Synology Surveillance Station: 100% Finest DIY Safety Digicam System | Dong Is aware of Tech | Digital Noch

In case you have a Synology NAS server, you most likely already know that there are numerous issues you are able to do with it apart from internet hosting backups and shared folders.

A kind of is constructing your DIY IP-cam safety system by way of the Synology Surveillance Station add-on package deal. In my view, this characteristic is so helpful and well-designed that it alone might be the rationale it is best to get a Synology NAS within the first place.

This submit will clarify the Surveillance Station app and the right way to take advantage of out of it. Earlier than persevering with, try my tackle Synology NAS servers to get an total concept of working with a Synology NAS server, together with accessing its net person interface.

Dong’s notice: I first revealed this evaluation on Might 20, 2019, with Surveillance Station 8 operating below DSM 6, and final up to date it on August 10, 2023, so as to add extra data with Surveillance Station 9 below DSM 7. Synology frequently pushes out minor updates for this app and DSM, and in March 2020, the corporate launched its first IP cams. The knowledge on this submit is predicated on the newest variations and Synology {hardware} obtainable as of the revealed date.

What’s the Synology Surveillance Station?

There are numerous choices available on the market for residence safety surveillance. Most are unique: as soon as you’ve got picked a vendor, you are caught with it.

And the thought of blending {hardware} from completely different distributors is the place Synology Surveillance Station comes into play—and it performs properly. Briefly, this app is a normal community video recorder (NVR) designed to host normal IP cams of your selecting, opening up numerous potential.

Amongst different issues, you’ll be able to decide various kinds of cams for various environments and conditions. And there are millions of supported cameras to select from.

Synology Surveillance: A flexible NVR add-on app (package deal)

Surveillance Station is one in every of many Synology add-on apps, or packages, obtainable in any NAS server’s Bundle Middle.

As soon as put in and activated, the app turns the server right into a digital video recorder for community cameras.

The apps will let you handle a number of IP cameras at a remarkably complete stage and save safety footage straight in your NAS server. That is on high of the choices to make use of the digital camera’s built-in SD card slot or the seller’s cloud.

Synology launched the Surveillance Station in March 2008 and has improved it frequently.

Synology Surviellance Station 9 vs 8

In early Might 2022, Synology up to date the app from model 8 — of which the 8.2 launch in September 2018 was the final replace — to model 9 with some main enhancements.

Particulars of the brand new model are within the launch notes under.

However the important thing takeaways of the brand new model are within the following bullet factors:

• C2 Surveillance^(*): Customers can select to add footage on to a Synology C2 cloud server, which opens up loads of potentialities:
  • Managing a number of areas in a single app.
  • Rapidly sharing the footage with third events.
  • Defending safety footage in case of fireside or theft.
• Maps integration: Every digital camera might be pinned to a exact location on a world map for straightforward administration.
• Monitor Middle: A extra streamlined person interface that mixes Dwell View and Timeline of model 8.2 right into a single intuitive app.
• Twin-Recording: You’ll be able to arrange a digital camera to report to a number of areas, domestically or by way of the C2, with completely different schedules.
• Synology native cam help: Surveillance 9 is required if you wish to use Synology native cams, which have been obtainable since mid-2023.

It is value noting that Surveillance Station 9 requires DSM 7. Consequently, Surveillance Station 8.2 will stay related to present servers of mannequin years 2013 and older that may’t improve previous DSM 6.

Surveillance Station 8.2 to 9 improve: A simple course of

I upgraded my Surveillance Station from model 8.2 to 9 in Might 2022, and the method was a no brainer. After a number of warnings, proven under, the 10-min migration completed with out a hitch. The entire present recordings remained in place.

Since then, I have been utilizing model 9 for over a yr and have grown to love it. The C2 choice will not be relevant in my case, however the Monitor Middle is a wonderful method to preserve tabs on a number of cameras concurrently in sync for reside and recorded footage.

Nonetheless, the 2 variations share principally the identical person interface, customizations, {hardware} help, and add-on apps.

That mentioned, when you have a 2013 or older NAS server and have to stay with DSM 6.2 (therefore Surveillance Station 8.2), needless to say Surveillance Station 9 is good to have, however it’s not essentially earth-shattering.

Synology Surveillance Station: A standalone platform

Whereas itself an add-on package deal, Surveillance Station can be a platform that may run different security-related apps to broaden its options and performance.

