iControl Piper NV Camera Test

Author: 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?

Inside, we answer these questions and more.

******** *** ****** **** $*** ******* ** ** ******* ** transform *** **** ******** ******.

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

******** *** ***** *** ******* *** ***** ***** ****-****** ******* Valley *********** -******/****/**********$** ******* ****** ******.

*** ******** ***** ** ******** ******** ******** **** * *-**** integration, ************* **********, *** ***** ** *****, *** ******** ******* does *** *****.

** ********* ****** **** *** *** ***** ******** ****** *** *** ** ******** to ******* *********** ***** *** *****:

  • *** **** ** ***** ** *** ** *** *** *** inexperienced *****?
  • *** **** ***** ******* ******* ** *******, **** *** *** night?
  • *** **** ** *****'* ****** *** ** *** *** ******** and **** *****?
  • *** **** ** *****'* ***** ***** *** ******** ****?

******, ** ****** ***** ********* *** ****.

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

Key ********

***** *** ******* *** ************* ******* ****** ****** *******:

***********

  • ********:*** **** ** *** **** ** ****** ***** ***** *********** must ****** ******* ******** ****** ** *** ******** ** ***** to ****** ***** ***** ***** **** **** **** **** ***** device.
  • ** ******: *** **** ** *** **** ** **** ****** ** even ********** ********* ***** ******* ***** *********. **** ******* ** included ** *******, *******'* ********, ******, *** **** ***** ******** models.
  • ****** ******* *****:** $*** ***, ***** ** ** ****** **** **** **% higher **** **** ******** *******, ********* ****** ****** ~$*** (****** these ** *** ******* *-**** ** **** ************* ********). *******, note **** *****'* **** ***** ******* ******* **** ****** ****.
  • **** ***** *******:***** **'* ***** ******* ** **** ******** ** ******* *** Canary, *** ** ****** ***** **** *** ***° **** *** weak ** ************, ******* *** ****** *.* ** **********.

**********

***** *** ***** *** ********** ***** ** *** ***********:

  • **** *****:*****'* ***** ******* ** **** (*** "**** ****** *****"), ****** most ***** *********** . **** ******* ** * ******* ** about $*** *** **** **** ******* ** ******, ***** ***** start ** ~$**/***** *** ******.
  • *-**** ************:*****'* *-**** ******** *** ***** ** ***, ** ***, ******** camera ***********. ****** ******* ****** ** ******** *** ********, **** may ** **** *** ***** **** ********** *********, ***** *********** do *** *****.
  • **** ******:***** ****** ************* ********** *********** *** ***** ** **** ******** cameras (***** **** ******).

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

*****'* ****** ** ******* ** **** ***** ******* *** ** illumination, ** **** ** ******* ********* (******* ****** *** ******), coupled **** * ***** *** ****** **** *** **** ******** of *********** *******. ***** ****** ******* *** **** ** ***** remote ********** ***** ** ****** ****** ** ******* *** ** Canary (***** ****** **** ** *** **** ************* ********** ********* and ***** ** ***** ** *****).

*****'* *-**** ************ **** *** **** ****** *** ***** ******* basic **** ********** ********* (********** *****/*******, ******* ****** **/***). ***** seeking ***** ******** ***** **** ***** ***** *** **** ***** simpler *** **** ****** **** ********** ******* ******** ****** (*******, Canary, ***.) ** ******** ** * ********** **** ********** ******** (e.g., ***********, ****, ****). *******, ***** ******* ******** **** ********** functions **** ** ******* ***** *** ********* ** **** ****** integrations (***********, ****, ***.) **** **** ***** *******.

*******

******** ******* *** $*** *** ****** ** ******* ****** *********. **** is $** **** **** *** $********** ************ ********, *** ~$** **** **********.

***** **** *** * ******* $*** ***** (***** *******) **** *** ********** **. *** *** ** ********** **.

***********-**** ************** ***** **** *** $**.** *** ******** *** *******, $**.** for ****/****** ******* *** $**.** *** ***** ********* ****.

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

*****'* ***** ******* ** ****, ******** "** ** **** ******** of ******** ******" ********* ** ***** *******. ******* ******* $*.**/***** (7 ****) *** ** *** **** *******, ***** ****** ****** only ** ***** ** ***** *** **** ($*.**/** *** * days *******).

Physical ********

** **** * **** ** *** ******** ************ ** *** Piper ** ******* ** **** *****:

** ***** ** ****, ***** ** **** ****** ** **** than ******* *** *** ******* *** **** **** ** ******. Below ** * ****-**-**** ***** ** *** * *******:

Setup *******

******* ***** *** ***** ** ******, **** *** ****** *** walking ***** ******* ******** ** ******* *** ****** * ******. The ****** ** ***** *** **-** *** ***** * ~* minute ***** *******, *** ****** ****** *** ******** ****** ********* to *** ****** **** *********.

