Synology Surveillance Station With Amcrest AI Advanced Detection

[@TheDro]

I use an Amcrest outside my house and I'm able to send it RTSP commands right from OBS. This allows me to be able to not only view and record my cameras from anywhere, but also lets me set up scenes that will activate presets and change other settings on the camera. This way when I change scenes on OBS it will go to that preset which points the camera to a new location. If I livestream the view from the cam using OBS, viewers can donate to activate changes in scenes in my OBS which then changes the camera view for the chat. This means chat can control the camera with donations or for free dependant on how you set it up. I've worked with CCTV but mostly analog and these days Im loving the ease of these network cams. esp the abilities to also use POE!

[@JaredTwomey]

To make the mobile app notifications more useful you just need to change the subject line for the notification (SMS and Push just uses the subject line). In the Rules double click on the "Advanced event detected" and it will open up the notification editor. Change the subject line to something like "%SS_PKG_NAME% has detected (%EVENT_NAME%) from camera %CAMERA%."

[@randleqgod]

this is a great alternative to unifi. i'm tired of them being sold out and I want to get my security set up for my house asap. thanks for this.

[@slip0n0fall]

Would love to see some performance testing to see what the practical cam limit is on Synology's mid/top tier 2-bay offerings (DS220+/DS712+). Thanks for the video!

[@EsotericArctos]

I have run 5 4MP camera's on a DS220+ and had no problems, I wouldn't really push it much further though. If you want to know the number of camera's, this gets complex as it depends on the bitrate used in the cameras, what the MP rating of the camera is and whether you use H265 or H264 and constant vs variable bitrate. If it is a small home installation with maybe half a dozen 4MP cameras, a 220+ will be fine, you may want to look higher if you want to do a larger install. Also, with the camera license fees once you go higher, you may want to investigate other options if budget is a concern.

[@slip0n0fall]

@@EsotericArctos thanks, you're right there are a lot of variables. Putting off motion and AI to each camera has a huge impact as well. Ended up going with a dedicated DS920+. Thanks!

[@carloschambliss2238]

I ALREADY HAVE MY Synology DS 1817 installed!!! So I'm STRONGLY CONSIDERING IT!!!

[@vissago]

so i have a bunch of axis cams, including the m3077-plve, which is brand new, and surveillance station doesnt support it at all - so i had to hack in support. Happy to show you how, if you think your audience would find it useful!

[@accesser]

Synology should have a 2 bay DVA model soon that does its own AI Really hope to see some info on this when it comes out, the 4 bay Synology DVA is way to expensive

[@HARLEYMLM1966]

It’s amazing that it snowed in your yard and not your driveway!

[@phanc70846]

Why use Synology vs an Amcrest NVR? Is Synology Surveillance Station better? Which one is better and why?

[@mies-bvd]

Great video it helps a lot to get the AI options setup!

[@brianmccullough4578]

Love the shirt!!!!

[@ifneeded1]

Yasss. Needed more surveillance information. Can you please do a piece on HikVision? Ever since the sanctions they haven't had official ONVIF conformance or Synology compatibility for new cameras.

[@QuickQuips]

I think Level1techs covered Hikvision.

[@ifneeded1]

@@QuickQuips he did, but he didn't discuss conformance post sanctions. IPVM covered it, although not mostly in an integration sense.

[@justinsmith4947]

Do you happen to have a video with your video settings? I have the same camera and my night recordings dont look nearly as good as yours. I have it set to what I believe is the best 4K options.

[@eticocr]

I wonder if this works the same for Dahua cameras with AI features?

[@SergioBlackDolphin]

It is not clear to me if I use a non synology camera, on a Synology NVR such as the DVA 1622 that has a 1 face recognition task limitation, am I adding capability to the DVA1622 system? Or if I already have face recognition let's say on a Reolink Video Doorbell and add this camera with AI advanced detection, will the DVA "say STOP" task limit reached?

[@EsotericArctos]

The 4 Megapixel UHD you linked to looks suspiciously like the Dahua HDW34xx series. Does Amcrest still get their OEM stuff from Dahua? I know the Dahua camera's work really well in Synology Surveillance Station. I use several of the, and they never miss a beat.

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

Lots of these brands are just rebadged so possible they are the same.

[@EsotericArctos]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS Should be good cameras then. Dahua make some good stuff :). Thanks for the video and the reply.

