Questions on animal detection onT54IR-ZE-S3 and no push notification on DMSS app for animals

[cpd5215]

Good afternoon,

I have several of the above cams and a NVR 8CH-8P-2AI. I have attached photos of firmware and a screenshot of the settings a typical cam at my house.
1.) Why is the word "Animal" in the upper left hand corner of all my T54IR with the below settings. The cam in lower middle is a Z4E and cam in middle of right column is a 4KT180 (both dont have "Animal" on screen)



2.) I have a Z4E setup as a LPR with different settings and it does not have "Animal" in the upper left. Maybe because I dont have any IVS setup on it??? Also 4KT180 doesn't have animal detection correct?



3.) It appears the T54-IR do capture when animals activate IVS tripwire and intrusion, however I NEVER get notified on the DMSS app of animal IVS triggers. Human and vehicle work flawlessly. Any ideas why. I have attached my DMSS settings. Also, any way when you search on NVR through IVS that you can ONLY search for "Animals". I know I can search "AcuPick" for animals but I only want IVS triggers, not every time the camera sees an animal. Also, with this Acupick, it captures ALOT of Humans, Motor Vehicles, and Animals throughout the day and then places an orange marker on the SmartPss playback timeline of each camera. I would like to only see when IVS are triggered on a camera and corresponding marker placed on SMartPss. This AcuPick generates alot of captures. Any better way to setup each of these cameras in its settings interface to better meet my needs?



I know this alot but TIA for reading and any input or suggestions you have. Ive had these cams for a year or so and they are so awesome but these things have been bugging the shit out of me and I figured I would try to get some help on it. I know @bigredfish and @steve1225 have some good experience with the NVR (instead of Blue Iris)

Much appreciated.

 

[bigredfish]

Quite a bit to unpack so lets take one thing at a time.

First, have you made any IVS settings on the NVR , I mean IVS "By Recorder" settings?
These newer AI enabled NVRs create confusion when folks setup rules "By Recorder" on the NVR and also go and try to set some up on the Camera GUI

Secondly, I haven't updated the DMSS app yet as I wait 6 months for everyone to find all the bugs first, but it seems to be getting closer after a month or two so I may try it soon.
I'm guessing it doesnt have Animal built into the current version as a filter.

3rd I'm guessing, again I dont have the very latest AI NVR, but are you using the NVR live view in that top multi-cam view? Or is that SmartPSS?

 

[cpd5215]

Quite a bit to unpack so lets take one thing at a time.

First, have you made any IVS settings on the NVR , I mean IVS "By Recorder" settings?
These newer AI enabled NVRs create confusion when folks setup rules "By Recorder" on the NVR and also go and try to set some up on the Camera GUI

Secondly, I haven't updated the DMSS app yet as I wait 6 months for everyone to find all the bugs first, but it seems to be getting closer after a month or two so I may try it soon.
I'm guessing it doesnt have Animal built into the current version as a filter.

3rd I'm guessing, again I dont have the very latest AI NVR, but are you using the NVR live view in that top multi-cam view? Or is that SmartPSS?

1.) All my IVS rules have been made through each of the respective cameras own interface. Here is what the NVR menu looks like



2. ) In terms of animals on the DMSS app, I could NOT get animal notification on the previous version of the app before I ungraded.
3.) That LIVE view was from SmartPss on my Mac

 

[bigredfish]

On this:
Also, with this Acupick, it captures ALOT of Humans, Motor Vehicles, and Animals throughout the day and then places an orange marker on the SmartPss playback timeline of each camera. I would like to only see when IVS are triggered on a camera and corresponding marker placed on SMartPss. This AcuPick generates alot of captures.

