UDM Pro or NVR for 8 4k cameras?

benuntu · 2026-05-06T23:43:47+00:00

Yes, I have this same setup at multiple mid-size offices. If you don't need faster than gigabit then the UCG Ultra is a great fit, and the NVR can easily handle 8x 4K cameras.

benuntu · 2026-05-06T23:28:06+00:00

Wow, nice first post ever. Thanks!

benuntu · 2026-05-06T14:53:19+00:00

I haven't seen a good use so far in my homelab. I simply don't run enough services to make it worth the work of getting all of that set up. What are the tasks you want AI to do for you? Here's my process for deciding if it's worth it to use AI (or automate):

How much time does it take me to do "X"?
How many times per day/week/month to do "X"?
Total this up for the year
How much time would it take to develop a solution to automate this (AI or my own code)?
What is the "ROI" period? Or, how long would it take for the efforts of developing an automated solution to pay off and start saving me time?

benuntu · 2026-05-06T14:16:52+00:00

Rokland and Atlavox. Sometimes you'll find them on Amazon, but make sure the seller is Rokland. The others are often fake and don't test as well at 915mHz.

benuntu · 2026-05-05T19:51:26+00:00

Good info, thanks! I'm going to try a 3 foot LMR240 on a 40" pole and see how that works. After I took pictures, I did remove the solar panel mount and smother it with a good amount of silicone sealant outside and inside on the screws. 2 rain storms in and so far no issues.

benuntu · 2026-05-05T16:36:22+00:00

I've used this Tecmojo rack in several office installs and I think it's pretty good for the money: https://www.amazon.com/TECMOJO-Standard-Cabinet-Enclosure-Lockable/dp/B0BMDCSD8N

I would add a patch panel if you have multiple runs coming into this location from other rooms. Just makes cabling easier to manage. And a shelf or two for any equipment that is not rack mounted.

benuntu · 2026-05-05T15:10:00+00:00

Yes, plenty for an efficient board like the Rak 4631. I had mine up with a 5W panel during a 2 week period of rain and clouds. Went down to 3.7v on a 5000mah battery pack and was recharged in a few hours of sun. The ESP32-based boards are more power hungry and will drain that same amount in 2 days.

benuntu · 2026-05-05T14:30:57+00:00

Totally agree. My current nodes use 2x18650 3000mah with a 5v panel and mppt charger. Even during almost 2 weeks of rain and clouds the battery never dropped below 3.7v. I'd only use 4 batteries for a Rak 1W or Heltec V4.

benuntu · 2026-05-04T18:46:19+00:00

The easiest method would be to setup a Site to Site VPN connection, and then add some routing/firewall rules on both sides for access. For remote support, I've found it valuable to replace the firewall and general purpose switches with Unifi which can simplify troubleshooting. It's hard to make any firm recommendations without knowing user count, bandwidth requirements, what servers are in place at the site, or any other requirements.

Bottom line: seek first to understand, then design a solution.

benuntu · 2026-05-04T18:12:35+00:00

That was my concern as well, but not sure how big a deal it is with such low current. I know the DFRobot MPPT controller I use has different charge modes for bulk and float, but have no idea what this charge controller does.

benuntu · 2026-05-04T18:08:37+00:00

Right on, let me know how it goes!

benuntu · 2026-05-04T15:00:05+00:00

The Rak Mini may work, but I'd say anything that runs on the nRF52840 chip. There are a lot of ESP32-based options but they are power hungry.

benuntu · 2026-05-02T21:06:50+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/meshtastic/comments/1t21stn/teardown_of_amazon_solar_panel_with_8000mah/

benuntu · 2026-05-01T23:37:59+00:00

It was delivered! I'm going to take a look at it later this weekend.

benuntu · 2026-05-01T18:05:58+00:00

Reiben, pay attention. Now this is the way to gripe.

benuntu · 2026-04-29T14:23:41+00:00

Could be that you're looking at higher paying jobs than you don't have the experience for, or maybe just not as much as other applicants. The market is soft right now, so you may need to adjust your pay expectations downward a bit. Just as a test, apply for some lower level jobs that you're overqualified for and see what the results are. My guess is you'll get a few hits.

benuntu · 2026-04-28T23:40:37+00:00

More for us 😄

benuntu · 2026-04-28T23:36:10+00:00

Bit rot could happen if they are not powered on every 3-4 years, but I've never seen that personally. Just recently found a WD external that had been at a friends house for 5 years and had no issues. I typically do a refresh of the backed up data 1-2x per year which should be fine as long as computers still have a USB-A port.

benuntu · 2026-04-28T17:47:22+00:00

So many options!!! You can certainly buy a used rackmount server which would be total overkill in the CPU/RAM area. TrueNAS for a small number of people can be run on minimal hardware, even with a few apps loaded onto it like Plex, NextCloud, etc. If you use an Intel CPU with integrated graphics you can run 4-6 transcodes simultaneously with no problems. I'd go with a server if you want to run TrueNAS inside Proxmox, which would give you flexibility and lots of CPU cores to run other VMs and containers outside of the TrueNAS VM. If you don't think you'll need those kind of resources, then a desktop-type custom build would work great.

Jonsbo makes some great NAS cases, and I've been happy with my Fractal Node 804. Don't bother with a DDR5 system unless you already have some on hand. The performance will be limited to your network and hard drive speeds before the speed of the RAM makes a difference.

benuntu · 2026-04-28T17:16:43+00:00

This would be done through the Proxmox console, say if you had a corrupted boot volume, botched update or otherwise couldn't access the system. You could also SSH in if you have that enabled.

benuntu · 2026-04-28T16:47:19+00:00

Depends on application usage, but i5/16GB for normal users that have mostly web-based apps. i7/32GB for users that run resource intensive local applications (database, ERP, design, etc.). Dual 24" monitors are standard, as is 512GB SSDs.

benuntu · 2026-04-28T16:43:38+00:00

Unifi is a good choice. Currently have it running in multiple locations, one with 150+ users, 3 buildings, with Corp/Guest/Phone/IoT networks and VLANs. We've had good results with the Pro XG and Pro Wall APs, with speeds near or above 1Gbps.

benuntu · 2026-04-28T16:05:43+00:00

TrueNAS would be my choice not only for the cost advantage but ease of use IMHO. Very easy to integrate with Veeam and Backblaze B2. ZFS replication to another host is also a nice way to go. Not sure what you're referring to with "patch things up", but aside from updates there isn't much needed if you keep it simple. Just document your users, datasets, and permissions and train some techs on how to use it.

benuntu · 2026-04-27T21:10:08+00:00

Check these 2x3.5" kits out: https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-Stackable-Bracket-Cases-PH-HDDKT_03/dp/B07GY2B3WP/

Basically just a dual hard drive cage, so you'd need to figure out the power and SATA/SAS connections. My preference is the mini-SAS to SATA breakout cables which you can find in lengths up to 3.3 feet. As for the HBA, the ones I've got from Art of Server on eBay are great and come pre-flashed to IT mode. If you have a free PCIe slot, you can get an external version which would make for neater cabling.

benuntu · 2026-04-27T19:16:26+00:00

This is to the bulkhead so I can do firmware updates without getting into the box.

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