Opinions on Ubiquiti (Unifi) Cameras?

[Ford]

hey boma23,

I know Tom is trying to push his company's products, but....

No one ever got fired for spec'ing out dahua or Hikvision, I can't say the same for ubnt's NVR/IPcam solutions.

Respectfully, you can try to veer from the tried and true best practices on a surveillance system, but if you are charging for your time and skills, you may find you have painted yourself into a corner that is expensive to get out of.

ubnt makes some great routers and access points but there are better (and cheaper) enterprise-grade solutions for IP surveillance out there.

Not to mention the width of products available from dahua and Hikvision is huge in comparison.

 

[fenderman]

The Ubiquiti cameras don't support ONVIF,

This is why the cameras dont sell in volume...most users need onvif support...providing onvif support would also help assure users that a firmware update wont remove rtsp support at some point..
Here is the recipe for a camera that will sell like crazy.
Turret design, sd card, good low light capability like dahua starlights, build in mic, mic input, audio out. $250 price tag.
Charge another 100-150 for varifocal and/or built in speaker. You will not be able to keep them on the shelf.
EDIT: forgot to mention alarm in/out...

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Being in IT for over 20 years, I've done quite a few camera brands in recent years. Although we are primarily IT consulting/support/MSP for SMBs (small to medium business)...we frequently work with security/alarm companies with integrating their camera systems into our clients networks, I work with a couple of security companies helping them integrate their systems into their clients networks, and our wiring guy has a side business installing cameras as he does alarms also. And..a few years ago we started doing camera installs ourselves.

So, I've worked with/installed/support a LOT of different brands of cameras, most frequently Hikvision and Honeywell, as well as other brands, even residential stuff. On top of that I've assisted a local police department in setting up a new pilot system of ultra high end military grade cameras across down, so I've seen the best of the best of the best...those things can lock onto the license plate of a car as it drives away...a half mile down the road, and you can zoom in and tell if the screws holding the license plate on are philips or flathead or hex bolts!

For the past, almost 10 years now, we've used Ubiquiti networking products more and more....starting with indoor wireless, and outdoor wireless, and I even did a 150 meg shot 6 miles across salt water ocean to an island using their big airFiber radios. We love their network equipment..and use a lot of it now, routers, switches, wireless, etc.

I know the first generation Ubiquiti cameras were not very good, I started getting interested with their 2nd gen cameras...as those got me to play with their NVR software, Unifi Video. I did a few of those installs, not bad for the price. The cameras were "OK"...but I noticed that their NVR software, and their smart phone software, was EXCELLENT. And then Ubiquiti released their Gen3 cameras....and they are quite honestly good cameras. For the price, I'd say quite comparable to equally priced Hikvision models.

They are not heavy duty outdoor grade cameras, their domes are indoors, their bullet cam is rated outdoor, and I have a few outdoor, with the additional IR lense option to beef up night power.

So the cameras are pretty good, especially considering price. Color quality and sharpness are great. Fluid motion is "decent". But Ubiquitis video software is EXCELLENT..the web browser interface does not require any plug ins. You don't even need to open/forward ports on the firewall, you can bind it to a free online account/portal at video.ubnt.com and view it from there. So that keeps your network setup simple and secure, no exposed ports in the firewall. And you can view multiple sites from that same portal. And the smart phone app...heck...that ROCKS!

The Unifi Video NVR software is FREE, you can install it on any standard PC...I have our office running on a little mini small form factor Dell, I installed Ubuntu on it. You can install on Windows if you want. You don't need to buy their NVR hardware product, but for those that don't want to build their own, that's what it's there for.

As for compatibility with other products...I know some people need that. I don't like mixing...I prefer to stay within the same manufacturers technology stack, leads to the best end user experience.

Decent cameras for the price.
Absolutely top notch viewing software for computer and phone.
And you can keep your network secured...no need to expose ports on the firewall.