Again I dont have a new AI NVR so I can't run AcuPick and really dont see the need for residential use, BUT I believe I'm correct saying AcuPick isnt generating those alarms, your use of VMD which sees the entire screen by default, as well as IVS rules. Thats what is likely whats seeing/creating those triggers. You can reduce/manipulate the size of the area that VMD is active in and reduce triggers

AcuPick is essentially a AI search engine, not a function that triggers alerts like IVS or VMD

 

[bigredfish]

1.) All my IVS rules have been made through each of the respective cameras own interface. Here is what the NVR menu looks like

View attachment 220192View attachment 220193

2. ) In terms of animals on the DMSS app, I could NOT get animal notification on the previous version of the app before I ungraded.
3.) That LIVE view was from SmartPss on my Mac

1- OK the thing I was looking for is a toggle switch on the rules themselves, but I believe you
2- Correct. And you say you're not on the current version. I dont think the new version has the Animal filter either
3- OK, I think the "Animal" word (as well as the red box outlines on the video windows) is a result of the current 2025 or relatively current version of SmartPSS. I tried it and it had too many bugs, particularly with playback and downloading clips, deleted it and reinstalled the last stable version (2023-3-30) which I know works better

 

[cpd5215]

On this:
Also, with this Acupick, it captures ALOT of Humans, Motor Vehicles, and Animals throughout the day and then places an orange marker on the SmartPss playback timeline of each camera. I would like to only see when IVS are triggered on a camera and corresponding marker placed on SMartPss. This AcuPick generates alot of captures.

Again I dont have a new AI NVR so I can't run AcuPick and really dont see the need for residential use, BUT I believe I'm correct saying AcuPick isnt generating those alarms, your use of VMD which sees the entire screen by default, is likely whats seeing those triggers. You can reduce/maniplulate the size of the area that VMD is active in and reduce triggers

hmmmmm, so how do you create your Smart Rules....just IVS , no VMD?

 

[cpd5215]

1- OK the thing I was looking for is a toggle switch on the rules themselves, but I believe you
2- Correct. And you say you're not on the current version. I dont think the new version has the Animal filter either
3- OK, I think the "Animal" word (as well as the red box outlines) is a result of the current 2025 or relatively current version of SmartPSS. I tried it and it had too many bugs, particularly with playback and downloading clips, deleted it and reinstalled the last stable version (2023-3-30) which I know works better

1.) Where would I find what you refer to in the NVR web interface?
2.) Maybe Ive confused you or myself....Ive NEVER been able to get animal IVS triggers on my iPhone with previous version of DMSS all the way back to when that firmware upgrade came out even though you and others report in the past and I think currently that you guys get the mobile notifications for animals.
3.)Yea the "updated" version of SmartPss has had some issues for me....can I still source an older version?

 

[bigredfish]

Generally yes IVS only, have for years before AcuPick was even in glimmer in some Dahua engineer's eye

Note AcuPick only works with both camera AND NVR having the feature.


I also Have a Z4 I run VMD on where I run VMD ONLY full scene

 

[cpd5215]

1- OK the thing I was looking for is a toggle switch on the rules themselves, but I believe you
2- Correct. And you say you're not on the current version. I dont think the new version has the Animal filter either
3- OK, I think the "Animal" word (as well as the red box outlines on the video windows) is a result of the current 2025 or relatively current version of SmartPSS. I tried it and it had too many bugs, particularly with playback and downloading clips, deleted it and reinstalled the last stable version (2023-3-30) which I know works better

3.) I also pulled up cameras on Win PC via NVR LIVE and "Animal" is in the upper left corner too.. I forgot to mention "Animal" only appear on the T54 IR , NOT on the B54IR-ZE or Z4E... and not the 4KB180 (which I think I mentioned earlier).....weird

 

[wittaj]

1.) All my IVS rules have been made through each of the respective cameras own interface. Here is what the NVR menu looks like

View attachment 220192View attachment 220193

2. ) In terms of animals on the DMSS app, I could NOT get animal notification on the previous version of the app before I ungraded.
3.) That LIVE view was from SmartPss on my Mac

That screenshot is from the NVR, not the camera GUI - just confirming you are actually logging into the camera GUI to access the camera settings and if so, how are you accessing it - via the e icon in the NVR or connecting a computer to a POE port and logging into the camera via IP address?

+1 on the accupick - it works well in a multi-story building or a store where say a kid is missing and you can have it show you every camera the kid was seen on, but in a residential setting, it is really easy to see if the dude in my front yard also went to my backyard. I want every little bit of processor power to go to what I am using, so I turned the feature off.

