UniFi Protect Alarm System

A professional-grade alarm system without the legacy costs, proprietary lock-in or monthly subscriptions. UniFi Protect 7.1 and the SuperLink sensor family let you build a complete, integrated security system that lives alongside your cameras, networking and access control — managed from one dashboard, with no per-device licence fees.

• No monthly fees — own the hardware, no recurring software licence.
• SuperLink wireless — 2km+ range, sub-GHz, wall-penetrating.
• Edge AI camera integration — sensors and cameras working as one system.
• SIA DC-09 dispatch — monitor through the provider of your choice.
• 2nd Gen NVR available — on-device Edge AI, no separate AI Key.
• UniFi Protect 7.1 — released May 2026.

The problem with legacy alarm systems

Your old alarm system is probably working against you. Proprietary protocols, annual maintenance contracts, a panel that hasn't had a software update in a decade, and a monitoring company that charges you monthly for the privilege of occasionally calling the wrong number — it's a familiar story.

Most systems installed in homes and offices in the last 15–20 years share the same set of limitations. Here is how they compare with a modern UniFi-based build.

You're no longer building a camera system with bolt-on sensors. You're building a complete physical security platform.

What's new in UniFi Protect 7.1

Released in May 2026, Protect 7.1 builds on the 7.0 platform milestone with custom video walls, a retrained AI detection engine, the new 2nd Gen NVR with built-in Edge AI, and SIA DC-09 dispatch integration — replacing the original Noonlight-only model with a far more flexible approach. With Alarm Manager, Case Manager and SuperLink hardware integration alongside it, the camera platform matures into a unified physical security system with zero licence fees.

SuperLink: the wireless backbone

SuperLink is Ubiquiti's proprietary sub-GHz wireless protocol, purpose-built for security and IoT sensing. Operating on licensed bands (915.6–927.6 MHz in the US; 865.1–869.5 MHz in the EU and UK), it achieves 2km+ range with wall and obstruction penetration that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth cannot match. Latency is optimised for alarm-grade response times, and every device receives secure OTA updates managed directly through UniFi OS.

A single SuperLink Gateway (USL-Gateway) supports up to 96 SuperLink sensors simultaneously while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy UP-Sense BLE devices. As of Protect 7.1 the Gateway also doubles as a Thread border router, adding compatibility with the Thread and Matter IoT ecosystem without separate hardware. It mounts on a wall or DIN rail, powered via PoE or USB-C.

That 2km+ range means one gateway can cover outbuildings, car parks, warehouses and detached structures that would defeat standard Wi-Fi sensors entirely. For an office campus, or a home with a garage or garden room, it is a genuine change in what's possible compared with Ring, Ajax or traditional wired systems.

The complete product guide

Everything you need to build a serious alarm system on Protect 7.1. Each product integrates natively with Alarm Manager, and pricing is shown for both the UK and US Ubiquiti stores.

Foundation hardware

SuperLink Gateway — USL-Gateway · £105 / $129

Required. The hub of your SuperLink sensor network, and now a Thread border router as well. This is the first thing you install: it creates the radio mesh all your sensors communicate over, so mount it centrally for maximum coverage. Supports up to 96 USL sensors plus up to 7 legacy UP-Sense BLE devices simultaneously. A High-Availability variant adds cellular failover so alarm signals still get out if broadband fails.

96 USL sensors · Thread border router · PoE or USB-C · wall or DIN rail · BLE backward compatible · 2km+ range.

UniFi NVR 2nd Generation — UNVR-G2 · £555 / $699

Recording and Edge AI · new in 7.1. Doubles camera capacity over the original (up to 60 HD or 30 4K cameras) and brings built-in Edge AI to the recorder — no separate AI Key required for vector indexing, image-based search, Person Re-Identification or natural language search. An integrated HDMI ViewPort turns the NVR into a live monitoring station out of the box, with improved RAID protection. A Pro variant (UNVR-G2 Pro, approximately £800 / $999) doubles capacity again with 8 drive bays. Fully local, no recurring fees.

60 HD / 30 4K cameras · built-in Edge AI · integrated HDMI ViewPort · 4× HDD bays · RAID protection · 1U rackmount · no licence fees.

Alarm Hub Kit — UP-AlarmHub-Kit · £325 / $399

Hardwired integration · enterprise and hybrid builds. The bridge between legacy hardwired sensors and the modern UniFi platform. If you're replacing an existing system that still has working door contacts, PIRs or beam sensors wired in, the Alarm Hub lets you retain and repurpose all of that cabling. It provides 32 hardwired input zones, supports standard end-of-line resistors (1–5.6kΩ), and connects to Protect over PoE++. The steel-enclosed panel supports 12V SLA battery backup — essential for maintaining alarm function during power cuts.

32 hardwired zones · EOL resistor support · PoE++ powered · 12V SLA battery backup · 2× output relays · NDAA compliant · steel housing.

