Avigilon Alta Video Intercom Reader Pro Tested
Avigilon Alta claims its Video Intercom Reader Pro provides an "intelligent voice interface" that "reimagines" intercoms, but how well does it work?
IPVM tested the Avigilon Alta Video Intercom Reader Pro against the 2N IP Style (see test) and Verkada TD52 (see test) IP cameras, including the Hanwha QND-8011, Hikvision DS-2CD2543G2, and Verkada CD52-E. In this report, we examine:
- How well does the Video Intercom Reader Pro perform, and what limitations were found during testing?
- What were the key positives and negatives of the Video Intercom Reader Pro?
- How does pricing compare to other intercoms, such as the 2N IP Style (see test) or the Verkada TD52 (see test)?
- How good or bad is the sound quality with/without added background noise? Are echos an issue?
- What is the remote latency while viewing the video or on a call?
- How does image quality perform in full light (~180 lux), low light (~5 lux), dark (<0.1 lux), and WDR scenes compare to other IP cameras/video intercoms?
- What is the bandwidth consumption across all tested scenes?
- What is the country of origin of the Video Reader Pro?
Note: This test is the third in a new series leading up to a Video Intercom Rankings, with the first and second being: Verkada TD52 (See Test), and 2N IP Style (See Test), and the next being the Alocity F3D100 Multi-Function Reader with more to follow in the coming weeks.
Physical ********
*** ******** **** ***** ******** ****** Pro *** * *** ****** **** a ***-****** ****, ********** ** ****, a ******, *******, *** ********** *** two-way *****, *** * **** ****** to ******** *****. ** *** ***** below, ** **** **** ****** ****-**-**** with *** ******* **** *** *** 2N ** ***** *** **** **********:
*** ******** **** ***** ******** ****** Pro ******** ~*" ** ****** *** ~2" ** *****, ******* **** *** TD52 *** ** ***** (***** *****)
*******
*** ******** **** ******** ****** *** has ** **** ** ~$*,*** ***, which ** **** ********* **** *** 2N ** ***** (~$*,*** ***) *** the *********** (~$*,*** ***).
*** *** ****** ******* ********* ***, a ****** ********* **** ** ******** and ****** ** *** ****** ** users, **** *** **** ***** ****** below:
Installation - ******** ************
** *** *******, *** ************ ** the ******** ****** *** *** ******, as *** ******** ***** **** *** surface ***** *** ** ******* **** a ******** *** *****.
*** **** *** *** ******** ***** into *** ** ****** ** *** surface *****, ** ***** ** *** image *****:
Executive *******
*** ******** **** ***** ******** ****** Pro ******** ***** ****** *** ************ unlocking (*.*., ******, ****, ****, ***.), low ****** *******, ***** ***** ********, solid ***** ******* **** *** ******* added ********** *****, *** ***** ***** quality ** ***** ********* ** *** scenes ******.
** *** ******** ****, ********** * call *** ********** *** ***** ****** was **** (~** ******* ** ****), requiring ***** ** **** ******* *** the *********'* **** ** ****** ** the ****** ** **** **** ******, and ***** ****** **** ~** ******* to ****** ** *** ****** **** during *******.
******, ** ******* ********, *** **** of ***** (***) *** ***** ** risky, ** ************ ****** *** ** allowed ***** ** ******** *** ***** pass ****** ~**' ** *** ******** or ~**' **** ********* ** ** exterior ****.
From *******
**** ******* ***** *** ******** **** Intercom ****** ***'* ******** *** ******** are **** *******, ******* ** **** we ***** ***** ******* *********** ***** ****** *** (*** ****), ***** ******** **** *********. *******, the ******* **** *** ******** **** be ************ ** ******** ** ***** this ****.
******* ** *** ******** ************ *** the ***** ****** *** *** ***** Intercom ****** ***, **** *** ****** coming **** ******** ****. *** ******* camera ******** ** **** ******* ***** from ******* *** ** ***** ************ to *** ******** ****** ******** ***** this ****.
Key *********
****** *******, *** *** ********* ***** while ******* *** ******** **** ***** Intercom ****** *** ****:
- ********** *****: ***** ******* ** ***** ********** within ****'* ***. ******** ***** *** be ****, *** ***** ****** ******** is ********* ** ******, *********, *** tampering ****** ****** * ****** ***.