 

[cpd5215]

Generally yes IVS only, have for years before AcuPick was even in glimmer in some Dahua engineer's eye

Note AcuPick only works with both camera AND NVR having the feature.


I also Have a Z4 I run VMD on where I run VMD ONLY full scene

View attachment 220195

Yea I know you guys have always said just run IVS no SMD as IVS is superior... makes sense...
Gotcha on the AcuPick ....
Forgot I have that Z4 just running VMD only on full scene...

Well I guess all my questions are just little things...no big deal... cams are the bomb and you guys are the best in helping tweak them...

I do wish I could get animal notifications on my iphone but it is what it is....LOL

 

[bigredfish]

1.) Where would I find what you refer to in the NVR web interface?
2.) Maybe Ive confused you or myself....Ive NEVER been able to get animal IVS triggers on my iPhone with previous version of DMSS all the way back to when that firmware upgrade came out even though you and others report in the past and I think currently that you guys get the mobile notifications for animals.
3.)Yea the "updated" version of SmartPss has had some issues for me....can I still source an older version?

1- On the page in the NVR under AI/Parameters. Each camera has a similar interface as the the camera GUI on the NVR,. (Probably shouldnt have told you
2- I get it. You dont get ANIMAL specifc alerts on DMSS on your phone,. Old or new. Correct! Neither does anyone else to my knowledge. ANIMAL is not built into DMSS yet as far as I know
3 SmartPSS Lite, Not officially, but its still out there if you search for the 2023-3-30 version
Thing is you're running Mac and I have no idea on that version for Mac.

Another hour long story I wont go into but "officially" support for SmartPSS was dropped in August 2024. SmartPSS LITE is supported.
That said, I find the 2023-3-30 version of LITE to be stable and good but have no idea on a Mac version


if the current version is working for you (except for the word animal) I wouldn't change anything until you confirm a specific date stamped version and confirm it doesnt do that. There are a lot of versions. This is why i don't update FW or SmartPSS versions until absolutely necessary, often years.

 

[bigredfish]

Note that VMD and SMD are two VERY different things.

I dont personally have any use for SMD, I do however like VMD in some instances and it works fine.

 

[cpd5215]

That screenshot is from the NVR, not the camera GUI - just confirming you are actually logging into the camera GUI to access the camera settings and if so, how are you accessing it - via the e icon in the NVR or connecting a computer to a POE port and logging into the camera via IP address?

+1 on the accupick - it works well in a multi-story building or a store where say a kid is missing and you can have it show you every camera the kid was seen on, but in a residential setting, it is really easy to see if the dude in my front yard also went to my backyard. I want every little bit of processor power to go to what I am using, so I turned the feature off.

Sorry may have posted wrong screenshot. I access all cams like you guys have always instructed and make all changes through Cam GUI via the little E
Also, when you say you have AcuPick off, are you saying through Cam GUI when I go to "AI" and then "Smart Plan" to turn OFF AcuPick? What other options in that menu should I have enalbed then, just IVS? I think Cam and NVR have to both be the same so would I need to then go to NVR interface and change that same camera from "AcuPick" to "AI" to mirror the camera GUI?

 

[cpd5215]

1- On the page in the NVR under AI/Parameters. Each camera has a similar interface as the the camera GUI on the NVR,. (Probably shouldnt have told you
2- I get it. You dont get ANIMAL specifc alerts on DMSS on your phone,. Old or new. Correct! Neither does anyone else to my knowledge. ANIMAL is not built into DMSS yet as far as I know
3 SmartPSS Lite, Not officially, but its still out there if you search for the 2023-3-30 version
Thing is you're running Mac and I have no idea on that version for Mac.

Another hour long story I wont go into but "officially" support for SmartPSS was dropped in August 2024. SmartPSS LITE is supported.
That said, I find the 2023-3-30 version of LITE to be stable and good but have no idea on a Mac version


if the current version is working for you (except for the word animal) I wouldn't change anything until you confirm a specific date stamped version and confirm it doesnt do that. There are a lot of versions. This is why i don't update FW or SmartPSS versions until absolutely necessary, often years.

