The Ubiquiti AirCam is a versatile line of IP cameras that are popular in both consumer and enterprise-grade surveillance solutions. While the hardware itself is robust and well-suited for various security applications, what truly elevates the Ubiquiti AirCam series is its associated software. This review will dive deep into the Ubiquiti AirCam software, covering its installation process, key features, user interface, performance, and compatibility, as well as pros and cons for both beginners and advanced users.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ubiquiti AirCam Software
The Ubiquiti AirCam software suite is designed to provide centralized management of Ubiquiti’s AirCam cameras. Over the years, Ubiquiti has evolved its software solutions, making it easier for users to manage and monitor surveillance feeds. Ubiquiti’s software offerings are notable for their clean user interface, flexibility, and scalability, which make them a popular choice in both home surveillance setups and enterprise environments.
The software is capable of handling a large number of cameras, supports high-resolution video streams, and provides numerous features, including motion detection, recording schedules, remote monitoring, and integration with other Ubiquiti products.
Key Software Components
Before diving into specific features, it’s important to understand the core software components that Ubiquiti offers for managing its AirCam devices. The primary systems include:
- AirVision/UniFi Video Software
- UniFi Protect
- Third-Party Integration (ONVIF Support, RTSP Streaming)
Each software option provides different levels of functionality and customization, catering to various user needs from basic camera setup to advanced surveillance management.
1. AirVision/UniFi Video Software
Initially, Ubiquiti AirCam was bundled with the AirVision software, which was later rebranded as UniFi Video. This software served as the go-to platform for many AirCam users looking to manage their surveillance network efficiently.
Installation and Setup
The installation process for UniFi Video is relatively straightforward, especially for those familiar with networked devices. The software is available for both Windows and Linux operating systems and can be installed on dedicated servers or as a lightweight application on a local machine. For users looking to build a more robust system, UniFi Video can also be installed on a dedicated Network Video Recorder (NVR) provided by Ubiquiti.
Steps for installation:
- Download the software from the Ubiquiti website.
- Install the software on your server or local machine.
- Discover and add AirCam devices to the UniFi Video platform via the intuitive interface.
- Configure camera settings, including video quality, recording preferences, and motion detection zones.
Features of UniFi Video
UniFi Video offers a variety of features that make managing and monitoring AirCams a seamless experience:
- Live View and Playback: Real-time live feed viewing from multiple cameras is available. Users can also playback recorded footage with easy navigation tools for scanning through hours of video footage.
- Motion Detection: One of the most useful features in the software is its advanced motion detection. You can define motion zones within the camera’s field of view, allowing the system to send alerts or record video only when motion is detected in specific areas.
- Recording Schedules: UniFi Video allows users to configure different recording modes, such as continuous recording, motion-based recording, or custom schedules. This flexibility helps optimize storage usage based on your specific surveillance needs.
- Remote Access: Ubiquiti offers the ability to view your cameras remotely via a web browser or mobile app. This feature is critical for users who need to monitor their property or business from afar, ensuring that real-time surveillance is always at their fingertips.
- Multi-User Support: If you’re managing a team or a business, you can create multiple user accounts with varying levels of permissions. This feature is especially useful for businesses that need to grant access to different levels of staff.
- Cloud and Local Storage: The software can record video to local storage or to the cloud, depending on your setup. Ubiquiti provides NVR devices for those who prefer an on-premise solution, but users can also use their own servers if they prefer a more customizable setup.
Performance of UniFi Video
The performance of UniFi Video software is highly regarded for its stability and ease of use. Whether managing a few cameras in a home setting or scaling to dozens of cameras across an enterprise, the software is capable of handling the load, given proper server specifications.
CPU and RAM utilization tend to be efficient, even when handling multiple 1080p streams, and the software can run smoothly on modest hardware, as long as the user is not running multiple high-resource applications simultaneously.
User Experience
The user interface of UniFi Video is sleek and intuitive. Ubiquiti has maintained a design philosophy that emphasizes simplicity without sacrificing advanced features. The dashboard provides an overview of all connected devices, along with critical information such as uptime, IP address, and recording status.
Users can view and manage their cameras, footage, and system settings through well-labeled menus and options. For users with limited experience in networking or surveillance systems, UniFi Video offers a relatively low learning curve, while advanced users can dive into more detailed configuration settings for customization.
