Delayed response to riven’s 02 September question above:
I called the European Vivotek camera tech support desk, and talked with a very helpful guy there named Choy Man. Using TeamViewer appl., he took over control of my laptop for a short while… and determined that I was missing a necessary little s/w patch on my machine that enabled communications via my router and the camera’s IP address… to the camera. Frankly it seemed a bit of a mystery to me, but after he was done (took all of 30 secs.)… boom, I could see live camera video on my laptop. So I thanked him profusely, uninstalled TeamViewer, did a thorough scrub of my laptop with MalwareBtyes… and became a happy guy. US-based Alarm.com was of no use whatsoever. As it turned out, the (OEM) f/w in the camera works just fine. Also, Vivotek offers a complete line of control software and mobile appl. s/w for their ADC-V520IR cameras on their website. In general, I found them to be a very helpful company. Thanks, Dave M.
See if you have that software patch still, if possible upload it or link a download.
Thanks
Also, this is confusing… you realize that Vivotek is the “OEM”, right? Alarm.com is not (alarm.com just rebrands the Vivotek cameras).
As it turned out, the (OEM) f/w in the camera works just fine
So, did you restore the Vivotek OEM firmware to the V520IR cams, or are you running The alarm.com firmware on the cameras that you are running locally using Vivotek software?
If the later is the case, then that “patch” will allow alarm.com cameras to be unlocked and used both locally AND on alarm.com video service plans. I would love to get that patch.
Hi riven. Yes, I know the term OEM well (having managed design projects for “OEM” customers, as the manufacturer). In US engineering terms, I’m referring to custom Alarm.com firmware loaded in by Vivotek… Alarm.com being the OEM. It’s confusing. My only point was that Alarm.com-sourced camera firmware worked fine in the stand-alone mode… getting replacement generic firmware from Vivotek was unnecessary (vs. what I had been told). But let us not get sidetracked here.
I have attached what I believe to be the patch the Vivotek tech. support guy downloaded on my machine. The download happened rather fast, as he was racing around thru directories doing research… and frankly he wasn’t wasting time waiting for me to keep up.
If this isn’t the patch after all, then I suggest you contact him directly. His name is Choy Man, and his email is technical.eu@vivotek.com.
Let me know how it goes. Thanks, Dave M.
Oops, looks like this patch file cannot be uploaded to your site after all… but at least you know the name of the file now. So Choy Man is your guy. Thanks, Dave M.
Oops, looks like this patch file cannot be uploaded to your site after all…. but at least you know the name of the file now.
The patch file name is not known. This is not my site, and I am just a User. Don’t upload the patch to this site as it apparently exceeds size allowance. Upload it to something like google drive, onedrive, dropbox, etc and do a download link. (like I did in the second post of this thread: Post # 30231)
As for Alarm.com being the OEM for the Vivotek cameras, I think you may be confused. The OEM makes the hardware and equipment. In this case, at least, alarm.com is not the manufacturer of the cameras they use.
I’m referring to custom Alarm.com firmware loaded in by Vivotek…. Alarm.com being the OEM.
Vivotek builds the camera hardware, the cases, etc, and the Vivotek cameras are then rebranded "alarm.com’, and loaded with a firmware variant. Alarm.com is the “end product company”.
OEM
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is a term used when one company makes a part or subsystem that is used in another company's end product.
Hi riven. Glad to give you the last word on OEM. Here’s Dropbox link to the file https://www.dropbox.com/s/ew34fzdljk7fq8o/VVTK_Plugin_Installer.exe?dl=0… I figure the “please” part of your request was implied. We’re done. Cheers, Dave
Thanks, and appreciated.
No offense was intended. This is forum, and for the sake of others who may read this thread, I felt it was prudent to clarify who is the OEM. Otherwise, if ADC was the OEM (which they are not), then there may arise Dealer issues /legal issues insofar as the software may allow the unlocking/modification of the camera (which in ADC’s case are firmware locked to only their services).
