A great solution for easy and fast installs
October 02, 2024
A great solution for easy and fast installs
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Modules Used
- MV72X
- MV12WE
Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Meraki MV
Cisco Meraki smart cameras (MV range) are a very good fit for smaller sites where installing traditional IP cameras alongside an NVR is not efficient. Although the initial cost of an individual camera can seem high, when you factor in the infrastructure required for traditional setups, the Meraki MV is great value for sites with a handful of cameras. The onboard intelligence is an added bonus as it can potentially lead to faster event triggers than waiting for an NVR to process it. The hardware is robust and exceptionally easy to set up and install, with everything being done through the cloud hosted dashboard. Image quality is good and there are now cameras with increased frame rates so all requirements other than for PTZs are catered for. All in all a reliable quick to install and high quality solution.
Pros
- Ease of install
- Simple management
- Robust hardware
- Clear image quality
Cons
- No PTZ models
- Motion detection at night in the rain can be over zealous
- Recurring costs add up to quite a lot for larger sites
- Less time to install, meaning fewer on-site hours required
- Firmware upgrades easy and quick, a massive time saver
- Central management allows viewing from anywhere you allow
- Granular control allows access to only the people who need it
Installation time is hugely reduced with nothing needing to be configured on the camera locally, just fix it to the wall or ceiling. Firmware updates were always a pain for traditional IP cameras and some always got missed or the settings changed, with Meraki MV it is automated and just works.
By using Cisco Meraki MS switches along with Cisco Meraki MV cameras, the cameras can by restarted if they become unresponsive from the dashboard as they identify which switch port they are connected to and therefore power from. That port can then simply be cycled to reboot the camera, all within a couple of clicks!
- Milestone XProtect Video Management Software (VMS)
The Milestone XProtect Video Management Software is an excellent software solution for managing traditional IP cameras, however we found that when there is a requirement for smaller sites, the Cisco Meraki MV cameras and their associated dashboard are more cost effective, whilst being quicker to set up and easier to manage.
Do you think Cisco Meraki MV delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with Cisco Meraki MV's feature set?
Yes
Did Cisco Meraki MV live up to sales and marketing promises?
Yes
Did implementation of Cisco Meraki MV go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy Cisco Meraki MV again?
Yes
Cisco Meraki MV Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
Premium support not required as the standard support it the same.
Yes - The first bug I reported to Cisco Meraki support was resolved to my satisfaction in a reasonable time. There is another bug that they are working on at the moment and I am being kept up to date with the progress of a solution. The customer service is always excellent.
Using Cisco Meraki MV
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar | None |
- Live viewing including zoom
- Reviewing footage from a motion alert
- Viewing on a phone, the app is good.
- Moving the timeline on the phone can be unreliable
- Motion alerts send you to the dashboard even when you have the app installed on a phone
Yes - Generally the app is very good, the timeline is not as obvious as it should be and the alerts take you to the dashboard even when the app is installed, which is not quite right!
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