Cannot Get Thumbnails From Protect

Apr 25, 2025 by ADMIN 35 views

Introduction

As a Node-RED enthusiast, migrating to the Homeassistant Node RED Add-on can be an exciting experience. However, it's not without its challenges. In this article, we'll delve into the issue of retrieving thumbnails from Unifi Protect using the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on. We'll explore the problem, its possible causes, and potential solutions.

The Problem

Chris, a Node-RED user, encountered an issue while updating the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on from version 0.9.1 to 1.1.0. The new version of the unifi-protect node no longer includes snapshots of events, only a URI to the event snapshot. Chris attempted to use the unifi-request node to retrieve the snapshot, but it didn't output a message. The node only worked when the API returned a JSON response, but failed when trying to fetch an image.

Environment

To better understand the issue, let's take a look at Chris's environment:

Node RED: 4.0.9
node-red-contrib-unifi-os: 1.1.0
Unifi Protect: 5.3.41
Unifi OS UCK G2 Plus: 4.1.22

Possible Causes

There are several possible reasons why the unifi-request node is not working as expected:

Response Type: The node's response type is set to JSON, which might not be compatible with image responses.
API Endpoint: The API endpoint for retrieving thumbnails might be different from the one used for JSON responses.
Authentication: The authentication mechanism used by the unifi-request node might not be compatible with the Unifi Protect API.

Potential Solutions

To resolve the issue, we can try the following:

Change Response Type: Set the response type of the unifi-request node to arraybuffer or blob to see if it makes a difference.
Use a Different API Endpoint: Check the Unifi Protect API documentation to see if there's a different endpoint for retrieving thumbnails.
Modify the Node: If the above solutions don't work, we might need to modify the unifi-protect node to include the thumbnail snapshot.

Conclusion

In conclusion, retrieving thumbnails from Unifi Protect using the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on can be a challenging task. By understanding the possible causes and potential solutions, we can work towards resolving the issue. If you're experiencing similar problems, feel free to share your environment and issue details, and we'll do our best to help you troubleshoot.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you're still experiencing issues, here are some additional troubleshooting tips:

Check the API Documentation: Make sure you're using the correct API endpoint and authentication mechanism.
Verify the Response Type: Ensure that the response type of the unifi-request node is set correctly.
Test with a Different Node: Try using a different node, such as the http-request node, to see if it makes a difference.

Additional Resources

For more information on the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on and Unifi Protect API, please to the following resources:

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of retrieving thumbnails from Unifi Protect using the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on. We discussed the possible causes and potential solutions to this problem. In this article, we'll provide a Q&A section to help you better understand the issue and its resolution.

Q&A

Q: What is the issue with retrieving thumbnails from Unifi Protect?

A: The issue is that the unifi-protect node in the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on no longer includes snapshots of events, only a URI to the event snapshot. When trying to use the unifi-request node to retrieve the snapshot, it doesn't output a message.

Q: What are the possible causes of this issue?

A: The possible causes include:

Response Type: The node's response type is set to JSON, which might not be compatible with image responses.
API Endpoint: The API endpoint for retrieving thumbnails might be different from the one used for JSON responses.
Authentication: The authentication mechanism used by the unifi-request node might not be compatible with the Unifi Protect API.

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: To resolve the issue, you can try the following:

Change Response Type: Set the response type of the unifi-request node to arraybuffer or blob to see if it makes a difference.
Use a Different API Endpoint: Check the Unifi Protect API documentation to see if there's a different endpoint for retrieving thumbnails.
Modify the Node: If the above solutions don't work, you might need to modify the unifi-protect node to include the thumbnail snapshot.

Q: What are some additional troubleshooting tips?

A: Here are some additional troubleshooting tips:

Check the API Documentation: Make sure you're using the correct API endpoint and authentication mechanism.
Verify the Response Type: Ensure that the response type of the unifi-request node is set correctly.
Test with a Different Node: Try using a different node, such as the http-request node, to see if it makes a difference.

Q: Where can I find more information on the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on and Unifi Protect API?

A: You can find more information on the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on and Unifi Protect API at the following resources:

Q: Can I get help with troubleshooting this issue?

A: Yes, you can get help with troubleshooting this issue by sharing your environment and issue details with the Node-RED community. We'll do our best to help you resolve the issue.

Conclusion

Additional Resources**

For more information on Node-RED and Unifi Protect, please visit the following resources:

By following these tips and resources, you should be able to resolve the issue and retrieve thumbnails from Unifi Protect using the node-red-contrib-unifi-os add-on.