Hanwha Wave VMS Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Jan 22, 2018

Hanwha has released their first open platform VMS, Wisenet Wave, an Network Optix OEM (see test results) enhanced with integrations and optimizations for Hanwha's products.

In this report, we examine how Wave performs including:

Hanwha camera/analytics integration
Embedded NVR integration and limitation
Cloud access
Mobile app usability
User management improvements
Comparison to entry level and enterprise VMS
Comparison to competitive CMS/NVRs
Pricing and positioning

****** *** ******** ***** first **** ******** ***, Wisenet ****, ** ******* ***** *** (*** test *******) ******** **** ************ *** optimizations *** ******'* ********.

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[****: **** **** ******** knowledge ** *** **** Network ***** ***. ** you *** *** ******** with **, ****** ********** ***** *** **** report *****.]

Executive *******

** ******** ****** ****

******* **** ** * significant *********** **** ******'* existing **** / *********** software, ** ***** ** features *** ********* (*.*.,**** flexible ****** *******, ***** monitoring, ********* *********, ***., as **** ** ***** access). However, **** ******** ****** ********* and **** ********, **** expensive **** *** ***-**** NVR / ** ****** licensing ** ******'* ******** NVRs

***** **** ****** ****

**** *** ********* **** Hanwha's ******** **** *** doing ** *** * notable ***********:

****** ***** ***: ***** *** ******** *** limited ** ***** ****** and ********/******** ********, ***** ******** smart ***** ****** ** thumbnails (****** "*******" ** Wave) *** **** ***** options ********. *** ***** users, *** *********** ** likely **********.
****** *****: *** ** *** **** of **********, *** ******** may ** ********* ** use *** ***** **** many ****** *****, ** Internet ********* *** ** insufficient *** ****** ***** **** remote *******.
*******: ****** ******* ** 1/4 *** **** **** it ** *** *******, Wave ***** ******** ********* for *********** **** (******** ~$400 ****** ***** *** a ** ******* *** license).

** ***** *** ********* NVRs

**** ******** ** ******* manufacturer-specific *** ********, **** as*********'* ****-****** ***** *** [**** no ****** *********], ***** used ** **** ******** NVRs/DVRs, ******* **** ** at * ******* ************, as ***** ******** *** most ***** ****. ************, Wave's *********** ** * central ****** **** ********* cost *** ********* **** using ***** ***/****, ********* Hanwha's ***.

*******, ***** *** ****** to **** **** ******* to *** **** **** of ***** ********, ** they **** ** ** fairly ******* *** ********* to *****, *** ***** with********* ******. ************, **** ******** several ********** *** ***** in ******* *** *********, such ** ****** *********, more ******** *******, ***** enhancement, ******* *********, ***.

** *****

****, **** *********, **** between ***** ***** *** enterprise *****:

**. ***** *****: ******** to *** **** ***** such ** *********** ***** or ******** ******* ****** Core, **** ****** ******* advantages **** ** *****-****** support, **** ***** ******, screen *********, ********* ******* dewarping, ***., *** ***** in **** ***** *********. However, ** ** ****** significantly ****** **** ***** options, ********* ~$** **** per *******.
**. ********** ***: ******** to ********** *** (*******, Milestone), **** ** ************* less *********, *** ***** advanced ******** **** ** integrations ** ***** ***** access, *********, ***, ********* detection, ***. ***** ***** systems *** ** ********** using ****'* **** ***/**** events, ***** ***** ******** numerous ************ ** ***** party ********.

Pricing **********

******* **** *** ** MSRP ** $*** *** per ****** *******, **** Hanwha ******** **** ****** discounts *** ** **** list *****. ******** **** and ******** *** ******** license *****, */* *** cost ** ** *******, sold ** ***** ** four ($***/**** *******, $***/******* channels, ***.). **** **** Hanwha ** ********* ******* embedded *** ******** *** new *** ******** *** customers ******* ***** ****.

******* ******* ** ******* to ************ ********* **** other ***-**** *****, **** as *********** ************, ********* XProtect ************+, ***., ****** Wave ******** **** ******** features ** ***** **** licensing ***** ***** ***-**** options ** ***, **** as ******** *** ********* support.

Wisenet ******** ******* ** ******

**** ********* ******'* ****** trend ** ***** ******* branding ******* ** ***** own. *** ******** ** simply ****** ******* **** on *** *******, ** well ** *** *** login ****** *** **********.

