Worst VMS Manufacturers 2014

Author: John Honovich, Published on Feb 24, 2014

With the favorite VMSes revealed, we now turn to the worst.

We asked 120+ integrators from more than 20 countries:

"In the past year, what VMS / NVR system have you had the worst experience with? What happened?"

The question was left open ended allowing respondents to choose whomever they wanted plus adding color commentary to explain the situation.

22 manufacturers were cited, with 6 standing out. Most notably, 4 of the largest 10 surveillance manufacturers in the world made the worst list, even though none of those 4 made the favorites list.

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

** ***** ***+ *********** **** **** **** ** *********:

"** *** **** ****, **** *** / *** ****** **** you *** *** ***** ********** ****? **** ********?"

*** ******** *** **** **** ***** ******** *********** ** ****** whomever **** ****** **** ****** ***** ********** ** ******* *** situation.

** ************* **** *****, **** * ******** ***. **** *******, 4 ** *** ******* ** ************ ************* ** *** ***** made *** ***** ****, **** ****** **** ** ***** * made *** ********* ****.

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

Manufacturer *******

****** ***** ****** ****, ***** *** ** ************ ****** *** *** ************ ********. There **** * *** / *** ************* ** **** (*****, Pelco, *****, *********, ****** *** ****) *** *** ***** *** the **** ** *************.

Usability ********

**** ** ******* ** **** ******** **** ***** **** ****** for ********* ******, *********** *** ********** **** ** *** ** to *** *********:

  • "******* ***'* - ******** *********"
  • "***-******...***** *** ** ** *** *** ** *** **** ********* and ****** ******* ** ***** ** ** *** ****. ******* layout ** *** **** *** ***** **** ** **** ***** of ******* *******."
  • "**********- ***** *** ******* ***** ** ********** *** *********. ***** GUI ***** ******** *** **** *** **** **** ******* **** configuration. *** **** ** **-****** ********** ********* *** *****"
  • "*****. *** *** **** *** *** ***. ******."
  • "***** ***. ***** *** ************* ******* **** ********* *** ****** made ** *****."
  • "*****,*********.... **** ** *** *********** ***** *** *** ** ********* ** they ****** **, *** ****** ****** **** **** ********"
  • "*** ******* *** *** ** ********."
  • "********* ***'* **** *** **** **********. **** *********** *********."

** ******, *********** ***** '***' ****** ** **********'* ****** *** their *********, ** ****** ** ** ******** **** ** *** other ****, ********* ****** ***** ** * ***** ****** ** problems.

Bosch - **** ** ********

***** ******* **** * ****** **** *** ******** ***, ***** had * ******** ******* *** ***** **********:

  • "***** ****: ** ********** ***** * *** ************ **** **** were ***** ********* ** ***** ******* **** ********."
  • "***** *****, ****** ****** **** *** ******* ****** ******* *** is *** ** *******, ******** ***** **** * ***** ***. Many ******* *********."
  • "***** *** - ******** *************** ****** **** ***** ******** ********, software ** *****, *** ******* ** ************."
  • "*****: ***** **** ** ****** *** ****** ** ******** ***** to ** ******* *** **** **** ******* ** **********. *** technically *****, **** ******* ** *** **** ******** *** ****** differently ****** * *******."
  • "***** ***. ***** *** ************* ******* **** ********* *** ****** made ** *****. *** ** **** ******* ** *** ****** level ** **** ******* ** ***** ****** *********.**** *** ******* and *** ****** *** **********, *** **** ********* ** ********."

Pelco ****** ********

***** ***** **** *** ** *** ******** ******, ***** ****** received ***** ******** **********:

  • "***** ******. **** ** ***** ******** ********* ******* *******."
  • "***** ******, ***** ******** ******* ******* *** ****** ******* ** work ** * **** ******** ***."
  • "***** ******. ** *** ** ******* * ***** **********'* ***. We *** ** **** ********'* ********* *** ** *** ***** in ********* *** *********."

******** **** *****'* **** ******* ** *** ** ****** ****, this ** *** * **** **** ***. ** *** **** side, *****'* ***** ***, ******* ****** *** *** ******* *** criticisms (*** ******** **********).