- ****** *******: ******** *** ******/***** * **** to * ******** ****** **** *** unit ***** *** ***** *********.
- **** *****: ***** *** **** ***** ***** leaving ***** ****** ** ***** ******* by ****** ** *** ****.
- *****-** ****** *******: ******** ******* ** *****-** ****** control *** ********* **** ** ****, phone ***, *** ******, ***** ******, and **** ******.
- *****-****** ***** ******: ***** ****** *** ****** ** the *****, **** ** ********** ******** required.
- ********** ****/********** *****: *** ***** ******** ****** *** provided **** ****** (**** **** ~*-* seconds) ** **** ******* ****** (*** including ***** *******).
- ***** ***** ***********: ** *******, *** ***** ******** Reader ***'* ***** ******* *** ***** with *** ******* ***** ********** *****.
- * **** ***** ********* ********: *** ****** ******* ********* *** is **** ** **** ** ***** licenses *** ******.
Key *********
****** *******, *** *** ********* ***** while ******* *** ******** **** ***** Intercom ****** *** ****:
- ******* **** **** ****: ** *** ******** ** ******* from *** ******** *******, ******** ********* lock ****** ** ******* *** *** be ****** ****** **** ***** * battery. ******** **** **** **** **** do *** ********* ***** *** ******** this ***, ******** **** ** * common *********** ** ***** *********.
- ***** ******* ****: *** ******** **** ******** **** does *** **** ******* ** ******* for ******* *****. ***** **** ******** say *** **** ** *** **** want ** ***** ****, ************* **** the ********* ***** *********. ****** *** process **** *** ********* ** *** person's **** **** ** ******* ** their ******** ** *** ********** ** the ******.
- ******* *** ***** *****: ********* **** ****** ******** ** security ******** ** ******* ******* ***** from ******* ****** **** * ************ mobile ****** ** ********** ****** *** secured ******** ****** ~**' ** *** intercom. ** **** ** ***** ******* milling ***** *** **** ****** ~**' could **** ************* ***** ****** ** unauthorized *****. *******, *** ***** *** be ********* ** *** ********.
- ******* ***** ******:***** ****** **** ~** ******* ** show ** *** ******** ****** ****** app / ******* ******* ******.
- ** ********** ********* *********: ***** *** ***** ******** ****** Pro *** * *******-****** ******, ***** is ** ********** *********.
- ** ****** ** ******* *********: *** ***** ******** ****** *** does *** ******* ****** ** ******* detection ** ********* *** **** ******** motion *********.
- ******* ******* *****: *** ******* ***** *** *** Video ******** ****** *** ** **** from ******* **** ***** ** ******.
- *** ******** *** *****: *** ***** **** ******* *** app ** ******* ***** **** *** Video ******** ****** ***.
Exposed **** ***** ****
*** ** *** ******** ********* ***** with ******** ****'* ******** ** ***** design **** **** *** ****** **** on *** *********/****** **** ** *** door, *** *** **** ******* ***** can ** ****** ******** **** ** unlock *** ****.
*** **** ******** ******** ** *** intercom ** ********** ** **** ******* wire ****, ********** ** ******* *** lock ** ******** **** (**) ** normally ****** (**) *********.
**** ** * ****** **** ** the ******* **** ***** **** *** easily ******** **** *** **** ** removed:
***** ********* ********* **** * ******* block (*.*.,******** ** ******** ****** *****,******* ******** *****) ********* ** *** ******/******* **** of *** **** **** ******** ******** the ***** ** **** *** ****** their ***** ** *******.
******** **** **** ** ******** **** risk, **** ********* ********** *** ******** to * **** ********** ** **** do *** ***** * ******* ******** relay.
** ** *********** ** *** * door ********** *** *** ****** ***** connection ** ****** *** ****, ***** would *** ** ********** **** *** perimeter ** *** ********.
***** **** ********, ** ****** *** using ***** ***** ** ****-******** ** perimeter/outside ******** *********.
Risky *** *****
****** ******* ********, ******* *** ************, the **** ** ***** ********* ***** connects ** *** ******** **** ~**' away *** *** ** ******** ** an ************ **** ** *** ********.
*** **** ********* **** ** ************ user ** *** ******** ***** **** to ****** * **** **** * credentialed ****** ***** ** ********* ** an ******** **** *** ****** ~**' of *** ********.