******'* **** ** **** shown (*** *******) ** copyright ******* *** "*****" screens ** ********.

Network ***** ***

**** **** *** *** most ****, ******* **** is *********** * ******* of ******* *****'* ** Witness ***, ******* ** Digital ********'* ********. **** features, **** ** **** view (******** *******, ***** enhancement, ***.), ********/****** (********* and ***** ******), *****-****** export, *** ****** ****** *** same ** ** *******.

** **** ****** *** specific ***** ***** **** differs ** *** **** improved ***** ***** *****, but ******* ****** *** our ************* *****/******* ******** *** Test*** **** ******* ** basic ******** *** *********.

Tighter ****** ***********

**** **** ******* ********** Hanwha ******* **** *********, allowing ***** ** ****** **** settings ** *** ******, including ***** *****, ********* levels, ***, *****, *** exposure/low ***** ********, ***** here:

**** *********** ** ****** to **** **** **** when ********* ********, ******* of ******* ** **** several ******* *******. *******, note **** ***** *******, notably ****** *** ******** setup, ******* *** ******'* web ********* ** ** used *** ************* (****** says **** **** ** add **** ** ****** versions).

Hanwha ********* ***********

** ******** ** ************* options, **** ********** ****** camera/NVR ********* **** *******, including ********* *********, **** crossing, *********, *** ***** ********* (analytics ********* **** ** camera/NVR ******, **** ******* X ******** ********** ******* **** Wisenet *** ** *).

***** ********* ****** ** the ****** ***** ******** and *** ** **** to ******* ******* ******* in ****, ********* *********, pushing ** ***** *******, bookmarking, ***. *** ******* below ***** * **** crossing ******** ********** ** alarm ****** ** **** and ********** ****** ** the **** ** *** right.

**** **** **** ****** analytics *** *********, *** third ******* (*.*. **** VMD/Perimeter ********, ********* ***** Events, ***.).

Hanwha *** *************

**** ********** ******'* ******** NVRs, ******** ***** ** view **** ***** *** playback ******** **** *** NVR, ***** ****:

**** **** **** *********** still ******** * **** server ** ** *****, as **** ** ********** licensing *** **** *******. The **** ****** ******** to *** ******** *** the ****** ******** ** the ****** ** **** live/playback. *** ****** **** not ****** ******* ******** to *** ******** ***.

Embedded *** *********** **. ****

***** ****** ** ***** there *** *** ******* limitations **** ***** ******** NVRs ** ****, ******** in **** ********'* *************. *** ******* ********* include:

** **********:**** *** ******* ****** of *** ******** *** be ****** ** ****, with ** ********* ********* to ********** ***** ** tile **** ** *** load (****** ******* ****** Switching ** ****).

**** **** ****** *** users *** ****** **** full ********** ** ********** lower *********** (***** *****), but **** ** *** available ** ******* ****** clients.

** ***** ****** ** thumbnails:***** *** **** *** timeline *** ***** ****** with ******** *** ********, with ** ****** *** smart ****** (************ *****) or **********. ***** ******* are ****** ****** *** in ***** **** ***** NVR ********.

Wave **** **** ***** ******

**** ******** **** ***** access, ****** **** ****. To *** ****, ******* are ****** ********** **** an ******* (** ****** Administration), *** *** **** accessible *** *** ***** in **** ****** *** desktop ****, ** **** as *** *** **** website.

***** ********* ******* (*******, Mac, *** *****) ****** essentially *** **** ** local ** **** ********* clients, **** *** *************, live, *** ****** ********** available. ***** ****** *** in ** *** ****** using ***** **** **** login *** *** ******* to ***** ****** ******(*) with ** **** ********** or ***** ****** *****. ****** app ********** ** *********** the ****, ***** ****** download *** *** **** the ***.

Wave **** ******

****** *** *******, **** Sync ****** ****, **** few ******. *******, ***** should ****** **** **** substreams ********** (****** ********** allowing **** ** ************* adjust ****** ********), ** pulling **** * *** full ********** ******* *** overload *** ******** ********* of **** ******** ***********.

