Design the Ultimate Smart Home from Scratch! Part 6 - Security

About this video

Episode 6 of the designing the ultimate dream smart home series covers physical security — both access control and monitoring. I walk through every entry point: front door (Ubiquiti G4 Doorbell Pro with multi-method access + Alfred ML2 smart lock with hardwired charging), back door, garage (Chamberlain side-mount with ratgdo for Home Assistant integration), and windows (Aqara P2 contact sensors plus camera audio AI for glass break detection). Then the full camera plan: G6 dome cameras on corners, G6 PTZ cameras on eaves with auto-response to motion events, and interior cameras in hallways and the garage — all feeding into a Ubiquiti NVR Pro for 30 days of storage.

Key takeaways

• The Alfred ML2's hardwired charging solves the #1 failure mode of smart locks — dead batteries at the worst possible moment.
• ratgdo bridges Chamberlain/MyQ openers to Home Assistant. Without it, MyQ's API restrictions make local integration impossible.
• Camera audio AI (glass break, barking, smoke alarm detection) reduces the need for separate discrete sensors — check what your cameras already detect before buying more hardware.
• PTZ cameras with auto-recall presets complement fixed cameras: when a dome detects motion, the PTZ swings over and zooms in. This covers blind spots without putting a camera everywhere.
• 30 days of NVR storage is the minimum worth aiming for. Evidence from a security event often surfaces days or weeks after it happened.

Video walkthrough

1. Secure every entry point — Front door: Ubiquiti G4 Doorbell Pro (2-way talk, fingerprint, RFID, passcode, Tapkey NFC) + Alfred ML2 smart lock with hardwired rechargeable battery. Back door: same lock, no doorbell. Garage: Chamberlain side-mount opener with ratgdo control board for full Home Assistant integration.
2. Handle window security without extra sensors — Aqara P2 contact sensors on all windows detect open/closed state. For glass break detection, use camera audio AI — the cameras already listen for glass breaking sounds and send alerts. No separate glass break sensor hardware needed.
3. Plan exterior camera coverage with overlapping fields of view — G6 4K dome cameras at house corners (each covering two directions) plus additional domes on front and back walls. G6 PTZ cameras on eaves for blind-spot coverage — programmed to auto-swing to a recall preset when a fixed dome detects motion.
4. Add interior cameras for complete incident coverage — G6 Bullet cameras in hallways and common areas. G6 Turret in the garage. Indoor cameras feel uncomfortable until you've needed them — limit coverage to common areas only.
5. Store all footage on the NVR Pro — Ubiquiti NVR Pro handles up to 24 4K cameras with 7 drive bays for roughly 30 days of continuous storage. Pair with the Ubiquiti Protect Viewport (PoE device) to display a live 16-camera grid on any HDMI monitor.
6. Layer in presence and fire safety sensors — Aqara P2 presence sensors (mmWave radar, detects up to 5 people per room) for intrusion detection and automation context. First Alert Z-Wave combo smoke/CO detectors integrate with Home Assistant for automated alerts and evacuation routines.