Review: Piper NV
Seeing as I was the victim of a break in a few years ago, I have a keen interest in security cameras for the home. Thus I will be reviewing three cameras today, starting with the Piper NV security camera. Piper NV has a ton features going for it, including the following:
- It has a camera that has a wide viewing angle. More on that in a moment
- A siren
- A microphone
- A speaker
- A Z-Wave hub that allows it to communicate to Z-Wave devices like smart plugs, sensors, locks, thermostats and more
- Motion, sound, temperature, humidity and light sensors
- Battery backup via 3 AA batteries
The Piper Android and iOS apps allow you to arm and disarm the system, set custom alerts, watch live footage on a single or four-panel screen, view the free saved clips triggered by your own settings preferences, check out graphs showing all of the changes the sensors detect over time. I used the iOS version and it was quick to figure out and easy to use.
Setup is easy. It took me about 7 minutes to get it done. All I had to do is plug in the Piper NV, connecting it to Wi-Fi network and then entering the details for the local Wi-Fi network. Plus waiting for the camera do some firmware updates. One note, during the setup process, you will be asked for a phone number which you can receive alerts over. Thus you should pick your mobile number. From there, I set custom rules for Home, Away and Vacation mode. In Home, Away and Vacation mode, motion, sound and indoor temperature changes can trigger a response from the Piper NV. Within each mode and for each specific trigger, you can opt in and out of recording a video clip (it typically records an event for about 35 seconds), getting alerted via push message, phone call, email and/or text, notifying your trusted circle (you can add family and friends using your phone’s contact directory) and sounding the siren.
In terms of the quality of the picture, here’s an example of what the camera is capable of:
It’s a 3.4 MP HD camera capable of pan, tilt, and zoom with a very wide viewing angle. You will have no problem seeing anything you will need to see. You also get night vision as well. That worked well during my testing. Finally, it comes with all the gear you need to mount it
So what will cost you? The Piper NV goes for $299 CDN at your local Best Buy. They also sell a variety of Z-Wave switches and sensors. That way you can build a security system that fits your needs. If you want a camera that does more than take pictures, the Piper NV is very much worth a look.
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