*****

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

  • "*****, ** *** ****** ** *** *** ******* ************* ** the **** ********. ** *** ** ******* **** ***. ***** a **** *** ****** ******** **** ** ********* **** *****."
  • "*** ********** ******** *** ***** *********. ****** ********* *** *** **** ** all **** ******** **** **** * **** ****. *** ********** useless, *** ** **** *** *** ***** ****** *** ********"
  • "*****. ** ***** * ***** **** *********** *** ****** *** ******* ************. *** *** **** **** a **** *****, ******** **** *******, *** * **** ********* interface."
  • *-***... * **** *** * **** ********* ***** ** ******* ***** *****." [**** *-*** **** *****]

Milestone ******

********* *** * ***** ****** ******* ****** ** *** ********* but *** ******* *+ ******** ******* ** ****:

  • "*********, ***** *** *** ** ** ******** ** **************."
  • "*********. ***** **** **** ****** ******** ******. *** ***** *** get ****** ** *** **** *** ******* **** ** ******* any ********* ******* *** ** ********* ****** ******."
  • "*****, *********, ***** *******. ***** ******* ** ********* *** ******* to ****** ** ******."
  • "*********. ******** ******* *** **** *** ** ***** *** *** thousands ** ******* ** ********."
  • "*********. ***** ** ***** *********** *** *** ******* ****** ********* very ********** ******** ***'* **** *********."
  • "*** *** **** *** ******* ********* ** *** ******* *******. Maybe **** ***** **** ***** ******** *********, *** ** * ****** ****** *********** ** * ******* you **** *******."
  • "*********'* **** *******. ** ***** **** ******* ******* *** ***** sporadically *** ********** ** ** ******* ** ** ***** **** trying ** **** *** ***** **** *** ***** **** *** camera. **** * **** **** ** ******** *** *** ** work ******. ******* ****** ** ** *** ***** ********* (**** version) ** ********* *******."

*****'* ** ****** ***** ***** *** ********* ********** *** * variety ** ******.

*****?

** ********, *** ******** ******, ***** **** *** *** ******** vote. *******, **** *** ** ********* ******* - "******** **** support. * *** **** ** * **** ****** ******** **** them. **** **** ******* **** *******." ******, **** ********* ************** ** ***** ********* **** *******.

Dishonorable ******* - ******

****** *** ****** *** *** *** ***** ************ ********'* *************. And ***** **** ******** ** ********** *** ******** ***, * few **** *********** *** *** *********** ** ***** ******* **** the *******: 

  • "******. ***** ****** *** **** ********** ********* **** ****** ***** commands *******, *** ************* * *** ** ************ ** ** ****, *** ****'** getting ***-********* ** **** ******* *******."
  • "****** - **** *********** ** ** ********* ** ***** **** support."

Dishonorable ******* - **** ****** *********

****** **** ****** ********* *** ***** ********** ******, * ****** of ****** *** ********* ********* ****** **** ***** ** *****. In *** ******, *********** *****:

  • "*** - ******* ******* ** ***** ** ** *****, **** changing ***** "********" *** **** *-* ***** **** *** **** year, **** ****/******* **** ******* ***** ** *** * **** of ******* **** ******. *** *** **** *** *** ***."
  • "**** ****** *********. ** ********* *****'* ****** ***** ****** *** time ****** *****, ******* ** *****. **** *** **** ** manually ****** *****, ******* ** *******, *** ********** *** ******'* just ***'* **** ** *** ********."

*** ****, *********, ************ ****** ******** **** ***, ***** ***** *********** ********* **** **** ******:

  • "**** ********** ** ******* **** ** *****, ******** ** *******. and ***** ** ** ********** ******** **** **** ** ** the ***** ** ******."
  • "***** * ******* ****** ** **** ** *** *****-* *** M3004-V ******* **** *******, ****** ** ******, **** *********** *** SD ****, ***. ** *** ************** ******* ******* ** * ** *** ***** ** *** and ************ *** ********."
  • "**** *******. ** **** ******* ********* ***** ** ** **** last ****. ******** *** ******** ** *******. ********* ***** & days ** *** ***** **** **** ** *** ***** **** out ** *****, ******* **** ********* *** *****. ******** *******. Firmware *********."

********* *** ******* ** *** ********, **** *** *** ***** *** ***** ** ******* ******** (like ******* ** * ** **** *** *) ** **** integrators *** **** **** ********. ******.

******:**** *** ********* **** * ********.

Comments (24)

Jason Clement

02/24/14 02:16pm

***** *******. * **** ***'* ********** *** **** ***********/**********/*** **** so ***** ** *****, ********* *** *** ***** "****** ******" that **** ******* ** *** ** *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Jason Clement | 02/24/14 02:23pm

********* **'* * ****** ** ***** "******" ****** **** ******* into *** ***** *** ***** ***** ********* *** ********** * long **** *** *** ** *** ********* ****** ****** ******* more ******* *** ********* *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jason Clement | 02/24/14 04:53pm

** *********** *'* *****, ***** *** *** ******.******* ** **** **** **** ***** ***** ****** ** **** can ******** ** ******** ******, **** ** ********** ******** ********. Plus **** *********, ** **'******* *** **** ** **** ****** *********** ****** **** ******* less **** ***** *** **** ******, **** ****** ********.

David Hansel

IPVMU Certified | 02/24/14 09:56pm

* *** *********** ********** * ***** ** ********/****** (***** ** 3000) ******* *** ****** * *** ******** ** *** ** the ***** ****** ** ****** ******, *** * ****'* **** any *************** ******. ***, ***** ******* *** *** *** ***** NVRs *** *****, * ** ****** ****** ********.

**** *****'* ****** ********* ******, ******* ***** ***** ** * better ****** ** ****** ****-******* ******** ****** ************ *** ****** warranty ******-***.

**** ****** **** *** ********** **** *** ***** ** ****? If **, *** ** ***********? ***** **** *****, ***** ** then **** *** **** *** ****** ** ***** ******?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to David Hansel | 02/25/14 01:12pm

*** ***** ********* ******* / ***** / *** ******** ****** be ******** ** **** *****, **** *** **** ********* ** their ********* *** *******.

***** ** **** ** ******* ***, **** ******** **** *** indicate ****** ********* ** *** ********, *** **** ** ****** the ******* *** ** *** *** ****** ** **** ** shown ** *** ********, **** *** ** * ******** *** the *******.

chuck georgo

02/25/14 01:16pm

**** *** ** *** **** ****** *** "****" **** *********?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to chuck georgo | 02/25/14 02:41pm

* ** *** **** **** *** **** *****. *** **** manufacturer ****** *********** **** ** *** '********' *** '*****' *** reports *** *********.

chuck georgo

In reply to John Honovich | 02/25/14 02:46pm

****'* *** * *** ******* ***...**** *** ** *** ********* ones **** ********* ** *** ***** ****...******

John Lineweaver

02/25/14 01:25pm

* ***’* ***** **** **** ********* "********** - ***** *** control ***** ** ********** *** *********. ***** *** ***** ******** and **** *** **** **** ******* **** *************. *** **** to **-****** ********** ***** **** *** *****"

***** * ***** **** *** **** *** ******* *** ** is ********* ** ***** **** *** ***** *** ***** ******* it’s *** **** ** *****. **** ****** **** ******* ** timely *** *******.

*** **** ** *** *** ***** * ****** ***** ** fully ********** *** ** * ***** ********** ****** **** **** functionality ** *********. ***** ******* ** ******* “*** **** ** reselect ********** **** **** *** *****” ** *** ********* **** pages **’* ** ****** ** ******** *** ******.

**** *** **** * **** *** ** *** **** * years.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to John Lineweaver | 05/13/14 04:44pm

* ***** **** **. **********'* ********* **** **** *** ** fully **********, *** **** *** ***** ***** **** *** ***** how ** *** ** **. * **** **** ******* ***** is * ******* ** *** "*******" *********** ***** **** *** set * ******* **** **** ***** **** **** ** **** your ********* *****, ** *** ** *** **** ** "**-****** everything ***** **** *** *****". ** ***** **** *** **** my ********** *** *** **** *** *****.