*** *** ***** *** ****** ***** default ********. *******, *** *********** *** be ******** *** ******** ****:
** ******** *** ***** **** ******* a **** ***** ***** ** *********** for **** ** ******, ** ** possible ** ****** *** *********** ***** of *** ***
**** ******** **** ** ********** *** sensitivity **** *** *******, ******** *** line ** ***** *** ***** ** within ~**', *** * **** ***** no ****** ****** * **** **** an ******** **** ********* * ************ device
Performance ******** ** ** ** *****
******** ** ***** ** ***** (*** ****), *** ******** **** ******** ****** Pro ******** ***** **** ***** ****** in *** *** ***/****** *** ** motion ******, ****** ******, *********, *** calls ** * ****** ********. ** contrast, *** ** ***** **** ***** screenshots ****** ***** *** ***** ****** in * ***, *** ********* *** event ***** ******* ***** ** *****-********* event **** *** *** ***. *** Video ******** ****** *** **** ******** a **** "*********" (****) ***** ******, whereas *** ** ** ***** ******** users ** ******** **** *** ******/***** to ******.
** *** ******** ****, *** ** IP ***** ******** ******* **** ******* than *** ******** ****** ***, ** users *** ****** *** ** **** directly ** *** **** ***** *** touch ******/****** *******. ** ********, ** the ******** ****** ***, *** **** has ** ******** **** *** ***** assistant ** ***** * **** ***** requires ******** ** **** ******* *** the **** ** ****** ** *** cloud ******. ******, *** ******** ****** Pro ******** ***** **** * **** touchless ****** ******, ***** *** ** Style ******** ***** ** ***** *** screen ** **** *****.
Five ***** ******* ******
**** ****** *** ***** ******** ****** Pro ***** **** ********* ****** *******, all ***** *****, **** ***** ***** provided *** ***** ******.
***********
*** ****** ** ****** **** **** the ******* *** *** ***** ****** method, ***** ******** ***** ** ***** the ******** ****** *** ****** *** prompt ** *** "***** *********". **** the **** ******* *** ******** **** a ******** **** ** *** ******** list, *** ******** ******* *** ******'* name **** ** *** **** ** confirm. **** *********, *** ******** ***** "hold *****" ***** *** **** ********* answers *** **** ** *** **** times ***. ***** ** *** ***** below:
*** ******* **** *** *** ***** and **** **** ** *** ****** they **** ** ****. ** *** name ** *** * ********** ****, or *** ***** **** **** * first ****, *** ******** **** **-****** the ***** ***** ***** ****** *** call ************* **** ***** ~* ****** if **** * ***** *** **** name ** *** **** (***** *****):
****** *******, **** ***** ***** ********** street ***** ** ~**-***** (********* ***** a *******), ***** *** *** ********** impact *** ********'* ***********. *******, *** person ** *** ******** **** **** difficulty *******/************* *** ******* ** **** scenario.
****** *******, **** ***** ******** **** requires ***** ** *** **** ***** and ******** "*********", ** ** ****** in *** ******** **** ***** ******. Avigilon **** ********* *** **** *** last ***** **** ** ******, *** variations ** "*********" *** ** *****.
*** ******** ***** ******* ***** **** First *** **** **** ** ** accurately ********** ** *** ***** *********. However, **** **** *** *** ** added ***** ******* “********” ***** ******** additional ****** ***** **** ***** ** that **** **** ****** ** *** Voice *********. **** ********* ****** ********** such ** ******** *****, ***** *** surname, ** ********* ***** ** ***** where *** ******** ** *** ****** is *** *** **** ******** ***** be ******* *** **** ******.
*** ****
*** *** ****** ****** **** ** a ******* ********** *** ****, ********* unlocking ****** ~*-* ******* ** *** subject ********** *** **********.
**** ******
****** ** ***** ** *** ******** with *** ***** ** *** ****** worked **** *** *** *** ******* the ***** ** ** ******** ** an *** ** ** ******. *******, no ******** ******* ** ** *****, such ** ********* *** ***** ** be ** ****** ** ******* ************ entries.
*** ******
****** ********* *** ** **** *** the ******** ****** ****** ***, ***** features ** ****** ****** *** **** connected ******. **** **** *** ******* a ****** ** ** ****** *** shown ***** ** ********* *** ** works.
