Verkada Video Quality Problems Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on May 23, 2019

Verkada suffers from numerous video quality problems, not found in commercial IP cameras, new IPVM testing of Verkada vs Axis and Hikvision shows.

free image_3

Fundamentally, the problems originate from Verkada using a decade-old approach to streaming. instead of a modern VBR/MBR, smart codec implementation.

Problems include:

Heavy nighttime detail loss compared to competitors in low light
Significant detail loss in daytime scenes compared to competitors
Reduced detail in WDR scenes due to artifacts on moving objects
Higher bandwidth consumption than competitive cameras
Live and playback stream buffering issues
No user adjustable compression or image quality controls

We explain each one inside with images and videos demonstrating the issues.

*******

** *** *****, *******'* cameras ********* ********* *** to **** ****** ************/*********** levels **** ******* *******, with ******** ** **-** common, *********** ************ ** ********* 28-30. ******* ******** ** user-accessible ******* ******** *** this.

******* ** **** **** compression **** **** ******* at *****, **** ******* details *********** ******* *** facial ******** ******** ** artifacts ** **** ******.

*******'* ******* ******** *** much ****** **** *********** in *** ****** ******, with ******** ************ ** the ***** ** *,***-*,*** Kb/s, ********** ** ***** complexity, ***** *********** ** quality ******** *** ********* compression ** **** ** making ***-**** ***** ************ more *********.

************, *** ******'* *** negatively ******** ***** *******, resulting ** ******** *** doubled ***** ** *******, as **** ** * slight ****/*** ****. ** with ***********, ***** ** no ****** **** ********** means ** *********** *** levels.

*******, ****** *******, ** experienced *********** ********* ******, with **** **** ** SD *** ** ******* frequently ******* *** ******* ahead, ********* ** ********** missed ******** ** *** scene ** ******** ********* (though ******** ******* *** not ******* ****).

Verkada ********

** ****** *** **** results **** *******, ** which **** *******:

****** *** ********** *** deeper ******* *** *******. Your ******** *** ** line **** *** **************.

Future ************ ********

***** **** **** *** shared ***** ****** *****, it ** ******** **** Verkada ***** *** **** of ***** ****** ** future ****** ********. ***** other ************* **** ****** these ******** *** *****, it ** ******** ******* will ** **, ** well.

No **** ******* ** ***********

****** *********** ***** "**********" camera ******* ******** ****, Verkada ******** ** ***********, quality, ** ********* ********. The **** ****** ** the "*********" **** ** their ******* ** ********/********* Cloud ******:

Verkada Bandwidth Menu - Cloud Archiving Settings Only No Bitrate Controls

********, ***** **** *********** use ***, **** ****** variation ** *******, ******* cameras' ******* ****** **** significantly. *** ** ***** issues, ***** ******* (**** as **** *** *********) fix *********** *** **** the *******, ***** ******* primarily ****** ***********.

High *********** ** *** ******

********* ******* ****** ***** from ******** ****** ******* from **** *** *** motion ** ******* ********* parking ****, ** ***** that******************** ****** **** ******* in ************. ******* ******* ranged **** ** ******* of ***** ** ** 38 ************ (** * scale ** *-**), ******** to **-** *** ******* standardized ******* (***** **** less ***********, ****** ** ******* ***** Quality / *********** ******).

**** ******* ** ******* details ******** *** *******, as *******'* ******** *** chart **** *** **** clear *** ******** ******* due ** *********, ***** below. *******'* ******* ************ was * ********** **** ~32, *********** *********, ***** Axis *** ********* ******** 28/29 (**** ***** ********* less ********* **** *******).

Nighttime ******* ********** ******* *** ** ***********

***** ******* **** **** worse ** *****, **** the *******'* **** ******* obscured ** *********** *********, with ************ ********* **, compared ** **/** ** Axis *** *********. **** the ***** *** ***** of **** *** *******, while *** **** *** Hikvision ****** **** ***** recognizable ****** ******* *** 4-5 ***** ** **** (again ***** ********* **** bandwidth **** *******).

Heavy Compression Artifacts Obscure Facial Detail

Not **** *** / ******* *** *********** **** ****

******* *********** ******** ** our **** ****** ** a ******* **% *****, averaging ***** * **/*. By ********, ************ ******* in **** **** ******* more *************, ********* ********** by***% ** ****.

******* ** ******** *****, Verkada ********* *** ******** lower ** **** ******, such ** ******* *******, though **** ***** ******** higher, **** ** **** indoor ***** *** ******* parking *** *****.

Bitrates Consistent In All Scenes

**** **** ***** ************ are ***** ** ******** clips. **** ****** ********* was ******** ** ** ~5-10% ***** **** ******** in *** ****** ******, though ** ****** ** directly ******** *** ********, as **** ****** ** available **** ** ***** web ** ****** ***.

