Unifi Protect Video Security System Review - Cloud Key Gen 2 Plus + G4 PRo + G3 Flex PoE Cameras
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Today, we are going to check out some of the offerings of Ubiquiti...mainly the unifi protect camera system. Ubiquiti has been a brand known for their networking products and software from routers, accesspoints, switches and security cameras and they are mostly used in commercial and enterprise setups.
We will check out the Cloud Key Gen 2 Plus, Unifi Switch 8 150 Watts and 2 types of cameras that they offer... the G3 Flex 1080p PoE camera and the G4 Pro 4K camera. We will do the unboxing, setup, check out the settings and I'll show you the video and audio quality plus do some testing.
G4 Pro 4K Footage Sample - • G4 Pro Video Clarity Test
Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Key Gen2 Plus - amzn.to/2LzKfz5
Unifi Switch 8 150 watts - amzn.to/2KRQ23D
Ubiquiti UniFi Video G3 Flex - amzn.to/2xr2puJ
Ubiquiti UniFi Protect G4-PRO - amzn.to/2XsuVfa
/ ubiquiti
Shop WiFi Security Cameras - www.amazon.com...
Lifehackster is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
I may earn a small commission for the review, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this video.
I work with and install Ubiquiti Networking and Camera setups. I also have 4 cameras at my home that monitors the Front, Back Doors and the car space under us. I have a hosted Cloud Controller for the networking gear as I look after and maintain 5 businesses along with over 50 AP's. I love the UnIFi Gear and would recommend to anyone but with some side notes (lol)
Best CKG2/Switch/protect and camera video I have seen.
thanks for this.
Damn that video quality 😍. You hit it out the park with this review. Enjoyed the video, cant wait for more and or comparison with this one.
Thank you.
Good thorough and honest review as always. Appreciate it!
Thank you.
They have now added AI person and vehicle detection to the G4 Pro, G4, and Doorbell cameras. They also have an HDMI display adapter for Protect now.
Cool. I have to revisit this brand.
wow - an actual complete review. thank you
Great review! Thank you for taking the time to do this.
You are welcome.
Really solid honest review. Thank yiu
It's a pricey system for Protect alone but remember that you can add a USG and your choice of UAP to your switch and cloud key for a monster home network.
Don’t get a USG, get a dream machine (pro).
amazing reviews, keep up the excellent work. i especially love the alert notification part of your reviews. i find that not many people talk about this despite it being one of the biggest factors for me
Thanks for the review. I would just mention that the system is more suitable for someone who already have Unifi mesh wifi system (great BTW). You already have switch and cloudkey so you add cameras and storage only.
He has the most Secure house in his city every type of security camera 😂
:)
LifeHackster I would love to try one of the cameras are you tested 😅
thousand notifications come to Lifehackster every single day 😂😂
Excellent review as always. Because of your review I will cross this camera off my list of options. Thank you
Unifi networking components are stellar products especially their Uap-AC-PRO access points. The video system is to go with a killer home network.
Really liked the video, thanks for the review. I'm just looking into getting home security cameras and I love your reviews. It would have been nice to see the analog zoom on the pro. You're 100% correct Unifi really needs to create bundled options on their website. While I understand it gives customers the option to customize which components they need and can purchase additional components as needed, a full bundle would make things much easier. One thing that kind of worries me is how the camera's ethernet ports are directly on the back of the camera. Typically the camera would be mounted out of reach, however it doesn't take much for someone to grab a 4' step ladder reach up and unplug your $600 camera and walk away. These cameras themselves are so expensive I would practically want to mount them in extremely inaccessible areas.
I am sold on the UniFi cameras. My house already has two UniFi switches, the USG and the UAC-AC-PRO wireless access point. I also have the Gen 2 Cloud key plus.
Thank you so much this has helped me alot.
One of the biggest pluses it there are NO subscription fees for the cameras which can add up to quite a bit over time. They also have a G4 Bullet which doesn't have the optical zoom and is a lot cheaper. Their new NVR box can hold up to 4 hard drives in a Raid array and supports up to 50 cameras. This system is designed more for the Prosumer or small to large sized business applications. Although they don't offer a package deal, having the flexibility to purchase exactly what you want or to buy as you go can be quite attractive.
Want to see about the new Reolink 4K system
Bought the other Reolink from your older video
I know. I haven’t have the chance yet to check it out..
Do more videos on unifi!
Great review! Answered all of my questions
Great review my friend! It was this or the reolink system, but i think im sold on this one despite not being able to plug in a monitor to view all cams. Keep up the great work!! 5*****
very nice video! thanks a lot for taking the time
Man! they sent you a bunch of gear! I tried UniFi mesh but it was not plug and play with my existing router. I did get a camera in the mail for review today! i'll post a video soon, this will be my first review in a long time.
