@MerakiDave wrote:
When leveraging MV_CA, the quality settings are locked to whatever options would not exceed 1024Kbps, such as 720p at 15fps or 1080p at 8fps for example. So the main thing to be aware is that you'll start streaming 1Mbps per camera continuously to the cloud. So plan accordingly especially if ISP bandwidth is limited. Hope that helps!
I'd like to clarify this statement because I originally misunderstood it. I was under the assumption that local footage would still be viewable at any resolution and only footage offloaded to the cloud would be retained at a lower resolution. This is not true, so I was incorrect. As I reflect on it, that was a foolish assumption on my part.
When you apply a cloud archive license to a 4K or 4MP camera such as the MV52, the video settings are automatically locked to 1080p (which is exactly what @MerakiDave said) for both local and cloud storage, so any footage viewed from this camera, whether live or archived, will only be available at the lower resolution.
The TLDR is this: when planning an MV deployment, the first decision to be made is what's more important - retention or quality. If longer retention is the primary goal, know that your max quality will be 1080p @ 8fps if Cloud Archive is required. If quality is the primary goal, know that Cloud Archive isn't an option and your retention will be between 5-35 days if you deploy the 4MP or 4K cameras @15fps or higher.
In spite of these limitations (which aren't unique to Meraki), the Meraki MV solution still has several other benefits that make it an extremely attractive option when compared to conventional systems. We're committed to it, but I just wanted to point this out in an effort to help others who may be going through the same evaluation process.