Arlo versus Morepork versus Others?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Arlo versus Morepork versus Others?

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#230247 14-Feb-2018 17:30

Hi all, I want to place some security cameras around my home. Nothing too flash. Mainly for when we go on holidays etc or out for extended periods, so I can keep an eye on the house.

I've read some old threads and people are basically saying avoid the Alibaba stuff and that Arlo is otherwise good. Arlo seems to be about $430 for a 2 camera kit https://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=3007819 and $700 for the Pro https://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=3999543 (is it worth it?).

I also checked out Morepork and for $300 upfront (plus the $10/month) you can get 2 cameras and they are NZ based, you can call them for service, etc, etc.

After 2 years or so I guess the Arlo pricing looks better, but does anyone have any other ideas? TBH I am surprised there is not more competition in this price/ease of setup/basic bracket.

Indoor only
Power adaptor preferred (no batteries)
Wifi or LAN
Mobile app
Some sort of online cloud storage
Motion detection then starts uploading

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9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1958473 15-Feb-2018 10:20

I would be interested in reading others thoughts on this too. I have been doing a bit of research myself over the past little while as we are looking to install around 4 cameras (2 outdoors). Here are my thoughts on the top contenders of "non" Aliexpress options...

Arlo

Easy to install
Free 7 day recordings kept in the cloud
Not recording all the time on battery - Only on motion
Fully wireless - although feedback on battery life seems to vary (It seems to depend on when you have them activated)
Pricewise, not too bad
"Only" 720P - Some feedback is that by the time this is compressed and uploaded to the cloud it isn't that clear
Pro 2 versions are coming out soon which will have 1080P support

Ring

Easy to install - depending on setup
Wider options for camera (Doorbell, Spotlight, Floodlight, etc)
No free recording (approx $150 per year for unlimited cameras with recordings kept for 60 days)
Both wireless and powered options
Pricewise seem to be very competitive
1080P support
No base station required like the Arlo

Cleverloop

Easy to install with step by step guide
Free recording, plus the ability to use a USB HDD to have constant recording
No wireless options
Price looks good - But availability of the kits are sparse at the moment, no ETA from Cleverloop on when they will get more....If they get more??
1080P support
By all accounts very cool software which learns what is actual movement vs say a tree

Ubiquiti

Requires a bit more knowledge to install
Local recording via NVR
No wireless options
Bit more expensive to buy - But no ongoing cost as you manage the recordings locally
1080P support

Others I have looked at include Nest, Panasonic, Swann etc....However, I didn't look any further than the initial marketing stuff.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

Dulouz

874 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1958475 15-Feb-2018 10:24

I have a Morepork for my office and was underwhelmed by the quality of the kit, set-up and software. It works but I'm looking for other options for my house.

Amanon

rp1790

733 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1958476 15-Feb-2018 10:26

I've Used the original Arlo's before and they are fine, but being battery powered they are always in standby mode which means it takes 3-5 seconds to come out of that when motion is detected. Meaning you'll miss stuff. Having said that, pretty good package and the newer ones are even better. Video quality at 720p is more than acceptable, I think you only get 1080p on the new ones if they are powered.

I wouldn't' discount the Alliexpress stuff. Hikvision and Dahua are top quality cameras, add in an NVR and you have a complete solution, albeit, requiring more work than the Arlo, Ring or Cleverloop type bundles.

reven

3729 posts

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#1958477 15-Feb-2018 10:29

morepork is good for a house alarm, but i woudlnt consider using them for video surveillance. theyre ok at it, and when u get the kit sure install and use the camera. but if you just want to the cameras look elsewhere.

Stu

Hammered
8206 posts

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#1958478 15-Feb-2018 10:32

@FiggyNZ:

...

Cleverloop

Easy to install with step by step guide
Free recording, plus the ability to use a USB HDD to have constant recording
No wireless options
Price looks good - But availability of the kits are sparse at the moment, no ETA from Cleverloop on when they will get more....If they get more??
1080P support
By all accounts very cool software which learns what is actual movement vs say a tree

No wireless? All their cameras are wired and wireless. Or do you mean as far as power is concerned?

Biggest concern is that currently (as you point out) ALL packages show 'sold out'!

They aren't a bad system though, at least running them wired over POE. Didn't bother with wireless, as you still need to run power to each camera, so figured I'd just run CAT6 to each one.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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FiggyNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1958489 15-Feb-2018 10:46

Stu:

@FiggyNZ:

...

