Worst Products Tested In Past Year

By: Ethan Ace, Published 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, IPVM picks the 13 products that performed the worst, explains why they did and what to beware of.

These products, in alphabetical order, by manufacturer, with links to the IPVM test, are:

Criteria

Our criteria for deciding on what is 'worst' is based on the products failing to meet the manufacturer's marketing claims in our testing. If a device claims little and delivers little, it may not be a great product but even an uninformed buyer can assess it fairly. The problem comes when manufacturers claim advances in features or performance but, when tested, fails to deliver those them. That is the focus of our worst reporting.

Note that all products performing worst in our shootouts was considered for 'worst' status in this report, and we have included many. However, we have not included some products which were notably older or about which manufacturers made no strong claims.

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

*** ***** ******** ********* the *****? ***** **** should ***** ** **** aware **?

** **** ******, **** picks *** ** ******** that ********* *** *****, explains *** **** *** and **** ** ****** of.

***** ********, ** ************ order, ** ************, **** links ** *** **** test, ***:

********

*** ******** *** ******** on **** ** '*****' is ***** ** *** products ******* ** **** the ************'* ********* ****** in *** *******. ** a ****** ****** ****** and ******** ******, ** may *** ** * great ******* *** **** an ********** ***** *** assess ** ******. *** problem ***** **** ************* claim ******** ** ******** or *********** ***, **** tested, ***** ** ******* those ****. **** ** the ***** ** *** worst *********.

**** **** *** ******** performing ***** ***** ************ ********** *** '*****' status ** **** ******, and ** **** ******** many. *******, ** **** not ******** **** ******** which **** ******* ***** or ***** ***** ************* made ** ****** ******.

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

Executive *******

**** *** *** **** issues *** **** ******* IPVM *** *****:

  • **** *** ****** ********:*** ****** ******* ****** to ** ********* *** fired **** ******* ** some ****, * *********** flaw, ****** *** ****** sensor ****** ****.
  • **** *-**** ** ******:*** ***** *** ******** from **** ******** ** Z-Wave ******, *** ** miss ****** *******, *** poor ***** *******.
  • ****** **** ******** *** (Cat **/*):****** **** ******** ****** (popular ** *** **** installs) **** *** **** cables ** **** *** 5e/6 ************* ** *** tests, **** ********* **** installability.
  • ***** **** *********** ******:*** "**" **** *** camera (********-**) ******** **** low *********** *****, ******* ~30% ** ******** ********, misidentification, ********* *********** ***********, and ********* ********* ***** in **** **** ***** conditions.
  • ***** *** ********* ******:*****'* *** ********* ****** (N52BM3Z) ******** **** *** light *******, **** *** most ****** ** ******** of */*** ******* ******.
  • ***** ********* *********:*****'* ********* ********* ********* were ** *** ****** of ***********, ********** ******* ******** in ****** **** *** scenes *** ********* ******* to ***** ** ******** despite ******** ******** **** outdoors.
  • ****** ***** ** ******:******'* **-***** ***** ****** claimed ** ********* **********, activity, ********, *** ******* to ******* *********** *********, but ********** ********* ** only ******, **** ****** photos ** *** ***** side ** * **** cabinet ** *** *****.
  • ********* ********** **** ******** NVR:********** ******** **** *********** detection ******: ********, *******, and ******* ******** ** people, ********** ****** **********, incorrect *********** ***********, *** more.
  • ********* ***** *******:******* *** *** ***** performer ** *********** ********* ********, *** **** ****** in *** **** ** trigger ** **** ***** alert *******, **** ** shadows ****** ** ******* clouds, *******, *** *******.
  • ********* ***** *******:*********'* ****** *** **** line ******** **** *** light ******, **** ******* tradeoffs ** ***** ******* depending ** ***** ***** IR **** ** ****, along **** **** *** images ******** ** **** older *** **** ******.
  • ********* ********* *********:*********'* ********* ********* **** among *** ***** ********** in ***********(**** ***** *** *******), with ***** ****** ****** by *******, *******, *******, and ****, **** ***** optimization ** **** *** cost *** **** *** models.
  • *** ** **** ****** (TD-9482E2):*** **-****** *** *** lowest ****** ****** ** our*** ***** **** ****** Shootout, ********* *** ***** low *****/** (*****) *** WDR ****** ** ******* tested, **** **** *** integration *** ****** **** average ********.
  • ******* ********* *********:*******'* ********* ********* **** triggered ** ******* ****** and ********* ** ***** mode, ******* ***** ****** in *** ********* ******** were *** ********* **.

2GIG *** **** ****** ********

*** ******* ***** **** the ****** ** **** it ******** ****** ******* handling ** ******* ** common ****.

*** *******, ** *** test *** *****, ** order ** ****** **** both ****** ** *** sensor, ** ******** '******** the ******' ****** *** hands, ******, *** *********** others ** ******** *****. Because *** ****** ******** violating *** ********* ******* safety **** ** '***** ***** *** ** if ** **** ******' *** *** ** enough ** ***** ****** it ** ***** ** for *********** *** ******.

Axis *-**** *** **** ****** (*****)

****' ***** *** ********** ***** ** *-**** had ******** *********** ******. First *** ********, *-**** performance *** ****, ********* in ****** ** ****** the ****** ***** ** doors **** ** ****** detectors ***** *********. *** example *****, *** ******* opens *** **** *** enters *** **** ** a ****** ****, *** the ****** ** ****** to ***** *** **** to ******* *** ***** of ***.

************, ***** ******* ** the ****** *** ****, with **** ***** ******* at ********** **** *** (~60) ** **** *****, and *** ******** ** low ***** ** **** scenes.

Copper **** ******** ******* *****

** ********** ***** ********, ****** **** ******** cable *** *** **** one ***** ****** *** 5e *** * ************* tests. ************, *** ************ resulted ** **** ********* installation, ****** ** **** difficult ** **** *** terminate ******.

cat 6

Dahua *** ********* ****** (*******)

*** ***** ******* *** one ** *** ***** performers ** ******* *** *** / 6MP ****** ********, **** **** ******* at ********** **** *** in *** *****, ******* its ********** ** *** "starlight" *****.

**** **** *** ********* DS-2CD4565F-IZH ********* ****** ** well, *** *** * much ***** ******, ****** been ******** *+ ***** prior ** ******* (******* ***** ****** ** New), ***** *** ***** N52BM3Z *** *****.

** ******** ** *** lack ** ******, ** coverage *** **** ****, with ******** **** ******* in *** ****** ** the ***** ** ****, and *** ***** *********** black, ***** ***** ******* produced **** **** ********.

Dahua **** *********** ****** (***-********-**)

** *** *****, ******** ********-***** ******* ****** ***** did *** **** ** to *****'* ******, *********:

  • *** *********** ****:*** ****** ****** ** recognize ~**%+ ** ******** whose ***** **** ********, due ** ******** ******, with ***** ** *********, subjects ******* ****/****, *** low ***** ******* *** majority ** ********.
  • ******** ********* ** ******** recognition:*** ****** ******* *** person *** ******* * times **** *** ***** of ******* ** ******** scenarios, ***** * ***** database ** ***** ** people ** * ***** office. ** ****** ****** installations, ******** ** ****** to ********, ** ********** subjects ******** *** ********** that *** ****** **** look *****.
  • ******** ********* *********** ***********:*********** *********** ** ******** was ********** *****, **** male/female, *******/** *******, *****/** beard, *** ***** ******* incorrect **** ** *** time.
  • *********** ********** ********** **** looking ****/****:** *** *****, ****** confidence ********* ** ** least ~*-**% **** ******** looked **** ** **** from *** ******, ****** it *** ******* ***** in ******** *******.
  • *********** ***/*** ***** ********** reductions:************, ********** ******* ** least *-*% ***** **** difficult ******** **********, ********* simple *** ******, *-* lux *** *****, ** dark ****** **** ** on.
  • ******* ** ** *********** under * *** (******* IR):***** * ***, *********** became ******, **** *** majority ** ******** ******. At ~*.* *** *** below, ********* *** *** work ** ***.

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

Dahua ********* *********

******** ** **** ****** in ***** ****** ********* ********, *****'* ********* ********* suffered **** *** *********** missed ********* ****** ***** would ******* ** **** real ***** ***:

  • ****** ******** *******:** *** ****** *******, Dahua's ********* ********** ****** subjects ****** ******* *****/******** indoor ****** ** ***** range (~**' *** ******).

  • ******** *** *** ********:** ******* *****, ******* failed ** ***** ** subjects **** ~**' ********, despite ************ *** ******** the ****** ******** ** ~100'+.

Google ***** ** ******

****** ******* ***** ** Clips ****** ***:

*******, ** *** *****, we *** ******* ****** contradicting **** *****:

  • ***** **** ********* ** practically *** **** ** motion (******, ****, ***.) or **** ** ***** scenes (***** *****, *****, etc.).
  • *******, ***** ** ****** to ******* ***** **** users **** **** ****, these *********** *** ********* no ***** ** ******, with ****** ********* ***** suggested *** *** ********* directly ***** **** *****.
  • *******, ***** ****** **** claims **** ********** *********** is **** ** ********* which ***** ** *******, we *** ** ********** in *** ****** ** captures ********** ** ********** (smiling, ********, *******, ***.).

*** *******, ***** ** were *******, *** ****** captured *** ****** ** the **** ** * file *******:

Hikvision **********

*** **** ** ********* deep ******** ***, **********, found **** *********** ******, including, *** *** ******* to:

  • ******** ******** ** ******
  • ******* ******** ** ******
  • ******* ******** ** ******
  • ******** ******** ******
  • ***** ************ *********
  • **** *********** ********** *** analyzed ** ***
  • **** ****** *** ******** at ***

** ****** ******** ** these ****** *** **** in **** ***-****** *****:

**** **** ********* **** DeepinMind **** ** **-******** in ******* ****, **** improved ***********. ********* **** the **** ** ****** from *** *** * prototype ****** ********* *** not **** **** ** clarify ***** *** **** model *** **** **** throughout *** ***** ***** 2017. ** **** ** test ***** ** *** coming ******, **** *** new ******* ** *********.

Hikvision ********* *********

***** **** ***** *** Uniview (**** ********* ****),*********'* ********* ************* ** *** ****** of ***** ****** ********* ********.

** *** *****, **** when *********, *********'* ********* analytics ********* **** ***** alerts **** *******, ****** foliage/brush, *******, *** ***** sources. **** ***-*** *****/***** Plus ****** ****** *** Smart ****** ******* ********* these ******.

Hikvision ***** *******

********* ***** ********** ****** ** *** bottom ** *********** ** ****** ********* Shootout. ***** ***** ****** (Arlo, ****, *** ****) included **** ********* *** rejected **** **** ***** alarm ******* ***** ********* commercial *******, ******* ********* on ****** ***** ****** tested, ** ** *** including ******* ****** ** passing ******.

Hikvision ***** ******* *******

*********'* ****** *** **** line, ***** ***** ********* ***** *******, *** several ****** ******.

*****, *** ******'* ********** IR *** ******* ********* depending ** ***** ***** IR **** *** ****, either ************ *** ******* at **** ***** *** illuminating *** *** ****** it, ** ******** ******** the ******* *** ****** the ********** ****** ******* dark.

******* ** ****, ******* with ** ** **** noticeably ***** **** *********'* other *** **** ****** as **** ** *********** cameras.

*** *** ***** ****** were *** *** **** issue. *********** ** *** scenes *** **** ** the ****** **** **** digital/electronic ***, **** ******* details ****** *** *** extremely ********* ** **** detect ** ****** ***** of *** *****.

************, *** ****** ******** a *-**** ******, **** in ****/****, ***** ***** aiming *** ***** ******* dome **** **** ********* than ******* *-**** *****.

TVT ** **** ****** **-******

*** **-********* *** ****** ****** camera ** ****** / ** ***** Lens ****** ********, ********* *** ***** low *****/** (*****) *** WDR ****** ** ******* tested, **** **** *** integration *** ****** **** average ********.

Uniview ********* *********

*******'* ********* ********* ***************** **** ****** **** two ******* ***** *** not ******* **** ***** analytics ** ***** ****** ********* ********.

*****, ********* *** ********* by ******* ** ******* clouds, ***** ********* **** after ************ *** **** of ******** *****:

******, ********* **** *** to ***** **** ******** triggered ********* *********, *** seen ** ***** ****** tested.

Comments (8)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/10/19 03:26pm

***** ******** *** *********** on *** *** *********, you *** ********* *** clouds *** ******* *******. But *** ****** ********* will *** *** ***** time.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

01/10/19 04:10pm

*******'* **** ** ****** for ****?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 01/11/19 01:28am

**'* ******* ** '** Past ****'. ** **** to ** **** **** year ***** ******* ** the *** ** *** year, *.*., *** ****, etc.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to John Honovich | 01/11/19 02:12am

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

 

** ***** **** ****** would ***** **** ********.

Avatar

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 01/11/19 09:29pm

***** ******** ***** ** look ******* "**** **..." lists, *'** **** ** the ********** *** "***** of...." ***** *** ******** a *** **** ******. For *******, *** *** argue *** ****** ** some ***** ** ***** should ** ****** ***** of *** *** * or ** *** ** 6 ** **** ********. But ******* *** *** of ***** *** * will ******** ** *** job ** ***** **** enough.

*** ***** ** *** bottom ** *** ****, or ********** ****** * "fails ********** ************" ** pretty *** *** * reliable ********* ** **** clear.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Luis Carmona | 01/11/19 11:00pm

** *** ********** *** "Worst **...." ***** *** probably * *** **** useful.

****, '*****' ***** *** much ***** ***** **** media (*.*., ***** *********) and ******** ************* (*.*., SIA *** ****) *** largely **** *** ** the ********* ****** ***** products *** ********* **** heavy ********** *** ** be ********.

Undisclosed #3

01/11/19 11:06pm

****, ***** *** ****** of * **** ******** first *****.

******** *** ** ***** as ****** ****** **** (4) ******, *** **** of *** ******, ***** should ** ********* *** same, ***** *** ********* product *** ********** ************* omitted **** *************:

***: ***** ***** ***** Doorbell ******

**** ******* ***** ****** have ***** *** *****!

***, *********** *** ****** was ****** ** *** 11, *** **** ***** the “***** ****** ** Past ****” ********, ******* unless *** *** ******* took ***** ** *** 10th, (***** ***** ******** considering *** **** ******* interactions),*** ******* *** ******** tested *** *** ****** failure *** ***** ** IPVM ** *** **** prior ** *** ******* of *** ******.

*********, **** ****** ****** be ***** **** ***: to *****.

***** ***.

***** **********: * ** not **** *** **********

 

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 01/11/19 11:10pm

***, ** *** ******* that *** *** ******* was *** ******** **** this **** *** ********. There *** *** ** be * ****** *** the ****** *** **** the '*****' **** *** released. 

** *** **** ** it *** ***** ***, Dahua ** *** ** an ***** **** **** year...

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