Ideal SecuriTest IP Vs Unbranded IP Camera Install Tool Tested

By IPVM Team, Published Nov 21, 2018, 09:37am EST

In our recent IP camera installation tool shootout, multiple members questioned the Ideal SecuriTest IP's features compared to low-cost unbranded models found on Amazon.

To see how the two compare, we bought and tested one of these low-cost unbranded models vs the Ideal:

tested1

Inside we report our findings on:

  • User interface similarities and differences
  • Physical differences, including construction, button quality, and port layout
  • Pricing, warranty, and support differences
  • Basic use overview
  • Cable and network testing utilities
  • Wearable use

*******

***** ** *** *****, the***** ********** ***** ******* ********** **** low-cost ****** ****** ***** similar ********/********.

  • ***** ******** ****:*** ****** ****** ***** suffered **** ******* ******** bugs *** ***** ** the ***** **********, **** occasional *** ******* *** one *** **** ******* any **** ** ***** to **** **. ** contrast, ** *********** **** few ****** **** ***** the ***** ******.
  • ***** *******:*** ***** ********** **'* build ******* *** ******* improved ******** ** ****** models, **** **** ********** and ******* ****, *** a *******, **** ******* feel.
  • ***** ******* ********:*** ***** ********** ** includes **** ***** ******* features *** ***** ** the ****** ******, **** tone **********/***** *******. **** that ***** ******** *** available ** **** ********* import ******, ****** ** a *********** ***** *******, nearing *** ***** ******'* price.
  • ****** *******:***** ******** *** ******* to ******** * "****** report" ***** ******** *** details (****, ********, **** tested, ***** *************) ** well ** *********, *** included ** *** **** models.

***** ** ***** ********, unbranded ****** *** **** for ***** ******* ** save * *** ******* dollars, *** *** ***** model ****** ******* ****** usability **** ***** ****** as **** ** ***** support *** ********.

*******/************

******** ********** ******* ***~$*** *** ******.

***** ** *********** ******** in ******* ** ***** cost ****** ******, ********* on ******* ***. *** model ******(****** ********-****) ***** *** ~$400 ******, *** ******** ** analog *** **** ***** cable ******* ********, **** similar ** *** ***** model. *******, ***** **** models *** *********, **** as *******-********* ***** *** ~$*** and **** *** ******* HD ****** **********, ** well ** ****** ****** models ***** ******* ******* multimeter, ***** *******, *** even ***** ******* ********, but ***** ****** *** closer ** ***** ** the ********** ** (~$***+).

Same ***** ********

*** ***** ********** ** and ********* **** **** model *** *** **** basic ********, *** ******* operating ****** **** * selection ** **** **** for ******* *******, *************, and ****. *** *** devices ********** **** **** similar, **** **** ** the **** *****, ****** different *********** *** ***** schemes.

Ideal **. ********* ****** ***** ***********

*******, ***** **** **** very *******, ***** *** several *** *********** ******* the ***** ********** ** and ********* ****** **** as *** ****** ********* in **** ******, *********:

  • ***** ******** *******
  • **** ****** ***********
  • ***** ******* ****** ******
  • ***** ***** ******* ********
  • ***** ***** ******** *******/********/******

Ideal: ******** ******* (**** ********** *** *******)

***** *** *** *********** differences ******* *** ***** and ****** ******' *******/****:

  • ***** *******:**** **********, *** ***** tester's **** *** *******, making **** ****** ** see ** *** ***** compared ** *** ***-*** keys ** *** ****** model.
  • ***** **** **********:******, *****'* **** **** more **********, **** * more "******" ********** *** less **** ******** ** the ****** ******.

