Reliable doorbell cameras for use with camect

[Gareth Erskine-Jones]

I used to use a Nest camera, but found it annoying as I'd regularly loose the connection (presumably due to firmware updates on the camera). Replaces with an Ezviz one which worked fine for a long time, but now apparently they are removing (RTSP support). I managed to get it working again by running their management software on a windows pc (I had to install the PC just to do this, as I'm a linux user), but now the connection has gone again, and I'm not at home where I can sort this out.

Are there any reliable  doorbell cameras which work with RTSP or Onvif support, ideally don't need cloud access and which don't get arbitrary firmware updates which disable features....?

[Dolf Starreveld]

Ive been using a Reolink WiFi doorbell quite successfully for the last 5 months.

On Jul 14, 2023, at 12:57 AM, Gareth Erskine-Jones <gs...@uberdog.net> wrote:

I used to use a Nest camera, but found it annoying as I'd regularly loose the connection (presumably due to firmware updates on the camera). Replaces with an Ezviz one which worked fine for a long time, but now apparently they are removing (RTSP support). I managed to get it working again by running their management software on a windows pc (I had to install the PC just to do this, as I'm a linux user), but now the connection has gone again, and I'm not at home where I can sort this out.

Are there any reliable  doorbell cameras which work with RTSP or Onvif support, ideally don't need cloud access and which don't get arbitrary firmware updates which disable features....?

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[mitchell_b]

Hey Gareth,

I recently picked up a Reolink POE doorbell camera and integrated it into Camect and Home Assistant. My Camect hub and cameras, including the doorbell, are on a separate VLAN with strict rules to prevent the cameras from accessing the internet (and thus not self-updating) but allowing Camect access to the internet and desktop VLANs. 

The doorbell supports RTSP (once enabled in the web interface) for complete offline use. I did not set up the app or their cloud service. The included wireless chime still works. This is a bit more advanced setup but works great if you wish to be fully offline in a secluded VLAN or similar environment. I have yet to install the doorbell, however it has been running for a couple weeks on my desk with no issues. The only caveat is that you have to have a wired network connection at your doorbell location. The POE model does not support wired chimes either, only the included wireless chime. I have access to fish CAT6 to the doorbell location in my home but that isn't always possible.  

Hope this helps! Happy to answer any further questions.

Mitch

[Gareth Erskine-Jones]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll try the reolink wifi as that will involve minimal disruption at my end. Will report back how I get on!

[Dolf Starreveld]

I will tell you that the installation advice to tap into the existing chime did not work for me. I turned out my transformer was not providing enough juice. I bought a 16/24V transformer (selectable I used 16) and put it in place of the old, and bypassed the old chime (wouldn’t work anyway). This made it work as advertised.

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[Gareth Erskine-Jones]

Thanks. I have this transformer at the moment - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07P4N3H1F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I can swap it out if necessary. I think my chime should be good, but am happy to replace if need be.

[vma...@gmail.com]

Just got a new reolink wifi doorbell although having an issue getting it to show video in camect.  I was able to get camect to recognize the camera on the network although I get an invorrect username or password error.  I know the username and password are correct as it is what I use to log into the camera directly through a browser or on the app.

I did already enable RTSP and ONVIF.

Any ideas

[Arup Mukherjee]

How are you trying to add it? I think you need to add it using type "Stream URL" along with the correct RTSP url rather than trying to add it using type "Reolink". 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/camect.com/d/msgid/forum/ff71661c-b8be-403e-bc86-b512f0536aecn%40camect.com.

[vma...@gmail.com]

Interesting.  I went to to try your suggestion a few hours later and it is working without making any changes.