UniFi Protect Reduces Resolution of Snapshots

Mon Sep 23 17:03:26 EDT 2024

• UniFi Protect snapshot resolution was reduced recently by Ubiquiti "to free up resources for new features".
• http://camera_IP/snap.jpeg used to return a full resolution image but now its dramatically reduced resolution.
• From a full size browser, in playback mode, a snapshot of a live view saves a low resolution image. A snapshot from 10 seconds before live is saved in full resolution.
• From the iOS app, in playback mode, a snapshot of a live view saves a full resolution image to the photos app. Why does a full browser save low resolution.

Workaround

• Here is a high resolution snapshot workaround but it can be slow retrieving the image.

• ffmpeg_path =  # file path to the ffmpeg binary
  cam_link = # rtsp camera URL from Protect advanced settings
  output_image_file = # file path to receive still image
          
  $ffmpeg_path -y \
      -loglevel error \
      -rtsp_transport tcp -i ${cam_link} -frames:v 1 \
      -update 1 ${output_image_file}

References

• Feature-Request-Export
• G5 Snapshot Resolution
• Many more thread references in the above listed links.