Cool... give me a heads up when you upload your review video..
you are a gem!
Thank you.
thank you, now I know how to connect these
If I'm correct, it can encode only in h264 not h265 right ? So the 1TB HD will be quickly filled up, with 4k videos and, let's say 2-3 cameras around the house
the pro has zoom which helps it go much further the standard setting is for close range.
Can i get ring hooked up with this? I love they doorbell
The biggest advantage of Ubiquiti is their awesome easy to use user interface. You have a 24/7 NVR but you use Ring to quickly sort through footage. Ubiquiti is trying to do both jobs, hence the price. Or users can always mix and match POE cameras with a video management software like Synology, Blue Iris, with some licensing fees. I could have a 24/7 NVR like you, and run Ring as well, but I don't want any battery operated cameras and I don't have any plugs in my attic. Ring's Elite series cameras are so expensive. So after hundreds hours of thinking, I'm leaning toward Ubiquiti. I'm ready to sell my organs.
Thank you for an awesome review!!
Color: Satin Nickel | Configuration: with Ring Stick Up Cam
great review video! Thank you
amazing review
Haha. I just got this system. Looking forward to more reviews
Cool..yes I’ll be comparing this with other systems in my future videos.
Port 1 should always be used for the uplink to another switch or router.
Is it possible to simultaneously record videos on cloud key and unifi dream mashine pro se?
lol to the adjustable baseeee lol.
Awesome review. I’ve been looking into getting their setup. Do the camera notifications work when at home if your internet is down ?
I love my unifi system
Well done. Thank you.
You are welcome.
You said it does not upload to cloud. How is it possible to view the footage on phone through the app if it doesn't upload to cloud? Please clarify.
The G4 has an analog zoom, You should have done a test on that also. That license plate test would have been seen from 40 feet if you used the zoom. Also, there are sensitivity settings in the software so you dont get as many false alarms at night.
Yes, it does have an analog zoom but in my testing and to have a fair comparison if compared to other NVR cameras without a zoom, I have to test it in its widest position...also with the under the eaves install, the highest angle I can tilt the camera up is 90 degrees and if I zoom in close, it will only zoom in.. up to the middle of my yard, and you will not be able to see the fence.
As to the motion sensitivity in the settings, you can lower it down but you will be getting the opposite.. no notifications and the camera not able to detect you.. especially if you are 20-30 feet out.
looks like the fps for both cameras are not up to the highest they can be?
Great review
Thanks.
Just a feedback... reduce the volume of the intro music, I'm on a suround system and it just blasted like crazy but had to increase the volume back to listen to your voice.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ll lower it down in my next videos.
Please review Ubiquiti products
If you need two way audio communication, the G3 Micro camera supports this. It is WiFi only, however.
Will W. Correct. But you’re still wrong. That adaptor only powers the device. Communications are still via WiFi.
Yes, the UniFi rep told me that and said the only thing is that is uses WiFi..
Ubiquiti have released an app for apple tv so you can stream to the tv direct.
Yes, they mentioned that to me too..it can be an option...
The flex specifically states for outdoor applications to not mount upside down as the weep hole is on the bottom of the camera. Humidity and moisture is a major concern. Do you live up north? I'm curious about purchasing these and mounting upside down in the soffet like you have here, but I don't want the humidity to build up in the enclosure and not have a way out.
Still debating between reolink 4k and Ubiquiti. I really like the unifi protect it's just very expensive.
BTW, awesome lawn you got there. I bet you are a lawn care nut.
What did you wind up going with? I’m in the same boat, leaning towards these because they’re higher end.. but reolink all in one setups are very tempting!
Great review! Question, I have a Unifi Dream Machine and I want to hang up a camera in my back yard which is 15 metres away. What setup do you recommend? Salamat po!
UDM doesn't have Unifi Protect (the UDM-Pro does I believe) so you would need a Cloud Key Gen 2 Plus and either a PoE powered switch or PoE injector along with the camera.
What's the megapixel of the g4 pro
Are you still getting false alarms 2 years later did they update the firmware???
They now have AI..so lesser to no false notifications.
Don't forget the adjustable base
Awesome video, thank you for going so indepth!
thanks
You are welcome.
Can you do a video or suggest a system that's 4K - ?MP - POE - ONDIF - NVR that works. I purchased and returned Lorex, Reolink, to me they both suck especially the Lorex. I just want something that works right out of the box and both security system and Mobile app work seamlessly and cameras are awesome day or night so I am able to read the license plates of cars, I can zoom in on pedestrians 20 ft. away at 30 FPS or higher and get a clear image of cameras on Mobile app with no hesitation. Please Help. Thanks.