The app has its personal web-based person interface, much like however separate from the NAS server’s OS (DSM), with a taskbar, a desktop, and so forth. You’ll be able to run a number of home windows at a time.

Irrespective of which model, 8 or 9, you employ, right here are some things that make Synology Surveillance Station so significantly better than different canned residence safety digital camera options:

• You will have full management over the recording — there is not any want to worry about your privateness.
• Except you go for C2 storage:
  • There is not any month-to-month charge, even once you need lengthy video retention — improve your NAS cupboard space.
  • Your safety system is Web-agnostic. And there is not any want to fret about information utilization, besides once you view reside or recorded footage once you’re not at residence.
• You’ll be able to mix-matching cameras that suit your wants — essential when utilizing completely different indoor, outside, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and PoE cameras.
• Utilizing PoE cameras with a high-capacity UPS, you’ll be able to arrange the system to remain alive even when there is a energy outage.
• You need to use the net interface, the Synology Surveillance Station desktop software, or the DS Cam cell app to handle your digital camera system, domestically or on the go.

And the Surveillance Station provides you with way more because it has many options. This app provides you every thing you’ll count on from an expert surveillance system.

Synology Surveillance Station: Wonderful person interface

As talked about above, the Surveillance Station has an intuitive person interface of its personal. Every main perform of the surveillance system is managed by way of an app with shortcuts available on the desktop.

They embody:

• Dwell View (model 8.2-only): View reside footage of all cameras and carry out any reside actions with them. The reside view does not have an effect on the recording. In different phrases, a digital camera nonetheless information (primarily based in your settings) once you’re viewing its reside feed.
• Timeline (model 8.2-only): View recordings of earlier days in a 24-hour timeframe. There’s additionally a neat search perform to seek out movies of objects primarily based on motions at a selected a part of a digital camera’s view.
• Monitor Middle (model 9-only): A brand new app that mixes Dwell View and Timeline with a extra streamlined design — customers can get extra finished with fewer clicks and handle all cameras in sync.
• IP Digicam: You’ll be able to add cameras to the Surveillance Station and customise their settings.
• Recordings: View recordings of particular person cameras. You’ll be able to obtain a recording or export a number of recordings primarily based on completely different parameters.
• Software Middle: Permit entry to a listing of tens of different features and apps so as to add much more options to the Surveillance Station. There are hyperlinks to obtain the Surveillance Station desktop and cell apps that you should use as a substitute of the net person interface.

The Surveillance Station desktop app is one of the simplest ways to handle the system. It is much more responsive than the web-based interface.

Just like the server’s interface, the Surveillance Station’s interface — be it the web-based UI or the desktop app — can deal with a number of home windows. For instance, you’ll be able to concurrently run Monitor Middle within the background and IP Digicam within the foreground.

Any such person interface makes working with the system self-explanatory and intuitive. Should you’re household with an working system, you end up at residence with Surveillance Station.

What cameras does the Synology Surveillance Station help?

As talked about above, in mid-2023, Synoloyg launched two IP cameras — the BC500 and TC500 — designed particularly for Surveillance Stations. They’re the very best cams to make use of. Nevertheless, they’re costly and require wiring — they’re PoE units.

A number of third-party choices

For extra versatile choices, you’ll be able to go for third-party cams. Synology’s Surveillance Station helps 1000’s of IP cameras available on the market. This is the full checklist.

It is vital to notice that even these not (but) added to the checklist will work with Surveillance Station so long as they help ONVIF — an open set of standardized interfaces obtainable in most IP cameras.

Usually, a digital camera with an online interface will probably work with the Surveillance Station app. On high of that, you’ll be able to even flip an outdated Android cellphone right into a digital camera.

You too can count on digital camera help on the vendor stage. Should you discover a digital camera from a selected vendor that works with the app, different cameras from the identical vendor will probably work, too.

When a digital camera is supported, most, if not all, of its features and options will probably be obtainable to the app. For instance, if the digital camera has pan and tilt features, the app can management these. For all cameras, all important options, together with zoom, evening imaginative and prescient, and movement detection, are all there.

What number of cameras can I take advantage of with my Synology NAS?

The overall variety of cameras depends upon the NAS server, however usually, every server can deal with a dozen or extra cameras — greater than a house would want.

The DS218+, for instance, can help as much as 25 cameras. Bigger servers, just like the DS1621+ or DS923+, help many extra concurrently.

Usually, any Synology NAS mannequin will help extra cameras than a typical residence wants.