[@jasonperry6046]

If you are looking for good camera reviews of home I highly recommend The Hook Up

[@justinsmith4947]

Curious why you use the camera to manage the detection algorithm/event detection vs using the surveillance station?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

Not all NVR's can handle doing that and it takes more CPU power to have the NVR doing all the analytics

[@mehammered]

I wish TrueNas would do something with some cameras

[@fwanknmt]

This is a great help, thank you! I have a question: In addition to recording via "Customize 1", how do I simultaneously record continuous video using a lower resolution from another stream of that same camera?

[@fwanknmt]

And.... i think i just answered my own question in the Edit Camera > Recording > Dual Recording tab.

[@gregorypierce2697]

amcrest has a new camera that looks like it will outpace the T2669 but it's not on the synology compatibility list. It's the IP8m-2779E-Ai wonder if anyone has a thought. Should I wait to see if synology adds it? or just go with the T2669?

[@artstech]

So are you using Synology's (By SS) event detection algorithm or Amcrest (By camera)?... Which one do you find better at detection?

[@alex8pazan]

Is it possible to automatic preset approach when moving? With and without PTZ cameras. (digital zoom or simply move to position xy)

[@Pabula]

Great video, very interesting the usage of AI for better reporting of the alerts or omission of the false alerts. Any chance you could ask Synology to loan you a Synology DVA1622 for review? its their upcoming 2 bay deep learning solution, they are releasing it very shortly, it should do most of what you are doing, just not relaying on the AI of the camera but on the AI embedded on Nvidia and DiskStation, i feel someone like you would give a good perspective into how it compares vs what you get on cameras vs having it build on the Synology surveillance station.

[@b3d3g69]

Nice video! Thanks a lot! I have two questions for you.. Preface, i am switching my system to POE from coax. I have an amcrest DVR(which has AI decrion built in) and I'll be using a POE switch for power to the cameras. My first question, Would it be better to setup motion settings through the camera or DVR? Second question, if a poe camera is connected to a dvr/nvr will it continue to record on the HDD despite a SD card in the camera? (

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

I have not tested the SD card recording with the camera. With the Synology I am using motion via the Synology and people/vehicle via the camera.

[@b3d3g69]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS ok... Thanks

[@StevenFogarty-yq1gg]

You highlight the IP4M-1048EW AI. but there isn't a Synology configuration for this model of camera. What did you use to get it to work in Surveillance Station as the default Amcrest camera doesn't have these features?

[@StevenFogarty-yq1gg]

Duh. Looks like you cover that at 11 min into it.

[@maximum988]

Is the detection happening on the cameras or at the synology? You seem to be jumping between the two to configure it. Does a motion detection on the camera side also show up in surveillance station?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

On the cameras

[@maximum988]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS thank you!

[@kencee9213]

Great video. Thanx. How do you like amcrest. Vs unifi cams

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

The UniFi platform is easier to deploy, the Synology system has more options.

[@benoitcloutier6228]

Hi all, here in Canada, the Amcrest cameras are difficult to purchase. However we do have great access to the Lorex cameras which look identical. I am in no way a specialist and was wondering if they would work the same as the Amcrest ones?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

Never tried, Synology has a list here www.synology.com/en-us/compatibility/camera

[@MD62383]

does this have autotracking? I am looking for the camera to move to the motion.

[@strikermed]

Interesting note about Amcrest, I have all my Amcrest cameras running on a private isolated vlan, and since unifi dream machine updated their ips/ids it is detecting occasional log4J traffic from the cameras on the Synology. Any thoughts on why it’s detecting log4J from those cameras on an isolated network for 2-3 years (pre log4J) awareness?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

most likely answer is false positive.

[@QuickQuips]

I use the NVR1218 with some Reolinks. Those Amcrest seem really nice though reducing potential alerts.

[@adrianTNT]

Hi @QuickQuips can you please tell me what speed you get from your NVR1218 if you copy with Samba / FTP or if you copy to/from device itself ? I only get 60 MB/s with SSD and I don't know if the unit is faulty or just extremly slow SATA.

[@noggan]

I'm interested in the ip8m-t2669ew-ai but I can't find it here in Europe. Is there dahua model that is identical feature wise? Also curious why you are using Synology surveillance instead of unifi Tom?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

Synology has way more options, more flexibility & more camera option.

[@noggan]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS Hey Tom, Thanks for making this video. I just got the first out of four new Amcrest cameras installed. Really happy with it. :)

[@beepboopbeepboop190]

Other than "we had a synology around", is there a good reason to go with them instead of a blue iris install? I'm going to be replacing my arlos in the next year and was leaning towards blue iris on the software side but this looks like a good option as well.