Edwin Hernandez hi, why were you dissapointed with Reolink system? I'm planning to buy one 4k system
do you need the cloud key box and the switch box if you only get a G3-af version, and uses the POE which comes with it? Using your own computer and Windows iOS?
No..you can have your computer run the software.
Which is the better product to use with Ubiquiti surveillance hardware; Unifi-video software or Unif-protect software?
Sorry for being OCD but can you please get a weed eater and trim your fence line and storage barn lol.
I have no idea what that extra Cloud Key box does here. Is the system not usable with just the 1TB recording box and the switch and camera?
Have you played with the HDR option on the G3 Flex yet?
Yes.. I like the vivid colors if it is off though..
great video man, just curious you think i could use another network switch?
You can use any switch, but you need a poe one for power to the cameras. Or you can use a regular switch and by the power poe adapter to power it seperately.
Camera's look great especially love the G4 Pro design with the blue status ring. However, judging from your footage the IR vision (night vision) seems to be terrible, with it only lighting up a specific area. Brands like Hikvision have cameras with Elixar IR lights which distribute the Infrared evenly so the whole picture is black and white with no highlights, you should check it out great vid 👊🏼
I just notice that..the IRs are focused in the middle...
To be honest I would just use an external IR illuminator and turn off the camera IR. Boosts lowlight performance and stops the bugs being attracted to the camera.
@@ma40 he should do a video with IR illuminators
that is the next step in home security, ir illuminators
@@Moes_Prep_and_Tech No. It's not. The next step is fixing the white light situation with motion lighting (or constant on in commercial). Way better to have a chance at deterring a bad actor vs. get solid video of him operating in the dark.
Unifi vs hikvision vs others... Which is your preferred?
If the G4 Pro camera were to be replaced with a G4 Flex 4k model at a similar pricepoint, I could consider their system. For now, $450 for a single 4k camera is a bit bonkers. Sure, Ubiquiti is putting themselves somewhere in-between non-enterprise kits and fully enterprise hardware but for the fact that Unifi Video (which was widely scalable) has been replaced with Unifi Protect and is limited to 20 cameras, I don't believe that gives them marketing leverage to price their 4k camera hardware where they have. A reolink 4k 4pack with NVR being under $500 is a far better value with almost similar functionality.
Do the cameras need to be unify? Or can they be a camera that has Poe support
did I see it correctly that the cable for the G4 can also be placed sideways out of the mount so I dont need to drill a hole for the cable itself?
Yes, cable can be dropped below but they recommend you loop it to avoid water getting in.
Question is all NVR systems while hooked up to the ethernet if the internet goes off line do the Nvr systems do the same thing as if it was wireless I know my ring does it when we lose internet
Nope. It will continue to record. The only thing you will not get are notifications.
@@LifeHackster which NVR system would you recommend an if so did you do a review on it
@@jahvin4951 I have been using the Reolink system currently and just search my channel for it. Thanks.
Does anyone have an opinion about these vs Netatmo/Arlo/Nest/Eufy cameras?
you could of used a vms like waves and only be limited by how many poe ports you can fit in your house lol. but honestly. anyone know if this dream crp can use other cameras in onvif and such?
A better review would be testing all the cameras without all the extra kit they sent for free. As buying all the extra kit they sent you costs lots. For example whats it like without using the cloud key setup?
Hey LH, great videos! You may have covered this in another video, but what is the device you have mounted between the G3 Flex & G4 Pro? A speaker or mic? I’m looking for a suitable outdoor rated speaker with a small footprint that I can connect to the audio out on my ACTi B97A PTZ.
Oh that is the magnetic steel mount from my Argus camera that I left up and haven’t removed. :)
Watching this while chicharon bulaklak with 1800.
Lol..
Good review. Not bothered about a speaker for the camera, the equipment is too proprietary cloud key 🔑 that’s a joke the switch has to be there own to use the cloud key? Just too much, system not easily expandable other than Ubiquity’s own gear, something that good NVR’s are not restricted from. And 1TB for 4 cameras that’s got to nerf the quality. If you have a big system say 8cameras you would have to buy another cloud key as 5TB isn’t big enough for a months record. Great review just the product itself is if you have loads of cash 💰 💵 to throw at it, but for me there are a lot better camera’s out there that don’t walk you into a walled garden
Darren E you can use whatever switch you want as long as it’s a poe switch. I brought a TP link switch. Much cheaper works fine.