*** *******, ******* ******** cameras ******** ******* **********, the ********** ** *** server ******* ***** *** to ********* ************:

Mobile *** ***********

****'* ****** *** *** several *********** ******** ** other *************:

** ***** ****** ****:**** * ****** ****** may ** ****** ** a **** ** **** and ******** **** ** option *** ***, ***, or ***** ***** ******* common ** ***** ****** apps. *** ****** **** shows ** ** *** cameras ** *** ******, but ***** *** *** updated ** **** ****.
** ******/******:*** ****** *** **** not ***** *** ************* on ****** ****** (******, analytics, ***.), ****** ** other *************.
** *********/**********:***** ** ** ****** for ********* ***** **** those ***** **** *** mobile ******'* **, *** ways ** ******** *********, either ***** ** *** device ** ** *** Wave ****** ******.

Mobile *** ***** *** **** ******* *** ********

***** **** *** ***** limitations, *** **** ****** app ** *****, **** live ***** ****** ******* and ******** ********* ******, both ******** *** ****** in ***/*** ****** ****. Additionally, ** *********** ** issues **** ******* ******* to **** **** ** playback *****, *** *******, or ***** ******** ***** are ******** ****** ** many ****** ****.

Improved **** **********

**** ******** ************ ** user ********** **** ** recent ******** ** ** Witness. ** ******** ********, user ********** *** *******, with ****** ****** *********** granted ** ******* *******, making ********** ********** ** large ******* **** ********* than **** *********** ***** include ******** ***********. ***, user ********** ** ********, allowing ************** ** ****** permissions ** ******** ***** or *******, *****:

*******, **** *** ******** of ***** ******, ***** users *** *** ** configured ** ****** ***** or *****. ******** ** account ** ***** **** the ****** ** **** user's **** ** ********* servers **** ******* ** via **** ****, **** an ***** ********** **** to ****** *** ******.

Versions ****

*** ********* ********/******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

******* ****: *.*.*.*****
****** ***-****: **.*********
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ISC **** **** ******

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Comments (19)

John Bazyk

Command Corporation
IPVMU Certified | 01/22/18 03:43pm

Wave is priced too high right now. I spoke to my rep about it. Hopefully, they can come down on dealer pricing a little. At this point they’re about 40% higher than what I’m paying right now for Spectrum.

Integrating analytics and DVR/NVRs is a big advantages over Spectrum. Not sure why DW hasn’t integrated all of their DVRs yet.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Bazyk | 01/22/18 03:53pm

I told them the same thing. Unfortunately the whole DW and Hanwha OEM deal is going to make this whole thing messy for a while. I wish NX Witness would just sell direct to dealers in the US or have Hanwha just purchase NX and get this over with.

Troy Stone

01/22/18 04:16pm

Looks like an incomplete statement* regarding enterprise management though it seems like a pretty straightforward deduction where Mr. Ace was going with the comment. Thank you for the research and shared observations.

*Wave includes improvements to user management made in recent versions of Nx Witness. In previous versions, user management was limited, with camera rights essentially granted by sharing layouts, making enterprise management of large [systems .]

As far as Wave, so far I'm very impressed with the UI in terms of ease of use and flexibility. The dewarping and search tool, etc. are really impressive. Looking forward to doing our own in-house testing. The cloud access and getting users connected without port forwarding are great features. Nicely done.

Regards.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Troy Stone | 01/22/18 04:23pm

Thanks for pointing that out, fixed. Also good to see you in the comments!

Troy Stone

In reply to Ethan Ace | 01/22/18 04:26pm

Thanks for the reply and thanks again for the article, Ethan!

Alexander Pats

01/22/18 06:37pm

The camera list shows ds of all cameras in the system, but these are not updated in real time.

They should be for most cameras. For some cameras there is even live video with good fps, others should update screenshot every few seconds.

Thanks for the review.

Blake Murphy

01/23/18 12:53am

NX, spreading themselves thin, while watering down their great offering.
As a competing VMS we found it very hard to fault, but the branded versions are just overcomplicated for support features.

John Bazyk

Command Corporation
IPVMU Certified | 01/23/18 01:41pm

This is a response I received on LinkedIn regrading me question about why Wave is 40% more expensive than Spectrum.

