i have no way to do FW updates. if i taped / blocked over the IR light would this give same effect?
isn't the IR light that gives the night vision?
we are trying to locate where nocturnal destructive animals are getting into property so flashlight is out. IR illuminator should be ok.
this ICR filter. what exactly does this do in bery low light?
The camera senses infrared light in order to see in the dark. However, that same infrared light sensitivity makes it harder for the camera to see natural colors in the daylight -- if you ever look at a daytime image with infrared turned on, you'll see that the colors are very washed out. The ICR (infrared cut filter) is a filter that goes over the sensor in the daytime so that the camera can see the world like you do. At night, it moves away so that the camera can see the infrared spectrum and thus see in the dark.
Yes, the infrared illuminator is what helps the camera see farther at night. Same as a regular flashlight does for your eyes. Don't cover it up unless you want the picture to get even worse.
will an illuminator make a difference. ?
Yes, it will make a ton of difference. The IR lamp built into these cameras is good for only 10-15 feet of visibility. That's why your nighttime image is so poor. An external IR illuminator will greatly improve your results.