1. How is Archerfish different from other video monitoring systems?

Archerfish watches video for you so you don’t have to. Used in homeland security, our advanced video technology is much smarter than motion detection, so you don’t have to waste time looking at things that don’t matter. You tell Archerfish what to look for – expected events, unanticipated intrusions, or just the odd things that happen when you’re not around. If Archerfish notices something of interest, it instantly shows you by sending a video message to your email or mobile. That way you can always stay tuned in, even on the go.

2. Why is Archerfish video technology better than motion detection?

Motion detection can only tell you if something in the camera view moves – it can’t tell what has moved or if it’s movement you want to know about. We’re pretty sure you don’t want to know every time tree branches, snow, or your neighbor’s cat moves in front of the camera, so we designed Archerfish to look out for the stuff that you say matters. That way, you only get notified when something you actually want to know about happens.

3. What are the differences between Archerfish Solo and Archerfish Quattro?

Both Archerfish Solo and Archerfish Quattro are complete interactive video monitoring systems that you manage remotely through the Archerfish SmartPortal. Here’s a quick overview to help you decide which product is right for you.

4. Do Archerfish products come with a warranty?

Archerfish hardware has a limited warranty of (1) one year from date of purchase from myarcherfish.com or an authorized reseller. See our Terms and Conditions for details

5. What is the return policy?

If you’re not satisfied with your purchase from myarcherfish.com, we’re happy to accept returns within 30 days from the date of purchase. To return an item, contact Archerfish Customer Support for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number and shipping instructions. Returns can’t be processed without an RMA. Then send back the undamaged product with original literature and packaging for a refund of your purchase price, less a $19.99 restocking fee for Archerfish Solo and Archerfish Quattro. Damaged products, cosmetic or otherwise, are subject to increased restocking fees. Archerfish SmartPortal subscriptions are not refundable.

6. Do I need to hire a professional installer?

It depends. Archerfish Solo is designed so that you can easily install it yourself. Just plug it in to an available power supply and set up Solo to communicate with your wireless network router. Take a look at our Getting Started Videos for more tips on how to set up your system. Archerfish Quattro is a professional grade system that requires cabling, and some people are not comfortable with running cable through their home or office. Although you may work with the specialty audio/video installer of your choice, we recommend Zip Express Installation to help you install Archerfish Quattro.

7. Can I use other cameras with Archerfish Quattro?

We do not recommend non-Archerfish cameras for use with your system. Like all of our products, we’ve put our cameras through a lot of testing, and other cameras may not perform optimally with our advanced video technology.

8. What are the network and PC requirements?

9. Does my PC need to be on in order for Archerfish to be on?

You only need to have your PC on with an available Internet connection when you initially set up your Archerfish system, but after that it’s not necessary. Unlike other systems, you’ll still receive notifications to your email or mobile phone when your PC is off. You can also log on to the Archerfish SmartPortal from any PC with an Internet connection.

10. How many Archerfish devices can I install in each location?

Archerfish is a flexible, expandable system. You can place as many Archerfish devices as you like in one location, or in different geographic locations and manage them all from one SmartPortal account. You can also mix and match Archerfish Solo and Archerfish Quattro, depending on your needs.

11. Can I use Archerfish from anywhere?

You can get Archerfish notifications anywhere you have access to email or reception on your mobile phone. You can also manage your Archerfish system from anyplace you have access to the Internet.

12. What mobile devices does Archerfish work with?

Archerfish works with most mobile devices, but the type of notification you can receive may vary. Options include text plus video, text plus URL to video, text plus still image, and text only. As an example, the Apple® iPhone® can receive any notification type.

13. What is the Archerfish SmartPortal, and how does the subscription work?

The Archerfish SmartPortal is a personal, secure web portal that lets you set up your system, tell Archerfish what to look for, and manage your cameras and notifications from anywhere. It’s also where you can view live and recorded video and search for past events. You’ll be prompted to sign up for a subscription plan online when you register your first Archerfish device on the SmartPortal and can choose the plan that works best for you. Subscription Details

14. Is my personal information and video secure?

Yes. Archerfish uses secure, hosted servers for all communication. If you want to access live, recorded, and event video from the web, you’ll need to log on to your personal Archerfish SmartPortal. The SmartPortal establishes a secure connection to your Archerfish device before you can view any video, and uses a number of security measures to protect your data including data encryption, digital certificates, token exchange, and only allowing user passwords that meet a minimum security threshold.

15. How do I tell Archerfish what to look for, and how does Archerfish know what to filter out?

You define your preferences on the SmartPortal so that Archerfish only looks for the things you want to know about. Say you want to confirm when the cleaning service comes to your home on Tuesday afternoons, while you’re at work. You set up a camera at the front of the house, pointing toward the driveway. Simply use the SmartPortal’s point-and-click interface to tell Archerfish to look for a car (select vehicle event) that pulls into the driveway (draw zone on driveway) and parks (select event duration = 60 seconds) each Tuesday between 3 and 5 pm (select day/time). Archerfish will send you a notification each time this happens, but will filter everything else out. If you later change your mind about what you’re looking for, it’s easy to make updates from any Internet connection.

16. Does Archerfish work in the dark?

While Archerfish works in low light, if you can’t see what’s going on in the area you wish to monitor, Archerfish can’t either. For best results, we recommend illuminating any area that has little to no light.

17. How does the Archerfish video search engine work?

Once you’ve told Archerfish which events to look for, you can use the video search engine to pinpoint past events that interest you. For example, you suspect the person loitering outside your business for the past week is the same individual. Since you had Archerfish looking for a person outside your back door during that time, you can search for all ‘person’ events during that week and replay the relevant video clips to confirm your suspicion.

18. How does Archerfish video recording work?

Archerfish automatically records and stores your event video clips on your Archerfish SmartPortal. The SmartPortal stores the event video clips until you reach your storage capacity, and then the system automatically deletes the oldest clips. If you want to record continuous video from your Archerfish system, you can use a micro SD card with Solo or a plug-in USB storage device with Quattro.

19. Does Archerfish link to local law enforcement?

Archerfish is a self-monitored system that lets you determine if and when you need to notify local law enforcement of an issue. Some cities and towns allow Archerfish notifications to be sent directly to them, so please consult your local ordinances about their security and alarm system policies.

20. Where can I get additional product information?

There are many resources available to you. In addition to our product pages, take a look at our Getting Started Videos for some great tips on how to set up your system. You can also use the product Installation Guide and Camera Placement Guide as references.

21. Do Archerfish products contain open source software?

Yes, Archerfish Solo and Archerfish Quattro both contain open source software inside the device. For more information on the software used, click here.

22. Does Archerfish work outside the U.S.?

If you have an Archerfish system installed in the U.S., you can access it through the SmartPortal when traveling abroad as long as you have access to a computer or smart phone with an Internet connection. For optimal product performance, we don't recommend installing your Archerfish system outside of the U.S. Archerfish servers are U.S.-based and you may experience network latency when your device communicates with the SmartPortal.