Home Security: are beams necessary with AI-powered cameras?

[Tokolosk]

We're going to be renovating our future home and one of the aspects is the old alarm system.

While researching I've come across the Unifi range of cameras - and I'm sure there are many others.

Typically I would expect for security systems to be:
beams/contactor -> Paradox panel -> Radio -> Security Company.

I'm sure it's not a far fetch to go to:
AI Camera -> ? -> Paradox panel -> Radio -> Security Company.

It also seems that cameras with AI are more reliable, but all I have is hearsay.

Does anyone have experience with this?
From a detect intruder to security company point of view, are there situations where both are needed?

 

[ItherNiT]

So I'm doing something similar to what you want to do.

Dumb cameras -> frigate nvr (smart detections) -> home assistant -> checks if alarm is armed (notifies smart speaker in the bedroom) and sends an actionable notification to my phone (allows me to snooze detections for some time or press the alarm panic button).


If the alarm goes off on its own (and was armed in stay/home mode) it turns on the tv and casts my cameras dashboard to my bedroom TV (also send me a notification to my phone with a link to open the same dashboard).

The smart detections are a bit of a miss sometimes so I prefer the actionable notifications, instead of letiting the alarm auto press the panic button.


I suspect the unifi smart detections are probably better then my frigate detections and integrate pretty well into HA, you can probably use any system as the unifi protect can send out webhooks.

 

[supersunbird]

Multiple layers, as budget allows, are always best, in case one system has a fault or other issues.

Batteries and inverter for house/CCTV? Beams can work for a while when power is out if alarm battery is good.

 

[A3@MBB]

My experience of the latest Unify Protect update is that it's broken.
Our jack russel, albeit on the border of being overweight, is detected as a human for the last week or so.

Systems fail, AI updates fail, radio transmitters fail.
Multiple layers is key.

 

[acidrain]

Everyone above is right, I would not try tie in CCTV AI into your alarm system as you have stated. Rather have it supplement the system and provide you with info to action on.

Unless you running your own models and regularly training it, it's going to make error. My collie/sausage cross is apparently a bird 90% of the time

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Yes... AI can make mistakes

 

[SauRoNZA]

So I'm doing something similar to what you want to do.

Dumb cameras -> frigate nvr (smart detections) -> home assistant -> checks if alarm is armed (notifies smart speaker in the bedroom) and sends an actionable notification to my phone (allows me to snooze detections for some time or press the alarm panic button).


If the alarm goes off on its own (and was armed in stay/home mode) it turns on the tv and casts my cameras dashboard to my bedroom TV (also send me a notification to my phone with a link to open the same dashboard).

The smart detections are a bit of a miss sometimes so I prefer the actionable notifications, instead of letiting the alarm auto press the panic button.


I suspect the unifi smart detections are probably better then my frigate detections and integrate pretty well into HA, you can probably use any system as the unifi protect can send out webhooks.

UniFi does directly talk to Onvif enabled cameras these days but I’m not sure the AI features are supported on those.

 

[chrisc]

Beams are urimately more reliable
That is, point to point beams, not infra-red outdoor detectors

 

[Bruceg]

Fit an olarm to your system the add your cameras to it. When your alarm triggers your security company can see your property

 

[Zanonad]

Kwebeams or Roboguard for audible alarm. Cameras for visual alert. These before forced entry into armed areas.