[@JaredTwomey]

I switched from Blue Iris to Synology because I got tired of dealing with Windows and Blue Iris. As a software package it works great, but it runs on Windows. So you have to make sure you do updates regularly and all that. Also, when new versions come out you have to have an up to date subscription. With Synology it is a one-time camera license (that you can transfer to other machines) and no other fees in the future.

[@beepboopbeepboop190]

@@JaredTwomey Thanks! No big features from BI that you found missing in Synology? I guess I need to do some research between them, I was just assuming BI was the default choice.

[@kdeuler]

Thanks for this video. I'll look into Amcrest. Slightly off topic: I have an old 2TB Synology DS111. Do you suppose this device would be fast enough to handle the video stream of 2 or 3 of the 4K (8MP) cameras? Thanks.

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

That is an older model and I don't know.

[@MindZye]

How much should the VS960HD cost? Amazon only has the VS360HD available and they want $1800+ for it, which seems a little steep - especially when it's shipped and sold by Amazon directly and not a random third-party.

[@MindZye]

Alternatively, does Synology offer their software for sale - similar to Blue Iris? Their platform seems pretty solid but I'm not big on needing two $350+ proprietary boxes when I have spare PC hardware I can put to the task.

[@SteveCody]

Do you know if there is any way to do a custom text overlay over a live recording? For example, I have a camera over my pool and I monitor my pool temperature with another device. I'd love to be able to overlay the pool temperature on top of the live pool video recording/display. I'm running SS 9.0 beta, and have Foscam and a soon to be installed Amcrest 4k outdoor camera.

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

I have not used it but it does have this kb.synology.com/en-us/SurveillanceStation/help/SurveillanceStation/transactions?version=8

[@SteveCody]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS Thanks, I'll take a look.

[@amigatommy7]

Nice shirt.

[@adimidaddi]

Do you have to have an Amcrest camera with Ai to get all the Ai features or can you buy a NVR with Ai and get the features???

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIrOpYGMpamGf6M

[@cinlung]

How long was that Driveway recording to occupy 228gb of data? does it write on top of the older record?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

You choose the rotation schedule

[@__-pl3jg]

Im skeptical that all this image detection is taking place locally on your Synology server. So, Synology has remote access to all your photo/video files?

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

Synology does not have remote access to your files and if you are skeptical then disable internet and test it as I did, the detections still work.

[@__-pl3jg]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS - Awesome. Thanks for the info. I've been wanting to setup my own Synology server as a storage archive/surveillance hub/entertainment streaming device. But, I havent found much information regarding how certain traffic is being routed. I'll just have to buy the gear and start pen testing myself.

[@fritzchristoph8670]

Is Amcrest a „secure“ camera brand?

[@jpraleixo]

well, it depends. it's a dahua powered camera

[@kensingh9527]

No, definitely not. It's banned for government/public use in the United States, as per NDAA and other inspired local regulations.

[@BrianSimmons]

Don't buy into the whole "more pixels is better" (ie 4k is better) lie. More pixels means the camera needs more light to get a good exposure. They look great during the day, but are not as good as a 4mp (or even lower mp) cameras at night. Let's face it, it's the nighttime performance that "makes or breaks" a camera.

[@DJaquithFL]

I've got some very, no extreme, hesitation towards anything on my network that's a Chinese own company. Frankly I'm extremely shocked that you'd risk compromising all of your clientele with a possibility of a Chinese backdoor IoT via an device.

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

FYI Synology Inc. is a Taiwanese corporation en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synology

[@DJaquithFL]

@@LAWRENCESYSTEMS .. I'm clearly referring to the Amcrest Chinese cameras.

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

@@DJaquithFL They go on their own subnet with no outside access therefore no concern.

[@richardwang6021]

oem Dahua

[@julien5628]

cam interface looks a LOOOOT dahua/hik

[@LAWRENCESYSTEMS]

Yup!

[@TechySpeaking]

First

[@raduboboc]

Why do you go barefoot outside? I don't care if it is cold or hot outside, but you take out all the dirt from outside, microbes, bacteria, heavy metals and hidrocarbons and bring them inside, and slowly to you bed that should be ultra clean from this stuff

[@ashuggtube]

You go to bed without showering?

[@S0K0N0MI]

Lovely cameras, unfortunately those clowns wont play ball with european customers..

[@kensingh9527]

Amcrest AKA Dahua AKA NDAA Noncompliant AKA Chinese garbage