Detection sensors

Entry Sensor — USL-Entry · £31 / $39

Door and window monitoring. The bread and butter of any alarm system. Slim magnetic contact sensors mount on door or window frames and report open/closed status to Protect immediately. With up to 6-year battery life they are genuinely fit-and-forget. Deploy one on every external door, every ground-floor window, and any internal door worth monitoring. No cabling — stick them in place and adopt in the UniFi app within seconds. Also sold in a discounted 3-pack.

Up to 6-year battery · magnetic contact · SuperLink wireless · door and window · 3-pack available.

Motion Sensor (PIR) — USL-Motion · £37 / $49

Interior detection. A passive infrared detector designed for versatile installation across hallways, reception areas, server rooms and open-plan offices. Like the entry sensor it delivers up to 6 years of battery life, and integrates directly into Alarm Manager for triggered responses — including automatically swinging a PTZ camera to cover the detected zone. Install at internal choke points to catch intruders who bypass perimeter sensors.

Up to 6-year battery · PIR detection · SuperLink wireless · versatile mounting · PTZ auto-trigger.

Glass Break Sensor — USL-GlassBreak · £42 / $49

Perimeter detection · forced entry. Uses acoustic analysis to detect the characteristic frequency signature of breaking glass, catching forced entry that bypasses door contacts entirely. It also incorporates motion sensing for dual-function coverage. At 134.5mm long with adhesive or screw mounting it installs cleanly alongside windows, glazed partitions or shopfronts, and one sensor can cover multiple windows in the same room.

Acoustic glass break · built-in motion · adhesive or screw mount · SuperLink 2km+ · EU 865MHz / US 915MHz.

Environmental Sensor — USL-Environmental · £38 / $49

Environmental monitoring. Beyond intrusion, this covers the threats that cost businesses the most: water leaks, temperature extremes and humidity. It detects standing water via floor-level contact points, dripping water from above via top contacts, and supports external probe extensions via 3.5mm jack. With temperature, humidity and ambient light monitoring, it is essential for server rooms, plant rooms, basements, or anywhere a burst pipe or HVAC failure could cause serious damage. Powered by a CR123A battery.

Flood detection · drip detection · temperature and humidity · external probe port · CR123A battery.

All-In-One Sensor — UP-Sense · £49 / $59

Multi-function · BLE. The original UniFi BLE sensor packs motion, ambient light, temperature and humidity detection into one compact unit, connecting via Bluetooth LE through the SuperLink Gateway or any compatible Protect access point. It lacks the range of newer SuperLink sensors, but suits indoor environments like server rooms, reception desks and equipment closets where environmental awareness matters as much as motion. Fully compatible with Protect 7.1 and Alarm Manager.

Motion, light, temperature and humidity · BLE connectivity · multi-function · battery powered.

Response, control and automation

Remote Control KeyFob — USL-FOB · £29 / $39

Arm · disarm · panic · new in 7.1. A compact pocket-sized remote with programmable Arm, Disarm and Panic buttons, plus a fourth customisable action button, and up to 10 years of battery life from a single CR2450 cell. Ideal for users who don't want to fish out a phone to arm or disarm, or for vulnerable users needing a panic button by the bedside or in a back office. Requires Protect 7.1 and a SuperLink Gateway. Multiple fobs can be assigned to different users with individual permissions.

Up to 10-year battery · arm/disarm/panic · pocket-sized 67×35mm · CR2450 battery · 2km SuperLink range · per-user permissions.

SuperLink Siren — USL-Siren · £89 / $109

Deterrent and alert · all-weather · shipping. The wireless siren delivers a 110 dB audible alarm alongside emergency LED lighting in an all-weather enclosure. Being SuperLink-connected, it can go wherever it works best as a deterrent rather than wherever the cable reaches, and triggers automatically through Alarm Manager. Two variants: battery/DC-powered (USL-Siren) for cable-free deployment, or PoE-powered (UP-Siren-PoE) for permanent installations where Ethernet is already pulled.

110 dB output · emergency LED · all-weather IP rated · battery or PoE variants · Alarm Manager triggered.

Relay Module — USL-Relay · £32 / $39

Automation and integration. The glue between Protect and the physical world. This compact SuperLink module provides both input and output interfaces, letting you trigger or respond to third-party devices based on alarm events — activate a standalone siren or strobe, control a doorbell chime, trigger a garage door, operate an electric gate, shut off a water valve, or switch lights as part of an alarm response. It can equally receive input from third-party sensors such as existing hardwired PIRs or beam sensors, feeding those triggers back into Alarm Manager.

I/O interfaces · 3rd-party sensor input · trigger external devices · SuperLink wireless · siren, gate or lights.

AI camera alerts: the force multiplier

Sensors tell you something happened. Cameras tell you what happened, and who did it. Protect 7.1's retrained AI detection engine is tightly integrated with Alarm Manager, creating an intelligent two-layer system.

