Worst Products Tested In Past Year

Author: 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.

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

*** ***** ******** ********* *** *****? ***** **** ****** ***** be **** ***** **?

** **** ******, **** ***** *** ** ******** **** ********* the *****, ******** *** **** *** *** **** ** ****** of.

***** ********, ** ************ *****, ** ************, **** ***** ** the **** ****, ***:

********

*** ******** *** ******** ** **** ** '*****' ** ***** on *** ******** ******* ** **** *** ************'* ********* ****** in *** *******. ** * ****** ****** ****** *** ******** little, ** *** *** ** * ***** ******* *** **** an ********** ***** *** ****** ** ******. *** ******* ***** when ************* ***** ******** ** ******** ** *********** ***, **** tested, ***** ** ******* ***** ****. **** ** *** ***** of *** ***** *********.

**** **** *** ******** ********** ***** ***** ************ ********** *** '*****' ****** ** **** ******, *** ** have ******** ****. *******, ** **** *** ******** **** ******** which **** ******* ***** ** ***** ***** ************* **** ** strong ******.

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

Executive *******

**** *** *** **** ****** *** **** ******* **** *** found:

  • **** *** ****** ********:*** ****** ******* ****** ** ** ********* *** ***** **** engaged ** **** ****, * *********** ****, ****** *** ****** sensor ****** ****.
  • **** *-**** ** ******:*** ***** *** ******** **** **** ******** ** *-**** ******, hit ** **** ****** *******, *** **** ***** *******.
  • ****** **** ******** *** (*** **/*):****** **** ******** ****** (******* ** *** **** ********) **** the **** ****** ** **** *** **/* ************* ** *** tests, **** ********* **** **************.
  • ***** **** *********** ******:*** "**" **** *** ****** (********-**) ******** **** *** *********** rates, ******* ~**% ** ******** ********, *****************, ********* *********** ***********, and ********* ********* ***** ** **** **** ***** **********.
  • ***** *** ********* ******:*****'* *** ********* ****** (*******) ******** **** *** ***** *******, with *** **** ****** ** ******** ** */*** ******* ******.
  • ***** ********* *********:*****'* ********* ********* ********* **** ** *** ****** ** ***********, ********** ******* ******** ** ****** **** *** ****** *** regularly ******* ** ***** ** ******** ******* ******** ******** **** outdoors.
  • ****** ***** ** ******:******'* **-***** ***** ****** ******* ** ********* **********, ********, ********, and ******* ** ******* *********** *********, *** ********** ********* ** only ******, **** ****** ****** ** *** ***** **** ** a **** ******* ** *** *****.
  • ********* ********** **** ******** ***:********** ******** **** *********** ********* ******: ********, *******, *** ******* detected ** ******, ********** ****** **********, ********* *********** ***********, *** more.
  • ********* ***** *******:******* *** *** ***** ********* ** *********** ********* ********, *** **** ****** ** *** **** ** ******* ** some ***** ***** *******, **** ** ******* ****** ** ******* clouds, *******, *** *******.
  • ********* ***** *******:*********'* ****** *** **** **** ******** **** *** ***** ******, with ******* ********* ** ***** ******* ********* ** ***** ***** IR **** ** ****, ***** **** **** *** ****** ******** to **** ***** *** **** ******.
  • ********* ********* *********:*********'* ********* ********* **** ***** *** ***** ********** ** ***********(**** ***** *** *******), **** ***** ****** ****** ** *******, foliage, *******, *** ****, **** ***** ************ ** **** *** cost *** **** *** ******.
  • *** ** **** ****** (**-******):*** **-****** *** *** ****** ****** ****** ** ****** ***** **** ****** ********, ********* *** ***** *** *****/** (*****) *** *** ****** of ******* ******, **** **** *** *********** *** ****** **** average ********.
  • ******* ********* *********:*******'* ********* ********* **** ********* ** ******* ****** *** ********* to ***** ****, ******* ***** ****** ** *** ********* ******** were *** ********* **.

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

*** ******* ***** **** *** ****** ** **** ** ******** unsafe ******* ******** ** ******* ** ****** ****.

*** *******, ** *** **** *** *****, ** ***** ** firmly **** **** ****** ** *** ******, ** ******** '******** the ******' ****** *** *****, ******, *** *********** ****** ** adjacent *****. ******* *** ****** ******** ********* *** ********* ******* safety **** ** '***** ***** *** ** ** ** **** ******' *** *** ** ****** ** ***** ****** ** ** using ** *** *********** *** ******.

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

****' ***** *** ********** ***** ** *-**** *** ******** *********** ******. ***** *** foremost, *-**** *********** *** ****, ********* ** ****** ** ****** the ****** ***** ** ***** **** ** ****** ********* ***** triggered. *** ******* *****, *** ******* ***** *** **** *** enters *** **** ** * ****** ****, *** *** ****** is ****** ** ***** *** **** ** ******* *** ***** of ***.

************, ***** ******* ** *** ****** *** ****, **** **** rough ******* ** ********** **** *** (~**) ** **** *****, and *** ******** ** *** ***** ** **** ******.

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

** ********** ***** ********, ****** **** ******** ***** *** *** **** *** ***** failed *** ** *** * ************* *****. ************, *** ************ resulted ** **** ********* ************, ****** ** **** ********* ** pull *** ********* ******.

cat 6

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

*** ***** ******* *** *** ** *** ***** ********** ** our**** *** *** / *** ****** ********, **** **** ******* ** ********** **** *** ** *** light, ******* *** ********** ** *** "*********" *****.

**** **** *** ********* **-********-*** ********* ****** ** ****, *** was * **** ***** ******, ****** **** ******** *+ ***** prior ** ******* (******* ***** ****** ** ***), ***** *** ***** ******* *** *****.

** ******** ** *** **** ** ******, ** ******** *** very ****, **** ******** **** ******* ** *** ****** ** the ***** ** ****, *** *** ***** *********** *****, ***** other ******* ******** **** **** ********.

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

** *** *****, ******** ********-***** ******* ****** ***** *** *** **** ** ** *****'* claims, *********:

  • *** *********** ****:*** ****** ****** ** ********* ~**%+ ** ******** ***** ***** were ********, *** ** ******** ******, **** ***** ** *********, subjects ******* ****/****, *** *** ***** ******* *** ******** ** failures.
  • ******** ********* ** ******** ***********:*** ****** ******* *** ****** *** ******* * ***** **** two ***** ** ******* ** ******** *********, ***** * ***** database ** ***** ** ****** ** * ***** ******. ** higher ****** *************, ******** ** ****** ** ********, ** ********** subjects ******** *** ********** **** *** ****** **** **** *****.
  • ******** ********* *********** ***********:*********** *********** ** ******** *** ********** *****, **** ****/******, *******/** glasses, *****/** *****, *** ***** ******* ********* **** ** *** time.
  • *********** ********** ********** **** ******* ****/****:** *** *****, ****** ********** ********* ** ** ***** ~*-**% when ******** ****** **** ** **** **** *** ******, ****** it *** ******* ***** ** ******** *******.
  • *********** ***/*** ***** ********** **********:************, ********** ******* ** ***** *-*% ***** **** ********* ******** conditions, ********* ****** *** ******, *-* *** *** *****, ** dark ****** **** ** **.
  • ******* ** ** *********** ***** * *** (******* **):***** * ***, *********** ****** ******, **** *** ******** ** subjects ******. ** ~*.* *** *** *****, ********* *** *** work ** ***.

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

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

******** ** **** ****** ** ***** ****** ********* ********, *****'* ********* ********* ******** **** *** *********** ****** ********* issues ***** ***** ******* ** **** **** ***** ***:

  • ****** ******** *******:** *** ****** *******, *****'* ********* ********** ****** ******** ****** through *****/******** ****** ****** ** ***** ***** (~**' *** ******).

  • ******** *** *** ********:** ******* *****, ******* ****** ** ***** ** ******** **** ~40' ********, ******* ************ *** ******** *** ****** ******** ** ~100'+.

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

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

*******, ** *** *****, ** *** ******* ****** ************* **** claim:

  • ***** **** ********* ** *********** *** **** ** ****** (******, pets, ***.) ** **** ** ***** ****** (***** *****, *****, etc.).
  • *******, ***** ** ****** ** ******* ***** **** ***** **** like ****, ***** *********** *** ********* ** ***** ** ******, with ****** ********* ***** ********* *** *** ********* ******** ***** each *****.
  • *******, ***** ****** **** ****** **** ********** *********** ** **** to ********* ***** ***** ** *******, ** *** ** ********** in *** ****** ** ******** ********** ** ********** (*******, ********, neutral, ***.).

*** *******, ***** ** **** *******, *** ****** ******** *** images ** *** **** ** * **** *******:

Hikvision **********

*** **** ** ********* **** ******** ***, **********, ***** **** significant ******, *********, *** *** ******* **:

  • ******** ******** ** ******
  • ******* ******** ** ******
  • ******* ******** ** ******
  • ******** ******** ******
  • ***** ************ *********
  • **** *********** ********** *** ******** ** ***
  • **** ****** *** ******** ** ***

** ****** ******** ** ***** ****** *** **** ** **** two-minute *****:

**** **** ********* **** ********** **** ** **-******** ** ******* 2019, **** ******** ***********. ********* **** *** **** ** ****** from *** *** * ********* ****** ********* *** *** **** able ** ******* ***** *** **** ***** *** **** **** throughout *** ***** ***** ****. ** **** ** **** ***** in *** ****** ******, **** *** *** ******* ** *********.

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

***** **** ***** *** ******* (**** ********* ****),*********'* ********* ************* ** *** ****** ** ***** ****** ********* ********.

** *** *****, **** **** *********, *********'* ********* ********* ********* with ***** ****** **** *******, ****** *******/*****, *******, *** ***** sources. **** ***-*** *****/***** **** ****** ****** *** ***** ****** cameras ********* ***** ******.

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

********* ***** ********** ****** ** *** ****** ** *********** ** ****** ********* ********. ***** ***** ****** (****, ****, *** ****) ******** **** analytics *** ******** **** **** ***** ***** ******* ***** ********* commercial *******, ******* ********* ** ****** ***** ****** ******, ** to *** ********* ******* ****** ** ******* ******.

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

*********'* ****** *** **** ****, ***** ***** ********* ***** *******, *** ******* ****** ******.

*****, *** ******'* ********** ** *** ******* ********* ********* ** which ***** ** **** *** ****, ****** ************ *** ******* at **** ***** *** ************ *** *** ****** **, ** properly ******** *** ******* *** ****** *** ********** ****** ******* dark.

******* ** ****, ******* **** ** ** **** ********** ***** than *********'* ***** *** **** ****** ** **** ** *********** cameras.

*** *** ***** ****** **** *** *** **** *****. *********** in *** ****** *** **** ** *** ****** **** **** digital/electronic ***, **** ******* ******* ****** *** *** ********* ********* to **** ****** ** ****** ***** ** *** *****.

************, *** ****** ******** * *-**** ******, **** ** ****/****, which ***** ****** *** ***** ******* **** **** **** ********* than ******* *-**** *****.

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

*** **-********* *** ****** ****** ****** ** ****** / ** ***** **** ****** ********, ********* *** ***** *** *****/** (*****) *** *** ****** of ******* ******, **** **** *** *********** *** ****** **** average ********.

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

*******'* ********* ********* ***************** **** ****** **** *** ******* ***** *** *** ******* most ***** ********* ** ***** ****** ********* ********.

*****, ********* *** ********* ** ******* ** ******* ******, ***** triggered **** ***** ************ *** **** ** ******** *****:

******, ********* **** *** ** ***** **** ******** ********* ********* analytics, *** **** ** ***** ****** ******.

Comments (8)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/10/19 09:26am

***** ******** *** *********** ** *** *** *********, *** *** eliminate *** ****** *** ******* *******. *** *** ****** ********* will *** *** ***** ****.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

01/10/19 04:10pm

*******'* **** ** ****** *** ****?

John Honovich

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

**'* ******* ** '** **** ****'. ** **** ** ** this **** **** ***** ******* ** *** *** ** *** year, *.*., *** ****, ***.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

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

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

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

Avatar

Luis Carmona

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

***** ******** ***** ** **** ******* "**** **..." *****, *'** come ** *** ********** *** "***** **...." ***** *** ******** a *** **** ******. *** *******, *** *** ***** *** merits ** **** ***** ** ***** ****** ** ****** ***** of *** *** * ** ** *** ** * ** more ********. *** ******* *** *** ** ***** *** * will ******** ** *** *** ** ***** **** ******.

*** ***** ** *** ****** ** *** ****, ** ********** mostly * "***** ********** ************" ** ****** *** *** * reliable ********* ** **** *****.

John Honovich

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

** *** ********** *** "***** **...." ***** *** ******** * lot **** ******.

****, '*****' ***** *** **** ***** ***** **** ***** (*.*., trade *********) *** ******** ************* (*.*., *** *** ****) *** largely **** *** ** *** ********* ****** ***** ******** *** therefore **** ***** ********** *** ** ** ********.

Undisclosed #3

01/11/19 11:06pm

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

******** *** ** ***** ** ****** ****** **** (*) ******, the **** ** *** ******, ***** ****** ** ********* *** same, ***** *** ********* ******* *** ********** ************* ******* **** consideration:

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

**** ******* ***** ****** **** ***** *** *****!

***, *********** *** ****** *** ****** ** *** **, *** days ***** *** “***** ****** ** **** ****” ********, ******* unless *** *** ******* **** ***** ** *** ****, (***** seems ******** *********** *** **** ******* ************),*** ******* *** ******** ****** *** *** ****** ******* *** known ** **** ** *** **** ***** ** *** ******* of *** ******.

*********, **** ****** ****** ** ***** **** ***: ** *****.

***** ***.

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

John Honovich

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

***, ** *** ******* **** *** *** ******* *** *** complete **** **** **** *** ********. ***** *** *** ** be * ****** *** *** ****** *** **** *** '*****' post *** ********.

** *** **** ** ** *** ***** ***, ***** ** off ** ** ***** **** **** ****...

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

Large Hospital Security End User Interview on Mar 21, 2019
This large single-state healthcare system consists of many hospitals, and hundreds of health parks, private practices, urgent care facilities, and...
Covert IP Camera Shootout - Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, March, Vivotek on Mar 20, 2019
Covert cameras were one of the last holdout areas for analog cameras. However, in the past few years, IP / HD covert cameras have become...
Genetec Security Center 5.8 Tested on Mar 19, 2019
Genetec has released Version 5.8. This comes after a wait of more than a year that caused frustrations for many Genetec partners. Our previous...
ADT Stock Drops After Announcing Loss And Amazon Delay on Mar 12, 2019
ADT's stock price dropped significantly after reporting heavy losses and delays in its Amazon partnership, as seen in the screenshot below: In...
Pelco GFC 4K Dome Camera Tested (IMP831-1ERS) on Mar 12, 2019
Pelco has finally released their first 4K IP camera, after years of competitors' releases. Is this move too late? Or is their new GFC Professional...
Mobotix Move OEM Camera Line Tested on Feb 25, 2019
Mobotix has long been criticized for not offering integrated IR, mechanical cut filters, varifocal lenses, optical zoom and other features that...
Private School IT Manager Surveillance Interview on Feb 22, 2019
This IT manager describes himself as the "oft-maligned IT person" whose "opinions may not always be appreciated by the integrator crowd." But he is...
BluB0x Company Profile on Feb 20, 2019
BluB0x has doubled in revenue every year since its founding in 2013, according to CEO Patrick Barry. We originally reported on them in 2015. At the...
Axis IR Multi Imager Camera Tested (P3717-PLE) on Feb 18, 2019
Axis has released their first IR multi imager, the P3717-PLE, a repositionable model listing 360° IR illumination and flexible positioning,...
Ubiquiti Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 18, 2019
Ubiquiti has quietly grown into a $1+ billion annual revenue company, with offerings across wireless, wireline network and video surveillance (see...

Most Recent Industry Reports

IBM / Genetec Surveillance System Investigated Over Philippines Human Rights Abuses on Mar 22, 2019
A lengthy investigation into an IBM video surveillance project in the Philippines, raising concerns IBM helped local police conduct a bloody...
Eagle Eye Favorability Results 2019 on Mar 21, 2019
Eagle Eye has been the biggest spender in the cloud VMS market including (via their owner) acquiring Brivo for $50 million and CameraManager from...
Large Hospital Security End User Interview on Mar 21, 2019
This large single-state healthcare system consists of many hospitals, and hundreds of health parks, private practices, urgent care facilities, and...
Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Insurance Startup Coalition Profile on Mar 20, 2019
Many industry people believe cybersecurity insurance is not worth it, as the voting and debate in our Cybersecurity Insurance For Security...
Covert IP Camera Shootout - Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, March, Vivotek on Mar 20, 2019
Covert cameras were one of the last holdout areas for analog cameras. However, in the past few years, IP / HD covert cameras have become...
Top Metrics For Ensuring Integrator Profitability - Statistics on Mar 20, 2019
How do integrators ensure the profitability of their projects? As part of our profitability study, 100+ integrators answered the following...
Avigilon Launches 'Renewed Products Program' on Mar 19, 2019
There are lots of 'pre-owned' cars but pre-owned IP cameras? While such programs are common in other industries, in video surveillance, they are...
Genetec Security Center 5.8 Tested on Mar 19, 2019
Genetec has released Version 5.8. This comes after a wait of more than a year that caused frustrations for many Genetec partners. Our previous...
Retired Mercury President Returns As Open Options President on Mar 18, 2019
Open Options experienced major changes in 2018, including being acquired by ACRE and losing its President and General Manager, John Berman who...

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