this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2024
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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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[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 months ago (8 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I went with this but PoE. Happy so far.

Have not used Frigate

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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.

[–] Matty_r 1 points 8 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

As far as I know they only do two versions, WiFi and PoE. Both can work without connecting to any of their services: https://m.reolink.com/product/reolink-video-doorbell-wifi/

[–] Matty_r 2 points 8 months ago

Sweet. Thanks mate.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] Matty_r 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think that's a reasonable request? An internet connection shouldn't be necessary.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That’s not necessarily what a “smart” device is.

[–] Matty_r 5 points 8 months ago

Sure, that's why I put it in quotes. What smart is, is subjective.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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

Why not? You can do video analog.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

You using it already?