We want a new door bell and we will even be able to run new wires (currently we only have 2 Wires). I would like to have video and 2 way audio locally hosted, though the most important thing is, that the base functionality (door bell button with connected wireless door chimes through the house) needs to be absolutely reliable (no random connectivity issues).
I have found the Acuvox R20A, which is seems to have all the bells and whistles about SIP (audio and video) calls. Though from its documentation it seems, that bell chimes also must use SIP, making it more depending on my network infrastructure and the self hosted SIP server (like Asterisk). I don’t see a possibility to trigger a relay on button press for triggering traditional door chimes. Which is a shame, since that would be the most reliable for this basic functionality
Do you have good ideas on how to go with this? Or does it make sense, to break this up and use a more basic door bell, while also adding camera and audio additionally as separate devices?
EDIT: I now decided to buy the Reolink PoE Doorbell. It even has an official integration with Home Assistant. I will see, how good I can get the 2-way audio to run through HA or Frigate
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I would go full IP. Solutions like Reolink or unifi exist that do not need the cloud.
Only challenge would be getting ethernet to the door.
But there are 2 wire to ethernet even with poe from unifi. https://eu.store.ui.com/eu/en/category/accessories-poe-power/products/uacc-retrofit-poe-2wire
Not sure if they work well, never uses them but i would try that.
EDIT: Typo
Edit: on re-reading, I think you typo’d not -> now
Unifi doesn’t need cloud, the storage is local.But unless youre already in the unifi ecosystem, their doorbells are expensive, as you also need poe switch and a cloud key (which is a poorly named local NVR).Yes its expensive but also good gear mostly (never used the door bell myself).
PoE switch is not necessary, PoE injectors can be had for couple of bucks used.
I’ve had three cloudkey harddisks die on me, so I’m a little jaded.
Never considered poe injectors because once get get a couple you may as well just have a switch. But if you can get them cheap then sure.
but also good gear mostly
I used to believe this. Then I flashed openwrt on my two ubiquiti access points and they are actually more stable and faster.
Ubiquiti is great at marketing.
Switches, Security gear, nvr, central local management etc. not really something others can or do offer.
Ia it the best probably not but its still good well functioning equipment, for what it offers.
Just because something else works better, does not mean that it works not good.
Ia it the best probably not but its still good well functioning equipment, for what it offers.
Sure, for “power users”, maybe a small business, it’s fine. It’s just not very sophisticated under the hood. The point of Ubiquiti is the “easy” part.
The point is, the anecdotal evidence that you mentioned has nothing to say about other points you are making.
Just because product X runs better in a use case with software Y, does not mean product X is bad.
I do not want to come across like a ubiquity fan boy, since i only use it very targeted privately but the stuff is good, it’s supported and a plug and play solution without the cloud. Exactly what fits the bill for what it’s asked for here.
It is run in operation by thousands of businesses. Does it have problems, sure, like every other brand.
Have run openWRT myself on one of the latest lite APs, was good. Have not noticed a significant difference in the usage between both.
Do the reolink door bells also provide their feature openly to othet systems like Home Assistent? I don’t wanna use their proprietary app. And do you have experience with the connection stability on Wifi? I don’t want the connection to randomly cut out. I can go with ethernet (as we get new cables on our door either way), but Reolink doesn’t seem to have an ethernet option.
First, I personally have not used it (but a security cam). But i have done some research.
Reolink Integration has Platinum Status on Home Assistant.
If you can set up Frigate then there seems to be 2 Way Voice Communication possible via the Home Assistant App.
There are a couple of Videos that show the process.
Reolink has at least one PoE Doorbell.
Ah, that looks good. And they are affordable. Definitely comes on the top of my list. