Arecont Favorability Results 2017

By: John Honovich, Published on Jan 25, 2017

Given Arecont is 3 time defending integrator choice for worst camera manufacturer, it should be little surprise they had the lowest score in the integrator Favorability series.

Integrators detailed why they dislike Arecont, and comments indicate that while Arecont have won some battles improving product perception, they are still losing the overall war.

Arecont *******

******* *** *** ******* negative **********, *** *** lowest ******* ***** (* factor ** ******** **. negative *****):

*** ******* *** **** were ******* ** ******** integrator ******** ** *******: poor ******* ******* *** reliability ******.

Failure *****

***** **** ****** ******* cameras ***** **** ******* of ******* ******** *** quality ******, ******* ************* are ********* ********* ** having ******, ***** ******** in *** ******* ******. Here, ******* ******** *******, with *********** ********* * variety ** ******* ********, both ** ***-**-*** ******* and ********* *******.

"*. ******* ***** *** high *** ***** ** the ***** ***** ********. There *** **** ** major ******* ** ******* these *****. *. ******* seem ** ** ************ / *** *** ********** (low ********* ************, **** bitrates / ****** *********** bitrate *********) *. *** our ********* **** ********* them ****** *** **** 5 ***** **** ***** on *** **** ******** opinions ** ****."
"****** ** **** *********** problems."
"**********. ******* ** **** when **** ****, *** the ******* **** ** high ******** ** ***** brands."
"* **** * **/** opinion ** *******. ***** quality ** **** **** once * ****** ** set **. * **** had ******** ** *** past **** *** *** up ******* ******. *** failure **** ** ***** cameras *** *** **** in ** *******, ** well."
"*** ******** **** *************, faulty ******* *** ** send ****. ****** *** much ****."
"***** ********** ** *****. Most ** *** ****, reputations *** ******. * do **** ********* **** swear ** ****, *** most ***** ** ****. Their ******** ** **** a **** **** ** return ***** ** ******* out ** ** ******."
"**** **** **** **** little, *** **** * first ******* **** * cameras *** ******* *** (20%)"
"**** ********** **** *******. Poor ****** *******, **** product ************* *** ********* support. ***** ******* *** unreliable ***********. **** ******* all ******* ********* ** previous ***** *** * few."
"** **** ********* ***** 30 ** *** ***** sensor ****, ***** ******. We **** *** ** replace ** ***** **** and **** *** ********* service *****. ** **** not **** **** *** longer."
"**** ********, ********** ******** but **** *** * poor ********** **** ********* failure *** ******* **** software."
"** **** **** **** in *** ****. ** have *** *********** ******** out ** *** *** and ******* ***** ***** a *** ******. ***** issues ** **** *** is ********* *** ********* on ******** *******."
"***** **** *** *********** specs, ******* ******** ***: 1) **********. *** **** DOAs. *) ** * camera *****, ***** ** often, ******* ** ******** or ******** ********* ***** years. *) **** ******* usually ****** **'* * VMS *******. *) ********* they **** **** ****** the **** **** ********* can *** ***** *** Arecont ***** ** ***** the ******** **** **** they ******* ** ** the ***********."
"******** **** ***** ** products. ******* ******* ******* in *** ***** ** learn **** **** ************ incorrectly. ******* **** ****** replacements *** ***** ** no ************ *** *** lost **** *** ***** which ** ***** ** make *** *****. **** has ****** ******* ** our **** *** **** us **'* ** ********* of ******* ** ***** lost ** ******** *** to ******** *********** ****."
"** **** *** * higher ******* **** **** the ***** ** ****** with ******* ******* **** with ***** ****** ** use. ***** **** ****, they **** * **** selection ** ******** *** the ***** ******* ** great."

Product *******

*** *** *********** ******** outright ********, *** **** others ***** ******* ****** that ******** ** ******* performance ** ******* ****** that *** ** ******** feedback.