*****

Thumbnail 7 first choice

Brian Selltiz

IPVMU Certified | 02/25/14 02:12pm

* ***** **** **** ********* *** ********* ***** ** ********** a ‘***’ * *******. **** ***** **** * ** *** experience **** ** *** ******** **** *** ****** *****. * would *** ****:

  • ********* ** **** ********, *** *** **** **** * *** of ********* ** ********* ********.
  • ***** *** *******, ***** **** ******* ** ****** **** *** easily *********.
  • ****** *** ********* ********, ***** ****** ** **** ** ***** systems, **** **** **** ******** ***** *** ******** **** ***** groups ** ******* ********, ****** *** *******.
  • ***, **** ** **** *** ** ***** *** *** *** cost ** *** ******** **** ** ********* ********.
  • * ****** ** ******* * *******, * **** ** ****** than ***** *** ********.
  • *** *** **** *** * ******* ****** ** ******* ******* contacting *******, *** * ***** *** *** **** ***** ** a ******** ** **** *************.
  • ****** **** * ********* *****, ******** ******* ** ****** *************** (we **** *** ******* ****** ******* ** ***** *** – but *** **** ********).

Undisclosed Integrator #3

02/25/14 02:44pm

* **** ********* ************ ** ** ***** **** ****** *********; already **** *** ******* ***** **** ******. **** *** ******** and * *** *** * ***, **** *** ** *********** this ****** *****.

Robert Gonzales

IPVMU Certified | 02/25/14 03:05pm

***** *******. ** *** ** *** ******* ** ********** *** use ** * ***** ******* **** * ***** *** *** anyone ********* **** ******* *** ***** ** ******* *** ** so, **** *** **** **** ********** **** **** ***********?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Gonzales | 02/25/14 04:21pm

******, ***** **** ************ **** *** *** / ****. *** ******** ****** *****.

Timothy Mc Pheron

In reply to Robert Gonzales | 02/25/14 11:41pm

******, ***** ********, ** *** *** * ***, **** * great *** **** **** *******, ******** **** ** * ***** the ******* **** ** *** ******* ** *** ***** *** stretch. *** ******** ******* *** ************* *** ********* **-****, ** your *** ****. ** *'* **** **** **** ***** *** the ******* **** *** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

02/25/14 04:22pm

***** *** *********** * - * **** ***** *** ***** wizard ** *** ***** ** **** ***** **** *** * also *** **** ******** ** *** *** ******* ****** *****, i.e. - ***, ***, *** *** ****. * **** ***** that *** ** ***** **** ** ** *** **** ********* as * *********** ****** **** *** ** ***** *** ****** went *** ** ****. *** ** * **** ******** **** I ********** ***** **** ** * ******* ******, *** ** is *** * ***.

**** ** *** ** ** ****** ******* *** *** ** a ********* ** *** ********* ********. *** ** ** *********.

Paul Kozonasky

IPVMU Certified | 02/25/14 07:30pm

**** ****** ** *** **** ***** **** *** ********** ******* with ******* *******? **** ***'* ** ******* ****** ************ ******** so ***** ******** ***** *** ** ** **** *****.

* *** ******* **** **** *** ** ******** ******* (*** to *** ******* ** ********* **** ** ****** ******* ****** we **** ** * ******** ****).

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Paul Kozonasky | 02/25/14 07:32pm

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

Rajesh Uchil

IPVMU Certified | 03/01/14 04:45pm

** ****, ** *** **** ** ******* ** *** ************ - ***** ******* ?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Rajesh Uchil | 03/01/14 04:56pm

******,

***** ******* *** ****** ** **** ** **** ****'* *** feature ******** - ******* **********,****** / **************,****** **********,*******,*********, ***.

Thumbnail patrick hart

Patrick Hart

IPVMU Certified | 05/01/14 12:09pm

*** **** ***** * ****** *********, ******* *********** **** ** countries, * ***** ** ********** ** ******* **** *** *** 100 *** ******** *********** *******.

Ross Vanderklok

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Patrick Hart | 05/01/14 02:26pm

* ***** ** **** ********** ** *** *** ***** ** with ***** **** ** *** *** *** *** ** ***** list ******** ***** ********. *****, ***** **** ** *****’*. **** looked ** ***** *** **** “******” ** ** ******** ** the ****.

*** "******"

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

05/15/14 03:35am

**** ** *** *** ****** **** ***** *** * **** any ******** ******* ** ****** - * ***** **** ******** else *** ******* ** ******** ** ***

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 05/15/14 12:07pm

******? ** ******** ******** ****** *** ******** ******** ***** * **********? ****'* *** what *********** ** *** *** **'* ** **** *****.

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