 

[wcleme11]

I installed 6 UVC-G3's at my home for about 3 weeks before returning them and going with Dahua starlights and BI. I really wanted to love the UVC-G3 because I really liked the NVR software and the phone app. Very low CPU utilization and easy to use. Unfortunately the software is pretty buggy and lacking basic features. The NVR software would randomly start recording late on motion detection, requiring a restart to fix. When I started looking into the issue the bug was supposedly fixed in an earlier code release. My main annoyance though was the lack of push notification on Android. I read posts from over a year ago on UBNT's stating that push notification was "coming soon". Considering I run all android phones/tablets this was a deal breaker. Can't believe they didn't have such a basic feature rolled out yet. They even have it for IOS but not for Android.

Video quality of the UVC-G3's was pretty good overall. Although low light performance was nowhere near the new Dahua starlights. Hopefully they get the bugs ironed out on the software side and add some additional camera options. Maybe I'll take another look at them then.

 

[UBNT-TomS]

Thanks for the feedback, all. I'll continue to monitor this thread.

NVR recording start/stop drift was fixed long ago. Android push notification rollout started earlier today. All Android users should have access to the feature by the end of the week.

 

[wcleme11]

Thanks for the feedback, all. I'll continue to monitor this thread.

NVR recording start/stop drift was fixed long ago. Android push notification rollout started earlier today. All Android users should have access to the feature by the end of the week.

Sadly, I experienced the NVR recording bug with latest code as of April. It only happened twice and after restarting the Unifi Video service it was resolved. Too bad the Android update didn't come sooner or I might still have my UVC-G3's. I even posted a question on the forums asking how close the push notification update was and got no response so I assumed it wasn't coming anytime soon.

 

[Ford]

wcleme11, this is typical of my experience of promises of NVR software upgrades "real soon now" to address multiple bugs that do not actually fix the bugs. I was a beta tester, then an alpha, all in attempt to be able to have enough confidence to deploy a couple of unifi video systems that I had signed but delayed because of concerns ubnt was not up to the job.

I decided it was not worth the hassle or the risk, especially when you consider how awesome and cheap Blue Iris is!

Note that the ubnt Gen1 cameras are EOL and the current versions of the NVR software does not support them, the UVC-micro is discontinued (the gen3 model is promised to ship "real soon now"), rstp support by the cameras was not available for years, and that their entire line of camera models is two.

unifi video is a mess.

 

[@jasonjordan]

Big Ubiquiti Fan here... well, until recently. Have installed masses of Unifi Equipment and have recently joined with another business specialising in CCTV to provide a whole of business IT/Network/Security solution.

I had been meaning to try Unifi Video for some time. But my business partner is utterly sold on Hikvision/Dahua *specifically* because of the open nature of ONVIF.

After reading through this thread and doing a bit more research on some other forums including Ubiquiti's own Community Forum, I am now dead set against even bothering to test their CCTV kit.

I have always maintained to my Customers that we provide open solutions that are supportable even if they should fire us. It seems to me that the patently money-grubbing technique of locking Customers into proprietary solutions should be shunned - and publicly. It is a poor reflection on the entire industry.

I am now planning to also reassess my allegiance to Ubiquiti because I simply didn't realise that I was doing my Clients such a massive disservice by handcuffing them into an Ecosystem from which there is no escape.

At least Microsoft have adapted some open standards. As have Cisco and numerous other big names.

And frankly, I am angry & ashamed at myself for not recognising this abominable business practice earlier.

It would have been such a simple thing for Ubiquiti to have recognised the relentless demands for ONVIF. It might have even been done by selling a "licence" for a specific firmware with ONVIF capability.

Instead, stonewalling. It's offensive. It's short-sighted. It's unacceptable.

I am now striding away from all Ubiquiti has to offer.

No, it's not just ONVIF that has upset me. It's simply given me a new perspective on how I want to do business with the Customers who depend on my advice.

 

[UBNT-TomS]

That's a suspiciously pointed attack on Ubiquiti as a company from a brand-new account that registered just to post this one statement.

