re: General security camera discussion (was "Unifi Protect security cameras")

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The slightly harder, but still really easy way. This is what I did. Completely free for me. Put Ubuntu on an old spare computer. Download the free homebridge image and follow the step by step instructions on the website to install it to Ubuntu. Use the GUI to install the plugin. Then use the GUI to input the info for your unifi stuff (IP, credentials, etc). Done. Now your unifi cameras are on homekit

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HFS. I had no idea that doorbells could be displayed on TV. But I installed this (a few tiny headaches, but it didn’t take much to figure out. The child bridge code being somewhat hidden and not realizing I didn’t have ffmpeg on this computer).


This was incredibly easy and fairly game changing. I had bought two Unifi phones thinking the “push” notifications from the g4 Protect doorbell would work on them (it doesn’t). This is way better.



And now I have linked all the things that worked with my Alexa that weren’t HomeKit enabled. This was an incredibly helpful post,

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Chris at Crosstalk just put out a new video which kinda sorta introduces a new G4 Doorbell Pro by way of analyzing another video. The doorbell itself seems pretty awesome, it of course has the front facing camera but also a secondary downward facing package camera. Also looks to have a fingerprint scanner, presumably for integration with the rumored UI door lock and maybe also Access.

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That's certainly an interesting video. I don't think I would consider that uprade. i love my g4 doorbells.

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Have you considered using the Unifi Viewport?

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I should probably rephrase:
My main TV-viewing experience is through an app on an AppleTV. My options are AppleTV or Firetv. The firetv app is less refined for whatever reason (it doesn’t like pause/fwd/rewind commands), so I use an AppleTV for my cable company’s app.
This setup now puts an overlay of a doorbell press over the AppleTV interface- live video of the person at the doorbell pops up in the corner of the screen! Because I am always/only using an AppleTV now, basically, I now get a pop up anytime my tv is on which is pretty darn neat (it pains me to give credit to that company. It really does. And it requires a workaround. But the concept and underlying architecture is theirs. Credit given where due).

There is also a Unifi protect app on AppleTV. It’s quite functional but has some small downfalls (second by second scrubbing is weak, no way to jump event to event , but overall it is pretty good. And unlike mobile apps, it’s pretty stable). So I have always been able to flip inputs/apps and get to my cameras on the tv with pretty steady results (and some amount of timeline scrubbing).

I love Ubiquiti, but the viewport isn’t on my radar for home use.
- an AppleTV is cheaper
- ATV has other functions including, as explained, a pop up when someone actually rings my doorbell.

If you have a standard cable box or use some other device, yes- a viewport would require fewer clicks to get to what you want. My understanding is that you can create views on it, but there’s no control over anything but a live view. So, if you hear something and flip over, you can see what’s on. But you can’t back up a minute or two and see what happened on a viewport. To pay more to not do that given my dependence on ATV as a cable box just doesn’t fit. I have thought about a dedicated video monitor (and you can even build “views” that swap which camera is displayed every so often, both serving as a way to view all the cameras and a way to prevent burn in), but there’s so little control (from what I gather), that it just isn’t going to do as good a job for me.



Please don’t read: OMG Apple is awesome.

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Also, it looks like the G4 instant is at the FCC for approval. I hope that means a G4 Flex is coming as well.

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G4 flex is unofficially announced - they wrote something about the skins for the g3 fitting the g4. They are generally poor at marketing and have a lot of “phantom” products it seems. Or things that are announced but never see daytime (a black UDM with PoE was one that was in the design software for a while). I would be super excited about a g4 instant.



Special note:
G4 Pro cameras along with the PTZ are “high-bandwidth” cameras and actually have a much lower limit than the “total camera” limit. They don’t give firm numbers on the number supported, but my UDMP is doing fine with 6x g4p, 2 g4 doorbells, and one instant. I get warnings about not adding anymore though.


