Buying & setup guides

The camera and NAS databases answer "is this compatible" and "what does it cost." These guides cover the questions that come before and after that: which platform to buy into, how many licenses you need, how to plan storage, and what to check before buying used gear. Independently written -- see Methodology for how the underlying data is sourced.

How Synology Device Pack versions work

What a Device Pack actually is, why it's the basis for this site's "current" vs. "legacy" split, and how to check what version your own NAS is running.

How many camera licenses do you need?

Surveillance Station and QVR Pro both charge per camera channel past a free allotment. How to count what you actually need, with room to grow.

Surveillance Station vs. QVR Pro

Choosing between Synology and QNAP as a surveillance platform -- licensing, compatibility model, and catalog differences, not a verdict on which is "better."

How to find a compatible camera on this site

A walkthrough of the filters, sections, and badges on the camera databases -- including what "Verified" on Amazon actually means.

PoE vs. Wi-Fi cameras

The tradeoffs that matter for a NAS-based install specifically: cabling, power, reliability, and the PoE switch you'll probably also need to budget for.

Planning NAS storage for camera recording

The math behind the bandwidth & storage calculator on this site, and how to think about continuous vs. motion-triggered retention.

Buying a legacy or used camera

What "legacy" means here (not "broken"), and a practical checklist for buying used surveillance gear on eBay.