Higher ********* **** ***********

******* ** ***** *********** bitrates, ******* ********* *** higher **** ****** ** all ****** ******, **** Axis *** ********* **** more **** **% ***** than ******* ****** *** day, *** ***-*,*** **/* lower ** *****.

Bitrate Comparison

Significant *** ********* ** ****** ********

** *** *****, ****** WDR ********* **** *******, with ********, ********, *** doubling ** ****** *****, shown *****, *** **** in *********** ******.

Significant WDR Artifacts

**** ******** **** *****, WDR *********** *** *********** with **** *** *********, shown *****, ****** ***** subjects ** ******* *** scenes *** ********, ** entrances, *****, *** ***** man ***** *** *** most ****** ************.

No ***** ******* ********

******* **** **** *** include ******* ***** ******* controls ***** ** ********** cameras, **** ***** *********** only **** ** ****** camera ***********. ***** ****** enable/disable *** ** ****** levels, ******* ** ************, switch ***/***** ****, ** adjust ********. ** ********, many ******* (**** ***** below) ******** *** ***** controls ** *** *** alone.

Live *** ******** ********* ******

** *** *****, ******* streams ********** ****** *** buffered ****** **** ******* and ********. **** ******* SD *** ** ******* live, *** ****** ****** and ****** ******* *********, with ******** ** *** scene "*******" ******** ** the ****** ****** ** to ****. *** **** stream ***** *** *** frequently ******* ***** ****** was *** **** / Low ******* ******, * lower **********, ****** ***********, lower ******* ******.

** *********** ***** ****** in **** *****:

******* ****** **** ******* in ********, **** ******* taking ******* ******* ** load *** ********* ********* every *** ******* **** attempting ** ** ** playback.

**** **** ***** ****** are ******* *********'* ****** *******, ** ****, *** only *** ******* ** used *** *******.

Test **********

******* ******* **** ****** using ***** ********, ** they ** *** ***** configuration ** ***** ***********, bitrate, ** ***** ********.

** *** *****, *********** were ***** **** ******** clips, ** ***** ******* are **** ***** ***** play **** ** ******** for ***********/*********** ********. *******, note **** ********* ***** from *** ** ********** and ******* ** *** tests **** ******** *********.

********* ** *******, ******* are ********** ** *.*** at *** **** ** export *** ******** ******** compatibility **** *** **** resolution ****** ***** ** compressed *** ****** *** H.265 ** *** ******. As **** *********, ***** is ** ******* ** compression *** ******* ** export.

**** *** ********* ******* were ****** ***** ******* settings **** **** *******:

**** ********* *** ******* (High, ******* *** ***)
********* *.***+ *** *******

******* ******** *** "** to ****" (** ******* is ******):

**** *** ********* ******** versions ****:

**** *****-*** ********: *.**.*
********* **-**********-* ********: **.*.** build ******

Comments (27)

Rich Moore

05/23/19 02:59pm

** ***** ** ****** Verkada's ******* *** ***** in * *** ***** age. *** ***, *** press ** **** *****, right? * ******** ** IPVM ** *** **** month ** **.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 05/23/19 04:48pm

****’* *** **** ******* like?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/23/19 05:05pm

******* ** ***** *-* seconds ** *** **/** streams, *** ***** * seconds ** *** "****" low ******* ******. **** our******* ***** ***/******* ****:

**** ***-******* ********* (*-* seconds):

** - ******* ********* (6-8 *******):

Undisclosed Integrator #2

05/23/19 05:57pm

***, ** ***** **** cost **% **** **** the ***********.** ****...

* ***** **** ** part ** ***** ****** to ***-*****. **** ***-***** have *********; **** ***'*. If *** ***'* **** how ** *** *** those ****** **************, **'* a **-*******. ** ****** you ***** *** ******* because **** **** ** simpler! *** *** ***********, turn ** ****-****** *** go **** ** **** normal ***. **** ******** users **** **** *** the ******** ***** ** missing (** **** *** image ** ************* ***).

***** ** ** ** industry **** ** ***** more ** ***** ** making ****** ****** *** the ***-****. ** **** to ****** ******* **********. We **** *** **** to *** **** ****** no ***********. ** **** to **** ** ******** as *******.

** ***** ******* **** just **** ****. ** they're ************** **** ********* and ***** *******, ********** ***** ** ****** it ***, **********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/23/19 06:49pm

*'* **** ******* ** think ** ** ******** in *** **** ******* where * ********** ** simplicity, **** **** *** resulting ******* ** *********** inferior ** ******* ***, ****'********* ** *********** ********.

