Axis 2N Intercom Tested

Published Nov 08, 2018 15:31 PM

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2n ip eye software call station

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Comments (35)
U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 08, 2018

There are a few neat elements to this, but it really looks like a collection of mediocre compromises rolled up into a rather blah hardware form factor.

(2)
MM
Michael Miller
Nov 08, 2018

Did you need to purchase the ONVIF licnese to get video intergration to work?

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 08, 2018
IPVMU Certified

The 'gold' integration license was used, which is a free trial license for 800 hours, I believe. Otherwise, a video license or 'gold' permanent licenses need to be purchased.

NB
Nicolas Bellego
Nov 08, 2018

Hello

If you want to record the video on a vms, yes the licence is needed.  If you want just transferring the call internaly to SIP Phone or acces it with your mobile through the cloud, is not needed.

(1)
Avatar
Clint Guethlein
Nov 08, 2018
IPVMU Certified

"Sporadically Garbled Cloud Audio: Unfortunately, 2N's reliability was sometimes marred by distorted audio when using the cloud/mobile service. While dialog was understandable, the audio quality was mechanically choppy and distorted on some mobile calls regardless of local LAN network segregation or network infrastructure."

 

This is just as likely to be a cellular call issue as the the device.  It seems unfair to put in a reference to an element the device or installer have no control over.

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 08, 2018
IPVMU Certified

This factor was present with two different carriers: both AT&T and Verizon were tested.

You may be correct, but potential performance is not disclaimed by the company in signing up.

(1)
NB
Nicolas Bellego
Nov 08, 2018

I had some audio issues as well. Not sure where it came from. But the support from 2N was able to remotely help me to solve these issues. 

NB
Nicolas Bellego
Nov 08, 2018

I will add that the fact that you can create a "group" of mobile phone to call with the cloud is really great.

You can make a call to one number at the first step and if no answer switch to a group of mobile phone without any ipbx.

Of course you have monthly fees for that. 

UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Nov 08, 2018

Do they have definitive plans to upgrade the internal camera? Currently they only stream VGA resolution when using H.264 for the VMS stream and terrible WDR. 

(1)
(2)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 08, 2018
IPVMU Certified

I will ask 2N for feedback on this and report back.  Thanks!

(1)
Avatar
Robert Batten
Nov 29, 2018

I def agree with you on the terrible WDR.  We have installed a couple IPForce's.  I love the unit especially with the Indoor Touch's but the cam is pretty bad.  Especially in full sunlight.  I'm sure a revision is coming given the buyout; hopefull sooner rather than later.  

U
Undisclosed #3
Nov 08, 2018

Thank you very much for this report.

Very timely in my context.

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 09, 2018
IPVMU Certified

2N clarified that deeper 'non-CSN only' iClass cards can be used with card reader modules marketed as 'Secured':

We do have a versions that reads PACS ID from HID iClass cards. Reader modules marked as “SECURED” have sockets with SIM card that contains HID keys to read secured sectors of the card.

I also clarified that 2N IP Eye so it is clearer this is the video client addition to an existing SIP Client. 

UE
Undisclosed End User #4
Nov 12, 2018

Do they offer any kind of integration to outside access control? I'm curious about these guys but dont want to add another app for my users. 

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 12, 2018
IPVMU Certified

In general, the answer is contingent on the integration you're wanting. 

Call integration can be done via SIP, so that is quite broad. However, device/management system integration is more narrow:

(1)
(1)
UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Nov 14, 2018

We use 2N with Open Options ACS

(1)
MB
Matt Bartenhagen
Nov 15, 2018

That's what i'm looking at doing. How is the integration? does it play nice, for the most part?

U
Undisclosed #5
Nov 13, 2018

Nobody should be putting 125kHz prox in new equipment.

(2)
LJ
Laura Jones
Nov 13, 2018

By selecting the type of card format you plan to utilize rather than selecting all formats you can increase your read range to a couple inches rather than rubbing as shown in the video. Uncheck the unused formats such as MiFare, DesFire and Felica etc 

These will be listed under the Hardware section, card format settings I believe.

(4)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 13, 2018
IPVMU Certified

That's an informative tip!  Thanks for sharing it.

MT
Michael Terrizzi
Nov 15, 2018

Product is garbage. Boast HD video yet only way to get 720p video is MJPEG. All h264 streams are D1/4CIF.

 

MIND YOU 2N is OWNED BY AXIS, i though MJPEG died in 2005. yet here we are pushing HD video over MJPEG.

 

stuff doesn’t work reliably with the IDT desk station. 

 

Tech support is so far far disconnected from reality. Battled with them for 6 months and 6 firmware upgrade later the product is almost working as expected. 

 

And its its way over priced for an IP intercom and then they try to bang you integration licenses. that will be $150 for MJPEG video and broken onvif profiles. 2N really knows how to F* their VARs and customers.

