UniFi Protect Installer Los Angeles

UniFi Protect installer in LA. License plate recognition, AI detection, driveway and gate cameras, G3 to G6 hardware. No monthly fees.

★★★★★

LPR cameras on the driveway, AI detection at every entry, and the UniFi dashboard ties all of it to the gate. No subscriptions. Worth every dollar.

M
Malibu Property Owner
UniFi Protect + LPR gate install
Call now(310) 400-0314 LA, Orange County, and San Diego County
Ubiquiti UniFi Protect G6 Turret cameras black and white pair
Ubiquiti UniFi Protect G6 Pro Dome camera with PoE input

We install UniFi Protect cameras across Los Angeles. Driveway cameras with license plate recognition. Gate-mounted AI cameras. Turret and bullet cameras at every corner of your property. Indoor AI cameras that watch the hallway and recognize who just walked in. All of it records locally to a UniFi Network Video Recorder in your own IT closet, with zero monthly fees.

UniFi Protect is Ubiquiti’s video surveillance product line. We install the full UniFi Protect stack for LA property owners who want real security at the gate and entry, not just a generic CCTV system on a corner. Every camera we install is wired into the same UniFi dashboard as your intercom, access control, and network. One app, one login, one vendor.

Call (310) 400-0314 for a free site walk. LA, Orange County, and San Diego County.

Why Los Angeles Properties Choose UniFi Protect for Gates and Driveways

License Plate Recognition at the Driveway

The UniFi AI Key plus a G4 or G5 PTZ camera reads license plates at the driveway gate. Cross-reference against an approved list. Open the gate automatically for residents. Log every visitor plate with a timestamp and a photo.

AI Security Camera Detection

Person, vehicle, package, and animal detection run on-device. Face recognition identifies residents and staff. Smart filters cut the noise from tree shadows and passing cars. You only get alerts that matter.

No Monthly Fees, Ever

UniFi Protect records locally to a UniFi Network Video Recorder in your IT closet. Verkada charges $200 to $1,800 per camera per year. Ring Alarm Pro needs a $20/mo subscription to view history. UniFi Protect is a one-time hardware cost with zero software licenses.

Gate and Entry Integration

UniFi Protect ties into your UniFi Access intercom and door hub. When a visitor rings the gate, the camera records the moment. When a resident swipes a credential, the camera pairs the video to the event. You search by event, not by scrubbing hours of footage.

Full-Property View in One App

Driveway. Gate. Front door. Backyard. Side yard. Garage. Pool. All streams show up in one UniFi app on your phone. Live view and recorded playback from anywhere, with two-way audio on every camera that supports it.

Built for LA Weather

G6 Bullet and G6 Turret are IP66 rated and operate from -30 to 50 Celsius. They handle Malibu salt air, Pasadena dry heat, and the early-morning fog on the coast. We specify the right housing for each mount.

License Plate Recognition Cameras for LA Gates and Driveways

License plate recognition is the single most-requested camera feature for LA gated properties. Here’s how we deploy it with UniFi Protect.

The camera sits on a pole or wall at the driveway gate, angled to capture plates as cars approach. A UniFi Protect AI Key plugs into your UNVR and runs the plate recognition on-device. Plates get logged to your UniFi dashboard with a photo and a timestamp. You can build an allow list of resident plates, a watch list of contractor plates, and a flag list for anything unknown. An unknown plate triggers a push notification with the plate number and the snapshot.

Integrations that actually matter:

  • Gate auto-open for allow-list plates. We wire the UniFi Access Door Hub to your LiftMaster, DoorKing, or Elite gate operator. Plate recognized, gate opens, no keypad needed.
  • Alert on unknown plates. First-time plate at the driveway sends you a notification. Great for catching package thieves and suspicious vehicles.
  • Visitor log for HOAs. Every plate that enters the property gets logged with date, time, and camera location. HOA boards review the log weekly.
  • Law enforcement cooperation. If a neighbor’s car gets broken into, you can search your own logs by plate and timeframe in seconds.
UniFi Protect gate entry camera install Hollywood

AI Security Cameras: What UniFi Protect Actually Detects

The G5 AI and G6 generations include on-device AI processors. Adding a UniFi AI Key unlocks advanced features on your entire camera fleet. Here’s what the AI actually recognizes and reports:

License Plate Recognition

Reads plates from moving vehicles at the driveway. Works up to 60 feet depending on lens and lighting. Full license plate recognition with allow, watch, and block lists.