Synology Surveillance Station: The simple 2-step course of

Establishing a digital camera with the Synology Surveillance Station varies from straightforward to not precisely onerous, relying on which cameras you employ.

Particularly, the method is super-quick for those who use a Synology cam because the app handles every thing. All you need to do is set up the cam like several PoE system, run the Surveillance Station app, and end the 2 steps under with a number of clicks.

However, for those who use a third-party cam, every a part of the two-step course of under wants some consideration. You have to first bodily join the digital camera to your community after which logically add it to Surveillance Station.

1. Join an IP digital camera to your native community

Hooking a digital camera in your system is a normal process.

If it is a wired digital camera, plug it in by way of a community cable, and that is it. For a Wi-Fi digital camera, you will have to observe the digital camera’s handbook to attach it to the Wi-Fi community utilizing its net interface or cell app.

After that, observe the digital camera’s directions to alter its primary settings to suit your state of affairs. Examples of those generic duties embody:

• Arrange the person title and password for the digital camera entry. It is OK to make use of the default, however it’s higher to create a brand new password — some cameras require a brand new one to work. You will want this data for the following step.
• Regulate time zone and port quantity (if obtainable or needed.)
• Customise the digital camera’s video high quality — there is not any cause to not use the very best settings — timestamp show, brand show, and so forth.
• Replace the digital camera to the newest firmware.
• Mount the digital camera the place you need it to be.

Moreover, reserve an IP tackle for every digital camera, together with these from Synology, to maintain it from altering, which can trigger disconnections. You are able to do this after the setup course of.

And that is it. Now you’ll be able to hook the digital camera to your NAS server’s Surveillance Station.

2. Set a digital camera up with Synology Surveillance Station

This step is once you hook a digital camera linked to your own home community to the Synology Surveillance Station. It is fairly easy. Listed below are the final steps.

1. Open the IP Digicam icon, which can open up the window. Right here, you will see all present cameras (if any).
2. Click on on Add. Should you use model 9, the system will mechanically detect the obtainable digital camera. In model 8.2, you will have to click on on the magnifying glass to start out detection. However in any case, you’ll be able to enter the cam’s data manually utilizing the username, password, and IP tackle gathered within the above step.
3. For a handbook setup, you’ll be able to enter the model and mannequin of the digital camera if it is on the supported checklist or decide [ONVIF] in case your digital camera helps ONVIF and isn’t but on the checklist.
4. If the port quantity will not be picked mechanically, use 80, 88, 443, or 888 as the worth — these are typical default settings of most cams. Or enter the port quantity you’ve got manually set for the cam.
5. Click on on Take a look at Connection to verify your digital camera is linked — you will see a preview of the digital camera’s view.
6. Click on on End.

And that is it; the digital camera is now a part of the system. However you will have to customise its settings to your liking first.

A number of settings, extremely customizable

To customise a digital camera’s setting, run the decision up the IP Digicam icon once more, choose the digital camera on the checklist, and click on Edit.

Should you use a Synology cam, the variety of settings and options might be overwhelming. Nevertheless, typically, you’ll be able to settle for the default settings.

Surveillance Station has a a lot shorter checklist of customizations for a third-party digital camera. Nonetheless, there’s a lot you are able to do, divided into 5 classes:

• Gadget settings: Change common digital camera settings, together with video compression format (h.264, MJPEg, and so forth), video high quality (decision, body charges, picture high quality, and so forth), or decide an exterior speaker because the audio output for the cam (if supported).
• Recording Settings: All recording-related settings are right here, together with video high quality, cupboard space, video retention choices, scheduling (when to report primarily based on movement detection, when to report constantly, and so forth), and mapping recording (movement detection or steady) with a stream profile. You too can set the size of every video from 1 to 240 minutes.
• Dwell View Settings: The stream profiles decide the video high quality for reside streaming.
• Optimization: Miscellaneous settings, equivalent to timestamp onscreen show, digital camera orientation (flipped, mirror), time synchronization, and so forth.
• Occasion Detection: Set movement detection supply (by the digital camera or by Surveillance Station), sensitivity (from 1 to 99, the upper, the extra delicate movement detection is), and threshold (from 1 to 99 as the dimensions of the article that may set off detection.) You too can change detection areas to disregard sure elements of the digital camera’s view.

It is vital to notice that the precise quantity of customization varies relying on the digital camera’s functionality. Model 9 has a perform the place you’ll be able to shortly copy the setting of an present digital camera to a newly added one, making the setup course of a lot sooner.