Drawbacks of UniFi Video
Despite its strengths, UniFi Video does have some limitations:
- EOL (End of Life): Ubiquiti has officially ended development of UniFi Video in favor of their newer UniFi Protect platform. While UniFi Video is still usable, it will no longer receive new features or updates, making it a less future-proof option.
- Limited AI Features: Compared to modern surveillance solutions, UniFi Video lacks advanced AI-driven analytics, such as facial recognition, object detection, or deep learning capabilities. For users requiring these features, third-party solutions may need to be integrated.
2. UniFi Protect
As the successor to UniFi Video, UniFi Protect is Ubiquiti’s latest software offering for managing AirCam and other Ubiquiti surveillance products. It is bundled with the UniFi NVR systems and offers improved features, performance, and integration.
Key Features of UniFi Protect
- Modernized User Interface: UniFi Protect offers a more modern and responsive user interface compared to UniFi Video. The dashboard is designed with ease of use in mind, and advanced features are tucked away for users who want more control.
- Enhanced Mobile App: UniFi Protect’s mobile app has been improved to provide a more seamless experience, including better remote access, push notifications for motion alerts, and live feed monitoring with little delay.
- Smart Detection: One of the most significant improvements in UniFi Protect is the introduction of smart detection features. This includes human and vehicle detection, which helps reduce false alerts caused by non-relevant motion events (such as wind or small animals).
- Scalability: UniFi Protect can easily scale across large deployments. Its cloud-connected capabilities and support for Ubiquiti’s dedicated Protect NVR make it suitable for both home and enterprise applications.
- Cloud Integration: UniFi Protect offers seamless cloud access, allowing users to manage and monitor their cameras from anywhere. This includes access via web browsers and mobile apps, which can be highly useful for remote monitoring.
Performance of UniFi Protect
UniFi Protect has been optimized to run more efficiently than UniFi Video, offering faster response times and smoother handling of multiple streams. It also reduces system overhead, making it a better choice for users who require high availability and reliability.
Drawbacks of UniFi Protect
- Hardware Dependency: Unlike UniFi Video, UniFi Protect is designed to work with Ubiquiti’s NVR hardware. This means that users need to purchase a UniFi Protect-compatible NVR device, which can be a downside for users who already have an existing server infrastructure.
- No ONVIF Support: While UniFi Protect offers excellent features for Ubiquiti cameras, it lacks support for ONVIF, meaning it cannot be easily integrated with third-party cameras that are not part of Ubiquiti’s ecosystem.
3. Third-Party Integration
One of the Ubiquiti AirCam’s strengths is its ability to be integrated into third-party video management software (VMS) thanks to ONVIF support and RTSP streaming capabilities.
ONVIF Compliance
ONVIF is a global standard for IP-based security products, and Ubiquiti AirCams are ONVIF-compliant, allowing them to integrate with a wide range of third-party VMS platforms. This makes the AirCam a good choice for users who already have existing infrastructure or prefer to use non-Ubiquiti NVRs.
RTSP Streaming
RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) allows users to pull live video streams from Ubiquiti AirCams and feed them into any RTSP-compatible media player or software. This is particularly useful for custom setups where users may want to integrate video streams into home automation systems, security dashboards, or mobile apps.
Performance of Third-Party Software
When integrating Ubiquiti AirCams into third-party VMS solutions, performance largely depends on the VMS itself. Most third-party systems, such as Blue Iris or Milestone, provide excellent compatibility with Ubiquiti cameras, ensuring smooth video streaming and event management.
However, advanced features such as Ubiquiti’s motion detection or cloud integration may not be available on third-party platforms. Users will need to rely on the features offered by their chosen VMS for specific functionality.
Conclusion
The Ubiquiti AirCam software suite, including UniFi Video and UniFi Protect, delivers a strong, versatile solution for managing surveillance systems, whether for home use or large enterprises. UniFi Protect stands out as the future-proof option with its modern interface, cloud integration, and smart detection features, while UniFi Video continues to serve users looking for legacy support and more customizable server configurations.
Both platforms excel in terms of ease of use, scalability, and reliability, though advanced users may find the lack of certain features like deep AI analytics or full ONVIF support limiting. Nevertheless, Ubiquiti’s emphasis on cost-effectiveness and flexibility ensures that AirCam software remains one of the best solutions for users seeking efficient and manageable video surveillance.
Whether you are looking to set up a basic home security system or deploy a robust enterprise-grade solution, Ubiquiti’s AirCam software provides a comprehensive and dependable platform to meet your surveillance needs.