Face Recognition

Identifies enrolled residents and staff. Logs faces at the front door and gate. Trained locally on your UNVR, nothing sent to the cloud.

Vehicle Detection

Cars, trucks, motorcycles, delivery vans. Different alert types for each. Helps filter out wildlife and shadow alerts.

Person Detection

Separates people from animals and moving foliage. Detects loitering with configurable thresholds. The one setting that actually cuts false alerts in half.

Package Detection

G6 Entry and G6 Pro Entry include package cam. AI tags when a box arrives and when it’s picked up. Logs porch pirate activity with a full clip.

Animal Detection

Coyotes at night, deer in the yard, neighborhood cats. Separate alert track so you can review but not wake up for them.

UniFi Camera Models We Install in Los Angeles (G3, G4, G5, G6)

Ubiquiti has shipped four generations of UniFi Protect cameras. We install and service all of them. Older generations are still supported on current firmware. Newer generations add AI features and better sensors.

G3 UniFi Cameras

The earliest UniFi Protect hardware. Still running in older LA deployments. We service, troubleshoot, and plan migrations. If your property is on G3 cameras and the image quality is no longer cutting it, we can stage a move to G6 without wasting the cabling.

G4 UniFi Cameras (G4 Bullet, G4 Pro, G4 Doorbell, G4 PTZ, G4 Instant, G4 Dome)

The second-generation lineup. G4 Bullet and G4 Pro remain common across LA residential and small commercial. G4 Doorbell and G4 Doorbell Pro are heavily deployed single-family homes. G4 PTZ covers large driveways and parking lots. All G4 models work with the UniFi AI Key for license plate recognition and face features.

G5 UniFi Cameras (G5 Bullet, G5 Pro, G5 Turret Ultra, G5 Flex, G5 Dome)

The workhorse generation. G5 is what we install most in LA. G5 Bullet and G5 Turret Ultra are outdoor standards. G5 Flex gives a tiny cube camera for indoor use. G5 Pro adds zoom for long driveways and large lots. G5 PTZ with AI Key is our recommendation for driveway LPR.

G6 UniFi Cameras (Current 2025 Lineup)

Released March 2025. Bigger 1/1.8-inch 8MP sensors, built-in AI processing, better low-light performance. G6 Bullet and G6 Turret are IP66 weatherproof. G6 PTZ covers more area than two fixed bullets combined and adds active tracking. G6 Pro Bullet and Pro Dome step up to 1/1.2-inch sensors for maximum low-light. G6 Entry and G6 Pro Entry are combined doorbell plus reader units for front entries. These are what we recommend for new installs where you want every feature on the UniFi platform.

UniFi Network Video Recorder (Local Recording, Zero Cloud Fees)

Every UniFi Protect camera records to a UniFi NVR sitting in your IT closet. Your footage stays on your property. No vendor cloud, no subscription. The NVR is what makes UniFi Protect fundamentally different from Verkada, Ring, Nest, and every subscription camera service on the market.

The three UniFi NVRs we install:

  • UNVR Instant: entry-level, 6-port PoE switch built in, up to 15 HD or 6 4K cameras on a single drive bay.
  • UNVR: mid-range, 4 drive bays, up to 18 4K or 60 1080p cameras, typical 30-day retention for small commercial.
  • UNVR Pro: enterprise, 7 drive bays (up to 168TB), up to 24 4K or 70 1080p cameras, 60 to 90 day retention with RAID redundancy.

We spec the NVR based on your camera count, resolution, retention needs, and whether you want RAID. A typical LA single-family home with 6 to 10 cameras lands on a UNVR. A multifamily building with 15 to 30 cameras lands on a UNVR Pro. Storage is surveillance-rated hard drives (WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk), not consumer drives.

UniFi Protect for Gates, Driveways, and Entry Security

This is where we stand apart from generic UniFi camera installers. We’re a gate and access control company first. UniFi Protect is the layer we pair with every gate install.

Driveway Gate with LPR Camera

G5 PTZ or G6 Bullet mounted on a pole, angled to capture plates. UniFi AI Key runs recognition. UniFi Access Door Hub wired to your LiftMaster or DoorKing gate operator. Approved plate pulls up, gate opens, zero keypad entry required.

Pedestrian Gate Camera

G4 Doorbell or G6 Entry at the walk-in gate. Rings your phone when a visitor arrives. Two-way audio. Live view before you unlock. Logs every visit with a 30-second clip.