If this helps, look at it like this:
You have the Vivint branded 2GIG GoControl panels with a 2GiG firmware variant, and a silkscreen panel logo… the Panel (hardware and equip) is still OEM 2GIG though. Same deal for the alarm.com and the Vivotek Cameras.
From what you have posted above, that patch allows the ADC branded cameras to be unlocked and used standalone with Vivotek software locally, and does not require the original OEM firmware to be restored (which means the cameras can then be reused and added back to alarm.com at any point as the alarm.com firmware variant is still installed).
I have not myself tested it yet though.
FYI
That file (VVTK Plugin Installer) is just the camera stream controller.
Closing my account & involvement with this forum. Dave M.
So how was Dave able to re-use his Camera’s locally with the vivotek software without loading the original firmware? I would like to do the same, while retaining the alarm.com firmware.
He installed the vivotek software as provided at beginning of thread, then contacted Vivotek support who then remote accessed his PC via TeamViewer application, and they then downloaded and installed a patch.
Unfortunately, this patch file isn’t known, or apparently available.
See: http://suretydiy.com/forums/topic/vivotek-adc-v520ir-camera-unlock-it/#post-31384
It is also possible that the OP was misinformed/confused as to what Vivotek actually did when they had remote access. He did think that alarm.com was the actual OEM (equip manufacturer) of the Vivotek camera, and that the stream controller plugin was the “patch”. They may have restored the original OEM Vivotek firmware to the cameras once they patched the software and could access the camera through it. Vivotek probably know the password to unlock it once it was patched, used a backdoor, or was able to default it. It is all conjecture at this point.
I have found that you can connect to ADC camera’s using the open source iSpy software after installing VLC, https://www.ispyconnect.com
You first have to add another account to the camera, i.e. factory reset it login with the default (root, adcvideo) and create a username and password to use with iSpy.
I have tested that you can record a stream using iSpy, while still getting notifications from ADC.
However I haven’t had much time to figure out how to access the HD stream yet, It might just be a matter of playing with the config.
Nice info Mr. dansmitherson! Thank you.
I know this is an old thread, but this is still relevant to me. I tried to factory reset my Vivotek devices - I have a couple of ADC-V520IR inside and a few ADC-VS120 units outside. Even with a full 30 seconds of reset held down, the camera comes back online with a root password that is set to something I don’t know. Searching for that VVTK_Plugin_Installer.exe file yields nothing on google or Vivotek’s site.
Any help or guidance would be greatly greatly appreciated.
I promise not to have a meltdown and delete my account over mysterious offenses 
Welcome! Unfortunately we do not host that file, so I wouldn’t be able to directly provide it. I’m not finding reference to it on Vivotek’s website, but their support may be able to assist if one of our users do not have it!
I think the Dropbox link above (which is sadly now dead) was from the OP… and I can’t find it online either. I emailed Vivotek (which isn’t easy to do) but no response yet. If I find it, I’ll figure out a way to make it available.
If anyone has it - let me know. Funnily enough it shows up in online scan results but it isn’t downloadable from those either.
So, I spoke to Vivotek and that plugin installer only does something with obtaining video AFTER the password is found. Alarm.com and their folks appear to randomly create a password to block legitimate customers from using the hardware they bought. I don’t know if this is even legal.
Well, I understand it can be frustrating. Ideally I would prefer Alarm.com’s video to open up to the majority of non-proprietary IP cameras. They have opted for only allowing devices with their firmware, which makes sense from a perspective of ensuring uniform experience and security.
Their stance is not unique. Alarm.com cameras are intended for use with Alarm.com only, and are sold as requiring the service for functionality.
Many cloud surveillance brands have the exact same type of proprietary line up of products that require their service. (Many other industries are the same as well, why “jail-breaking” a device is such a common term.) I wish it wasn’t the case and the platform was open, but this would necessarily reduce overall security.
If you need info on password, check this previous post in this thread. I can’t vouch for if this works or not, but it might be relevant.
That default won’t work for me sadly. Unless I am not resetting to factory correctly. It’s connecting to my network with the same IP as it had before so maybe… but.
Frustrating. They shouldn’t charge you for the devices if they cannot be used otherwise