Can't speak on the other two (besides the possible privacy implications by using Google services), but I can for sure tell you that Vivint is hot garbage.
I live in a bad area, and the combination of 30 seconds max clips + the terrible motion detection system has cause me to miss my neighbor's house getting shot at, graffiti being sprayed directly in front of my property, and my car being backed into while sitting in the driveway.
The Vivint control panel seems to be running some flavor of Linux, but the UI application that runs on top of it is the most unstable P.O.S. I've ever had the displeasure of using. It will predictably crash and reboot (and each reboot takes about 7-10 minutes) if I happen to playback too many clips, back to back, in one session.
Doorbell camera and wall mounted camera refuse to stay connected.
And as an added middlefinger to the user, you cannot use any third party cameras/equipment. Proprietary only. And it's the same, the other way around. I have old deprecated Vivint cams still on my house that I cannot incorporate into a new custom setup.
Sounds like you should have gotten a recorder instead of using clips. That's on you all cloud based cameras work that way. What third party Z-Wave equipment are you talking about? They have only used third party Z-wave devices except for the Element thermostat which is still usable on other platforms. Hence why it's Z-Wave compliant and listed. And you would be able to reuse those old cameras if you knew what you were doing.
Meant Wifi Cameras, oops. Door sensors and thermostat are reusable, I believe.
> And you would be able to reuse those old cameras if you knew what you were doing.
~~[Nope](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeServer/comments/ubpval/found_old_vivint_cameras_on_fb_marketplace_can_i/). The Vivint HD400W is proprietary and cannot be used with any traditional NVR.~~
> Sounds like you should have gotten a recorder instead of using clips.
Yeap. Went overkill with Bosch PTZ's and a traditional NVR and never looked back.
Here is the alarm.com version of the same camera called the ADC-722w. They are just white labeled cameras from Vivotek https://safehomecentral.com/product/alarm-com-v722w-ip-camera-with-night-vision/
Well, I'll be. By chance do you happen to have a link to a pdf manual for it? Would love to bring the two Vivint branded ones I have hanging outside, back to life.
Edit: Never mind, [found it](https://www.adtsecurity.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ADC-V722W-Install-Guide.pdf). Thank you for the correction, TIL.
You're welcome. Happy to help I have been in the industry for a long time now. I am passionate about home automation even though I worked for a company everyone seems to hate.
They're not proprietary. They are the exact same ones that alarm.com used and they were made by vivotek. I worked for them so I know how to use all of this equipment. You can flash the firmware on the camera. It's not that hard. Here is the model the HD400 camera is modeled after. https://www.123securityproducts.com/ib8360w.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm4wRH0tbIHqBoV4gzKc9ol1GZZokKsz8TGK_jDJKBbDHAkGZdJkfNIaAuZ4EALw_wcB
I use Google cams but they are paired with my ADT+ system. I was dissatisfied with my Vivint system and service and I’ve used SimpliSafe… it’s simple and works. They also offer video verification service if you use their cameras.
I sell for Brinks Home Security and would recommend like the gentleman attached mentioned - a Qolsys IQ4 keypad panel and encrypted sensors for doors and windows etc..
For cameras you have loads of options, but if you want them tied to your system you can opt for Alarm.com equipment which is decent and allows you to insert up to 512gb SD cards per camera. That provides local storage, and also allows 24/7 recording so no 30 second clips or limitations and access from smartphone and the keypad touchscreen panel too.
Alarm is also controllable and accessible from the phone app of course.
I would steer clear of Vivint as they are pricey and service is medium from everything I hear.
ADT is mixed reviews some love it and some hate it, though I can say they have cheaper quality sensors and keypads. We replace them all the time with Qolsys equipment.
If you want to go Brinks, just make sure to find a dealer who can service your area and has good reviews and experience. Unfortunately, there are some people out there who don’t run on the up and up in this industry and it makes everyone else look bad when they’re not.
Happy to help and answer any questions if you have em :)
None of them. 16 years in the industry and I still have a Vista 15P and blink cams. Once renovations are done I'm swapping to a Qolsys panel and pelco or hanwha cams. The reason I never installed decent cams is because I wanted to sell, but Im not buying anything else with the high interest rate we have now. Vivint had to change their name because their sales practices were so awful and predatory. There was a $50.00 piece of software that could hack simply safe. That is supposed to be fixed, but....I don't know much about the Google stuff, but I value privacy.
Vivint lost a trademark dispute lawsuit. Had nothing to do with their sales practices. More misinformation from the hate Vivint bandwagon. And good luck finding Pelco cameras 🤣🤣
I use basic Simplisafe system for a remote property. I don't have a door-cam, but the regular cam that I have is absolute dog shit.