********** ***** * ******* ***, * business *******, ** ******.

** * **** ********** note, **** ***** **** incumbents ** ***** ********** that **** ************ *** approach ** *** "********** usurper" *** ******* **** out? * ***** **.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 05/23/19 07:00pm

******* *** *** **** aggressive ***** **** *'** ever **** ** **** industry, **** ********** **** Schmode ********, ****** ************ agree/disagree?

**** ** **** * think ** *** **** difference. *** * ** think **** ****** **** care **** **** ******* it ** ** *****.

John Bazyk

Command Corporation
IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 05/23/19 07:31pm

*** **** **** *** best ****** ***** ********* campaign *** ***** ***** now. **** ** ********* that ****** **** **** apart.

Undisclosed #6

In reply to John Honovich | 05/23/19 08:52pm

* *****.

* ***** ******* ** high ******** ** *** and ***** *** **** before ****** ******* *** limitations, ******* ******** *.*. (before *****) *** **** pressure ** ***** ****** and *********, *** *** product ****** ****** ****'* have ****** ********** **** were ******* **** ** the *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 05/23/19 09:53pm

******* ******** *.*. (****** James) *** **** ******** to ***** ****** *** valuation, *** *** ******* itself ****** ****'* **** severe **********

** *** ***** ****, Verkada ** **** ** year *. ******** *** not * ***** ******* in **** ******. ** it **** ** *** to *** *** **** Verkada ******** ** *** next *** *****. ******, buyers **** ***** ******** their ***** ** *** race ** ******* **** can *** **** ****** than ****** ******* ********* them.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to John Honovich | 05/24/19 03:46am

*******.

** * ******* ****, I ******* ****** ******* "traditional" ** ******* ** VMS ****** ** **** careful ** ******* ******* Verkada **** ** ********* on ***** ******* / specific ********, ****** **** going ***** *** ***** / **************. **'** ** tempting *** ********* ***** sales, *** ****-**** ***** things **** ****** ** smoothed ***, *** **** you've *** ** ********.

** *** ***** ****, depending ** *** ********-*****, you ***** **** ** run ****** ** ******* quality.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to John Honovich | 05/23/19 09:47pm

* ** ********** ***** that *** ********** ***** team ** * ***** part ****'* ******* ***** growth. *** * **** think **** ******'* **** nearly ** **** ** they ****'* **** * smooth *********. * ****, people ***'* **** *** anything ******* *** ***** person ** **********, ** they? (*** * **** hear ******** **** * new *** ** **** for ** ********** ***** from ****** ****?)

***** ** ****** *** just **** ******/**** ***** people. *** ***** ***** actually ** ********* ** the ******* **** *** industry ****'* ********** *** learned **** ***. * think **'* * ****** of ****.

** **'* **** *** sales **** ****'* ******* the ******, **** **** are ******* ** * time ****, *** *** better *** ***** ** pivot ******* ** ******** a ****** ** ********* to ***** ****** ********.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/23/19 09:52pm

* ***** *** **** important **** ** ***** 'tech' *** ***** ***** effort ** **** *** cameras *** *** ** and ******* ******* *** technical ********* ******* *** storage ** ****** *** it **** ***** ************. This ********, ** *** will, ****** *** **** nothing ***** ***** ************ to ******* **** ******.

** ********** ** **** eventually, **** ** ***** people **** ****** *** that ****** **** **** of *** ***** *******, night **** ***** ******* problems, ****** / ******* in ********* *****, **** of ** ******* *** features *** ********. ** will ***.

Undisclosed #6

In reply to John Honovich | 05/24/19 12:32am

** ********** ** **** eventually, **** ** ***** people **** ****** *** that ****** **** **** of *** ***** *******, night **** ***** ******* problems, ****** / ******* in ********* *****, **** of ** ******* *** features *** ********. ** will ***.

** ********** ** **** the ******** ** *** actual ******** ****** ****** market *****'* **** ***** most ** **** *****. And *** ***** **** do **** ** * moderate ******, *** ****** sales ********, *** ************ of ****, ***** **** monthly *******, **** ** for * *** ** other ****** **** *** lacking.

* ***** ******* **** catch ** ** **** of *** ******* ***** faster **** ******** ***** for **** ** ***** things.

***** ** * **** (YUUUUGE!) ******* ** ****** that "**** **** **** cameras". ****** ** **** segment *** ***** ***** between *** ****** ****-***** options, ***** *** *** kind ** *******, *** the ************ ********* **** require **** **** **** (and ***) ***********. ******* is ******* **** ******, and * ***** **** like ******* ***, **** have *** ********* ** overtake * ******* ****** segment ****** *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 05/24/19 12:57am

******* ** ******* **** market, *** * ***** much **** ******* ***, they **** *** ********* to ******** * ******* market ******* ****** *******.

****'* * **** ******* though, ***********, ** **********, as **** ** ******* made ***** ******** ** Google, **** ***** ****** a ***** ***** ** the ********. ***** **** had ** ** **** Nest ******** ****, **** to *** ** ********** but **** ** *** residential ******** ******, **** were ***** **** **** a ***** ****** *******.

