Subscriber Discussion

Avigilon 3rd Party Licensing Questions

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Dec 18, 2015

I have a customer that currently has an Avigilon system and would like to add cameras. I am not an Avigilon dealer, but the customer would like to look at alternative integrators and has asked me what I can do with the system they have.

After reviewing the Avigilon 3rd party camera support page, I found that the Axis P3367 would work with the system so I've gotten that far. This leads me to my questions regarding Avigilon licensing:

1. Is there a special license for 3rd party cameras or is it a standard camera license?

2. Is there a way to buy camera licenses outside of being an Avigilon dealer (I probably know the answer to this, but thought I would ask)?

3. I know I hear a lot about Avigilon on this site, but I'm wondering how well 3rd party cameras integrate with the system. I found many cameras are only supported by ONVIF, but the P3367 seems to have actual native integration so if anyone could provide feedback on this it would be appreciated.

If anyone could provide some info it would be helpful. Thank you.

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Ethan Ace
•Dec 18, 2015

1. It's the same license, no special license required.

2. Technically no. You won't really find them online (though I'm sure someone will prove me wrong on that). When I was an integrator, the way we (and others) typically got licenses for things we weren't dealers for was to find a friend out of the area who was a dealer. If you know someone out of state for example, who happens to also be an Avigilon dealer, they could hook you up.

3. Third party camera integration varies. Axis is via a direct driver, as are Sony, Pelco, and a couple of others. But I've seen some cameras integrated very well via ONVIF. I remember one Honeywell camera (it's no longer up and running and I don't recall the model) which connected via ONVIF, no direct integration, but had full access to remote zoom/focus, CODEC settings, I/O, audio, etc. Honeywell, of all things.

So in short, integration varies. Honestly the only way to know is to test it.

One question for you: Are you opposed to being an Avigilon dealer? Have you talked to them about becoming a dealer?

U
Undisclosed #2
•Dec 19, 2015
In reply to Ethan Ace
My experience mirrors yours. I was involved in a project with existing Grundig cameras that nobody knows about. In fact it's not even in the IPMV list of manufacturers! We called Avigilon tech support directly and within a day they had an engineer working on integration and sending us a prerelease driver that fixed everything. All well-known and some lesser-known third party cameras should integrate just fine.
(1)
IK
Itamar Kerbel
•Dec 21, 2015

Hi,

We are distributors of Avigilon and so I can tell you that Ethan wrote you correct.

Regarding Q3. Usually cameras with native support have better integration to the Avigilon ACC.

If you have to relay on ONVIF support take note that while most cameras will connect to Avigilon most of them will not have motion detection working as most manufacturers do a poor job in implementing the motion event in ONVIF.

So to make it short you can relay on the Avigilon published list or press the I'm feeling lucky button.

I any case when I have a customer who wants to connect an XYZ camera to Avigilon I always tell him that I can only recommend cameras that I sell and have seen to work well with Avigilon.

All other brands/models that I have not seen, have to be tested before ordering the system.

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