Grandstream GXV3672_HD Outdoor Day/Night HD IP Camera Deal $147

I've been playing with a Grandstream IP OS HD camera now for maybe a bit over a year now. 
 
I had looked at the specs for this camera and was impressed. 
 
http://www.grandstream.com/index.php/products/ip-video-surveillance/gxv3672
 
In China the camera goes for around $100 or so.  This is for the 720 version.  The 1080 version was going for around $140.
 
Funny though today I cannot find any links with these prices on it though. 
 
I did see it on Ebay for around $165 plus shipping in the last couple of months.  Mostly though US vendors were selling this IP camera for mostly around $250 or more.
 
A few days back someone mentioned this link with the camera at around $160 or so plus shipping.
 
This morning I noticed a new price and ordered it.   Note that I do not work for Grandstream.  I was though impressed with the specs of this camera.  I will most likely take it apart and replace the included lens with a bit wider lens.
 
http://www.neobits.com/grandstream_gxv3672_hd_grandstream_gxv3672_hd_1mp_p5595770.html
 
The camera is listed for $147.95 plus shipping and handling (which seems to have changed when the price went down some more?)
 
I paid around $16 for shipping and handling (which I think is a bit hight?).
 
I am guessing that the camera will be sold for less in a few months?  That said though this is a good price for purchasing the camera today domestically.

Have you read any reviews of this camera? Alternatively, is Grandstream well regarded? Finally, what lens so you plan to piton there and where can I get one? And will you be using a PoE switch to power the camera and if so, what do you recommend? Thanks.

Google this specific camera reviews.  What I have seen is good. 
 
Relating to Grandstream itself:
 
http://www.grandstream.com/
 
I did read somewhere that the DECT phone hubs / OS / phones OS that I am playing with are Grandstream based (but I can't really verify that).
 
Personally though I can't really say if they are well regarded or not as I have never purchased any of their VOIP stuff as I always purchased (enterprise solutions) Cisco (10k-140k sized companies).
 
I have been testing a Grandstream OS generic IP camera (paid $137 USD) now for over a year.  It is in a "weatherproof" case.  I did have one issue last summer when we had a bad storm (70 MPH winds).  The camera did get wet inside.  The Ubiquiti Aircam next to the generic IP camera did not get wet inside.  That said I did dry it and it worked afterwards.  I also had some animal (rabbit) chew and short out the POE cat5 cable.  It didn't really do anything to the camera but cut the power to it.
 
Relating to POE I am using a Tycon mid-span POE 24 port injector switch for just the IP cameras and one set of atom based touchscreen tablets.
 
http://tyconpower.com/products/TP-MS.htm
 
I do though currently have 4 little Tycon POE switches in place in addition to the Tycon mid-span POE injector.
 
http://tyconpower.com/products/files/TP-SW8_POE_Switch_Spec_Sheet.pdf
 
I also have other POE switches that I am playing with. (3-4 other mfgs).
 

lens so you plan to piton there and where can I get one?

Click to expand...

 
I will be putting in a lens in place that provides a wider FOV.  I will be taking the camera apart to look at the insides of it to see if I can replace the lens.

Thanks for the info on this camera Pete.  I'm hoping mine shows up here soon.  I'm going to try out a Netgear PEO+ switch with it (GS510TP) and want to plug my Ubiquiti into it too hoping both will work with it as I move more into POE cams.  The switch comes in tomorrow but I'll have to wait til Monday for camera.

Mine has been shipped and I should get it on TUE or WED next week. 
 
That said I will temporarily remove the 2nd Ubiquiti Aircam outside in the test position; replace the lens on it and put this one in its place for a bit.  I was thinking though of removing the older non IP66 camera and fitting it into a different outdoor "case" as I have already ripped into it and changed the hardware a bit.

I ordered that Ubiquiti poe adapter for $18 on Amazon...hoping that works well so it can be added to a regular poe switch.
Right now I have 8 cameras but I feel there's a little too much overlap for my needs.  I'm thinking about trimming that number down and improving on the fewer better placed cameras.  If this Grandstream works out, I would get a couple more for my outdoor locations.

Mario - I'm relieved to see that you ordered the Instant802.3af injector from Ubiquiti as that's the only way to make it compliant with normal POE switches.  I've had good luck with them - the trick is to put them close to the endpoint vs. close to the switch.  
 