Front Door and Entry Camera

G5 Flex or G6 Bullet aimed at the front door. Package detection, face recognition for residents, alerts for unknown faces. Pairs with the Intercom Viewer inside each unit.

Parking Lot and Perimeter

G5 or G6 Bullet for long straight runs. G5 PTZ for wide coverage with active tracking. LPR at the parking entry. Anomaly detection at closed hours.

Garage and Side Gates

G5 Turret Ultra or G6 Turret covers the garage door and side gates. Alerts if the garage stays open past a schedule. Records when the gate operator fires.

Commercial Lobby and Suite

G5 Flex indoors at suite doors. G5 Bullet covering the lobby and mailroom. AI face recognition for access-controlled rooms. Pairs with Brivo, UniFi Access, or 2N intercom at the front.

Ubiquiti UniFi Protect AI PTZ camera pair for driveways and gates

Property Types We Install UniFi Protect For in LA

Luxury Residential (Malibu, Bel Air, Beverly Hills)

10 to 20 camera deployments. G6 Bullet at the perimeter, G6 PTZ with LPR at the driveway, G6 Entry at the front door. UNVR Pro in the IT closet for 90-day retention. Owner views everything from the UniFi app.

Multifamily (Santa Monica, Culver City, Marina)

15 to 40 cameras depending on building size. Common areas, lobbies, mailrooms, trash rooms, parking structures. LPR at the parking entry and exit. UniFi Access intercom ties in at the front door.

HOA Gated Communities

Entry gate LPR for resident auto-open. Perimeter G5 Bullet and G5 PTZ for coverage. Board dashboard with visitor logs. Shared NVR in the HOA office.

Commercial Office and Retail

Suite-level cameras, lobby, back-of-house, loading dock. Face recognition for employees. After-hours anomaly detection. Ties to Brivo or UniFi Access control.

Industrial and Warehouse

Perimeter bullets, LPR at truck gates, yard coverage with G5 PTZ active tracking. 60 to 90 day retention on UNVR Pro for incident review.

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb, STR)

Exterior-only per Airbnb policy. G4 Doorbell at the front door. G5 Bullet covering driveway and entries. No interior cameras. Recording kept for 30 days.

Our UniFi Protect Camera Installation Process

  1. Site walk. We visit, count camera positions, check IT closet space, measure cable runs, and test PoE budget against your switch.
  2. Camera layout design. You get a property map marking every camera position, model, field of view, and mounting height. We show you expected coverage before we order anything.
  3. NVR and storage sizing. We calculate your exact storage needs at your chosen resolution and retention. No guesswork, no oversized NVR.
  4. Cable pulls and rough-in. CAT6 from the IT closet to each camera position. Conduit for exterior runs. Pull cords for future expansion.
  5. Mount and wire. Camera mounts, adjustments, and final aim for each location. Weatherproofing at every exterior penetration.
  6. NVR install and commissioning. UNVR racked, drives installed, cameras adopted, recordings verified. AI Key plugged in if you have LPR or face recognition in the package.
  7. Training and handoff. 30 minutes on the UniFi app. Adding users, setting up alerts, reviewing clips, exporting footage for police reports.
  8. Ongoing service. Remote check-ins on your NVR. On-site service within one business day across LA, OC, and San Diego.

PoE Switch Sizing and Network Requirements

UniFi Protect cameras are all PoE, which means power and data come through one cable. Here’s the math we use to spec the right switch for your camera count.

  • Camera wattage: G5 Bullet and G5 Turret pull about 6.5W each. G5 PTZ pulls about 20W. G6 Bullet and G6 Turret pull about 6 to 10W each. G6 PTZ pulls about 30W.
  • PoE standards: Standard PoE (802.3af) is 15.4W. PoE+ (802.3at) is 30W. PoE++ (802.3bt) is 60 to 90W. Most bullets run on standard PoE. PTZ and AI cameras need PoE+.
  • Switch sizing example: 8 G6 Bullet cameras at 8W each = 64W total. A UniFi USW-Pro-24-PoE has a 400W budget. Easy headroom.
  • Switch sizing example with PTZ: 4 G6 Bullet plus 1 G6 PTZ plus 1 G6 Entry = 32 + 30 + 13 = 75W. Still fits a USW-24-PoE.
  • UNVR built-in PoE: UNVR Instant has a 6-port PoE switch with 40W budget. Good for up to 5 bullets, no PTZ.
  • CAT5e minimum, CAT6 standard. Never use CCA (copper-clad aluminum) cable. Only pure copper.

