iControl Piper NV Camera Test

By: Derek Ward, Published on Jun 24, 2015

iControl has raised over $100 million in VC funding to transform the home security market. 

Last year, they acquired Piper, a camera / home automation startup.

iControl now faces off against two other super well-funded Silicon Valley competitors - Google/Nest/Dropcam and $40 million funded Canary.

The iControl Piper NV includes uncommon features like a Z-Wave integration, environmental monitoring, and built in siren, all features Dropcam does not offer.

We purchased a Piper NV to see how these features worked and how it compared to Dropcam and Canary in these key areas:

  • How easy is Piper to set up and use for inexperienced users?
  • How does video quality compare to Dropcam, both day and night?
  • How easy is Piper's mobile app to use for playback and live video?
  • How well do Piper's added bells and whistles work?

******** *** ****** **** $100 ******* ** ** funding ** ********* *** home ******** ******. 

**** ****, ************ *****, * ****** / **** ********** *******.

******** *** ***** *** against *** ***** ***** well-funded ******* ****** *********** - ******/****/******* ***$** ******* ****** ******.

*** ******** ***** ** includes ******** ******** **** a *-**** ***********, ************* monitoring, *** ***** ** siren, *** ******** ******* does *** *****.

** ********* ****** ** ** *** *** ***** features ****** *** *** it ******** ** ******* and****** ** ***** *** *****:

  • *** **** ** ***** to *** ** *** use *** ************* *****?
  • *** **** ***** ******* compare ** *******, **** day *** *****?
  • *** **** ** *****'* mobile *** ** *** for ******** *** **** video?
  • *** **** ** *****'* added ***** *** ******** work?

******, ** ****** ***** questions *** ****.

[***************]

Key ********

***** *** ******* *** disadvantages ******* ****** ****** *******:

***********

  • ** ******: *** **** ** *** sort ** ****** ***** users *********** **** ****** through ******** ****** ** the ******** ** ***** to ****** ***** ***** ***** they **** **** **** their ******.
  • ** ******: *** **** ** *** sort ** **** ****** or **** ********** ********* makes ******* ***** *********. This ******* ** ******** in *******, *******'* ********, Canary, *** **** ***** consumer ******.
  • ****** ******* *****:** $*** ***, ***** NV ** ****** **** than **% ****** **** many ******** *******, ********* priced ****** ~$*** (****** these ** *** ******* Z-Wave ** **** ************* features). *******, **** **** Piper's **** ***** ******* offsets **** ****** ****.
  • **** ***** *******: ***** **'* ***** ******* is **** ******** ** Dropcam *** ******, *** to ****** ***** **** its ***° **** *** weak ** ************, ******* its ****** *.* ** resolution.

**********

***** *** ***** *** advantages ***** ** *** competitors:

  • **** *****: *****'* ***** ******* ** free (*** "**** ****** clips"), ****** **** ***** competitors . **** ******* to * ******* ** about $*** *** **** over ******* ** ******, whose ***** ***** ** ~$10/month *** ******.
  • *-**** ************:*****'* *-**** ******** *** found ** ***, ** any, ******** ****** ***********. Though ******* ****** ** contacts *** ********, **** may ** **** *** basic **** ********** *********, which *********** ** *** offer.
  • **** ******:***** ****** ************* ********** information *** ***** ** most ******** ******* (***** from ******). 

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

*****'* ****** ** ******* by **** ***** ******* and ** ************, ** well ** ******* ********* (lacking ****** *** ******), coupled **** * ***** tag ****** **** *** vast ******** ** *********** options. ***** ****** ******* for **** ** ***** remote ********** ***** ** served ****** ** ******* Pro ** ****** (***** offers **** ** *** same ************* ********** ********* and ***** ** ***** as *****).

*****'* *-**** ************ **** its **** ****** *** ***** seeking ***** **** ********** functions (********** *****/*******, ******* lights **/***). ***** ******* these ******** ***** **** ***** video *** **** ***** ******* and **** ****** **** purchasing ******* ******** ****** (Dropcam, ******, ***.) ** addition ** * ********** home ********** ******** (*.*., SmartThings, ****, ****). *******, those ******* ******** **** automation ********* **** ** complex ***** *** ********* or **** ****** ************ (thermostats, ****, ***.) **** find ***** *******.

*******

******** ******* *** $*** *** direct ** ******* ****** *********. This ** $** **** than *** $********** ************ ********, *** ~$** **** than******.