** *******, ****, ** even ** ******* ******* Dropcam **** (* ** sure *** ******** *** investors ***** ** *****) I ** *** ********* that **** **** ** a ***** **** **** player (**** ** ******** or ** ****).

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 05/24/19 01:19pm

*** ******** ** ****** may ***, ********* *** in *** ********/*********** *** SMB *******, *******, ******* is ********* *** ******* to **** ***** ********** customers (******/****** ******/*******).

**** ** *** *** market *******, **** ** experience ** ** **********, that ******** ***** ***** these ******. ******* ********** will ***: *** ** we ******* ***** ** our ****** ******* ******? Our ****** ******* ****** has ******** ** ******* on *****, ******, **** vehicles, *** *** *** these ** *******, ** what ****** ** *** offer *** *** ** a **** ***? ** need ** *** *** Aiphone ******** ******* ** the ***** ******** **** without ****** * ******** software, *** *** *** integrate *****?

Undisclosed End User #9

In reply to John Honovich | 05/28/19 02:37pm

*'** ***** *** * vendor ******* ** *** directly ****** * ********* period *** ******* **** did *** ***** ******** maker ** *******. * of ** *** *********** Yetis *** ***.

**** * **** * like *** ******* *** hinted ** **** ******** bids *** ***** ****** responded **** "** ***'* do ****" *** "****** either *** *** ***** of *** ******* ** don't"

**** **** ** *** a ***** ********** ******. We **** ** ** bids.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #9 | 05/28/19 02:42pm

* ** ** *** unsolicited ***** *** ***.

****'* **********! **** *************** **** ** * bottle ** *********:)

****** *** **** ***** comment!

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

05/23/19 06:55pm

***’* *** ******** *****?

Undisclosed Integrator #5

05/23/19 06:59pm

*'* *** ** **-*** (oh ***) ****** ******* anyday. **** **** **. Rockoff ** ** ******* these *** *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 05/23/19 07:02pm

* ***** ********* *** money ** **** * debate ******* **** ******* and **** *****.

*******: *** ***** ******** ********* Ever

Undisclosed #7

05/24/19 04:28am

*** *****, **** *** guys **** ** *** out ***** *** ******* camera *********** **(*) *** routing **? *** *** the ****** ***** *** same? **** ******* ** the ****** ***** ******** peculiar. ******.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #7 | 05/24/19 03:46pm

**** *********** **** **** contact ****** *** ********. You *** **** **** via *********, *** **** also **** ** ********* in *** *******' ***** Log:

* *****'* **** *** evidence ** **** ********** other *********.

Slava H

In reply to Ethan Ace | 05/24/19 06:59pm

**** ***** ** ** a *** ** ***** request ** ****** ********** from. **** ***** ** is ****** ** ***.

******** ****** ****** ** not ********* **** ****** IP, ***** ****** ** some *** *** ****** to ***** ********** ** server. * ***** *********** #7 ***** ***** **** point. *** **** ********* log ***** ****.

Simon Lambert

IPVMU Certified | 05/24/19 12:17pm

*****, *****. ****** *********** tests *** *******.

*** *** ** *** same **** **** ****** cameras, ******?

Undisclosed #8

05/24/19 05:16pm

***** ******** ** *** latency *** ** ******** in *******. ** ***** is * ****** ****** of ******* **** ** nearly *********** ***** ********** in ** **********. ******** back ** *** *** 2000s **** ** **** deploying ** ******* ********** without *** **** ** to **** ** **** doing ** ***** *** similar ******** ********* ** the ***** ** ** saturated *** ******* ** pushed *** ******* ***** rate ** *** *** of **** ** *** capable ** (*.*. **** 2100/2110/2120). **** *** *** school **** **** **** and ********** ** *******'* demographic. * ****** ********* enough *** **** **** was ***** ******* ******* by *** *** *****, particularly **** ** **** like *** ***** ** the *** *** **** still ********.

**********, **** *** ******* to **** **** ******** at *** ****** ** were **** ** **** it **** *** ******* some ****** ***** *******. Looking ** *******'* *** worse ******* *** ******** would **** ** ********** and ***** ******* ********** when ******** ** *** competition ********.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #8 | 05/28/19 05:51pm

** ***** **** ** technology **** ******, ******* gets *****...

**** -> ** -> Cloud

Slava H

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/28/19 08:31pm

*** ********** ** *****, but ******** ************** ** live ******.

***** *** ********* **** to ******* **** ******* with *** *******. ******* would ** ****** **** less **** * ****** delay ****** **** ** video **********, **** **** by ***** *******, *** in ******* **** ** Axis ****** *** **, etc..

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