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

quote:

---

The app is my main way of viewing the cameras, so that's pretty important to me.

---

If you're just viewing, whether live or playback, then any of the apps/systems are fine. If you want to review hours of video quickly, or like nice thumbnails of what happened on a particular day, or like timely and rich notifications with a thumbnail when something happens, then I'd go Ubiquiti.

quote:

---

Looking at Ubiquiti- what would a setup look like?
Just poking around their site and it looks like I would need:
Cloud Key Gen2 Plus
Gateway Console
Unify NVR

---

You only need 1 of those 3 to record video. Ubiquiti calls their routers "gateways", so if you already have a router then you don't need one of their gateways (unless you want it). Their Protect NVR software can run on their gateways as an easy "in" to their security camera line, but if you get the NVR or the CK2+ then Protect will run on that and you don't need a gateway.

The UNVR is a "serious" NVR that will take up to 4 hard drives, but will work with only 1. You will have to buy that separately. You will also need a separate PoE switch to power the cameras. I recommend getting the hard drive and switch from amazon.

The cheapest route will be to get the CK2+ which comes with a 1TB hard drive already, a PoE switch from Amazon for <$100 (make sure it has enough PoE ports for your cameras plus 1 to power the CK2+ if you want to do that rather than use the wall adapter), and then 4 or 6 or however many G5 Bullet cameras. With 4 cameras, CK2+, and switch, you'll be looking at about $800 total plus tax and maybe $15 shipping from ubiquiti.

quote:

---

ETA: I didnt realize the Cloud Key includes storage. So I could be good to go with a CK and a PoE switch correct? And of course cameras

---

Exactly. The included 1TB is good for maybe a few days to a week of 24/7 recording of 4 cameras, or much longer if you only record motion events on all/some of the cameras. That drive is also very easy to pop out and replace with a higher capacity 2.5" drive if desired.