Cleverloop

Easy to install with step by step guide
Free recording, plus the ability to use a USB HDD to have constant recording
No wireless options
Price looks good - But availability of the kits are sparse at the moment, no ETA from Cleverloop on when they will get more....If they get more??
1080P support
By all accounts very cool software which learns what is actual movement vs say a tree

No wireless? All their cameras are wired and wireless. Or do you mean as far as power is concerned?

Biggest concern is that currently (as you point out) ALL packages show 'sold out'!

They aren't a bad system though, at least running them wired over POE. Didn't bother with wireless, as you still need to run power to each camera, so figured I'd just run CAT6 to each one.

Yes I meant they don't have battery options. I understand that they may run out of stock from time to time, but when I enquired I got told the following which concerned me....

"We sold out of stock prior to Xmas and are just trying to work out when or if we will be able to get more stock into NZ. Unfortunately we can't provide a timeline at the moment for when we may have more stock. Will know more in the next few weeks."

plas

450 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1958542 15-Feb-2018 11:43

I have Arlo Pros.

Pros

Simple setup and installation
Wireless
Decent battery life (I get 3-4 months on a couple of the cameras)

Cons

Video quality is pretty average (I should have researched this more before buying)
Mobile app is rubbish. The geofencing never really works, it can show you as inside the zone yet it wont disarm. Or your out of zone and it doesn't arm.

timbosan

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1958561 15-Feb-2018 12:03

I have a MorePork system at home, and for a security system it is fine. The indoor camera also does motion detection so if you walk in front of it when the alarm is armed, it will activate AND record. However I also a separate camera system for outside, using 3MP Dahua cameras. These have excellent video quality, are easy to set up, and can work with NAS, email, NVR, etc. Only problem is they cannot integrate back into the Morepork system.

You didn't really say if your after security AND cameras, or security WITH cameras. I haven't found anything that does both really well.

Does it have to be 1 system?

cruxis

470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1958586 15-Feb-2018 12:40

I know that cleverloop cameras work with surveillance station on both a QNAP and Synology NAS. I am guessing other onvif cameras would be too.

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#1958597 15-Feb-2018 12:58

Cleverloop looks good thanks, and the price is right.

The Arlo etc all look so expensive to me. Why should this stuff cost so much? Over $1K for 4 cameras???

timbosan

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1958599 15-Feb-2018 13:05

BLazeD:

Cleverloop looks good thanks, and the price is right.

The Arlo etc all look so expensive to me. Why should this stuff cost so much? Over $1K for 4 cameras???

Whilst not a direct comparison, I paid $100 each for the Dahua cameras. It seems that all the 'fancy' service based systems cost way more than the hardware is worth. Its the service (and marketing) you pay for.

neb

11294 posts

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#1958721 15-Feb-2018 18:10

FiggyNZ:
Cleverloop

Price looks good - But availability of the kits are sparse at the moment, no ETA from Cleverloop on when they will get more....If they get more??

I've got a Cleverloop system that I'm thinking of selling (1 indoor, 1 outdoor) if anyone's interested. Been mulling it over for awhile, but if there's a need for them at the moment that'd be an impetus to do it.

dafman

3898 posts

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#1958759 15-Feb-2018 19:29

I'm also looking at options. Arlo looks very tempting, but is pricey and even the video quality on the upcoming Pro 2 series doesn't look as good as I hoped. That said, the overall functionality and what looks like a great app are compelling. However, it's the free 7 days storage that I really like - I'm not interested in a Morepork or similar that wants to lock me into ongoing monthly payments.

Here's a link to a Youtube review of the upcoming Pro 2: Link here

tripp

3848 posts

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#1958770 15-Feb-2018 19:55

I have arlo and cleverloop, I do like cleverloop a bit better but have had a number of problems with it, everything from the server caching my cameras meaning they would not arm, this has had a couple of times meaning emails to support which can be slow (normally a day or so). Some people would not say that slow but it is when you are not at home and your cameras won't work. Geofencing on it is a nightmare, use to work well but 1/2 the time it does not work correctly anymore.

I really don't know how they keep things running as they don't charge a monthly fee and need to fund it by hardware sales only (which they currently are not selling hardware). I don't know if this is a early warning of things to come. I would be happy to pay a few each month but I think they have done it the wrong way and if they tried to charge it now people would have an issue with it

Arlo on the other hand is slow to refresh in the app, can take a while to get to the right area to turn it on etc. I run both now as I don't really trust each on their own.

tripp

3848 posts

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#1958775 15-Feb-2018 20:10

I would be interesting to know if anyone is using amazon cameras however.

https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Amazon-Cloud-Cam/dp/B01C4UY0JK

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