Startup Strops Completely Wireless Surveillance Camera Examined

By: Brian Karas, Published on Jul 28, 2017

European startup Strops has developed a surveillance camera that offers up to 6 days of runtime and cellular communications to create a fully wireless surveillance system.

Their CEO described the features and functionality of the product, and why he thinks it is different from other portable/rapid deployment cameras on the market today. In this report we analyze Strops' product and competitive position.

Strops Company **********

***** ** ******,****** *** ******* ** ******** ******* [link ** ****** *********] ** 2014. *** *******/******* **** about ***** ** *** been ******* ** *********** company, *** ********* ***** for * ******** ****** system **** ***** *** without ******* ********* *****. Since ******** *** ******* he *** ******* ** 2 ***** ********, *** has * ***** ** 5 ****-**** *********, **** some ****-**** *********.

*** ******* ** ********* held *** ******. *** product ***** ~*.* ***** in ***********, *** *** first ******** ******** ** IFSEC ****.

Product ********

"******" ** ******* *** beehive, ***** ** ********* many ******** ****** ******* together, *** ****** **** is * ****** ** individual ********** ******* ******** to ***** * *******, according ** *** ***.

******** *** ***** ********** and **** ***********, *** system *** *** **** components:

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

*** ******* **** **** a ******** ****** ******* to ******** *****, ******** it ** ** ****** removed *** ********, ***** the **** ****** ***** mounted.

******* ********** ***/*** *****, ******* *** ****, batteries, *** ***** *********** for ********** *** ****** are **-***** ********, ********* to *** ***. *** Mobotix ****** ******** ****** for ******* ** ******* image ******* ** ** used ** *** ******, based ** ******** ************. A **/*** ****** ******** remote ************, *** * custom *** ******** **** environmental *** ****** **** for ******/****** **********.

** ******** ** *** system *** ****** ************ can ** *** ** STROPS' ********* *****:

Battery/Power ******

****** *** **** ** designed ** ** *** from *** ******* ****, it **** ******** * built-in ******* **** ****** for ********** ** * high ******* ***** ******. This *** ****** *** battery ** *** **** as * ***, ***** is ****** ** ***** where *** **** ** installed ** * ***** pole **** ** ***** to **** **** ** at *****. ****** ***** from *** ***** ***** powers *** ******, *** charges *** ******* *** when *** ***** ** turned ***.

*** *********** ******* **** contains * ******* ****** battery, ******** *** **** battery ** ** ******* in *** ***** ******* disrupting ************.

*** ******* ******* *** available, *** ******** *** ~3 **** ** *******, and *** ******** *** ~6 **** ** *******.

Cloud **********

** ******** ** *** camera ********, ****** *** developed * ***-***** ****** for ******** *** ******* units. ******* **** *********, customers *** *** ********* of ******* ** * map *******:

******** *** ***** **** an ********** ****** ***** stats ** ******* ****** level, ********* ******* *********, operating *********** *** ******* connection ******:

***** *** **** **** live ** ******** ***** from ******** *******, ****** cameras, **** *********, *** manage ***** ************** ******** through *** *** ******.

******* *** **** ******, users *** **** ****** the ******* ****** ******** to ********* ************* ****** the ****** ******.

Other *** *******

*** ******* ***/** ******** H.264 *** ****, *** claims ***** ******* *** is *** **********. *** Strops / ******* ******* can ********* **** ***** that ******** ******* ******* (such ** *******, *********, Wavestore, ***.) ** *** RTSP *********, ****** **** streaming ****.

Current *********

****** ****** ** **** ~*** units ********, ********* ** EMEA. ********* ******* ************ sites *** ********** **** have *** ******** **** illegal ******* (***-*******).

*******

**** *** * **** with * *-*** ******** battery ****** ** €*,*** (~$7,000 ***). ********* ***** is ** ****** *** the ****** ********, *** no *********** ** ******** any ********** ********** ** subscriptions.

Availability - ******* *** ************

********* ****** ** ******* the ***** ** ******, and ***** ******** *********. They ****** **** *** looking *** ************ ** North *******, *** **** other *******, ***** **** feel ***** ******* *** compete **** ******** *********.

Competitive ********

**** * ******* **********, Strops has *** ** *** lowest **** ***** **** cellular **** *** ****-******** battery *******. *** **** has * ******** ****** that ** *** ****** duplicated, ***** ***** ** some ****** *********** ********* in *** ***** **** it **** *** **** look **** *** *** shelf ***** ****** ********. Where ****** ** ** * disadvantage ** ** *** overall **** ** ***** company, *** **** ** ability ** ***** * large ****** ** ********* directly. ******* ******** ** new *******, **** ** North *******, **** ******* not **** ************, *** multiple ****** ********* (** representatives) **** *** *** the ******* ** ***** of ********* (**** *********** and ***-*****). **** ** not ********* ** **, but ** * ****** expense.

***** ******** ** ******** / ********:

**** ** ******** ***** Camera ****** - **** **** ** low ****, *** ***** battery ***** *** ** 3rd ***** *********** ***** usage *******
********** ***** ****** ******** - ********** ***** *** support ******** ******* ******** peace ** ****, ** a **** **** *** limited ************
*** ******* - *** ****, **** flexibility ** ********** *** benefits, *** ****** ******** fall ** *** ********** to ***, ***** ***** add ******** *****
** ***** ********** ****** w/Solar - ***** ***** ****** eliminates **** ** **** batteries, ****** **** (**** factoring ** *****) ** a ********

Comments (21)

Clint Guethlein

IPVMU Certified | 07/28/17 01:53pm

OK 3 questions about this unit:

1 How can I get a demo in the U.S. for it?

2 How much is the untiwith the 6 day battery?

3 Why a MObotix camera set in it?

Normunds Stepans

In reply to Clint Guethlein | 07/28/17 02:33pm

Thanks for questions!

1) We are collecting orders until the end of august, 2017 and will ship units to U.S. during September.

2) You need to add approx. 900 USD to the price

3) The system is built to have lowest power consumption with most advanced cctv features. It operates up to 6 days even if you use thermal imaging.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

07/31/17 12:24pm

Wish I would have seen this a few weeks ago. I bid 20K per camera (with solar) on a pipeline project and they didn't go for it. Ended up deciding it was better to repair a damaged front loader than pay 200k for cameras they may never need and would only use for 4 months.

This camera setup (if it works) would have been perfect for this application and many others I can think of.

Normunds Stepans

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 07/31/17 12:47pm

I can completely agree with you. Rapid deployment systems should be easy to install, at affordable price and cost effective in maintenance.

These systems are working in Europe and for sure they will work in U.S. either.

Send us your contact details and we will let you know when STROPS AVS will arrive to U.S.

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
07/31/17 01:46pm

I like the idea! I don't have a client in mind at the moment, but nice to know of the solution in the case a scenario comes up.

Normunds Stepans

07/31/17 01:48pm

Thanks Jon!

Richard Petrie

07/31/17 07:08pm

Guys, another rapid deployment camera system worth your consideration is the CAMSAT MOBILE HD http://vonaqsecurity.com/icam-mobilehd/. integrated NVR, battery and PTZ 2MP IP Camera. Let me know if you would like more details. Richard

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Richard Petrie | 07/31/17 07:11pm

Richard - since you posted your product here, can outline what makes it "worth consideration" from a features, availability and pricing perspective?

What are the strengths of your unit vs. the Strops system? What does a comparable unit cost? What countries is it available in?

Chris Anderson

08/01/17 03:55am

Normunds, I would like to chat with you more about your product. We work with a number of remote camera technologies, especially in government and commercial sectors. It would be interesting to see if there is a potential fit between our organizations.

Normunds Stepans

In reply to Chris Anderson | 08/01/17 06:38am

Hi Chris,

Thanks for comment.

I've sent you a PM in LinkedIn.

Ilja Theuwissen

08/02/17 09:02pm

Hi Guys,

Congrats to Strops and Vonaq for their nice products! The Safe Group has come out with another alternative for a mobile camera platform:

Different camera types supported: fixed domes, PTZ domes, with our without IR, ALPR camera. Currently rolled out with Axis, Bosch, Hikvision and Dahua cameras
Autonomy ranging from 36 hours up to 216 hours with current range of supported cameras.
Most flexible connectivity options in the market: 1/2/3/4G, Wireless Point to point, LAN, Wan (any internet line) and secured communication (no portforwarding, portfowarding is evil)
Easily removable storage on the camera. Plug and play in 5 seconds. No opening up the camera to swap SD card, no copying data via network for 10 hours. This truely is unique.
Remote system monitoring of all aspects of the camera and the platform.
Flexible power options: charging, swapping batteries, external batteries, etc....

We've developed hard- and software ourselves and are very open to further integrating into systems or with cameras.

Contact me for more information: ilja@thesafegroup.com

Normunds Stepans

In reply to Ilja Theuwissen | 08/07/17 09:03am

Hi Ilja,

It is interesting anouncement. Could you name exactly what part are you developing?

Camera and casing is standard from pictures in your website.

From website I could found your core business is system integration. Does this means you take ready to use components in market and connect them together to have mobile CCTV functionality?

How do you achieve 216 hour autonomy with such a standard size box?

Especially I am curious with ALPR cameras since usually there is IR lamp which consume a lot of power.

Do you mean external Lead Acid batteries which you install in separate box on ground and pull wire to mobile camera?

What happens when someone cut a wire?

What is operation temp. for the system?

Is it really Rapid deployment system?

Ilja Theuwissen

08/07/17 01:36pm

Hey Normund,

Of course we don't develop our own camera, that makes no sense in todays market. Our platform is open to any camera (that meets the standards).

Casing is standard but we're redesign this as we speak. Own development:

Network (built on existing components but with own soft+firmware)
Battery & power supply (own design, Li-Ion)
System managemant and video storage (own design)

The autonomy of course is related to the application, to get 216 hours with ALPR you need an external battery pack indeed. Autonomy <-> battery size <-> weight <-> handling. We boast the best performance which is technically possible within the preferences of the customer.

It's completely wireless so no danger for cable cuts. You can plug it into the power grid in which case the battery acts as a UPS. The whole thing is monitored too: battery, GPS, accellerometer and a whole bunch of system events can create a notification.

The camera is connected to our online backend which can be customized to be as simple or advanced as needed, rebranding is also an option, and everything is secured up to the highest standards (again: portforwarding is evil).

Operating temperature -20 to -60 °C.

A couple of weeks ago I had to deliver 3 of them to a local police force. I had them up and running in 45 minutes, true story :-).

Normunds Stepans

In reply to Ilja Theuwissen | 08/09/17 10:42am

You’ve got an interesting – if curious – concept going on there.

It’s confusing that there are no details on your website - appears to be a concept or prototype not yet perfected, rather than a production product? Whatever!

STROPS is well-proven and perfectly matched to client size/time requirements. And each one of our many installations uses industry best-practice from start to finish. No more to be said.

Ilja Theuwissen

08/09/17 11:16am

Hey Normund,

Thanks for the nice feedback! Allow me to explain:

We currently have 20+ cameras installed at customers, most of them local government and police, and some in construction. These are used every day.

The product is brand new indeed, but it is very stable. Customers have no mentionable problems and are very enthusiastic. The first versions have been running for almost 3 years now.

If you look closely you see we have a lot of marketing going on about this product: website, social and print. The technical data offered online is as extensive as STROPS's.

We've also won a national tender in Belgium so install base will reach 100+ within 1-2 years.

To me it's confusing you tell STROPS is perfectly matched to the clients' requirement while I think you only support one type of camera. Everybody knows there's no camera that suits every situation. Do all customers have enough with 128GB storage? How much video is this on full quality? 4-5 days? Our camera offers flexible storage options up to 3TB of whatever disks are available on the market.

A wide range of peripherals is available: wireless point-to-point links, fiber connectivity, WAN through commercial internet lines, sensors for smart city applications, etc etc.

We are open to do business with resellers / integrators that are looking for the most flexible solution on the market. When you contact is with a project we'll communicate very open and with all technical details! When we tackle our form factor we look forward to be reviewed by IPVM too :-)

Have a good day and best of luck!

Attila Szucs

08/10/17 06:02am

I checked them at IFSEC this year, and I liked the product. Looks and feels robust.

Good luck with that!

Normunds Stepans

08/10/17 02:04pm

Thanks Attila for comment.

Undisclosed #2

08/22/17 05:44pm

Looks like an interesting unit. Can the cameras also pan and tilt?

Normunds Stepans

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 08/23/17 01:52pm

Thanks for question.

Mobotix cameras do not have any motion particle and this is the reason they works for 10 years and more.

I can give you more details if you contact me directly normunds@stropstech.com

Ilja Theuwissen

08/22/17 07:54pm

As you can chose your camera ours can of course. We recommend Axis Q3415-VE

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Ilja Theuwissen | 08/23/17 10:40am

Thanks, but I was actually asking about the Mobotix cameras as part of the STROPS unit.