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 ****** ***** ***** ***** **** **** **** **** ***** ******.
  • ** ******: *** **** ** *** **** ** **** ****** ** **** screenshot ********* ***** ******* ***** *********. **** ******* ** ******** in *******, *******'* ********, ******, *** **** ***** ******** ******.
  • ****** ******* *****:** $*** ***, ***** ** ** ****** **** **** **% higher **** **** ******** *******, ********* ****** ****** ~$*** (****** these ** *** ******* *-**** ** **** ************* ********). *******, note **** *****'* **** ***** ******* ******* **** ****** ****.
  • **** ***** *******: ***** **'* ***** ******* ** **** ******** ** ******* *** Canary, *** ** ****** ***** **** *** ***° **** *** weak ** ************, ******* *** ****** *.* ** **********.

**********

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

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

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

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

*****'* *-**** ************ **** *** **** ****** *** ***** ******* ***** home ********** ********* (********** *****/*******, ******* ****** **/***). ***** ******* these ******** ***** **** ***** ***** *** **** ***** ******* *** **** useful **** ********** ******* ******** ****** (*******, ******, ***.) ** addition ** * ********** **** ********** ******** (*.*., ***********, ****, Wink). *******, ***** ******* ******** **** ********** ********* **** ** complex ***** *** ********* ** **** ****** ************ (***********, ****, etc.) **** **** ***** *******.

*******

******** ******* *** $*** *** ****** ** ******* ****** *********. **** ** $79 **** **** *** $********** ************ ********, *** ~$** **** **********.

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

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

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

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

Physical ********

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

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

Setup *******

******* ***** *** ***** ** ******, **** *** ****** *** walking ***** ******* ******** ** ******* *** ****** * ******. *** camera ** ***** *** **-** *** ***** * ~* ****** setup *******, *** ****** ****** *** ******** ****** ********* ** *** mobile **** *********.

App ********

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

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

**** ******

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

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

***** *** *** ** ***** *** **** ** **** ***** (***** cannot ** *******): "****", "****", "********" *** "***" (************ ****). Rules *** ** ********* ***** ** ***, ***** *********, ***********, or *-**** ******* *****, *** ******* *********, *** *****-** *****, Z-Wave ********, *** ************* ** *** **** ***/** ***** "******* Circle."

******* ****** ************* *** *******, *******, ********* **** **** (** 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 * ***° ***. *** *******'* ******** *** **** ******** ** the ****** *** ******* ***, *** ***** */* ** *** **** ***** ******** **** legible (*****/*****).

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

****

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

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

*****'* ** ************ *** * ******* *** ****, **** *** illumination ** *** *****, **** **** ** *** ******* ***** ****** *** 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

Mobile Surveillance Trailers Guide on Jan 17, 2019
Putting cameras in a place for temporary surveillance where power and communications are not readily available can be complicated and expensive....
Testing Bandwidth Vs. Low Light on Jan 16, 2019
Nighttime bandwidth spikes are a major concern in video surveillance. Many calculate bandwidth as a single 24/7 number, but bit rates vary...
Bad: Dahua Villa Video Doorbell Tested on Jan 11, 2019
Doorbells are one of the hottest segments in the residential market but Dahua's Villa Video Doorbell is the worst we have tested.   We bought and...
Worst Products Tested In Past Year on Jan 09, 2019
IPVM has done over 100 tests in the past year. But which products performed the worst? Which ones should users be most aware of? In this report,...
Managed Video Services UL 827B Examined on Jan 09, 2019
Historically, UL listings for central stations have been important, with UL 827 having widespread support. However, few central stations have...
Struggling ASCMA / Brinks Home Security Gets Stock Delisting Warning on Jan 08, 2019
Struggling Ascent Capital Group (NASDAQ: ASCMA) has disclosed a warning from NASDAQ that ASCMA faced delisting unless they reverse their downward...
2019 Video Surveillance Cameras Overview on Jan 07, 2019
Each year, IPVM summarizes the main advances and changes for video surveillance cameras, based on our industry-leading testing and...
IPVM Best New Products 2019 Opened - 70+ Entrants on Jan 07, 2019
The inaugural IPVM Best New Product Awards has been opened - the industry's first and only program where the awards are not pay-to-play and the...
Surveillance Codec Guide on Jan 03, 2019
Codecs are core to surveillance, with names like H.264, H.265, and MJPEG commonly cited. How do they work? Why should you use them? What issues may...
Camera Course January 2019 on Jan 03, 2019
This is the only independent surveillance camera course, based on in-depth product and technology testing. Lots of manufacturer training exists...

Most Recent Industry Reports

The IP Camera Lock-In Trend: Meraki and Verkada on Jan 18, 2019
Open systems and interoperability have not only been big buzzwords over the past decade, but they have also become core features of video...
NYPD Refutes False SCMP Hikvision Story on Jan 18, 2019
The NYPD has refuted the SCMP Hikvision story, the Voice of America has reported. On January 11, 2018, the SCMP alleged that the NYPD was using...
Mobile Surveillance Trailers Guide on Jan 17, 2019
Putting cameras in a place for temporary surveillance where power and communications are not readily available can be complicated and expensive....
Exacq Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 17, 2019
Exacq favorability amongst integrators has declined sharply, in new IPVM statistics, compared to 2017 IPVM statistics for Exacq. Now, over 5 since...
Testing Bandwidth Vs. Low Light on Jan 16, 2019
Nighttime bandwidth spikes are a major concern in video surveillance. Many calculate bandwidth as a single 24/7 number, but bit rates vary...
Access Control Records Maintenance Guide on Jan 16, 2019
Weeding out old entries, turning off unused credentials, and updating who carries which credentials is as important as to maintaining security as...
UK Fines Security Firms For Illegal Direct Marketing on Jan 16, 2019
Two UK security firms have paid over $200,000 in fines for illegally making hundreds of thousands of calls to people registered on a government...
Access Control Cabling Tutorial on Jan 15, 2019
Access Control is only as reliable as its cables. While this aspect lacks the sexiness of other components, it remains a vital part of every...
Avigilon Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 15, 2019
Since IPVM's 2017 Avigilon favorability results, the company was acquired by Motorola and has shifted from being an aggressive startup to a more...
Gorilla Technology AI Provider, Raises $15 Million, Profiled on Jan 15, 2019
Gorilla Technology is a Taiwanese video analytics manufacturer that recently announced a $15 million investment from SBI Group, saying 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