 

Also forgot to mention they advertise ONVIF-S yet it doesn’t work with Exacq vision. IE doesn’t record on motion.  I’m sure Exacq has their OnvifS driver squared away and 2N has just check the box and never actually tested anything

 

Labels require special paper in order to be printed to be put behind buttons. good luck ordering that translucent paper. they definitely don't provide any and you have to dig for it on their website.

customer wasn't going to pay $1000+ for an intercom and then have dynamo labels but on top.

there also is not a surface mount box that accepts a conduit connection for the IP solo or verso. 

 

IDT has to be firmware upgraded onsite, with an SD card.

anytime you update the Solo you need to update the firmware of the IDT onsite with an SD card. that make it brutal to deploy an update.

 

SO MUCH NOT CORRECT WITH THIS PRODUCT IT HURTS. I would return all of it if i could.

(2)
(3)
U
Undisclosed #7
Nov 15, 2018

Michael, what IP intercoms do you recommend?

MT
Michael Terrizzi
Nov 15, 2018

every solution required a look at the specific application. IE what are the customers requirements now and what is their future potential requirements over the next 3-5 years.

From there i can recommend a particular intercom solution.

(1)
U
Undisclosed #5
Nov 15, 2018

I’m sorry but that is a BS response. It’s hard to survive as a company doing a new thing every time.  If you’ve done this enough to comment as a voice of experience you should have a couple of go-to units, like one or two, that you’ve become familiar with for various scenarios and can be repeatably installed and configured.  Selecting a different type (of anything connected really) per job burns a lot of hours making it work, and it’s hard to imagine a company or tech doing a deep enough dive to make a well-informed comment.

And btw, MJPEG is useful for integration.

(2)
UE
Undisclosed End User #8
Nov 15, 2018

2N has produced a great product for years. Light years above aiphone. I've used and sold this product for at least 7 years now and its SIP integration and ability to run on a client PC as a background service is nearly unparalleled. You can say all you want about it being trash but you cannot give a comparable product that offers what any 2N product does. 

(3)
MT
Michael Terrizzi
Nov 15, 2018

I would agree the SIP part is very functional and the PC client is definitely a plus. we a have used both.

My statements are mere issues where the product missed the mark and 2N has nothing to say about those issues. 

(1)
MT
Michael Terrizzi
Nov 15, 2018

its not BS, we have used comelit, hikvision, aiphone and 2n for IP intercoms as our "GOTO" solutions. there isnt one product fits all or your getting one unit and thats all we offer.

MJPEG is not useful for recording HD video, the point was that they dont have H.264 in HD.

 

my point is that the product is a turd, unpolished, expensive, unrefined and I dont see the value in their crap.

 

IDT has to be firmware upgraded onsite, with an SD card.

 

anytime you update the Solo you need to update the firmware of the IDT onsite with an SD card.  that make it brutal to deploy an update.

 

Oh and we have about 20+ of them deployed at a few sites, so its not like this is a first time, we don't know what we are doing experience. this has all been learned while installing.

 

(2)
LJ
Laura Jones
Nov 15, 2018

Luckily the latest software revision fixed the SD card update so no more need for those onsite updates. Had to do one last night for a client ourselves. It’s not a terrible process but very unorthodox from other manufacturers for sure. 

(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #9
Mar 04, 2019

I was working a support issue on one of these just last week and tried to confirm with Axis that this was true. Their 2N specialist told me that wasnt the case and firmware still had to be loaded locally from a microsd card. under thier direction we still had to go onsite and complete the firmware update at the unit. This was on the Indoor Touch. 

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Mar 04, 2019
IPVMU Certified

I'll ask 2N to comment on this (ie: local-only SD update) and follow up here when they reply.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #10
Sep 21, 2019

From my talks with 2n support the IDT will always be on-site SD f/w update as it is a hardware "feature". This has been resolved with the IDT2, with that the Indoor Compact that was just released works just as well and it easier to operate for the basic user.

MT
Michael Terrizzi
Nov 15, 2018

great, but one of my customers is 3 hours away. we have already updated several stations to get this to work. it was very costly and painful to update the IDT.

its working now and not touching it unless it breaks again.

 

(1)
JL
Jon Lagace
Mar 04, 2019

Not so happy with spending the over $3500 dollars cost CDN on the product for 2 intercoms and gold license, then realizing that there is a per device fee for using the unit.  I probably wouldnt have had too much of a problem if this was explained prior to the purchase, but it wasnt.  Poor communication during the sales process.

 

 

(1)
JO
Jeff Owen
May 01, 2019

I have experience with the 2N IP Force.  I would like to add that the one of the great features of these intercoms is the direct IP calling features they support over SIP.  You do not have to register this device as an extension on your SIP server to integrate it with SIP based phones.  You can call an IP like sip:10.0.0.50:50333.  This is great for users who pay per extension in cloud environments.

The 2N line of intercoms offers many different ways to use their devices which really appeals to the contingency planner in me.

(2)
Avatar
RJ Spurr
Sep 17, 2019
IPVMU Certified

The Zenitel (Stentofon) video intercoms are ONVIF compliant now. We are adding them as cameras to March Networks Command VMS