The brain — Synology DVA1622
16-channel deep learning NVR. Face recognition, intrusion detection, encrypted local storage, HDMI out. 8 camera licenses included — no subscription.
What a Balzer camera system looks like.
A walkthrough of a typical 5-camera commercial installation for a retail storefront — equipment, layout, and intelligence.
A retail business with a showroom, back office, and storage needs coverage for theft, traffic counts, after-hours intrusion, and fast phone review. Here is a typical 5-camera design.
- Front entrance, pointed inward — every person in and out. Face detection builds a visual log. Visible deterrent.
- Main showroom — north, ceiling — people counting. Motion zones on high-value displays.
- Main showroom — south, ceiling — overlap to kill blind spots. Spotlight after hours.
- Point of sale — high-resolution transactions. Audio via built-in mic.
- Back room / storage — intrusion zone after hours. Vehicle detection on the rear loading door.
The stack
The storage — Seagate IronWolf ×2
NAS-rated 24/7 drives in RAID 1. Footage survives a drive failure. Built for 180 TB/year surveillance workload.
The eyes — five Amcrest 4K AI turrets
8MP, on-board AI, color night, 129°, IP67, PoE, built-in mic.
The backbone — Cat6
Hardwired to a PoE switch. Labeled patch panel. No WiFi cameras — reliability and bandwidth.