1.) I see it now...LOL
2.) Copy that.. I was talking over you...my bad
3.) got it...it works good for me.. just that "animal" bugged the shit out of me but whatever lol

 

[wittaj]

Looks good - just making sure as many think changing it in the NVR is the camera.

Yeah I have accupick turned off on both.

 

[bigredfish]

Sorry may have posted wrong screenshot. I access all cams like you guys have always instructed and make all changes through Cam GUI via the little E
Also, when you say you have AcuPick off, are you saying through Cam GUI when I go to "AI" and then "Smart Plan" to turn OFF AcuPick? What other options in that menu should I have enalbed then, just IVS? I think Cam and NVR have to both be the same so would I need to then go to NVR interface and change that same camera from "AcuPick" to "AI" to mirror the camera GUI?



View attachment 220196View attachment 220197View attachment 220198View attachment 220199View attachment 220200

Here's where everyone is getting in trouble and goes to my very first question

Yes, make the settings for IVS (and everything else) ON THE CAMERA GUI
NO DO NOT go to the NVR and do it all over again.
The settings on the camera will be pushed to the NVR on Refresh

YES Turn AcuPick OFF (it may reboot) and on the AI page choose IVS Only if you do not wish to run VMD and IVS together. There's nothing wrong with doing so, but you will get a lot more alerts. You need to think through what IVS vs VMD do and decide whether you need one or the other or both. But with both you WILL get more alerts.
(and as I said , AcuPick is an AI search engine that is based on your IVS and/or VMD triggers. Its not finding stuff on its own that havent already been found by IVS/VMD)

* AGain something I mentioned earlier.
The NVR allows you to set IVS rules much like you do on the camera.
ON the NVR, Each rule can be set to be enabled "By camera" or "By Recorder" on the newer AI NVRs.
Setting it on the camera GUI itself is preferable
If you then go to the NVR and try and set it again, without detailed experience and knowledge of what you're doing, it can and will create more problems.

 

[cpd5215]

Looks good - just making sure as many think changing it in the NVR is the camera.

Yeah I have accupick turned off on both.

Understood...Thanks alot guys... Ill fiddle a bit and see...I appreciate yous... One last unrelated... you see that 4K B180 I have... I have it as an overview and color at night...does well...I just dont like how it displays the image...not a fan of 180 degrees like I thought I would be...what do you think of replacing it with a PTZ, the one for about $800 I see you recommended to someone a few days back.. My house is on a sweeping curve and I think it would do well tracking movement all along this curve with the help of my spotter under garage and front porch...Thoughts??

 

[cpd5215]

Here's where everyone is getting in trouble and goes to my very first question

Yes, make the settings for IVS (and everything else) ON THE CAMERA GUI
NO DO NOT go to the NVR and do it all over again.
The settings on the camera will be pushed to the NVR on Refresh

YES Turn AcuPick OFF (it may reboot) and on the AI page choose IVS Only if you do not wish to run VMD and IVS together. There's nothing wrong with doing so, but you will get a lot more alerts. You need to think through what IVS vs VMD do and decide whether you need one or the other or both. But with both you WILL get more alerts.
(and as I said , AcuPick is an AI search engine that is based on your IVS and/or VMD triggers. Its not finding stuff on its own that havent already been found by IVS/VMD)

* AGain something I mentioned earlier.
The NVR allows you to set IVS rules much like you do on the camera.
ON the NVR, Each rule can be set to be enabled "By camera" or "By Recorder" on the newer AI NVRs.
Setting it on the camera GUI itself is preferable
If you then go to the NVR and try and set it again, without detailed experience and knowledge of what you're doing, it can and will create more problems.

SOrry to be an idiot, but can you briefly tell me what VMD does and why someone may need VMD or IVS or both..maybe an example would help me understand their strengths or differences..
Everything else understood.. Thanks

 

[bigredfish]

Turn off your 180 for a week. Completely off unplugged.

Did you miss it?
Did it miss any events the other cameras can’t see?

Then maybe. Point is you can’t rely on a PTZ for 100% coverage as it’s often looking a different direction.

Think of them as supplemental to get detail ID, not as dedicated coverage