A while ago, a customer asked me to help connect an Imou camera to a Hikvision DVR. I wondered whether an Imou camera could work with a different brand of device, especially since Imou already has its own recording system, the Imou NVR. Before explaining the process to the customer, I ran a test at my basecamp to try connecting the Imou camera to the Hikvision DVR.
I also compiled all the documentation into this guide so other technicians can follow the steps to connect the Imou camera to other devices.
Can Imou Camera Connect to Hikvision DVR or NVR?
The short answer is yes, you can.
After reading the manual, I discovered that the Imou camera has ONVIF capabilities. This feature allows the Imou camera to connect to other devices, even if they’re from different brands.
How to Connect Imou Camera to Hikvision DVR/NVR?
Before starting, make sure your IMOU camera is on the same network as your Hikvision DVR or NVR. The good news is that ONVIF is usually enabled by default, so you don’t need to activate it manually.
In this guide I use the Imou A1 camera.
1. Connecting All Devices On One Network
Connect the Imou cameras and Hikvision DVR/NVR to a power source and allow them to fully boot. Then, connect each camera and the DVR/NVR to the same router using a LAN cable.
If you are using Wi-Fi for the cameras, make sure they are connected to the same network as the router.
Wiring diagram for connecting Imou Camera to Hikvision DVR:
2. Adding a Camera
Once the DVR is on, right click on the mouse and select the menu. Enter the username and password, if you have the DVR security function enabled to open the menu.
Then select the gear icon to enter settings.
In the settings menu, select Camera > Camera. You can see in the Online Device List that my Imou camera has been detected. If your camera isn’t detected, double-check your camera’s network.
Next, check the box next to the camera and click the + Add button. The camera will then move to the Additional Devices List.
3. Enter Camera Password
However, the camera status will be red. This indicates that the Imou camera is not yet connected. If you hover your cursor over the red mark, a message will appear saying “The camera username or password is incorrect.”
To solve this problem, please click the pencil icon to change the password.
If you haven’t changed it, the default password for your Imou camera is the security code printed on the camera’s label. Enter the security code in the Camera Password section and click OK.
Wait a moment and if the status turns green, the Imou camera is connected to the Hikvision DVR.
4. Camera Live View
You can now view the live view from your Imou camera on your Hikvision DVR. Please switch to the Live View menu.
Then on the main page, select the D1 camera list. The image below shows a live view of my Imou camera successfully connected to the Hikvision DVR. The Imou name is visible on the display.
Common Problems Imou Camera Not Connecting to Hikvision DVR/NVR
No ONVIF feature
Cameras without ONVIF support won’t be able to connect to other brands of devices. Always make sure you purchase an Imou camera with ONVIF support.
Not In One Network
When connecting an Imou camera to another device, such as a Hikvision NVR/DVR, always ensure all devices are on or connected to the same network.
For example:
DVR/NVR: 192.168.1.100
Imou Camera: 192.168.1.10
If the camera uses the IP address 192.168.1.10 and the DVR/NVR uses the IP address 192.168.2.100, the two devices will not connect because they are on different network segments.
Wrong Camera Password
Without realizing it, when you turned on the camera, you may have changed the default password for your Imou camera. This default password is the security code found on the camera’s label.
Final Conclusion
After my successful trial, I updated the customer that you can connect an Imou camera to a Hikvision DVR. Since I didn’t have time to visit the customer’s home, I provided instructions on how to connect the Imou camera to the Hikvision DVR. Connecting an Imou camera to a Hikvision DVR or NVR is possible, but not guaranteed for all models. In my testing experience, success depends heavily on ONVIF or RTSP support. All the images above are my own original images when I was doing the experiment.
If you are a technician, I highly recommend testing compatibility first before installing it in a client’s system.