my NVR config screen. Just the above

And I have this on the video setting page

I did find something called smooth streaming but which only applies to the "transcoded stream" not the sub stream. So I've turned it off.

I assume the transcoded stream is something else?

 

[JB1970]

I never use stream encryption which you have turned on. Adaptive Bitrate Steaming may be in the Hik-Connect/Platform Access settings of the NVR

 

[alfaclvi]

Can you add each camera on Local Network with its own IP and not through NVR to see if this issue exists with one camera?
There is also an option on all NVRs Video/Audio called Channel-Zero. You see all cameras together and you can adjust bandwidth. I have never tried that but you can give it a try if this is a matter of local network Bandwidth

 

[JB1970]

Can you add each camera on Local Network with its own IP and not through NVR to see if this issue exists with one camera?
There is also an option on all NVRs Video/Audio called Channel-Zero. You see all cameras together and you can adjust bandwidth. I have never tried that but you can give it a try if this is a matter of local network Bandwidth

It'll probably clear as soon as stream encryption is turned off.

 

[ab12]

I never use stream encryption which you have turned on. Adaptive Bitrate Steaming may be in the Hik-Connect/Platform Access settings of the NVR

Turned off stream encryption let's see what happens.

Also cannot find any hik connect platform access settings for the adaptive bitrate, strange

 

[JB1970]

Turned off stream encryption let's see what happens.

Also cannot find any hik connect platform access settings for the adaptive bitrate, strange

The firmware on your I series NVR may pre date the setting being introduced. As that model is EOL and no longer receives firmware updates (the latest being 4.61.030_240123) if it isn't there now it doesn't matter.