Recommendations for a video doorbell?

Matty_r@programming.dev to Selfhosted@lemmy.world – 91 points –

Hey all I'm looking for recommendations for a video doorbell that doesn't need an internet connection.

Preferably something that is WiFi and would work with Frigate?

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Reolink

Just be careful you don't get their "smarthome" line, at least for cameras. It doesn't require Internet to operate, but it requires Internet for configuration and management.

I'm not sure if that's the same with their doorbells, but it was true of their wifi cameras.

I can recommend this too. I got the WiFi version. Integrates beautifully with home assistant including motion/person detection.

Only downside is Reolink encodes in hvec. Frigate handles it fine, but be aware that viewing may be an issue. I’d still buy more Reolink cameras though.

I went with this but PoE. Happy so far.

Have not used Frigate

When using reolink in a self-hosted setting:

  • how do you get notifications of someone at the door?
  • can you use the android app still?
  • how do you securely store video on your server? They say they support ftps, but I have no idea how hard that is to set up. Shame they don't support sftp.

Thanks

With ftps, can you use a self-signed cert? If so, how does it verify the cert? Do you have to upload the public key, or does it cache it on first use?

I bought one of their NVRs, so that currently stores recordings. I have yet to figure out how (or if) I want to integrate with my NAS or other (tbd) home automation.

I get push notifications on my phone and watch by having the Reolink app installed.

Does their doorbell camera at least give you a preview thumbnail in the notification? Because their other cameras don't (I've got like dozen of them).

I can't recall, I don't actually own one yet 😅 but I remember watching some videos with preview thumbnails. Though that may have been Frigate.

Can the Reolink doorbell leverage your existing chime? Or do you need to use the plug-in chime that it comes with?

I believe it's their plug-in or your via a relay like home assistant or your phone

Thanks. I ordered one and, yeah, it's their plug and whatever you come up with in Home Assistant.

I found this but its "Smart". https://www.amazon.com.au/REOLINK-Doorbell-WiFi-Camera-Subscription/dp/B0B7S3JSG7

Did you expect a doorbell with a camera built into it to not be "smart"?