****** ****
******* ** ****** **** ********** ****** well, ********* ********* ****** ~*-* ******* of *** ******* ********** *** **********.
Solid ***** *******
****** *******, *** ***** ******** ****** a **** *** ***** (**** ** added ********** *****, ~**** ******* *****):
**** ***** ********** ***** ** * busy ****** ******** ******* * ******* behind *** ******* ** ~** -***** the *******'* ***** *** *****, ***** some ********** ***** *** ***** ************.
Video ****** ******
*** ******** ****** ****** *** *** the ******** **** ******* ****** **** an ******** *** ******* ********* *** call ******. ***** ****** ** ******, tamper, ****** ******, *** ******** ****** are ******* ** *** ******* ******* center *** ** ***** *** ****** tab ** *** ****** ****** ***. Failed ********** ****** *** ********, *** a **** ** **** ******** ** the ***** *** ***** ** *** event ***** *** *******.
****** *******, *** ******** **** ** the ******** ****** ****** *** ********* events ** **** ****-****. *******, ***** events **** ~** ******* ** ****** in *** ***/******* ******* ******. ******** Alta ********* **** *** **** ****** take ** ****** ******* ** *** clip **** *** *** ****** ***** available.
******** *** ******** *** ********** ** immediate ***** ***** **** ** **** a ***** **** **** ** ** activity *** ***** **** ****** ** the ***** ** ***** ******** **** the ****** ** *** *****. *** upload **** *** **** ***** **** depend ** *** **** ** *** clip *** *** ****** ***** ********* to *** ***** ****** *** ** Video ******** ****** ***.
*** ***** ****** **** ******** ******** events **** ** ******, ***** ******, and ****** ****** **** *** ***** if **** ******** ****** ********* ** each *****. ******** **** ****** ***** to ** * ******* **** **** of ~** ******* *** ************ **** discovered * *** ******* ****** ** merge **** * ****** *****.
*** ****** **** **** ******* ****** combined ***** *** ****** ******* ** 30 ******* *** ** *** ******* on ** ***** ***** ** ******* that ****** **** ****** **** ********. If ****** *** ****** ***** *** Reports *******, *** ********** ***** ****** can ** ****** **** ***** ********** clip.
Desktop ******* ****** ********
*** ******** **** ******* ****** ** the ******* ******* ***** ** ***/****** users, ****** ******, *** ****** ****** settings, **** * ***** ******** ** the ******* ****** ******* *** ** add ***** ** *** **** ******* and ****, ***** *****:
Mobile *** ********
*** ******** ****** ****** *** ****** users ** *** ***** ***** ** a ********** ** ******* ** ****** to ****** ** ** ******** *** unlock ****** ** *** ***. ***** is * ***** ******** ** *** Openpath ****** ***:
**** * ***** ***** * ****, the ******** ****** * ************ ** their ******, ******** **** ** *** call. ***** ** * ***** ********:
**** ********** ****'* ******** ** **** the ******** ****** ****** ***, ** calls *** ** ******** *** *** on * **** *****, *** ** outside ******* ** *********.
** ** ******** ** ******* ******** calls ******* ******* ****** ** ********* the ***** ******** ****** *** ** work ** * ***-**** **** ** call * **** ***** ** *** local ******* **** *** ****** ** pressed. ******* ******* ***** ******* ** not ********* *********.
Remote *******
****** *******, ** ***** **** *** remote ******* **** ** * **** was ***, ********* ***** ~* ******.
Image *******
** ****** *** ***** ******* ** the******** **** ***** ******** ****** ********** ***** ** *****(*** ****) ** *' *** ~*.*' and ** ******* **** ** ********** ****-*,****** ***-****, ************ **-*********** **' *** **' ** *** how *** ***** ******* ** *** Reader *** ********.
** *** **** ***** (at ~*' ****, *** ******** ****** Pro ******** ******* *** ******* *** provided ***** ******* ** *** *******. Compared ** *** ** *****, ***** produced ** ********** **** *** *** subject, ******** ********* *******.
** ~*.*', **** ***** ********* ******* solid ***** *******. *******, *** ** Style ******** ****** ******* ****** ******* compared ** *** ******** ****** *** because ** *** ** ********** ******** by *** ** *****.