But in the interest of collecting feedback I will say that I have noted the feedback and we will take it into consideration. As I mentioned previously we aren't necessarily targeting the traditional CCTV installers who want bottom-dollar hardware regardless of the quality, firmware support, security, and other less immediately obvious features. However, we do try to provide a very usable, dependable, secure, and high-quality solution for those who don't want to deal with the complexities of putting pieces together from different vendors. I promise I won't be offended if someone chooses to piece together a system around various ONVIF cameras to match their needs, however I am still interested in hearing how we can further improve our system to expand the use cases that we cover.

 

[@jasonjordan]

That's a suspiciously pointed attack on Ubiquiti as a company from a brand-new account that registered just to post this one statement.

Why? Because you suspect only a Competitor would feel so emotionally connected to this subject that they would spend the time writing the comment?

Tom, Ubiquiti is *already* sending Customers to competitors by not having a comparable feature list. Your Competitors don't need to spend the time it took me to write my frustrated post.

I forgot one thing in my "attack". The other side of the CCTV equation. The NVR. Why on Earth would Ubiquiti release such a beautiful piece of software and then cripple it by making it Unifi Video only? I am slack-jawed at the realisation that the NVR Software is free but deliberately crippled. How many Marketing Directors sat around a Board Table to make that decision. The very definition of shooting yourself in the foot.

How many thousand, TENS of thousands of your Cameras would you have sold had the NVR been ONVIF capable. How many copies of the NVR App could you have sold (or indeed licenced) if it had even the most basic of open standards?

See, it's like a drug. Dangle some beautiful equipment and a gorgeous central management console in front of anyone and they're going to bite. Those of us who have already sipped the Kool-Aid, would love to integrate existing mish-mash infrastructure into a Ubiquiti environment. But it can't be done instantly. It's a snowball and it starts by installing devices that give us visibility into the network and leverage the existing technology.

If I could walk into a site with Netgear Switches, Cisco Routers, Checkpoint Firewall, Hikvision Cameras and Blue Iris NVR and show them I have a plan going forward that doesn't waste their existing investment, but will eventually lead them into a homogenous environment, I'd be in heaven.

Here's what *I* need as a Systems Integrator:

Equipment that supports existing standards but that has its own features that make it more desirable.

It's that simple.

I'm no shill nor a sock-puppet Tom. I created the account to state my case as I'm both financially and emotionally invested in Ubiquiti kit.

I want Ubiquiti to come to the party and help me and my fellow SI justify our recommendations.

Your biggest spending Customers aren't direct. They come through SI like me.

Help us help you.

 

[fenderman]

To be fair, hikvision ivms and dahua pss only work with their respective cameras...the biggest problem is no onvif on the cams...they will remain a small niche player in this fast growing field because of poor decisions...they have a premium respected brand name and are shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[@jasonjordan]

To be fair, hikvision ivms and dahua pss only work with their respective cameras...the biggest problem is no onvif on the cams...they will remain a small niche player in this fast growing field because of poor decisions...they have a premium respected brand name and are shooting themselves in the foot.

I have many Hikvision NVR installs using combinations of (Hikvision Camera and Other) and (Just plain other)

ONVIF works really well.

 

[fenderman]

I have many Hikvision NVR installs using combinations of (Hikvision Camera and Other) and (Just plain other)

ONVIF works really well.

The NVR allows you to use onvif cameras...ivms software does not...apples to apples...with NVR's you pay for each channel at the time of purchase...

 

[@jasonjordan]

The NVR allows you to use onvif cameras...ivms software does not...apples to apples...with NVR's you pay for each channel at the time of purchase...

Oh I see. I tend to use the NVRs at each site and then iVMS-4200 to access & manage them.

I need to look further into though as my vague recollection was that I did have ONVIF running under iVMS. Will get back to you on that!

 

[fenderman]

Oh I see. I tend to use the NVRs at each site and then iVMS-4200 to access & manage them.

