NVR & Camera Systems: UniFi Protect VS Synology Surveillance Station

Amazon Affiliate Store

Gear we used on Kit

NVR Parts We use

Affiliates that help us out and can get you discounts!

Lawrence Systems Shirts and Swag

Synology Surveillance Station Features and Review

UniFi Protect G4-PRO Camera Review & Comparison to the UVC G3

UniFi Cloudkey Gen2 Plus with UnFi Protect & UniFi SDN Review

Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Key Gen2 Plus (UCK-G2-PLUS)

UNIFI Protect G4-PRO Camera
#Synology #NAS

[meat_mithkabob]

Thank you for bringing these concerns up in a more widely seen forum than the Unifi Protect message board. They've really dropped the ball in releasing what shouldn't even be called a Beta product because it's not feature-complete. Things like not having the cameras record 24/7, but instead on motion-activation during scheduled hours, being able to export more than 10 minutes of video at a time (yes, as of this comment they do say it's coming soon in a specific update LONG after initial release), or like you mention in your video: any legitimate method for external or offsite backup. What good are security cameras if people can just steal the NVR and now you have no evidence?

[djheckler]

Can you do updated video on Synology vs UniFi

[michiganbandit]

Lawrence Systems has a video for 95% of the questions I search for, keep up the good work 👍🏼

[ftoftheX]

I have a synology ds15+ with surveillance program installed. It rocks pretty well...

[softwareengineer]

Synology has been killing it with their product lines. Amazing company.

[Revlemmon]

Have you ever worked with Blue Iris before? If you have what is your opinion of it?

[stephencleaves]

I've been using Synology for about 4 years, absolutely brilliant units, easy to configure and also come with many other "added value packages" at no extra cost. The only down side is you need to purchase a licenses for each additional camera.

[sethwilliamson]

Would be great if you did a comparison with a DIY approach.
Eg. Zoneminder in a VM on your XCP-NG box, IP cameras with no vendor lock-in, and a FreeNAS pool with quota dedicated to storing the footage.
(Or just a bare metal standalone NVR made from COTS components running, say, Debian + Zoneminder.)

[MichelCorleone]

Ubiquiti released their new NVR with 4 bays, so you could do 16 TB WD drives on each. But anyways, youre correct with all the other points. Hope they focus more on Protect and add more features.

[k]

I also own my low voltage business and it’s difficult to find a stable product that is scaleable and is easy for users. Usually when I do they stop support or change the whole system...

[playtime]

Thank you!!! Ubiquity also jacked up local login without needing to create a ubiquity account for their mobile app 👎🏽 I have not recommended ubiquity camera setups since the beginning of 2019 for all this and all of hat you pointed out. Thanks again Tom !!!

[systems]

Commercial video recorders I work with do not have ANY license fees. I am not sure why anyone would pay a license fee for the hardware they have already bought.

[maxd]

This is why I am sub'd, Tom lays it all out there, clears the mud, thanks Tom.

[junak]

They have a piece of gear called the Dream Machine Pro in the beta store. So it looks like they are taking steps towards larger systems, but it’s not quite there yet.

[Sistopha]

Thank you for both videos on Synology Surveillance Station. That Reolink cam for $80 is much nicer than the U G3.

[EduardoReyesDPM]

Always showing me things I had no idea were even an option... I was only thinking between shinobi and zoneminder I didn't even realize this was an option.. I'd be interested in a guide using the Synology software in the future .. thanks in advance

[mikamurco]

I too are really concerned about the future with Unifi Video/Protect!
I've installed a Protect system with 7 cams and gave the client the option to expand up to 20 camera's but that was before they released the G4 camera.
The client wants a better quality camera on a specific spot and heard about the G4 and I am unsure about what to advice!
I'm getting insecure too now....

[colt]

Thank you for this. Showed a client of mine already. I appreciate this

[billsecond]

@Tom, what was the BNC to IP conversion unit that you used for connecting a slew of BNC cameras to the Synology NVR? I was listening to the video (not watching) or podcast, can't remember what one while I was.

[E.Liodakis]

I am really surprised hearing that someone plans to use Ubiquiti Cameras for professional projects.
I still do not feel that Ubiquiti camera system is a solid platform.
1st they released NVRs. They abandoned them.
Then the Unifi Protect software that they stopped further development (except security patches).
Now they released CoudKey Gen2 Plus, a no expandable 1 HDD device.

It is still under experimental stage and Ubiquiti track record says experiments fail, they abandon that product as well.
Don't forget FrontRow, mFi, Solar, Aircams etc.

I do not want to be in a difficult situation to explain to a customer that his super duper 2 year old Ubiquity CCTV system is no longer in production, so he has to buy a new one.