"**** ******** ****** ******* quality ******* ****** (****** showing ******* ******, ***.)"
"****: **** **'** ******* replaced *** ******** ** Arecont ******* ** ********* installed. *******: **** **, poor **** *******, **** sales *******."
"**** **** ***** *******, but *** *********** ****** continue ** *** * bad ***** ** *** mouths ******* ** ****** other, **** ******** *********."
"** *** ****** ** Arecont * ****** ** years *** ******* ** BAD ******* ******. **** not **** **** ** about * *****. *** a *** ****** ***** customer ******** ** *** Arecont ** * ******* in ***** ** *** protest. ** ******, *** got ** ******* ** that ** ***** ****** extra ** * *&* basis ** ****** *** Arecont ******** ******. **** ended ** ****** ** over $*** ** ****** due ** ******* ******** during *** ***** * months ***** ************."
"*** *** **** *********. Not ********* **** *******."
"******* ******* *** ******** from ******** ***** *** still ****. ** *** used ** *** ******* levels ** ****, ****, Panasonic *** ******* **** not ******* **. ** have * ****** ** customers *** **** *** Arecont, *** ** ** were *** *** **** we ***** *** *** it ** ***."
"******* *** **** ***** quality, *** ** ******** to ******* *** ** quality ******* ******."
"** ******* **** **** our **** * *** years *** ******* ** the **** ******* *** tech ******* ******. ** would **** ****** ** get **** ******* ****** resolved. *** **** ********* on **** ** *** cameras ***** ***** ***** and ******** *** ******** was * **** *********."
"***** ** **** *** There ****** ***** ** be ** ************ ** focusing ***** ********** *** electronically **** **** ****** better ***** **** *** US *****."
"**** *** ********** **** multi ****** **********. *** rep *** *******. *** channel *** ************."
"** ******* ***** ******* heavily ******* ***** ***. Then ******* ****** ********* and ** *** *** many ********. ** **** never ****** ****. *** only **** ** **** consider ******* ** *** multi-imager *** ** ***."
"******* ******** **** *** multi-head *******. **** ** communication *** *** ******* problem. **** *** ***** the **** ** *** everything ** * ****** enclosure."
- "**** ******* *******. **** low ***** *******. ******** they **** * **** looking ******** *** ********. It **** ***** **** they ****** *******."
"**** ** ******* *******. Their ******** *** *** highest ******* **** *** of *** ***** ******* we **** ** **** dealt **. **** **** don't **** **** **** competitive *** ***** ***** of *******. "
"** *****-******, ***** **** is *** ***."
"**** * ***** **** in *** ***, * feel **** **** **************."
"****** **** **** **** the ***** * **** had **** *** ****** with ****...**** ***** **** their **** ***** ***** and *** ********* ** other ***** ****** ***** makes **** **** **********...* do *** *** ***** standard ** *******."
"*'** **** ********** **** one ******* ***** ****** camera. ** ****'* * terrible ******, *** * was ************ *** ******** I've ****** ** **** has **** ********** *****'* have ***** ****** ** say."
"** *** * ******* where ** *** ********* difficult ** ****** * good ****** *** ********* lighting ********* - ** was ****** **********, ***** ch ****'* **** ** the **** **********. **** then ** ***, ***** is **** **** *********** with ****** ******** ** better ******."

Down, *** *** ***

***** **** **** *********** comments *** *******, *********** giving **** * ****** chance, ** ****** ******** expereinces.

"**** ** ***** ****** solutions ****** ** **********."
"* *** ******* ********** where * **** ************** images. **** **** **** good ******* *** ********** price. **** * **** "Sorroundvideo" *******, **** *** good ****** ** *** need ** *** *** and *** ***** *****."
"** *** ****, ******* had ******* *** ********* issues. **** * *** a *** *****, * tend ** **** **** from * ******* *** a *****. ********, ** have ******* ***** **** of *** *****-****** ******* from *******. ** **** allowed *** *** *********/******* requirements. * **** **** the ******* **** **** and ***** ** ** the ******* **********. ** so, ** **** ***** using **** *******."
"*****: **** ***** *******. Multisensor ******* ******* *** game, *** *** ********** to *******. ********** *****-***** for ********. ********: ****** quality -- **** *** some ******, ******** **** one ********. ********* ** a *** ******. ******** bandwidth ****."
"******** ** *** **** they **** *** ****** with ******* ********** ****** things *** ******* **** well. **** *** **** active ** ****** ****** things ***** **** *** integrations."

Lack ** **********

******* *** *** **** industry-leading ********, ***** *** ***** *.*** MP ****** ********, *** *** ***** with quad-sensor ** *******. *******, integrators **** ***** ** comment **** ******* ** no ****** **** ** an *********. **** **** companies *** ******** *****-****** products, *** ******* ***** so **** ** *** smart ***** ****, ****** perception ** ****** ****** offerings ***** ** * significant ****.

"******* ** **** *******. An **** *** ** the ********** **** ** the ********."
"**** ** ***** *** after ***** ******* ** the ****** ** *** primary ******* ***** ******* Arecont ******* *** ** the *** ** **** the ******* ***'* ***** any ******** ******* **** others ***'*."
"**'* **** ****** ***** I ****** ******* *** I ** *** ****** off ** ***** ******** negative ******* *** ***** products *** ** ****** ahead ** *********** ** multi-sensor ******* ** **** functionality *** *******"
"** **** ***** **** Arecont ******* ******* ***** to ** ****** **** the ***** ******* *** there. ***** ****** ** the ******* ** **'* just *** ******* ** have *** ***** **** of."
"* ***'* ****** **** anything ***** *******. ***** imaging ** *** ***********, their ***** *****'* **** to ** ***********, *** their ********** *** ***. We've *** ******** **** quality ** *** ****, and ** *****'* *** any ****** (**********, *****, added *****) ** **-******** them ***** ****."

