Who makes Wisenet security cameras, and are they any good?

I recently had a conversation with one of the sales reps about the history of the Wisenet security camera line.

Wisenet security camera products are produced by Hanwha Techwin, and used to be a division of Samsung, called Samsung Optics, until Hanwha Techwin purchased that division.

In this article we’re going to take a look at Hanwha Techwin’s product lines, and who their target audiences are. Let’s find out if this is right for your home or business together!

Who are Hanwha Techwin’s proucts for?

Based on the offerings, Hanwha Techwin’s target audience ranges from the mid to high end user up to corporate offices, but it really shines when you look at deployments the size of school districts, college campuses, or corporate offices.

Now, their products typically are going to be sold and installed through what they call an integrator. That’s just the term for a company that designs these systems to fit the situation and chooses which equipment would be appropriate, then installs it for you.

Do they only sell security cameras?

Security cameras is kind of Hanwha Techwin’s bread and butter for what we’re reviewing, but actually no. Hanwha Techwin started out as an explosives company after the Korean war. They were formed in order to demolish what was left of structures in order to begin the rebuilding process.

Since then, Hanwha has gotten into a whole range of industries, and has really been climbing the charts here in the states. Since the executive order ban of Hikvision and Dahua products in goverment applications, Hanwha has really been able to pick up a large portion of their market share, where you would have expected Axis to pick up that space instead.

While Hanwha Techwin’s security camera devision really does focus on the camera part of it, they do offer pretty solid recording options. There’s a VMS software package called Wave (www.wavevms.com) which is not free, but is a great middle-of-the-road option when comparing to the giants like Milestone and Genetec, versus some of the low end home recorders.

Speaking of low end home recorders, they do have some of those also which can later be pulled into their Wave VMS software if you ‘d like. Soon, they’ll be releasing hardware encoders that run the Wave VMS software out of the box, which could be really exciting!

Where to buy their security cameras and recorders?

Hanwha Techwin genereally does not sell direct to customer. Instead, you’ll have to purchase through a STEP partner, integrator, or one of their distributors. An example would be Anixter, Greybar, or CDW.

Yes, you can find some of their stuff on Amazon, but you won’t get the warranty (3 or 5 year depending how it’s purchased). I’d say try to buy through the channel partners. They can give you a better deal if you beat em’ up on the phone too.

They seem to have a lot of product lines, which should I choose?

They DO have a ton of proucts. This is where figuring out what you’re trying to accomplish, and what type of camera is right for you.

Some things to keep in mind when you’re selecting a camera:

• Is the camera indoors or does it need to be outdoor rated?
• What type of view do I need? Fisheye? Normal fixed? PTZ?
• What am I trying to catch or prevent from happening?
• Do I need a hidden camera, or is an overt camera good for my application?
• Do I need the camera to have Infrared night vision? If so, at what distance does it need to work?
• How much storage do I need, and which device meets my needs with a little extra room to grow?
• How many weeks do I need to record data?
• How does the data get from the camera to the Network Video Recorder (NVR?) Wifi/Analog/Ethernet?
• How do the cameras receive power? Power over Ethernet? Wall jack?

I realize that’s a lot of very specific questions but I promise, answering them will save you a lot of headache when you get the system in hand and go to put it in.

Now, as far as camera lines it really depends on what you’re looking to accomplish. Do you need really good low light functioning? Then the X series might be for you. It’s more expensive, but has the Wisenet 5 chip in it which has some pretty stellar WDR (Wide Dynamic Range, it’s like the brightness on those old TVs but only brightens up the darkest parts of the picture).

Do you need something tiny for inside to look down a hallway? Well, then maybe the L series would be better for you. That’s a budget camera with limited analytics and a lesser low light chip, but the price tag will be much lower.

If you’re not sure on what line to get, the Q series is their best value for your buck line in my opinion. Pair that with a Q series recorder and you’re all set.

For more information about specific models, Hanwha Techwin America has some great selection tools on their site at www.hanwhasecurity.com

Conclusion

There certainly is a lot of consideration that goes into a new security camera system for your home or business. Hanwha Techwin is a reputable brand, and I’ve yet to have an issue while installing the products. Hopefully, they work out as well for you as they have for me.

Let me know in the comments!