BigJames83 on the ubiquity setup? If so that would save some cash but still don’t like the the cloud key stuff, PS I wonder if those cameras work on an NVR 🤔
11 11 cheers blue iris is a totally different beast though. I’ll be surprised if they do, I’ll imagine they have a software lock of some sort, but I’ve got a good camera setup, just need to replace the ring pro
Darren E yup I have my camera setup with the dlink powering my cameras and cloud key. I can see how being locked into one device like that is annoying but the app works great and I just like the simplicity/plug and play. My wife uses the cameras to so it needs to have good app support.
You can use any PoE switch...actually you can set this up just by using the cameras and have a computer run their software.
Just as you say at the beginning of the video, the Unifi Protect Video Security System seems to be mainly for commercial application due to the cost and complexity of components. What is does show is how far the non-commercial system have advanced. It would seem that, for most residential applications, one would get a better value for the money from a Nest or Arlo product.
Since I've been watching your videos I've come to realize several important factors that one would do well in considering:
1) plan on adding cameras as the need for more becomes apparent,
2) consider the fact that one brand may not fit all your needs, for instance, the function of my Nest Hello can't be fulfilled by my Arlo Pro 2, not because is better than the other, but because the Nest is designed specifically to capture facial recognition of someone at the door. I want to see the face and not how hairy or bald the person is and that is dependent, to a large extent, on camera placement (if the camera is placed 7-10 ft high, that objective can's be accomplished satisfactorily),
3) it's smart to take into consideration how a camera will interact and integrate with peripherals, as an example the Nest Hello and the Google Hub (as shown on one of your videos),
4) customer service, preferably 24/7 IS important, particularly for those of us new to the use of security cameras,
5) logistics, as well as the construction of your residence plays an important role, which means that a highly rated camera may not necessarily be the best for your specific application, and
6) cameras are just one factor of several in securing your property and security lights, locks, home alarm system, etc are also important factors to consider.
Those are some of the things I've learned from watching these videos and buying (also having to return) some of the hardware I've tried along the way and now I'm sharing here with the audience and other subscribers.
Thanks LifeHackster!
You are spot on...there are many things to consider for security cameras and systems. I myself don’t want to rely on one brand.. I want another brand or system as a backup when the first one fails...
@@LifeHackster And it's very dynamic, always tweaking our system until we get it just right!
Two years later this type of system would have cost less, factoring in the nest subscription fees 😆
4k footage... in a 1080p youtube video?
Link in the description for the 4K footage.
Do you plan to test hikvision or dahua cameras in the future connected to a nas?
I eventually will..
Damn... thats like $1700 worth of equipment.
I know..a bit pricey system..especially with the G4 pros.
LifeHackster all in all though the g4 pros seem way worth it with their clarity and picture quality
yep. Me too, I like to have a dedicated monitor to view my cameras. And I am not a fan of turning on a PC to view cameras and change setting by a web browser.
I know. Having a dedicated computer will just waste electricity and resources.
You can install the Protect app on an Apple TV. You can also use the RTSP links to send video feeds to say, a Raspberry Pi, which has a HDMI port if you need a dedicated viewing monitor. There are guides online on how to set this up.
Hi! Would you be able to do a video on a wifi mesh system that’s good for the wifi cámaras? Thanks for the good info always!
I like Unifi products. I run their network equipment at home. I tried their video platform, but they lack a wide angle lens product that matches what I have today. For that reason, I am still running another product at home home. If that changes I will gladly switch.
You don't actually have to buy their cloud key hardware, their NVR software is free for download and can run on your on PC/Server setup, it would have to be on 24/7 though. Also the NVR (black box) has been replaced by the 2nd gen cloud key in this video. Basically the 2nd gen cloud key is two products in one, it is a NVR and a Unifi Network controller both built into one unit.
True, you can use a dedicated computer to run their software...the cloud key is just missing a port to hook up a regular monitor...
a switch is NOT a hub
Ehh I will pass on this cuz it kinda requires you to tear up your house just to mount and wire ur stuff
They have a wifi cam too, but expensive.
Ikr?
@@ethearnos6397 Ikr? Too nerdy for me.
@@CapitanHarlockisback lol lmao
Feels like somewhat overpriced, lacking this, lacking that. What makes it commercial? The words from sellers mouth!
Unifi products has been and still being used in commercial/business applications.
@@LifeHackster Bill Gates eats bread. But this doesn't make bread a "billionaire food" right? Don't get me wrong i own 5 different products from Ubiquiti, for their well deserved and unique specs. Not sure what unique spec would this camera bring to the table.
Did you see unified is getting out of the came a business. Makes me made after just buying the high end camera and gene.
No they aren't out of the camera business. They've moved over to a closed Protect system.