App ********

** *** ***** ***** ** ****** *** ***** ****** *** and **** ** *** *********.

*** ***'* ****** ** "****" ******** ** ***** ******** ****** like ******* ** ******, **** ******** *******, ****, *** ********. It *** ** ********* ** **** ******** ******** ** ****. For *******, *-**** ******* *** ***** *** * **** ** the ******** ******, *** ***** **** ** ** *** "********" tab ** *** * ******** *** ******/********, *** ** *** "rules" *** ** ********* *** ****** **** ** *****. ************* these ******** **** ***** ***** ***** ****** **** *********.

**** ******

***** ******** * "**** ******" ******, ******* ************* **** *** common ** ******** *******. ***** ***** *** **** ****** *** outside ***********/********, *** ***** ******, ***** ******, *** ****** ******, in * ***** ** *** **** ** *****.

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

***** *** *** ** ***** *** **** ** **** ***** (which ****** ** *******): "****", "****", "********" *** "***" (************ only). ***** *** ** ********* ***** ** ***, ***** *********, temperature, ** *-**** ******* *****, *** ******* *********, *** *****-** siren, *-**** ********, *** ************* ** *** **** ***/** ***** "Trusted ******."

******* ****** ************* *** *******, *******, ********* **** **** (** phone ****), ** ***** ** *********. **** ***** ***** *** content ** * ****** ************. ***** ****** *** ****** * text-to-speech ******* ** **** ************.

**** **** ******* ****** ******** ** *** **** ****** ** the ****'* *****, ******. **** ***** *** **** **** * single *******, ***** **** ** ****** ***** *****.

*** *** ***** ********* *** ***** ** **** *****:

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

***** *** ********* **** * **** ** ****** ** *** Piper ***, **** ** *** ** ********* *** ******** ***** of ****** ** ******** *****. ******** ** * **** ***** a ******** ********** ****** *** ***** ****** ***** *** ** scrolled *******, *** *** ******** ** *** ******* ** **** of *** ** **** ****, ** ********* *** ***** ******** more **** * *** ***** *** ** *********.

************, ***** ** ** *** ** ****** * **** ** even **** * **********, ****** ******* ***** **** *********** ********* in **** ** * *****.

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

***** ******** *** ******* ** ****-**** ***********, * ******* ***** ** *** ***********. **** ** ******* to ******** ********, ********/*******, *** ***** *********, **** ** ******* to *** ***********, ****, ** ***** *********** ****** ** **** blown **** ********** *******.

*-**** ******* ***** ******, **** ***** ******* ***** ** * discovery ****, **** ******* *** ********** ****** ** *** ******. We *** ** ****** ********** ******** ** ******** ** *** tests.

Image *******

***** ** ** *.***, ***** ** ****** **** **** ** the ********-***** ******* ** *** ******. *******, *** ** *** 180° ***, ***** ** ******, **** ******* ** *** *****, seen *****.

*****'* ***** ** **** ****** **** **** *********** ******* ** default. ***** *** ****** ********** ** ***** * **** **** control, *** **** ******* ** ****** **** ********** **** *******, and **** ******* ** *** *****, ******* ***** ** ******** it ******** ***** ** ******.

**** ***** ***** *** ********** ** ********** ** **** *****. Note **** **** ******* **** *** ******** ** ***** **** with ** **.

************, *** ***° *** ******* ******* *** ** ******* ** the ***° *** ** ****** *** ***° *** ** ******* Pro.

**** *****

** **** ***** (~*** ***) *** ***** ******** ***** ******* than *** ****** *** ******* *** ** **'* *** *** for * ***° ***. *** *******'* ******** *** **** ******** in *** ****** *** ******* ***, *** ***** */* ** *** **** ***** ******** **** legible (*****/*****).

** ********* *****, ******* ** *** ***** ** *** *** is * *******, *** **** ** ******* *** ** ***** for *******, **** ********* **** "***** ******* ***** ******" *** there ** ** *** ** ****** *** *****.

****

** *** ****, *** ***** **'* ********** ** ** **** around *** ***** ** *** ***° ***. *******, ******* *** objects **** *** ****** ** *** *** *** *********** ****, albeit ******** ***** ** ***********.

** *** *** ****** *** ******* ** *** ******* *** test ***** *****,**** ** ****** ********* ****** ****** ** *** *******, *** only **** ******* ******* ** *** ***** **** ** *** chart.

*****'* ** ************ *** * ******* *** ****, **** *** illumination ** *** *****, **** **** ** *** ******* ***** across *** ****:

Comments (5)

Undisclosed 1

| 07/02/15 04:37pm

***** ** ** *.***...

** * ******* ** ****** **** **** ****** ******* ** the ***** ** *.***?

Derek Ward

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

*,

* ***** **** *******, *** **** ***** **** *** "********** used *** **** **** ** *** **** ********** ********* ** the *****". ** ***, *** *** ******* ** ******** **** the ****** ******* ** *** ***** ** *.*** **********.

Undisclosed 1

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

** ***, *** *** ******* ** ******** **** *** ****** streams ** *** ***** ** *.*** **********.

* **** * *** *******, *** ** **** **** *'* not **** * **. **'* ********* ** ** ***** ** the *** **** *****'* **** ****** **** *****, ****** **** the ******, ** *****, ** *.***:

** *** ***** ****, *******-************* *** ******* *** ****** **** ** ******* **** *****, even ***** ****** **** *** ****** ** *.* **.