PeteC - I'm a reseller of Grandstream and have been testing various products lately.  I haven't gotten to their video products, but their VOIP products are a really good value IMHO.  I've done large-scale Cisco VOIP deployments, and when I replaced the 7975 on my desk with a Grandstream GXV3140 I was happily surprised with a lot of features.  The speakerphone is better with the cisco as is maybe the build quality, but the Grandstream certainly stands on its own.  It also works very well with internet SIP services with almost no real configuration other than basic IP and user/password.
 
Next year Ubiquiti will have their Pro version of the AirCam which I'm really anticipating - it'll have night vision, POE, etc - but it can't seem to get here fast enough.  I really don't want to wait another year.

 
Thanks for the clarification on the adapter.  I wasn't sure if it had to be installed near the camera or not.  I like what I've been hearing about Grandstream...can't wait for the camera to get here!

Thanks guys; looking forward to checking out the Grandstream!

I want a Grandstream GXP2200 phone!  Looks like a nice phone to use with Asterisk and I could run a CQC Android client on it as well.  But it is still a little too expensive for my tastes.  Hopefully the price will fall some soon.

I look forward to hearing about your new cameras.

Can you please tell me why you chose those POE switches as I couldn't find reviews of those two switches anywhere? After doing some quick research, I came across the Cisco SG300-10P as a 10 port gigabit POE switch that received decent reviews. Any comments on that one?

David

I was initially playing with little touchscreen tablets custom set up for POE (15 of them) with a higher POE draw than the IP cameras so went to using the Tycon midspan switches (little ones). 
 
The POE camera endeavor started with the generic IP camera and Ubitiquiti Aircams after the touchscreen tablet endeavor.
 
That and I also have Omnitouch 5.7e's which are currently on a separate Tycon POE switch (dedicated one right now).
 
I guess though in retrospect I started initially piece mealing my different POE devices and I was power paranoid?
 
Concurrent with the endeavor I did purchase a refurbished Cisco POE switch which didn't meet my needs at the time; so I turned around and sold it a couple of weeks later.

I got the Grandstream late yesterday and hope to install it today.  It is a good looking device.
Nice size and construction for sure.
I have one early observation.  I see that the camera has a pigtail on it to allow for various connection options.
Though this is good for the purpose of having those options, I really prefer how Ubiquiti did it with a single SEALED ethernet port.
Makes for a much simpler clean install.  The Grandstream will require some thought on the install which was going to just be wall mounted.
I don't think I would want that ethernet plug exposed to the outdoors so I'll have to try some mounting options later.
 
The Ubiquiti is a really well designed and thought out unit.  I really like the form factor and size of it as well as the mount.
If that next gen unit has the right price on it with IR, I'd get it after testing the one I have.
I'm not knocking the Grandsream in any way though...just a little different but still nice.
 
I haven't even gotten into image quality...just more first impressions kind of stuff.

I agree with all your points.  I installed mine outside and got it set up on Blue Iris.  One thing I didn't know and guessed at was I have to use the RTPS port number on BI to get the image.  I think I have to do something similar with my android but will have to research that later.  I believe there's an issue of restricting the number of RTPS requests to a camera which would mean I couldn't view the HD image on my phone.  I can however view the traditional SD type image on my phone by using the regular port number...not the end of the world.
 
Pete, I also agree that the image quality is really nice on this unit...very crisp.
Actually brought to my attention how far out of focus my Ubiquiti is...have to fix that!!!
 
I installed the camera where a Foscam used to be so I already had a sealed box in the soffit I could use to stuff the wires away so not too bad.
 
Here's a shot from the Grandstream.

And my out of focus Ubiquiti

Very nice Mario! 
 
I'm curious to see how it looks at night. 
 
You can adjust the sensivity of the change from Color to Black and White and if the LED illumination is on or off.
 
I do multiple RTSP streams with the older generic Grandstream.  Typically its one SD and one HD wide. One of each is configured to Zoneminder then I do another one to the TV or computer monitor sometimes.  Both of the feeds are configured with RTSP.  Same for me with the Aircam.
 
The RTSP IP camera connection feeds for Zoneminder are a bit different for each of the IP cameras; the out though from Zoneminder to a device is the same for all of the cameras.
 
I moved the above stuff to under the comments section for the camera database.