John Bazyk, great question. Although there are almost 3,000 supported devices, Wave is made for Wisenet cameras and that is where the true value lies. Utilizing IP camera technology to it's full potential, creating a more proactive surveillance environment and optimizing operational efficiency can only be achieved through native integration between hardware and software. This is what Wave provides in many ways from an exclusive event engine, seamless configuration and greater stability to.. well.. I can't talk about it, but the future roadmap for Wave is exciting. As a $55 billion company highly invested in security, we've barely scratched the surface of what we will do with Wave to make it different and superior. (edited)

Matthew Terry: Dan your assessment is wrong and misleading. There is a big difference between a simple OEM like spectrum and a co-developed product like #Wisenet #WAVE. OEM is reskinning the UI. Co-development is using internal resources to build on the core of a great product and turn it into something much more powerful and useful.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Bazyk | 01/23/18 01:47pm

I can't talk about it, but the future roadmap for Wave is exciting.

Well then if and when that happens, they should then increase the price 40%.

I do think it's going to be hard to justify to many when another company is selling almost the exact same thing (literally same fundamental code base/application) for that much lower.

Also, it's not just the cost comparison to DW, it's vs the 3rd party open VMSes. Now, maybe Hanwha is doing this to favor / support their VMS partners but it does create a strange situation where Hanwha is releasing a VMS but handicapping it from the start.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Bazyk | 01/23/18 01:55pm

I got the same basic response from my contacts. WAVE will door more and has integration with Hanwha analytics. Fact is right now it isn't much different from the end user besides the analytics and different color interface.

What happens if your WAVE dealer competing with Spectrum dealer on a project? It's going to be hard to win that battle

I also assume this is also messy for Europe customers as you can purchase WAVE and NX Witness. I wonder how the pricing compares between the those two overseas?

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Michael Miller | 01/23/18 07:07pm

Has anyone needed to use tech support for Hanwha? Maybe that could be what you're paying for to some degree. DW support has always been awful in general but I have never been impressed with DW support for Spectrum.

I've only called Hanwha for support one time when it was still Samsung and my experience at that time ended up being incorrect information given on a camera. They stated the camera had an IR cut filter when it didn't. So the support was helpful, but ended being useless when it was discovered the information was wrong.

NVR integration seems to be just as bad as when DW first tried to market DVR integration with Spectrum. Then they said it wasn't recommended and wasn't that great.

John Bazyk

Command Corporation
IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/23/18 07:36pm

I haven't although I really can't complain too much about DW's Spectrum Support. We don't need it often if we do it's usually something that NX needs to address anyways. When we have needed DW support it's been fine. They could use some training on telephone conversation skills but other than that they have always been helpful. For me, if they marketed better support that wouldn't be a selling point.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to John Bazyk | 01/25/18 01:51pm

To that end, there is some justification for the additional price point in that Wave support is handled through Hanwha tech support, and not NX.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 01/25/18 01:52pm

Dear Hanwha employee, you think 40% higher pricing is justified?

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 01/25/18 01:56pm

Is that really a good thing, at least in the beginning? Which organization is likely to know more about supporting the software, resolving technical issues, etc?

I think I would rather get support from the direct manufacturer of something whenever possible.

Patrick Kelly

In reply to John Bazyk | 01/26/18 08:04pm

Not sure about Matthew’s argument. I do not recall him being at the bungalow in Burbank back in the Eve Media days, it looks like he was busy at the CCTV Outlet in Phoenix. Hanwha was not even in the industry, when Nx needed the capital investment to make the product into the video management solution it is today. Many had the chance back in the day to put their money on the line (I seem to recall several rounds of financing) to develop the product, few did, one of the few was Wade Thomas with DW and a board member at Nx.

Undisclosed #2

01/24/18 04:42pm

It would be cool to see Wave aggregate business analytics from the X-Series like people counting and heat mapping.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 01/26/18 04:49pm

Update: Hanwha has released an update to address NVR integration issues seen in our tests, version 3.1.1.17641. Previously, the timeline could fail to load in NVRs if time jumped backwards for any reason, such as the wrong timezone being used. This is now fixed.

Hanwha is also working on a fix for cloud connectivity issues seen in our test. We'll update when that's available.

Sean Patton

IPVM | 04/15/19 06:03pm

Report updated with details about Wave 4.0 from ISC West 2019:

ISC West 2019 Update

At ISC West 2019 (IPVM Full Report) Hanwha showed off a beta version of their Wave VMS 4.0 release, highighting expandability to 100 servers, updated Notification panel for Hanwha camera-based video analytics events, Secure SSL and encrypted video traffic, support for Hanwha X-series cameras retail video analytics, and password protected video exports. They said they are planning a summer 2019 release, and noted there are no licensing changes in 4.0 compared to 3.2.