If your property already runs UniFi network gear, the cameras plug right in. If not, we include the PoE switch and UniFi Console in the proposal up front.

UniFi Protect vs Verkada vs Hikvision vs Reolink

Four platforms we see most in LA. Here’s an honest take on when each one wins.

Feature UniFi Protect Verkada Hikvision Reolink
Monthly fees None $200 to $1,800 per camera per year None (on-prem NVR) Optional cloud tier
AI and LPR Built in on G5 AI and G6 Built in, tied to their cloud LPR on ColorVu and DeepinView Basic AI, weaker LPR
Access control tie-in Native UniFi Access Native Verkada Access Limited, needs 3rd party None
Data location Your NVR, your property Verkada cloud Your NVR Your NAS or their cloud
NDAA compliance Yes Yes No (banned for federal) Variable by model
Image quality Strong, G6 meets or beats most Strong Industry-leading low-light Consumer-tier
Best fit Full-stack UniFi, gate integration Multi-site commercial, cloud-first Pure image quality in dark areas DIY small homes

Short version: UniFi Protect for properties that want cameras, intercom, access, and gate on one platform. Verkada for big multi-site enterprises willing to pay for cloud. Hikvision for extreme low-light demands. Reolink for DIY. We quote whichever fits the property.

Ready for UniFi Protect?

Call (310) 400-0314 for a free site walk. UniFi Protect installer for LA, Orange County, and San Diego County.

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UniFi Protect Installation FAQ

Does UniFi Protect do license plate recognition?

Yes. Add a UniFi AI Key to your UNVR, and any G4 or G5 camera (and all G6 cameras) can run license plate recognition. You get plate logs with snapshots, allow and watch lists, and automatic gate-open triggers for approved plates.

Does UniFi Protect have a monthly fee?

No. UniFi Protect is a one-time hardware cost. Video records to your own UNVR. AI, license plate recognition, face recognition, remote viewing, timeline scrubbing, and mobile app all run locally. Nothing behind a paywall.

Can UniFi Protect open my gate automatically?

Yes, with the UniFi AI Key and UniFi Access Door Hub. The LPR camera recognizes an approved plate, the Door Hub fires the relay on your gate operator, the gate opens. Works with LiftMaster, DoorKing, Elite, and any operator with a dry-contact input.

How much storage do I need for UniFi Protect cameras?

At 4K default settings, each camera uses roughly 4 to 8 GB per day. An 8-camera property running 30 days of retention needs about 1.5 to 2 TB. A 16-camera property running 60 days needs 6 to 8 TB. We size your UNVR and drives during the site walk so you get the retention you actually want.

Do I need a UniFi network to install UniFi Protect cameras?

You need a UniFi Console, which is a UDM-Pro, UDM-SE, UNVR, UNVR Pro, or Cloud Key Gen2 Plus. The cameras cannot run standalone. If you don’t have one, we include it in the proposal.

Are UniFi cameras NDAA compliant?

Yes. Ubiquiti hardware meets NDAA Section 889 requirements. Safe for federal, education, and healthcare deployments. Hikvision is banned for those use cases.

Can I view UniFi Protect cameras remotely?

Yes. The UniFi app gives you live view and recorded playback from anywhere through UniFi’s free cloud relay. Two-way audio where the camera supports it. No subscription required.

Does UniFi Protect work with my LiftMaster or DoorKing gate?

Yes, through the UniFi Access Door Hub. The Door Hub drives a dry-contact relay input on your gate operator. Camera sees the trigger (LPR hit, intercom press, mobile unlock), Door Hub fires the relay, gate opens.

Is UniFi the same as Ubiquiti?

UniFi is Ubiquiti’s product line. Ubiquiti is the company name. People search both interchangeably for cameras, intercoms, and access control. When you Google “Ubiquiti camera installer” or “UniFi camera installer” in LA, you end up with the same product family.

UniFi and Related Camera and Gate Brands We Install

We’re vendor-neutral. These are the manufacturer sites for every camera, access, and gate brand we install and service across Los Angeles.

UniFi Protect Camera Installation in These Los Angeles Neighborhoods

We install and service UniFi Protect cameras across every LA neighborhood below. Click a city for local job photos and typical response times.