Port ****** ***********

*** *** ******* ******* essentially *** **** ******** and **** ** *****, though ****** ******. *** most ******* ********** ** that ********/*** ***** *** located ** *** *** of *** ***** ******, but *** ****** ** the ****** *****. **** users *** **** *** orientation ******** ******** ** the *****, ****** **** are *********** *** ****.

poe port location differences

Ideal: ******** ***** ******

*** ***** ********** ******** a ******** ******* *** off ******, ***** *** import ****** **** ***. This ****** *** ******* to ** ********** ************ when *** ****** ** not ** ***, ********* battery **** **** ** not ** ***. ** contrast, *** ****** ***** uses * **** ***** button ****, ***** ****** slight ***** ********* ***** the **** ** ******* off.

cut off switch conserves power when not in use

Ideal: *** **** ******** *** ***** ******** *******/******

*** ********** ** ******** a * **** ********, with ******* ********* ** Ideal's *** ******** **** Chicago. ** ********, *** Wsdcam ***** ******** ** warranty. **** ***** ***** repairing *******, *** ****** did *** *******.

************, ***** ****** **** they **** "**** **** 100" ***** ***** **** which *** ******* ***** support ** ***********, *** available **** ********* *****.

Basic ********

** *** **** *****, the ********** ** ****** users ** ******* * camera ** *** ****'* PoE **** *** ********/********* it ***** *****-** ****.

**** ******* ** ************ in *** ***** *****:

Ideal *******: ****** *******

*** ********** ** ******** the ******* ** ******** camera ************ *******, ***** provide ****** ***********, ********* location *** ********* ****, as **** ** ************* information (*****, ***, **********, etc.) *** *********. **** allows *********** ** ****** document *** ***** ** the ****** ** ******* when **** ****** * service **** ** ** part ** **************** *******. **** ********** ** not ******** ** *** unbranded *****.

Cable ******* ********

*** ********** ** *** be **** **** *** basic***** ******* *****. ***** ******* *** be ******* ***** *** tester *** ** ******** remote **** (**** **** for ***** *******). *** unbranded ***** ** ****** did *** ******* ***** features.

cable-wiremap-testing

************, ***** ****** *** attenuation *** ** ******** using *** ***** ** TDR **** (**** ****** Reflectometer).

cable length attenuation testing

Network *******

*** ********** ** ******** basic ******* ******* *********, such ** ****, ** scanners, ****** **** ********, and ****.

network-scanner-utility-included

Third ***** ****

** ******** ** ******** apps, ***** *** ******* third-party ************ ** *** SecuriTest ** ** ******* them ** *** ** card ** ***** * package ********** **** *********. **** ****** ******** camera ***/** *** ************ apps ** ** ********* depending ** ***** ****** the ********** ********* ***** with.

third-party-apps-may-be-installed

Ideal ******** ********

** **** *****, ** provide * ******** ******** of *** ********** **, including *** ******** ***/******** ports, ** ****** ** and ***, ***** **** ports, *** ****.

Wearable ***

*** ********** ** *** unbranded ******* *** ** worn ***** * ****-***** neck *****, ***** ****** the ****** ** **** at ** ***** **** the ****'* ****, ** it *** ** ****** hands **** **** ****** or ********. ***** **** tools ******* ** ***** one **** ** ** used, ***** *** ******** installation ********** ** ***** or *******.

Country ** ******

  • ***** ******** ********** **: Made ** *****
  • ****** ****: **** ** China

Firmware ****

*** ******* ******** ********* at *** **** *** used *** *******

  • ***** ******** ********** **: 1.8.1.2.2
  • ****** ****: **-*****.*.*-**.*.*-*****

Comments (11)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

11/21/18 03:59pm

If these are running the same firmware as the ones I tested, these units run Android. You can root them fairly easily, and pull the APKs off of the device. Most will not run on your phone. 

Avatar

Chuck Janzer

IPVMU Certified | 11/21/18 04:10pm

Excellent report. We've been using two different "NoName" China models for over a year.  I've had the "bigger" of the two units, the newer "version 9" that has 4K capable devices.  We find they work as expected with no crashing.  Even though the units do way more things than I've had time to play with - TDR, tracing, SDI, ....    they really do help for field setup and testing.  We've had techs that can't "find" a camera because it was misaddressed and they spent hours trying to make it work.  With these devices, they found that camera within seconds.  (That tech didn't have it with him - he had to come back to the shop and pick it up.) 

From your report, I'd probably buy the Ideal version now - designed better for the US market. 

