Unifi Camera Capacity Calculator

Storage Capacity Formula:

\[ \text{Storage Capacity (GB)} = \frac{\text{Number of Cameras} \times \text{Bitrate (Mbps)} \times \text{Hours per Day} \times \text{Days}}{8} \]

Number of Cameras:

unitless

Bitrate:

Mbps

Hours per Day:

hours

Days:

days

Storage Capacity (GB):

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1. What is the UniFi Camera Storage Capacity Calculation?

The UniFi Camera Storage Capacity calculation estimates the amount of storage space required for UniFi cameras on an NVR system based on the number of cameras, bitrate, recording hours per day, and retention period.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the storage capacity formula:

\[ \text{Storage Capacity (GB)} = \frac{\text{Number of Cameras} \times \text{Bitrate (Mbps)} \times \text{Hours per Day} \times \text{Days}}{8} \]

Where:

\( \text{Number of Cameras} \) — Total number of cameras in the system
\( \text{Bitrate} \) — Data rate per camera in Mbps
\( \text{Hours per Day} \) — Daily recording hours
\( \text{Days} \) — Number of days to retain footage
\( 8 \) — Conversion factor from megabits to megabytes (8 bits = 1 byte)

Explanation: The formula calculates the total storage requirement by multiplying all factors and converting from megabits to gigabytes.

3. Importance of Storage Capacity Planning

Details: Proper storage capacity planning ensures you have sufficient space for your surveillance needs, prevents data loss, and helps optimize NVR system performance and costs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of cameras, average bitrate per camera, daily recording hours, and desired retention period. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical bitrate for UniFi cameras?
A: Bitrates vary by camera model and resolution, but typically range from 2-8 Mbps for 1080p cameras and 4-16 Mbps for 4K cameras.

Q2: How does motion detection affect storage calculations?
A: Motion-based recording can significantly reduce storage requirements compared to continuous recording, as cameras only record when motion is detected.

Q3: Should I include a safety margin in my calculations?
A: Yes, it's recommended to add 10-20% extra capacity to account for bitrate spikes, additional cameras, or extended retention needs.

Q4: How does video compression affect storage needs?
A: Modern compression codecs like H.265 can reduce storage requirements by 30-50% compared to H.264 while maintaining similar video quality.

Q5: Can I use this calculator for non-UniFi cameras?
A: Yes, the calculation method is universal and can be used for any IP camera system, though bitrate values may differ between brands.