**** *** ******* ** ~**', *** Intercom ****** *** ************* **** *** Verkada **** *** ********* **** *****, producing **** ***** **** ******** *** chart *** *** ******* ****** *******.
****** ****** ** *** **** ***** (<0.1 ***), **** ***** ********* ******* similar ******* ** * ******* ~**' away. **** ******* **** ***** ** the ******* **** ******** ****** *******. However, *** ******** ****** *** **** contains **** ********** *****.
*** *** ************* ***** ** ** is * ******. ** **** ********, a ****** *** ***** *** ** detected. *******, ***** *** *** ****** details.
** *** *** ***** ***** (~* lux) ** ~*', *** ******** ****** Pro ******** *** ******* *** ***** the ***** ********. *******, *** ***** provides *** **** ****** ******* ** the ** *****.
**** *** ******* ** ~*.*', **** video ********* ******* ***** ***** *** subject *******.
** ~**' ******** ** *******, ******, and ********* ** *******, *** ******** Reader *** *********** *** ***** ******* to *** ****** ***-****. *** ******** Reader *** ******** ******** ***** **** obscures *** *******'* ****** ******* ********* fewer ******* **** *** ******* *** Hikvision ******* ***** ********* **** ****** details **** *** ***-****.
****** ****** ** *** ~* *** low ***** *****, **** ***** ********* properly ****** *** ******* ****'* ~**' away. **** ********* ******* ***** ** the *******, ***** ******** **** ****** detail.
*** ******** ****** *** *** ** Style ***** ********* ******* ******* ******* in *** **** ***** ***** (~*** lux) **** *** ******* ~*' ****.
** ~*.*', *** ******** ****** *** and ** ***** ******* ******* ***** chart *** ******* *******.
**** *** ******* ** ** ~**' in *** **** ***** (~*** ***), the ******** ****** *** ******** ***** chart ******* *** ******* ******* ********** comparably ** *** ** ******* ******.
** ~**' **** ** *** **** light ***** (~*** ***), *** ******** Reader *** ******** ******* ***** ******* to *** **** *** ****** **** while ********* ******** ***** **** ******** the *******'* ****** *******.
*** *********** *** ****** ** ** exit **** ***** **** ************ ******* from ~**,*** *** ******* ** ~*** lux ******.
*** ******** ****** *** ******** ******* the ********** *** ******** ***** *******. The *******'* **** *** *** ***** and ********* **** ********* ******** *******.
*** ** ***** ******** *********** *** background *** ******** ******** *******. *** subject's **** *** *** ***** *** shadowing **** ******** *******.
*** ******** ****** *** ***** ******* to *** ***** ************ ****** ~*-* seconds, ********* ***** ******* ******* *** out.
**** ****** ***** ** *** *** scene, *** ******** ****** *** ******** overexposes *** **********, **** ******* *** motion **** ** *** ******* ********* usable *******, ***** *** ** ***** provides ***** ********** ******* *** ******* on *** ******* **** ********* ******* details ** *** *******.
Bandwidth ***********
*** ************ **** ***** **** ******** motion ** *** ***** (******** *******). The ******** ****** *** *** ******* bandwidth *********** ** *** ***** (~* lux) *** **** ***** (~*** ***) scenes ~*.* -*.* **/*, ***** ********* higher ********* ** *** **** (lux) ****** ~*.* **/*.
Country ** ******
*** ******** **** ***** ******** ****** Pro *** **** ** ******.
Firmware ******** ******
- ******** **** ***** ****** ***: ********
- ******** ****** ****** ***: *.*.* (****)
- ******* ****: ** ** ****
- ****** ***-****: *.**.**
- ********* **-*********-**: **.*.** ***** ******
- ** ** *****: *.**.*.**.*
*** *** ***** ** **** ** issue ** *** **** * ********** or *** ******** ***** *****. *** mobile ***** ***** ***** *** ********* like ** ******** **** *** **** directly ** *** ****** ** *** phone.
** **** ******* ** *** *****, let's *** * **** ** ******* close ** *** **** ** *** interior, *** ***** ****** *** ***** state ** ******** ********, ***, ***, etc ** ********* **** *****.
**** ** * **** *** **** Avigilon ****** **** **** ***********.