I see from the last video, you tested other manufacturers devices.  Please provide further comment on those.  With these devices rather expensive, we want to get all the techs their own.  But if they don't need all the features, maybe a "smaller" device for every day use is more appropriate.

 

Avatar

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Chuck Janzer | 11/21/18 09:43pm

Chuck, thanks for feedback and including your first hand experience. We have a complete install tool shootout report with all of our findings here.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

11/23/18 10:51pm

Hi

We will purchase the Ideal simply for the fact that IDEAL, the company, understands the notion of supporting their customers.. Our experiences with Wsdcam have been disappointing. We'll leave it at that. Else it is one of the most useful tool ever presented to an IP company .. when it works .. which it ceased to do in 4 instances... after 6 months (We were so excited about these that we bought two and recommend it to 2 different friends/contractors... ).. Caveat Emptor ...

Keith Lacourciere

11/25/18 03:00am

Can anyone direct me to the various APK files for these testers?

I own the latest one from Wsdcam (the X9) and have a small issue. If I am dealing with a analog or HD over analog camera and unknown of the type (CVBS, HD-TVI, CVI, AHD) I have to open each app separately and see if I have a video picture. (On this tester each format has its own app. I am hoping on the Ideal one perhaps there is one app that will auto identify the format and display the picture -- which is one reason I am looking for the APK files for these testers.) To compound issues, sometimes one format (say TVI) might still display through the app of another format but with a very fuzzy image.  

I also own this tester https://www.alibisecurity.com/portable-7-inch-color-lcd-test-monitor-ali-ac5

and it auto detects the signal of the connected camera -- the downside of this tester, it doesn't work with 5MP and above HD analog cams, or any IP at all.

 

So in short - I am looking for an app that can run on these Wsdcam/Ideal android tester that can auto detect the camera type connected to the BNC port. Even if it doesn't display the image, that is fine... cause as long as I know the actual format, then I can go to the correct app to display the video.

 

Thanks!!!

 

Keith

Undisclosed #3

11/26/18 04:46pm

Thank you guys for this!

Undisclosed Distributor #4

11/28/18 08:55am

Lol they are clearly made in the same factory.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #4 | 02/07/19 09:47pm

True, but probably with different quality control standards and maybe some software apps. Just because they come from the same source doesn't mean Brander A is getting the same unit with same options as Brander B.

Daniel Barrera

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #4 | 09/23/20 09:32am

Your observation is correct, the SecuriTEST is an OEM product that we have made by the same factory that makes many of the "generic" testers that look the same.

The difference is that we have custom software which we have spent many months improving over the OEM software. Ours actually works and is not full of many of the bugs and other problems that many people who use the generic testers suffer with. In fact when compared side-by-side, we have customers who quit using their generic testers because the software is so bad and use the SecuriTEST IP without problem.

Just one example is that the OEM software always has the DHCP server enabled. Fine if you are connected directly to a camera, but not good if you connect to the network to scan and connect to cameras via the LAN. In that case your tester conflict with the network's DHCP server and start causing all sorts of issues. The SecuriTEST has two different operating modes; direct camera connection and network search for cameras. In direct connection the SecuriTEST's DHCP server is on and in network search it is off. The generic testers require the user to manually turn the DHCP server of the tester on or off. An inexperienced user will not realize that they are "breaking" the network by simply connecting their tester. Just one example of software that is not well thought out.

Like many products today, the software is makes all the difference between good and poor products and user experiences.

Tom Spinoso

IPVMU Certified | 03/09/19 04:29pm

Any thoughts on this? 

https://www.amazon.com/Koolertron-Upgraded-Screen-IPC-9800-Firmware/dp/B06Y3S6CJC/#customerReviews

It appears to have reporting which is important to me.  Seems like the feature set is narrowing....  

Daniel Barrera

In reply to Tom Spinoso | 09/23/20 09:42am

You may want to ask the vendor about this.

Most of these testers can capture an image of the video (screenshot) which you can save to an SD card. Then you'll need to create a report of your own with the stored screen captures.

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