In all, Surveillance Station has loads of settings to suit anybody’s recording wants. And once more, there are additionally much more obtainable by way of the Software Middle.

Synology Surveillance Station: Wonderful efficiency

I’ve used Synology NAS servers for over ten years and have used Surveillance 8.2 since late 2018 till a number of weeks in the past earlier than upgrading to model 9.

I have been proud of how the app works for essentially the most half. It is dependable and delivers glorious efficiency. In contrast with different canned safety digital camera techniques, just like the Arlo, the very best factor about Surveillance Sation is that there is nearly no restrict to how lengthy a recording might be.

The Timeline view and Sync playback (now obtainable with improved efficiency by way of Monitor Middle in model 9) are additionally useful once I have to discover a explicit recording or have a great image of what is taking place at a selected time.

Distant entry to the system can be handy. You are able to do that by way of the net interface, the Surveillance Station desktop software program, or the DS Cam cell app. All of them use Synology’s QuickConnect vendor-assisted portal to entry the NAS server. Alternatively, you may as well use Dynamic DNS.

Utilizing distant entry with the Surveillance Station means you stream recording (or reside footage) from the NAS server. For that reason, the efficiency depends upon the Web speeds at each ends, the place the NAS server resides and the distant location.

That is one in every of many causes I recognize my Fiber-optic line with stellar add velocity.

It is value noting that the Surveillance Station does not take loads of system assets.

For instance, the DS1618+ server, which has 8GB of RAM (default) and no different upgrades, ran my 6-camera Surveillance Station app easily with a number of different heavy apps, together with a Home windows Server 2016 digital machine.

The extra cameras you employ, the extra the NAS server has to work. Nevertheless, my take is for those who make use of 6 or fewer cameras — I’ve all the time used solely 6 at most — it is secure to say you will not want to fret concerning the server being slowed down.

What you should fear about, nonetheless, is the bandwidth for managing the system remotely on the cellphone. On this case, utilizing the bottom decision, a part of the recording choices, for distant streaming assist.

Synology Surveillance Station: Shortcomings

Like every thing else, the Synology Surveillance Station will not be good. Right here are some things that try to be conscious of:

Digicam license

Every Synology NAS server consists of solely two digital camera licenses for third-party cams — every Synology cam has a built-in license — irrespective of how huge or costly.

If you wish to use extra cameras, you will want to purchase further licenses at about $60/every. I really feel the corporate ought to embody a free license per drive bay. So a 4-bay server ought to have 4 free digital camera licenses and so forth.

You’ll be able to switch a bought license from one server to a different. Simply delete it from a server, and it’ll grow to be obtainable to make use of with one other. Nevertheless, the 2 built-in licenses will stay with the server even when you do not need to use them.

Too many settings, impractical default (model 8.2-only)

In my expertise, for those who use the default settings with model 8.2, one or all of those will occur:

• No movement detection recording
• Video high quality mechanically set to the bottom
• Brief video retention.

Model 9 has some enchancment on this entrance, however it’s a good suggestion to take your time and configure every digital camera correctly. Should you use a number of related (or the identical) cameras, you can also make batch modifications to all of them concurrently.

No help for solar-powered cameras

Usually, a Surveillance Station can solely host native cameras — it has no straightforward method to host cameras at a number of areas by way of the Web, like within the case of Arlo.

The newly added C2 Surveillance characteristic helps deliver a number of areas collectively, however you continue to want a separate NAS server (or a devoted Surveillance Station NVR) at every location. On high of that, the subscription might be cost-prohibitive.

As talked about above, no photo voltaic digital camera works with Surveillance Station. Whereas this isn’t precisely Synology’s fault, it does restrict your choices.

Conclusion

Like a Synology NAS server, the Surveillance Station will not be for everybody. It requires sure networking know-how to carry out the setup and ongoing administration.

Nevertheless, this do-it-yourself surveillance system is way more complete than some other canned residence safety digital camera set. On the very least, it provides you full management of your safety recording with out a required month-to-month subscription, just like the case of most different residence safety options.

If you have already got a Synology NAS, get one or two cameras and do this add-on app at the moment. You will not be upset.

And when you have a big, well-connected property, a large Synology NAS will work significantly better as a sophisticated safety system than many providers. It may cost extra upfront, however you will save quite a bit in the long term, contemplating different networking wants the server can fulfill concurrently.