Closing in, Need Recommendation - Arecont or Acti?

[Wildcat1 0]

HI there

 

I have posted a few times on here about my situation and am about to jump in with both feet into IP. Specifically I am honing in on either Arecont or Acti and wanted to see what feedback all had. Here are some of the models I am looking at:

 

ACTI KCM-5211E

ACTI TCM-7811

 

ARECONT AV2125IR

ARECONT AV3125IR

ARECONT AV8185DN

 

I'd like your feedback on these models for any that have used them. I am planning to expand to a 4-5 cam system but will kick off with 2-3. Which software is recommended to capture the IP streams from these ? Is the manufacturer software good enough ?

 

Do either of the manufacturers about have software solutions that support MAC and remote iPhone stream ?

 

With regards to mounting, I have a couple of areas where the camera will mount with the cable going right through the wall behind it whereas others will have to have a cable run up to the camera from a lower level. In the latter case what is the best option for mounting the cable, do these cameras have mounts with notches to allow a run up to them ?

 

Thanks so much as always all

[Soundy 1]

Run screaming away from Arecont.

[misha 0]

What's so bad about Arecont?

 

Our customer has recently chosen AV3125IR for large scale project after they did a test with 3 megapixel cameras from geovision, samsung, hikvision, and mobotix, they had Acti cameras (I think 0,3 or 1,3 mpx) recently and didn't want to hear about them anymore

[nDAlk90 0]

What a helpful quote.

Can we find out why?

 

Run screaming away from Arecont.

[Soundy 1]

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=22353&hilit=arecont+fail

[nDAlk90 0]

Poor quality control is that what you are referring to "Soundy"?

 

Too bad they might as well make it in china.

[mike_va 0]

HI there

 

I have posted a few times on here about my situation and am about to jump in with both feet into IP. Specifically I am honing in on either Arecont or Acti and wanted to see what feedback all had.

I have not used either included s/w as I have a mixture of cams at home.

 

I found Acti to be marginal, in terms of the firmware and it just did not feel like a solid camera (like an Axis).

 

Axis needs light. The other day I was playing with a RM100-10 at around 200ft and an Axis P1344 at 1-60sec and it was amazing.

 

Arecont I was worried about after some of the comments on this forum. I read something that said Google used tons of them, and I've seen Dulles International Airport is full of them. I bought a 3135 and still have to say it is a good camera in many regards. Arecont is probably not perfect in terms of quality since they are a new company and cutting their teeth (and zero response when I've asked them questions, so buy them from someone who will back them up). I've seen a lot more Axis and Arecont MP out and about than Acti, around here anyway.

 

I run milestone (free version) and Vitamin D paid version. I like the multiple windows (e.g. one zoomed in, one out of the same camera on milestone. The free version is somewhat limited though since there is no remote client, and audio recording is only on one channel. Also I would have to say that milestone is not super responsive even on a nice computer but is stable.

[thewireguys 3]

I have installed many Areconts and only had 2 cameras fail over the last 5 years. Both where the new 8185D/N and they both failed within 2 weeks.

 

As for VMS software if you want MAC support and Iphone support I would look into Exacq.

[fa chris 0]

I read something that said Google used tons of them.

 

Thousands, if not more.

 

Soundy had a very bad experience, can't blame him for being a huge Arecont detractor. I've stopped using companies for less.

 

The rest of us have had good luck with them, especially as of late, so put the negative comments in the back of your mind. I prefer the 5mp cams over the 3's and the 2's, especially if looking at a larger area.

 

Have used only a handful of AV8185's but have had good luck with them, great panoramic image.

[renz05725 0]

I say stay away as well. We tried installing 2 8185 dn's at a local facility here and it was nothing short of a nightmare. Both cameras came DOA or Semi-DOA. We set them up wirelessly and had them coming into a Video Insight NVR, along with 8 Sony PTZ's.

 

Basically the cut filter between day and night didn't work. Half the camera images were bw and the other 2 were in color. The camera kept rebooting itself and in doing so kept flipping upside down and causing packet lose and video loss.

 

The recorded video was literally HORRIBLE at best. It looked like robots walking across a screen, no fluent motion and it looked like the fastest slowest robot images in the world. Were it roboted every image, but the images looked like they were passing by the camera at 100mp and it couldn't capture a clear image.

 

We tested them off the nvr and at the office and they still didn't work. I have to say, i am extremely disappointed. It was our first time dealing with Arecont and it was disaterous, it will more than likely be our last time dealing with Arecont products. First bad taste in our mouths leaves a long lasting impression and we are in no hurry to try them ever again.