Outlook *** *******

******* ************ ********* **** product ******* ****** *** negative ******** **** **** integrators. ** ******** ***** their **** ********* *** ***** near ******** ** *****-****** cameras, *** *** ****** of ***** ******** ** certain ************. *******, **** multi-sensor ******* ******** **** of ***** ***** ************* portfolio, ******* ** ****** a *********** ********* ****. The ******* **** ***** to ******* ******* ***-***** performance, *** **** *** a ***** ***** ** the ******** ** ***** portfolio **** ** ***** up ** ******* *********. Unlike ***** ************* **** use ******** **** ***** players **** ********* ** HiSilicon, ***** **** *** get * **** ******* of ***** ************ **** the *******, *******'* **** approach ******** **** ** develop ********** ** *****.

*** ***** *******, ** expect ******* ** ******** to ******** ** *** market, ***** ** ********* another ******-******** ******* **** has *** **** ****** their *****-****** ********* *******.

Comments (8)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/25/17 06:06pm

I think Arecont does continue to innovate. Once other people starting releasing 180 multisensor cameras, they came out with the Omni. First the multi-sensors did not have remote focus, now they do. Then they released the Flex and the Duo series. They've had a pretty robust line of micro form factors for awhile now and lots of options for "inbetween" sizes like 3MP and 5MP and 10MP.

Maybe that's the problem. More dollars go into designing new stuff and the product quality side looses out because of not enough funding. I wonder how many integrators thought, "They didn't work well before, but now they have this new neat camera, and maybe because it's new they improved the quality this time." Quality fails, they are out of favor again, release next toy to regain interest, rinse and repeat.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/28/17 02:55pm

I think Arecont does continue to innovate... First the multi-sensors did not have remote focus, now they do. Then they released the Flex and the Duo series.

#1, that is a good point and I agree with you about the innovation within multi-imagers.

I think the challenge for Arecont is that there's only so far innovation within multi-imagers will take them with. Multi-imagers are a good niche but will always be a niche product as for cost reasons or application / design choices, single imagers will remain the most common choice.

The other issue is the ill-will Arecont has brought upon itself. A story on that. An integrator was asking me about using the Axis Q3709 and I told him that we tested it and found it performed poorly. I actually suggested he consider Arecont but he flat shut me down because of his own past poor experiences with Arecont.

John Huntley

01/26/17 12:30am

I have used Arecont 180 and 360's on several jobs. Some in critical infrastructure applications. I saw them as the "Panoramic Pioneers" a few years ago, but lately have been discouraged by the continuity of the picture across the imaging sensors. The browser interface seems archaic and the menu screens for the different options actually impedes viewing of the live image. Additionally, when compared to other products like Pelco, their scene stitching is almost laughable, despite being able to adjust the "sensors" through software.

They have always seemed to work out-of-the-box for me, but Arecont seems content with what was good a few years ago being passable now. I do not see major innovation.

Low frame rates, I can handle, it is part-and-parcel with high-resolution cameras, especially in the panoramic line.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

01/27/17 04:42pm

John Honovich:

Would you and the IPVM staff ever consider doing a "teardown" of some cameras, similar to what iFixit does when a new iPhone is released?

I have a suspicion that Arecont uses extremely underpowered image processing chips in their cameras, leading to poor framerate/bitrate control.

I think it would be fun to round up several similar cameras from varying manufacturers, crack them open, and try to identify the chipsets contained inside.

I suspect we'll see some manufacturers using some very old, cheap, and underpowered imaging chipsets in their surveillance cameras. Might be fun to look at the wholesale price of these chips and do a cost comparison (i.e. which camera has the most powerful imaging chips, for the cheapest prices).

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 01/27/17 05:17pm

I'm sure there would be some dealers willing to donate out-of-warranty or non-returnable cameras for that venture if specific models were requested. A camera that took a lightning hit or water damage might have enough parts intact for close examination.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 01/27/17 05:28pm

We actually have planned to do this and started some teardowns. It's on my list of things to do, but other reports have taken priority. It's still coming, just not 100% sure when it'll be released.

Garrett McWilliams

01/28/17 01:15pm

I find it completely absurd and unreasonable that Arecont cams aren't capable of providing a secondary stream -- you can get either full or half size, that's it. You can request the rez of the stream you want, but the camera doesn't scale -- it will just take a portion of the field of view corresponding to your X by Y rez request. A 12MP camera even at half size will overwhelm many embedded display devices, such as automation system touchpanels.

Bobby Krecker

04/05/17 12:01pm

I have made multiple attempts to contact someone from Arecont in an attempt to help me better understand their technology of the multi-imager cameras. My requests have been unanswered through their website email and BOTH the Director of Federal Programs & Mid-Atlantic and the Regional Sales Director - Mid Atlantic & Southeast. I will be recommending to the Government agency I support to use a different, more responsive manufacturer.

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