***** **** *** * cheaper $*** ***** (***** *******) **** *** ********** vs. *** *** ** integrated **.

********** *-**** ************** ***** **** *** $44.95 *** ******** *** dimmers, $**.** *** ****/****** sensors *** $**.** *** range ********* ****. 

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

*****'* ***** ******* ** free, ******** "** ** 1000 ******** ** ******** events" ********* ** ***** support. ******* ******* $*.**/***** (7 ****) *** ** for **** *******, ***** Canary ****** **** ** hours ** ***** *** free ($*.**/** *** * days *******).

Physical ********

** **** * **** at *** ******** ************ of *** ***** ** ******* in **** *****:

** ***** ** ****, Piper ** **** ****** in **** **** ******* Pro *** ******* *** same **** ** ******. Below ** * ****-**-**** image ** *** * cameras:

Setup *******

******* ***** *** ***** is ******, **** *** mobile *** ******* ***** through ******** ** ******* and ****** * ******. *** camera ** ***** *** wi-fi *** ***** * ~5 ****** ***** *******, the ****** ****** *** firmware ****** ********* ** *** mobile **** *********.

App ********

** *** ***** ***** we ****** *** ***** mobile *** *** **** of *** *********. 

*** ***'* ****** ** "busy" ******** ** ***** consumer ****** **** ******* or ******, **** ******** buttons, ****, *** ********. It *** ** ********* to **** ******** ******** as ****. *** *******, Z-Wave ******* *** ***** via * **** ** the ******** ******, *** users **** ** ** the "********" *** ** set * ******** *** lights/switches, *** ** *** "rules" *** ** ********* the ****** **** ** event. ************* ***** ******** into ***** ***** ***** reduce **** *********.

**** ******

***** ******** * "**** Vitals" ******, ******* ************* data *** ****** ** consumer *******. ***** ***** not **** ****** *** outside ***********/********, *** ***** levels, ***** ******, *** motion ******, ** * graph ** *** **** 48 *****. 

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

***** *** *** ** rules *** **** ** **** modes (***** ****** ** changed): "****", "****", "********" and "***" (************ ****). Rules *** ** ********* based ** ***, ***** detection, ***********, ** *-**** contact *****, *** ******* recording, *** *****-** *****, Z-Wave ********, *** ************* to *** **** ***/** their "******* ******."

******* ****** ************* *** limited, *******, ********* **** text (** ***** ****), no ***** ** *********. This ***** ***** *** content ** * ****** notification. ***** ****** *** simply * ****-**-****** ******* of **** ************.

**** **** ******* ****** contacts ** *** **** access ** *** ****'* Piper, ******. **** ***** may **** **** * single *******, ***** **** be ****** ***** *****.

*** *** ***** ********* are ***** ** **** video:

Search *** ********

***** *** ********* **** a **** ** ****** in *** ***** ***, with ** *** ** searching *** ******** ***** of ****** ** ******** dates. ******** ** * clip ***** * ******** displaying ****** *** ***** events ***** *** ** scrolled *******, *** *** timeline ** *** ******* by **** ** *** or **** ****, ** searching *** ***** ******** more **** * *** hours *** ** *********.

************, ***** ** ** way ** ****** * clip ** **** **** a **********, ****** ******* video **** *********** ********* in **** ** * crime.

Z-Wave ***********

***** ******** *** ******* to ****-**** ***********, * ******* ***** in *** ***********. **** is ******* ** ******** contacts, ********/*******, *** ***** extenders, **** ** ******* to *** ***********, ****, or ***** *********** ****** in **** ***** **** automation *******.

*-**** ******* ***** ******, with ***** ******* ***** in * ********* ****, then ******* *** ********** button ** *** ******. We *** ** ****** connecting ******** ** ******** in *** *****.

Image *******

***** ** ** *.***, which ** ****** **** most ** *** ********-***** cameras ** *** ******. However, *** ** *** 180° ***, ***** ** warped, **** ******* ** the *****, **** *****.

*****'* ***** ** **** darker **** **** *********** cameras ** *******. ***** may ****** ********** ** using * **** **** control, *** **** ******* to ****** **** ********** when *******, *** **** setting ** *** *****, forcing ***** ** ******** it ******** ***** ** viewed.

**** ***** ***** *** difference ** ********** ** full *****. **** **** this ******* **** *** function ** ***** **** with ** **.

************, *** ***° *** further ******* *** ** opposed ** *** ***° FOV ** ****** *** 130° *** ** ******* Pro.

**** *****

** **** ***** (~*** lux) *** ***** ******** fewer ******* **** *** Canary *** ******* *** to **'* *** *** for * ***° ***. *** subject's ******** *** **** detailed ** *** ****** and ******* ***, *** ***** */* of *** **** ***** slightly **** ******* (*****/*****).