When a SuperLink sensor triggers, associated cameras immediately begin recording at maximum quality. PTZ cameras swing to preset positions covering the triggered zone — and as of 7.1, PTZ vehicle tracking lets cameras follow a moving vehicle through their field of view. By the time the notification reaches you there is already timestamped video evidence, with the Edge AI engine making the entire library forensically searchable.

Building your UniFi alarm system

1. Start with a UniFi console running Protect 7.1

   A Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra), Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro), the 2nd Gen NVR (UNVR-G2) or one of the Enterprise NVRs all qualify. If you already run UniFi networking, chances are you're compatible. Protect is included at no extra cost on most consoles.

2. Install the SuperLink Gateway

   Mount the USL-Gateway centrally — high on a wall, or on a DIN rail in a comms cabinet. Connect to any PoE switch port; it appears in UniFi Network topology automatically and adopts into Protect within seconds. For large or complex sites, deploy multiple gateways for overlapping coverage. It also acts as a Thread border router for any Matter or Thread devices you add later.

3. Deploy your sensors

   USL-Entry sensors on all external doors and ground-floor windows. USL-Motion in hallways, reception areas and stairwells. USL-GlassBreak near large glazed areas. A USL-Environmental in the server room or plant room. Pull the battery tab on each sensor and they appear in Protect ready to adopt.

4. Integrate legacy hardware (optional)

   To retain existing hardwired sensors, install the UP-AlarmHub. Terminate your wired zones into the 32 input terminals (standard bell wire works fine with the included 1kΩ EOL resistors), connect PoE++, and the Hub appears in Protect alongside your wireless sensors. Existing cable work is immediately repurposed.

5. Add sirens, keyfobs and automation

   Mount a USL-Siren externally as a visible deterrent and audible alert. Hand out USL-FOB key fobs for one-button arm, disarm or panic without phones. Add a USL-Relay wherever you need to trigger or listen to a third-party device — a standalone siren, strobe, gate controller, smart lighting panel or water shut-off valve. Configure trigger logic in Alarm Manager.

6. Configure Alarm Manager and dispatch

   Define alarm zones, set entry and exit delays, configure arm and disarm schedules (or use geofencing via the mobile app), and map each sensor to a camera. Set up push notifications, email alerts, webhook shortcuts, or — new in 7.1 — SIA DC-09 dispatch to your chosen local monitoring provider. No vendor lock-in required.

7. Test and arm

   Walk test each sensor from the Protect app or dashboard. Verify camera cross-triggers. Confirm push notifications arrive on all devices and that the keyfob panic button works. Test cellular failover if you've deployed the HA Gateway. Then set your first arm schedule.

Quick reference: what to buy

Every product discussed, grouped by how essential it is rather than by category, with UK and US pricing side by side.

Essential — the working alarm system

• SuperLink Gateway · USL-Gateway · £105 / $129 — wireless sensor hub and Thread border router.
• Entry Sensor · USL-Entry · £31 / $39 — door and window open/close detection.
• Motion Sensor · USL-Motion · £37 / $49 — interior PIR detection.
• Glass Break Sensor · USL-GlassBreak · £42 / $49 — acoustic forced-entry detection.

Recommended — the system you'll actually want

• Remote Control KeyFob · USL-FOB · £29 / $39 — arm, disarm and panic without a phone. New in 7.1.
• SuperLink Siren · USL-Siren · £89 / $109 — 110 dB wireless deterrent.
• Relay Module · USL-Relay · £32 / $39 — third-party integration and automation.
• Environmental Sensor · USL-Environmental · £38 / $49 — flood, temperature and humidity monitoring.
• UniFi NVR Gen 2 · UNVR-G2 · £555 / $699 — recording with on-device Edge AI. New in 7.1.

Situational — larger, hybrid and high-availability sites

• Alarm Hub Kit · UP-AlarmHub-Kit · £325 / $399 — 32-zone bridge for existing hardwired sensors. Hybrid and enterprise builds.
• High-Availability Gateway · USL-Gateway-HA · price TBA — cellular failover for alarm signalling.
• High-Gain Antenna · USL-Antenna · £39 / $49 — extended SuperLink range on large sites.
• All-In-One Sensor · UP-Sense · £49 / $59 — multi-function BLE indoor sensor. Optional.

See it working

Ubiquiti's own walkthroughs of the Protect 7 platform, followed by two closer looks at the alarm system and the SuperLink sensors.

Ready to upgrade your security?

Whether you're replacing an ageing alarm panel in an office or building a smart home security system from scratch, Protect 7.1 and the SuperLink sensor family offer a scalable, genuinely modern alternative.

Contact IT Pro Expert for your Ubiquiti UniFi Protect alarm system and camera security installation and guidance. We also build custom solutions to sit alongside UniFi products and other smart systems, including global alarm notifications and integration with legacy radio alarm links or SMS triggers. See also our CCTV installations and Ubiquiti Universe pages.