****, **** *** *** **** ******* ******** ***, ** ****'* clear ** **** **** ********** ****** "*.* ** *********".

*******, **** **** *** ******** ********** ** *** ******/***** *** used ** *** ******? **** ****** ********* *** *** *** to *** ****, ***** ***** ** ** *********** ** ***** supported?

******* ********: **** *** ***** ** **** ** ** ********* to *** ******** **** *** **** ****?

**** **** ** ** ****** * *** **** ***** ***** eptz ************, *** ***** ***** ** **** **** *** ********* at ***** *** ***** **** **** ******* ** *** **** sensor **********. **** ******* *** *** ******* *** ****.

******!

Derek Ward

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

*,

** **** *********** *** ****** ********** *** *** ******* *** smartphones **** ** ****** *** ******, ***** ***** ** ** export ****** (** *** ****). ********** *** ***** *** *****, and *** ****** ***** ** ** ********* ** *** ******** for **** ****.

Undisclosed 1

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

** ***** ** *********** *** ***** ** *.* ** ***down at 2.1 MP.

***** **. **** *** ***** **** * ********* *** **** detail ***** *** ****...

***********.

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

Axis 4MP Camera Tested (M3046-V) on Sep 28, 2016
Axis has brought 4MP to its camera line in the new M3046-V, the highest resolution model in their revamped M30 series. We bought and tested this...
Nest Cam Outdoor Tested - Analytics Strong, Installation Weak on Sep 23, 2016
After years of claiming an outdoor model was "coming", addressing their biggest user demand, Nest has finally released their Outdoor Camera, an...
You Get Robbed, Canary Will Pay You Up To $1,000 on Sep 22, 2016
Canary is trying to break the status quo in DIY security, first by raising over $40 million, and now a revamp of their monthly services package...
History of Video Surveillance on Sep 22, 2016
This is a concise history of video surveillance covering the past decade.  The goal is to help professionals newer to the industry understand...
Totally Wireless IP Camera (IPVideo Corp NomadHD) on Sep 21, 2016
Wireless battery powered cameras have been a surveillance pipe dream for years, limited by camera power consumption, battery technology, and...
Camera Course September 2016 on Sep 15, 2016
This is the only independent surveillance camera course, based on in-depth product and technology testing. Lots of manufacturer training exists...
PTZ Camera Guide 2016 on Sep 15, 2016
Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras remain critical parts of many surveillance systems, especially in large security operations. Because of this it is important...
Milestone Kills Go, Slashes Express Pricing, Launches Enhanced Version Free on Sep 12, 2016
Milestone is shaking up the industry again with enhanced free software and a major price drop. 6 years ago, Milestone launched their first free...
Milestone VMS Adds H.265, SVQR, RAM Video Optimization on Sep 09, 2016
Milestone is rolling out enhancements to XProtect to support H.265, enhanced edge recording functionality, and potentially allow users to reduce...
Hikvision 4K Camera Tested on Sep 09, 2016
Hikvision is the most common choice for low price entry level products but they are also competing with low light models, smart CODECs, WDR...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Arecont To Release Industries' Best H.265 Support on Sep 30, 2016
Go big, or go home. That seems to be Arecont's philosophy for H.265, they say they are working on the "best" H.265 implementation in the...
Wall Street Journal Runs Report on Dahua Hack on Sep 30, 2016
The Wall Street Journal is bringing attention to the massive Dahua attack we reported on Tuesday. In an Thursday article entitled, "Hackers Infect...
Dahua USA CEO Tim Wang, Where Is Your Integrity? on Sep 29, 2016
Dahua USA CEO Tim Wang and Dahua Director of Marketing Tim Shen shared their IPVM passwords extensively, resulting in Dahua USA CEO's account...
Allegion NDE Wireless Lock Examined on Sep 29, 2016
While wireless locks are one of the hottest areas of access control, two of its biggest challenges are high cost and limited integration with...
The 'Last Chance to Save' On Hikvision Is Here on Sep 29, 2016
It is over. After at least 8 across the board price cuts in the past 10 months, including an unprecedented back to back 20% off, Hikvision has...
Camera Calculator Class and IPVM Member Orientation October 2016 on Sep 28, 2016
Members, learn how to better design video surveillance systems and get the most out of your IPVM memberships with 2 upcoming live classes. Both...
Axis 4MP Camera Tested (M3046-V) on Sep 28, 2016
Axis has brought 4MP to its camera line in the new M3046-V, the highest resolution model in their revamped M30 series. We bought and tested this...
Hiring Spree At Aimetis 6 Months After Being Acquired on Sep 28, 2016
Aimetis was acquired in April 2016, and is now expanding almost all of their departments, hiring employees from Axis and other industry...
Hikvision Chairman Tours With Chinese Government Boss on Sep 28, 2016
Two China Communist senior officials toured Europe this summer, one was Hikvision's Chairman and the other was his boss, SASAC Director. In this...

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