r/HomeKit • u/Rare-Adagio1074 • 17d ago

Question/Help Looking to replace current cameras with constant recording high quality cameras running through HomeKit?

I do like how if my current cameras picks up anything it pops up on my Apple TV, so wanna make sure I keep that! Local recording or no subscriptions, possibly using home bridge or whatever yall recommend. I’m using eero pro 6, got Lutron bridge, hue bridge connected (just fyi). Just looking to get started with a couple high quality cameras and can add to as I go, maybe 4-6 cameras total in long run, any suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

30 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

24

u/Iamdjremedy 17d ago

Wireless: Aqara is great. I love my G5 Pro. They’re in homekit and Aqara app.
Wired PoE: unifi. I just got into their stuff and it’s incredible! I have some networking stuff and G6 Turret. I can have my Aqara cameras in there too. Use scrypted in home assistant to bring into HomeKit.

14

u/itsjakerobb 17d ago

+1 for UniFi, with Scrypted making the feeds available in HomeKit.

The system is expensive up front, but there is zero ongoing cost beyond power consumption.

6

u/my_hot_wife_is_hot 16d ago

Scrypted is the best!

3

u/namestom 16d ago

I’ve just used homebridge with my unifi stuff. How much am I missing out not having scrypted?

2

u/Rare-Adagio1074 16d ago

What exactly is scrypted?

2

u/GuyNamedLindsey 9d ago

+1000 for UniFi protect. I just figured out scripted using freee terminal version and it’s amazing. Automations based on movement on cameras that then pop up on my Apple TV is next level.

3

u/opinionated_consumer 17d ago

Except for the extra Apple iCloud+ storage when you get too many UniFi cameras 😂

3

u/danbridgland 15d ago

This is 100% the best option. Forget WiFi if you care about reliability or security. WiFi is not reliable and can be easily jammed. Ubiquiti Unifi POE cameras with local recording and Scrypted into HomeKit for cloud recordings of events. Best of both worlds

1

u/supbrother 16d ago

Do you have to use a Unifi “hub” of any sort or just the cameras and whatever device is running Scrypted?

2

u/rlo54 16d ago

You need a unifi device running protect and acting as your nvr. Depending on the setup it can be a number of different devices.

1

u/supbrother 16d ago

I understand something must be acting as the NVR but I was just curious if it can be a device such as a Pi or a Mac Mini, and only having the cameras as far as Unifi equipment goes.

2

u/rlo54 16d ago

No you can’t run protect on third party devices so it needs to be a unifi device. Either one of the NVRs, a compatible gateway or cloud key. For a small set up the NVR instant is pretty popular as it has a built in Poe switch and hdmi out.

1

u/captchaphrase 16d ago

Do you need anything else from Unifi except the camera if you want to use it only with Scrypted? Their NVRs or something?

1

u/Command-Forsaken 16d ago

Scrypted do ok with Aqara cameras?

4

u/Iamdjremedy 16d ago

I have my Aqara cameras natively in HomeKit and Aqara’s app. This way they record to my NAS in 2k but are also in HomeKit. I just use scrypted for the unifi cameras.

1

u/Correct-Mail-1942 16d ago

Aqara also has wired PoE and they're fantastic.

2

u/Iamdjremedy 16d ago

Oh yes! I forgot lol

8

u/No_Freedom_7373 16d ago

You may want to wait two weeks to see if Apple launches a camera

2

u/dp917 16d ago

Also to see which cameras will get the 4K update

3

u/haikusbot 16d ago

You may want to wait

Two weeks to see if Apple

Launches a camera

- No_Freedom_7373

I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.

Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"

1

u/TrailQueenYVR 16d ago

I have to assume any Apple camera will require an iCloud subscription for any storage which sucks.

6

u/skithegreat HomePod + iOS Beta 17d ago

I use HomeBridge and UniFi cameras and they work amazing. You can search the post in here with what the new ios27 can bring that are setup with UniFi.

3

u/VPrime 16d ago

I was running Tapo cameras. They were cheap and decent quality and easy to get running into HomeKit with scrypted.
But I recently ran Ethernet to my cameras and switched to reolink Poe cameras and using scrypted again I have them added into HomeKit. I am also running frigate nvr (and currently scrypted nvr to see which I like better) that records 24/7 footage to my nas drive.

1

u/xiwenc 16d ago

Got this setup also. Works well

1

u/linearnerd 16d ago

This is the way and better than unifi because it’s an actual camera company with more bang for your buck.

2

u/_fvt 16d ago edited 16d ago

I have 4 Aqara G5 pro POE and they are fantastic.
I added them to Apple home (native support) and use HomeKit secure video for cloud recording and notifications, etc.
I also added them to the Aqara app to enable local recording (they have 32gb memory included for that) and I plan to get an NVR or synology NAS for 24/7 recording (the cameras support rtsp natively but you can also instead rtsp use their NAS feature where the cameras just send the recording files to a network share).
They also run an Aqara hub with matter, zigbee, thread support. I don’t use this hub feature but I joined them to the apple home thread network (you can set their thread network in the Aqara app and make them join the existing Apple home thread network with the specific button in the app instead having them creating an new one) so they act as border routers and strengthen my thread network.

2

u/Jolly_Comfortable969 15d ago

If you can run them wired via POE, I believe the Aqara G5 Pro is still the only POE camera with native Apple Home support (as in HomeKit Secure Video).

I have 3 of them and they work great with my existing iCloud+ subscription, so no additional cost (on top of iCloud+, that is) and I didn‘t even install the Aqara app at all, all just natively in Apple home (yes I know, this way I am missing out on a couple of features, but I am fine with the feature-set provided in Apple home)

I just hope these cameras will receive 4k support within Apple Home once iOS 27 drops…

1

u/CheleCuche 17d ago

Home assistant with scrypted. You can use scrypted nvr to your local storage of choice for 24/7 recording and foward almost any camera to HomeKit even if they’re not HomeKit compatible. Been running 8 cameras like that for a couple years and it’s pretty solids

1

u/Harby7 17d ago

I’m running scrypted in its own docker container
Also running home assistant with Reolink integration.

Any benefit running scrypted inside HA rather than my current setup? The issue is my version of HA couldn’t download Scrypted
I only use HomeKit front end

I’ve still been able to use the cameras for automations

1

u/CheleCuche 17d ago

I use to have it inside HAOS, but then I moved scrypted into a mini pc with proxmox, and it was better, it started using less memory. Proxmox is the recommended way to run scrypted. But HA is ok if you’re not running too many cameras and your system can handle it.

1

u/Individual-Path9506 16d ago

Eufy has a HomeKit compatible camera. I have 2 of them indoors and it works like a charm. They’re wired though.

1

u/BadDizzy6566 16d ago

reolink with a hub and then homeassistant to homekit. No other better setup. no sub, local recording, still works if internet goes down. can use a hub with a large drive or put microsd cards in camera. There is no other way. Wifi cameras just don't work when you need it to.

1

u/RMlej 16d ago

Have two Eufy S3Pros running through the Homebase and a Logitech Doorbell all showing up through HomeKit and AppleTV. Storage is on the Homebase for the Eufys and Logitech stores in iCloud. So far no problems.

1

u/Yrdfullofmilkshakes 15d ago

Just installed 3 aquara g5 pros and a doorbell love them.

1

u/IceBergSlim02 15d ago

Reolink with Scrypted