RXCamView for Android is a free surveillance monitoring app that lets you connect all sorts of DVRs and IPCs with your device at any time and anywhere. Imagine you are running a small business and have to check security cameras on the go, or want to monitor a home camera system while on vacation — the app is billed as turning smartphones into portable security monitors that can function wherever there is internet.
The security monitoring toolkit
The application provides real-time preview, playback, and device management from your mobile device or PC on any available network. Features include HD video streaming, historical video playback, message push, two-way talking and screenshot for taking pictures. Other functions include live view with Pan/tilt/zoom and custom layouts, remote playback by time/date and camera or date and channel, local recording of live video to your mobile device, images can be viewed using an email account, alarm management with sound support for all camera channels together as well as device (DVR) password lockout features.
The interface is kept straightforward with a user-friendly design that is ideal for beginners, enabling live stream viewing on smartphones and possibility to easily replay recorded clips in the event something important was missed. Current version 5.21.1 comes with Apple Push Notification service support as well as improved features like video recording, playback, snapshot and PTZ control. Setup: When you install the camera it will ask you to configure your cameras network connection and then after that you can access live feeds or recorded footage on-the-go via the app. The app doesn't replace camera systems, instead working with existing setups as a remote control and viewfinder.
The persistent connection nightmare
User feedback has already shown that it's plagued by severe reliability problems - reports of having to reconnect cameras every 1-3 days, or not being able to access cameras from outside the home even for users who've had systems for years. Problems staying connected to the app are pretty much a constant occurrence with users saying they have to delete and reload devices every few weeks just so they can use the camera monitor. Reviews on Amazon criticize regular "Connection Closed" messages, which, when they work at all, happen sporadically - leading users to declare the app as "useless." From analyzing the problems, it seems that these issues are consistent and not just random mistakes in how users set the app up. The system makes users scroll footage per camera, instead of allowing simultaneous multi-camera review making incident investigation annoying and time-consuming for installations with multiple cameras. Other issues are recording inconsistency: live feeds work but no video storage, even though system settings show hard drives work just fine. Connectivity problems are not the only issue: some customers experience crashes, slow load times, and interface lock-ups during normal use. The freeware model doesn't seem to have enough resources for bugfixes and feature requests.
The big surveillance system reality check
RXCamView claims over 13,632 reviews logged by app tracking services. It's for those users that already have a compatible system and require mobile access even when connection issues are present. Small business owners who already have a camera system installed will still get some value out of the app during periods when it does work. The app is for people who are proficient with technical troubleshooting and can put up with regular reconnections, but don't need reliable remote access.
Consumers with modest surveillance needs who consider camera monitoring to be convenient rather than critical might even put up with these limitations in return for zero-cost remote access. Professional security uses that need a dependable remote monitoring tool should steer clear of this app until the connectivity issues are fixed. It appears, as one poster put it, "you get what you pay for" with the free version. If you care at all about being able to rely on your surveillance monitoring needs, then you would consider funding some of these other paid systems – which have more robust development and better customer service. RXCamView is perfect for those casual surveillance checks, just don't expect to count on it for anything you want to rely on.
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