I need to look further into though as my vague recollection was that I did have ONVIF running under iVMS. Will get back to you on that!

if you are not using an nvr and the camera worked just streaming direct to ivms, then its likely a hikvision rebranded cam or one of the many cams that stole hikvision protocols/firmware...

 

[UBNT-TomS]

Like I said, I certainly wouldn't fault anyone for choosing other cameras with ONVIF for integration with a more complex system if that's your use case. There are plenty of options out there in that space already. I think you're looking at this from the wrong angle, though. We're not trying to provide yet another cookie-cutter commodity camera in that space. Our typical customers aren't looking for yet another ONVIF camera to add to their custom-designed installs, they're looking for a video solution that works well and is well supported.

They're buying the video solution, not the cameras themselves. To that end, we're focused on providing an end-to-end solution that works well without all of the customization, configuration, setup, and maintenance that comes with some of these more complex buildouts.

We're also focused on providing this directly to our customers at a fair price with high availability. I know this doesn't sit well with integrators who are looking for margin opportunities, but the approach has worked very well for us and our customers.

That said, I'm still always open for more feedback and suggestions.

 

[@jasonjordan]

Perhaps an example.

Client already has an (aged) infrastructure but they are still growing. Time for me to make recommendations on the upgrade path over the next few years.

I could start selling them Unifi Cameras for their new sites and to replace existing IP Cameras as they die. But I can't. With Unifi Video it's replace the lot all at the same time. That's a shame as if the Unifi Cameras could do ONVIF (or if they licensed the Hikvision format or similar), I could keep dropping them in until critical mass and then switch across.

In reality it needs to be a gradual process. Very few Clients have the budget to roll over to an entirely new system.

 

[fenderman]

Like I said, I certainly wouldn't fault anyone for choosing other cameras with ONVIF for integration with a more complex system if that's your use case. There are plenty of options out there in that space already. I think you're looking at this from the wrong angle, though. We're not trying to provide yet another cookie-cutter commodity camera in that space. Our typical customers aren't looking for yet another ONVIF camera to add to their custom-designed installs, they're looking for a video solution that works well and is well supported.

They're buying the video solution, not the cameras themselves. To that end, we're focused on providing an end-to-end solution that works well without all of the customization, configuration, setup, and maintenance that comes with some of these more complex buildouts.

We're also focused on providing this directly to our customers at a fair price with high availability. I know this doesn't sit well with integrators who are looking for margin opportunities, but the approach has worked very well for us and our customers.

That said, I'm still always open for more feedback and suggestions.

You will never volume of wired systems like that...selling a "solution" works well for nest type products because they are selling to end users who would slit their wrists before punching a hole for Ethernet....uniquiti will remain a blip in this market if it rejects onvif...its really pointless, costs very little to implement and you can sell much more volume...someone there is not thinking straight...

 

[fenderman]

Perhaps an example.

Client already has an (aged) infrastructure but they are still growing. Time for me to make recommendations on the upgrade path over the next few years.

I could start selling them Unifi Cameras for their new sites and to replace existing IP Cameras as they die. But I can't. With Unifi Video it's replace the lot all at the same time. That's a shame as if the Unifi Cameras could do ONVIF (or if they licensed the Hikvision format or similar), I could keep dropping them in until critical mass and then switch across.

In reality it needs to be a gradual process. Very few Clients have the budget to roll over to an entirely new system.

Good points...but you are not going to convince them...you have little reason to as well...when you can buy a dahua starlight motorized varifocal turret with SD card slot and built in mic for 170 or less, or fixed lens for 130... screw em...this frees up enough cash to pay for high end vms licensing from avigilon for example...you will have a better vms ...and a camera that is light years ahead of unifi...

 

[DLONG2]

I bought a UVC-G3 bullet today, and cannot get the camera (set as standalone) to have a signal present in Blue Iris. I've tried the RTSP and the HTTP, no joy. The Find/Inspect shows the RTSP. The model is 'Generic' (I've also tried Ubiquiti JPEG and Unifi Video). Any pointers appreciated.