I also spent a solid 2 weeks trying to convince myself of the pros/cons of adding hardwired electric locks and installing Access in my house. I still think my wife would let me, but I don’t want to retrofit it. I would probably put Access in a new construction if I were doing it though. I have a totally irrational hatred of batteries. And then also the added UDMP resource drain may not like my camera load (according to ubiquiti)

So the G4pro just got in stock, buti cant stomach paying 450 for a single camera. What do you think i should get? i need, 3 for certain but could up to 5 with cheaper ones.

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So the G4pro just got in stock, buti cant stomach paying 450 for a single camera

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Yeah me neither. I think they are worth around that much, I just don't think many homes need that much camera.

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What do you think i should get? i need, 3 for certain but could up to 5 with cheaper ones.

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I honestly have no idea at this point. None of them are ever in stock. Looks like their distributors won't get any more stock until Q1 of next year, so UI is the only seller right now. Might have to hit ebay or ubiquiti groups on facebook and overpay for the cheaper models. Since I started this thread I've begun a little side business installing cameras, and I've been doing almost strictly Uniview. They have protected sales channels so the dealer pricing that I get is far below MSRP and usually significantly cheaper than you can find on sites like B&H. The UI/UX on the desktop and mobile apps is garbage compared to Ubiquiti, but at least there is stock available and you get good video. Also they are ONVIF so should be easy to integrate with BI or Frigate or whatever if that's your thing.

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G4pro just got in stock, buti cant stomach paying 450 for a single camera

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I can’t recommend the picture on these things highly enough.

Can only compare to the g4 doorbell (I THINK it’s the same sensor as thr g4 dome) and the g3 instant, but it’s a DAMN good picture, and I would happily pay the price again. I think these things are going to be in service a long time.

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I can’t recommend the picture on these things highly enough.

Can only compare to the g4 doorbell (I THINK it’s the same sensor as thr g4 dome) and the g3 instant, but it’s a DAMN good picture, and I would happily pay the price again. I think these things are going to be in service a long time.

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I haven't tested one in person, but the footage I've seen from them does look mighty fine. Again I will say I think they are worth the price if you need or want it.


Side note: Flex skins are in stock! I just grabbed a 3pk of black and a 3pk of camo.

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Side note: Flex skins are in stock!

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If the Flex had been in stock when I went down this rabbit hole, I may have needed these. In the end, no regrets. But that was an awfully frustrating waiting game with the in/out of stock for each camera.

Ramrod:
I have a UDMP with protect. From a doorbell alert I’m 10-15 seconds from live video. There’s something screwy with remote viewing in general though. I’m currently out of town and have 100mb bidirectional (actual benchmark. No clue what the speed they pay for here is). My G4p actually struggle to stream smoothly in the protect app on iPhone (a screenshot is clear. Downloaded video is clear. But the stream view on my phone is super slow and bogged down). G4 doorbell loads in seconds. ETA- it’s actually much better and faster on cellular for some odd reason

Another odd finding: I used the method described earlier in the thread and have a homebridge server on a desktop linking these cameras to HomeKit. I have a slightly longer delay on my 3 cameras that allow me to speak (g3 instant, doorbell x2) in getting the feed to start through HomeKit- it’s 6-10 seconds. But when I hit “talk,” I can hear my voice come through almost instantly.
When I use the Protect mobile app, I get a much longer delay- sometimes 15-20 seconds after I speak before I can hear the echo of my voice on the camera’s end.

I still notice my doorbell feeds are pretty responsive remotely. But my camera stream response from the G4p are less than desirable. I’m debating an SSD vs convincing the wife that I need an NVR or NVRP (I’ve come close to maxing out the budget of her tolerance on cameras and camera talk). Yes- SSD were not designed to be used in NVR. But if you search the topic, particularly on Reddit, many people find they get a very improved response and a predicted SSD life that’s still well within reason (many suggest the SSS would last a decade or more based on the amount of data written/read and the published mean time to failure for the specific SSDs used)