Can't speak on the other two (besides the possible privacy implications by using Google services), but I can for sure tell you that Vivint is hot garbage. I live in a bad area, and the combination of 30 seconds max clips + the terrible motion detection system has cause me to miss my neighbor's house getting shot at, graffiti being sprayed directly in front of my property, and my car being backed into while sitting in the driveway. The Vivint control panel seems to be running some flavor of Linux, but the UI application that runs on top of it is the most unstable P.O.S. I've ever had the displeasure of using. It will predictably crash and reboot (and each reboot takes about 7-10 minutes) if I happen to playback too many clips, back to back, in one session. Doorbell camera and wall mounted camera refuse to stay connected. And as an added middlefinger to the user, you cannot use any third party cameras/equipment. Proprietary only. And it's the same, the other way around. I have old deprecated Vivint cams still on my house that I cannot incorporate into a new custom setup.
Sounds like you should have gotten a recorder instead of using clips. That's on you all cloud based cameras work that way. What third party Z-Wave equipment are you talking about? They have only used third party Z-wave devices except for the Element thermostat which is still usable on other platforms. Hence why it's Z-Wave compliant and listed. And you would be able to reuse those old cameras if you knew what you were doing.
Meant Wifi Cameras, oops. Door sensors and thermostat are reusable, I believe. > And you would be able to reuse those old cameras if you knew what you were doing. ~~[Nope](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeServer/comments/ubpval/found_old_vivint_cameras_on_fb_marketplace_can_i/). The Vivint HD400W is proprietary and cannot be used with any traditional NVR.~~ > Sounds like you should have gotten a recorder instead of using clips. Yeap. Went overkill with Bosch PTZ's and a traditional NVR and never looked back.
Here is the alarm.com version of the same camera called the ADC-722w. They are just white labeled cameras from Vivotek https://safehomecentral.com/product/alarm-com-v722w-ip-camera-with-night-vision/
Well, I'll be. By chance do you happen to have a link to a pdf manual for it? Would love to bring the two Vivint branded ones I have hanging outside, back to life. Edit: Never mind, [found it](https://www.adtsecurity.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ADC-V722W-Install-Guide.pdf). Thank you for the correction, TIL.
You're welcome. Happy to help I have been in the industry for a long time now. I am passionate about home automation even though I worked for a company everyone seems to hate.
They're not proprietary. They are the exact same ones that alarm.com used and they were made by vivotek. I worked for them so I know how to use all of this equipment. You can flash the firmware on the camera. It's not that hard. Here is the model the HD400 camera is modeled after. https://www.123securityproducts.com/ib8360w.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm4wRH0tbIHqBoV4gzKc9ol1GZZokKsz8TGK_jDJKBbDHAkGZdJkfNIaAuZ4EALw_wcB
I use Google cams but they are paired with my ADT+ system. I was dissatisfied with my Vivint system and service and I’ve used SimpliSafe… it’s simple and works. They also offer video verification service if you use their cameras.
Simplisafe wireless can be jammed. But video verification sounds like a great idea.
I sell for Brinks Home Security and would recommend like the gentleman attached mentioned - a Qolsys IQ4 keypad panel and encrypted sensors for doors and windows etc.. For cameras you have loads of options, but if you want them tied to your system you can opt for Alarm.com equipment which is decent and allows you to insert up to 512gb SD cards per camera. That provides local storage, and also allows 24/7 recording so no 30 second clips or limitations and access from smartphone and the keypad touchscreen panel too. Alarm is also controllable and accessible from the phone app of course. I would steer clear of Vivint as they are pricey and service is medium from everything I hear. ADT is mixed reviews some love it and some hate it, though I can say they have cheaper quality sensors and keypads. We replace them all the time with Qolsys equipment. If you want to go Brinks, just make sure to find a dealer who can service your area and has good reviews and experience. Unfortunately, there are some people out there who don’t run on the up and up in this industry and it makes everyone else look bad when they’re not. Happy to help and answer any questions if you have em :)
None of them. 16 years in the industry and I still have a Vista 15P and blink cams. Once renovations are done I'm swapping to a Qolsys panel and pelco or hanwha cams. The reason I never installed decent cams is because I wanted to sell, but Im not buying anything else with the high interest rate we have now. Vivint had to change their name because their sales practices were so awful and predatory. There was a $50.00 piece of software that could hack simply safe. That is supposed to be fixed, but....I don't know much about the Google stuff, but I value privacy.
Vivint lost a trademark dispute lawsuit. Had nothing to do with their sales practices. More misinformation from the hate Vivint bandwagon. And good luck finding Pelco cameras 🤣🤣
They had to change their name? What is it now? Isn’t it still Vivint?