Hi IPVM
Hik-Central, Milestone, i-Sentry, Sureview Systems, Cathexis..........too name but a few!
We are looking for a solution for our control room that will allow us to remotely monitor sites around the country, no matter the camera or system installed in these sites (within reason of course), with reasonable, preferably once off license fee structures, and that will allow us to be competitive in what is quickly becoming a very saturated market.
Every representative of any brand we have looked at, understandably, pulls out all the stops when recommending their product. Sales Fluff to the hilt. The presentation videos look great, the brochures, the specs, the websites, even the testomonials - all aspects of the marketing done so well, in every case, that leaves us scratching our heads after weeks of presentations.
What we are looking for is actual, real world advice from people like us, on the ground, or in the trenches, so to speak.
What works, what doesn't?
What actually integrates, what doesn't?
What cost more after implementing and what offered you exactly what you were sold?
I am going to use this "survey" as a pivotal point in our decision making process.
Too all that have taken the time to read my splurb, and more so to all of you who will take the time to answer me honestly with your thoughts, experiences, suprises as well as dissapointments, thank you.
To be clear - we are currently doing offsite monitoring using Geovision Software, which offers us "Black Screen" technology as well as remote management of sites.
Although the systems work well when Geovision is installed at the remote sites, we find that we are limited to the what we are able to bring in.
Hence the change.
We will want the option to add remote storage / recording capabilities - hence a fully upgradeable, integrateable, future proofing solution that we will not need to throw out in 5 to 10 years as technology changes.