NetCam HD+ vs Icontrol Networks Piper NV

Instructions can be found in the app, or in the printed manual. The steps are very simple - plug it in, connect it to the internet, and install the app on your phone. After that, you just have to worry about registration and your personal settings.

WeMo is a home automation system by Belkin. The NetCam HD+ is compatible with this system, which means it can integrate with other WeMo compatible products such as the Belkin Wemo smart bulbs. If you own compatible products, they can interact with each other. For example, you can configure the system so that when the NetCam detects motion, it will turn on the Belkin WeMo lights.

There are apps for both iOS and Android, as well as a web app for any computer or other operating systems. This allows split households (in terms of operating systems) to control their smart camera with ease.

The NetCam HD+ has infra-red LED lights that provide light that the camera can pick up, however this light is't visible to the human eye.

With both a microphone and a speaker, you can have conversations through the NetCam and your phone.

The siren is very loud - rated at 105dB (louder than a snowmobile or motorcycle). It's loud enough to scare off virtually any intruder.

With a temperature and humidity sensors on-board, the Piper NV can give you a good idea of what the interior 'weather' is like. It can also track outdoor temperature, and will warn you of local weather alerts.

The apps are simple to use, and designed to make sure the most important stuff can be accessed the quickest. Any important actions will give you feedback from the Piper NV itself so you can rest assured each action goes through.

Small details are included in the app as well - from adjustable motion sensitivity (for shadows, animals, and other small movements) to a trusted circle of contacts that will be notified each time an alert is triggered.

All features worked as advertised, notifications were delivered quickly, and the camera is very responsive to actions performed in the apps.

The Piper NV has both a microphone and speaker, letting you have a conversation with a person in front of the Piper while you are elsewhere with your phone. This can be handy for conversations with babysitters, deliverymen, or even talking with your children when you're away.

The 1080p camera allows for up to 10X digital zoom. Without zooming, the picture is very crisp and clear which is immensely helpful when figuring out who is on the camera and what they're doing. The digital zoom will reduce this clarity, but allows for a close-up inspection of any small details.

The device can also tilt and pan - unique features that let you get the best angles of view.

The NV in Piper NV stands for night vision. This product included infra-red LEDs that illuminate pitch black rooms so that the camera can still see (although human eye's can't detect this light).

With a full 180 degrees of vision, this camera can be placed on a wall and see everything around it. Because its fish-eye design, the edges of the image will be slightly warped, however this is required for such a high field of view.

Z-Wave controller is built in.

Has a proper IR motion sensor, so does not image analysis to detect motion. This is very useful as it avoids the false alarms that many other camera are subject to when clouds change the lighting conditions.