** ********* *****, ******* on *** ***** ** the *** ** * problem, *** **** ** reached *** ** ***** for *******, **** ********* that "***** ******* ***** normal" *** ***** ** no *** ** ****** the *****.

****

** *** ****, *** Piper **'* ********** ** is **** ****** *** edges ** *** ***° FOV. *******, ******* *** objects **** *** ****** of *** *** *** illuminated ****, ****** ******** under ** ***********.

** *** *** ****** low ******* ** *** subject *** **** ***** again, **** ** ****** ********* usable ****** ** *** subject, *** **** **** legible ******* ** *** first **** ** *** chart.

*****'* ** ************ *** a ******* *** ****, with *** ************ ** the *****, **** **** as *** ******* ***** ****** *** room:

Comments (5)

Undisclosed #1

07/02/15 04:37pm

Piper NV is 3.4MP...

Am I correct to assume that this camera streams to the cloud at 3.4MP?

Derek Ward

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/03/15 01:00am

A,

I spoke with support, and they claim that the "resolution used for live view is the same resolution streaming to the cloud". So yes, you are correct in assuming that the camera streams to the cloud at 3.4MP resolution.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Derek Ward | 07/06/15 06:20am

So yes, you are correct in assuming that the camera streams to the cloud at 3.4MP resolution.

I wish I was correct, but in this case I'm not sure I am. It's confusing to me since on the one hand there's this direct from piper, saying that the camera, at least, is 3.4MP:

On the other hand, many top-line reviews of the product are saying that it records only 1080p, even while noting that the sensor is 3.4 MP.

Also, from the way tech support answered you, it wasn't clear if they were explicitly saying "3.4 MP streaming".

Curious, what were the original resolution of the images/clips you used in the review? What clever technique did you use to get them, since there is no downloading of clips supported?

Another question: Does the Piper NV have to be connected to the Internet even for Live View?

They seem to be making a big deal about their eptz capabilities, one guess would be that they are streaming at 1080p but doing live eptz zooming to the full sensor resolution. Like Dropcam pro but without the wand.

Thanks!

Derek Ward

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/06/15 02:31pm

A,

We took screenshots and screen recordings off the tablets and smartphones used to access the camera, since there is no export option (as you know). Resolution for those was 1080p, and the camera needs to be connected to the internet for live view.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Derek Ward | 07/06/15 06:18pm

So maybe it streams up to the cloud at 3.4 MP and down at 2.1 MP.

Could be. Then you could zoom a recording for more detail after the fact...

Interesting.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
China PRC Government New National Video Surveillance Standards on May 14, 2019
The People's Republic of China (PRC) government has released a new set of overarching standards for authorities to follow when they install video...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
Hikvision DeepinView Camera Analytics Tested on May 08, 2019
Hikvision is expanding its 'deep learning' offerings with a new camera series called 'DeepinView' claiming false alarm reduction and improved...
ADT's Top Dealer "The Defenders" Sued 20+ Times on May 07, 2019
ADT's largest authorized dealer, The Defenders, has been sued more than 20 times since 2012, IPVM has verified through analyzing legal...
Dahua ePoE Long Distance UTP / Coax Tested on May 03, 2019
Dahua's Enhanced PoE (ePoE) line is claiming extended video and power transmission over 600m without repeaters, with devices interchangeable via...
Verkada Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on May 02, 2019
Verkada is arguably the most ambitious video surveillance startup in many years. The company is developing their own cameras, their own VMS, their...
LenelS2 Launches VRx Video Platform on Apr 29, 2019
For years, S2's video management platform, the NetVR, was based on Exacq. Now, after years of internal development, S2 has launched its own...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...
Maglock Selection Guide on May 16, 2019
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Trump Signs 'Huawei Ban' - Executive Order Targeting Foreign Adversary Technology on May 16, 2019
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting technology provided by 'foreign adversaries', in what is widely being called a...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
San Francisco Face Recognition Ban And Surveillance Regulation Details Examined on May 14, 2019
San Francisco passed the legislation 8-1 today. While the face recognition 'ban' has already received significant attention over the past few...
Security Fail: ASISNYC Auto Emails Passwords In Plain Text on May 14, 2019
ASIS NYC automatically emails a user with the password the user just entered, in plain text, when one registers for the site / event, as the...
Hikvision VP On Muslim Oppression on May 14, 2019
Hikvision has won tens of millions of dollars, at least, in direct contracts with the Chinese government that oppresses Muslims, including a forced...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact