Ubiquiti FrontRow Camera Tested

By: Rob Kilpatrick, Published on Aug 24, 2017

Ubiquiti is famous for low-cost wireless network equipment, a common choice for wireless video surveillance applications. The company has expanded into more computer networking products, video surveillance ones and now to 'FrontRow' which they declare to be 'reinventing the camera'.

We bought a FrontRow camera (shown below) and tested it:

 

******** ** ****** *** low-cost ******** ******* *********, a****** ****** *** ******** video ************ ************. *** ******* *** expanded **** **** ******** networking ********, ***** ************ ones *** *** ** '********' ***** **** ******* to ** '*********** *** camera'.

** ****** * ******** camera (***** *****) *** tested **:

 

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

Key ********

**** *** *** *** findings **** **** ****:

  • **** ***** *************: ** *** *****, *** Frontrow's ***** ************* *** insufficient ** ******* ****** video **** **** ******* at * ****** ****, regardless ** ******* ** clip ****. ******** ************ recommends ******* *** ****** during ********.
  • ** ********* ******* ****:******** ******** * **** connection ** ****** ** the ********. ********* ** a ***** ** ******** via *********, *** ****** streaming ******** * ******* or ***** ****.
  • **** *** / ****** light *********** *** **** **** *** ***** performance:** ******** ***** **** even **** *** ******, video ** ****, **** images ****** ********** **** when ****** ** ~* lux.
  • ** ***/**** *********:******** ******* **** ** select ****** ***** ********* (Twitter/Periscope, ********, *** *******) and ****** ** **** for ****** ********* (*.*. to VMSes - ** ***** or **** *********).

*******

*** ******** ***** *** $399 ******, ****** **** the******** *******. **** ******* ** similar ** *** ***** Hero5 ***** ***** ****** some ** *** **** features (**, ***** *************, etc.) *** **** **** streams *** *** ********* mobile ***.

Questionable *******

***** ********* ******** *********** are ****** ****'* *****, as * ***** ******, it ** * **** choice, ********** ***** *** image ************* ****** *** cameras ******** *** '****' in ***********.

Frontrow ********

******** ** **** ******, about *" ** ********, with ******* ***** *** back, ** *** *** respectively. ****** *** ***** back ** *** ******** is * ***********, **** to ***** ********* ** streaming, ********* ****** ***** services, *** ******* *****. It ******** **** *** buttons, *** *** "*****" (used ** **** * picture ** ***** ********* video) *** * ***** button ****** **** ** turn ** ** *** off.

** ******** *** **** of ******* *** ******, a ******* *** * pocket ****/*****. ******* ******** much ********* **** *** operator *** ** ****** (see ***** ************* *****). *** clip *** ** **** as * ***** ** turning *** ****** ****** down, **** ******** ************* flipping ********** ***** ***** upside ****.

Streaming ** ****** ***** ****

******** ** ******* ** streaming ** ********, *******/*********, and ******* ****. ** RTSP *********, *****, ** other *********** ** ***** is *********. ******* *** started ****** ** ********* the ******* **** *** pushing *****.

**** **** ********* ******** wifi. ** **** ******, users **** **** ** active **** ******* ** order ** ****** ** these ********. ** ********* from ******** ** ***** to ******** ** ********.

Streaming **. ********* ***********

***** ****** ****** *** 4MP ********** (*********), *** still ****** *** **. 

** *** *****, ********* video ******* *** ~* Mb/s, ********** ** ****** level. ***** ****** *** high ******/******* ***** **** averaged (~* **/*), ***** resulted ** ***** **********/******** up ** *****. 

*******, **** ********* ***** to *** ******** ******, bitrate ****** *************, ********* ~** Mb/s, **** * ****** variance ** *******, **** ~18 **/* ** **-**. Pixelation *** *** ******* in ***** ******. 

Poor ***** *************

********'* ***** ** ***** stabilization *** ****, ****** to ********* **** **** walking ** * ****** pace ** ** **** floor. 

*** ******** ****** **** is ******** **** ****** but ***** ********* ** watch ** ******* ****.

** ********** *** **** shaky *****,******** ********** ******* *** camera ** ***** ***** moving, *** **** ********* presents ************ *** ***** expecting ** *** *** camera ***** *******, *******, or ********** ***** **********.

Image *******

******** *** ** ********* wide ***.*° ***** ** view, ***** *****. ******* of ****, *** ** even ******** ********* ***** quickly, ********* **** ~** PPF ** ~**' ********, shown *****.

********'* ***** ******* *** best ** **** *** interior ******, *** *** camera's ******* ***** *** poor, ******* ************ ** the **** ***** ****** and ******** ***** ******* in ***** ******** ******* in *** ***. ************, low ***** *********** *** poor, **** ******** ******* obscured ** **** * lux *** **** *** highly ********** ***** *******. 

Comments (13)

John Honovich

IPVM | 08/24/17 03:55pm

Note: We did this as a short test, given how atypical a move this was for Ubiquiti and one of our team member's interest in trying this out.

This does not indicate any shift in what we cover.

We are continuing with a number of upcoming tests ranging from a Hikvision 4K PTZ, an Axis app, new FLIR Lorex wire free kit, Doorbird intercom, etc., etc.

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly Security | In reply to John Honovich | 08/24/17 04:23pm

I like offshoot tests like this. Makes for an interesting read.

I also like the concept of this camera. Kind of cool. Shame about the stabilization issues, you'd figure they'd get that taken care of before releasing.

Avatar

Tom Sharples

In reply to Sean Nelson | 08/24/17 04:45pm

Ubiquiti never gets things "taken care of" before releasing their products. We are the beta test!  That's why I never deploy any of their stuff until at least a year has passed for the bugs to get worked out.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Tom Sharples | 08/24/17 05:08pm

We are the beta test! That's why I never deploy any of their stuff until at least a year has passed for the bugs to get worked out.

Some beta-tester you are!  ;)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/24/17 04:10pm

Watching those videos walking was like a IPVM version of Doom...

Undisclosed End User #2

08/24/17 04:13pm

That video made me nauseous, almost as much as throwing $400 away.

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 08/24/17 07:58pm

It reminded me of early editions of COPS.

Avatar

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Karas | 08/24/17 09:07pm

Should have had someone standing in the corner facing the wall when the camera came into the room.

Undisclosed #3

08/24/17 04:35pm

but the camera's dynamic range was poor, causing overexposure of the test chart inside and reducing image quality in harsh sunlight outside in the sun.

The FrontRow camera apparently could not deal with that high-contrast IPVM 'Black Edition' shirt.  That thing should get its own ISO chart number :)

John Robinson

08/25/17 04:32am

I'm not sure, but I believe I learned of UBNT from this wonderful site. Was so impressed I went all in on their stock back in 2012.  

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Robinson | 08/25/17 12:01pm

Interesting!

UBNT is up ~500% since 2012:

Undisclosed #3

08/27/17 11:37am

Be the millionth purchaser and get this bling edition:

Related: Find Golden Ubiquiti. Win Lifetime Supply Of: Nothing

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 10/06/17 09:26pm

Update - 

With firmware V1.4.308 the translator app was added to the front row. You can now pick a language to translate to and from, speak into the mic what you want translated and the FrontRow will recite it back in your desired language.

Also, coming soon... FrontRow Gear.

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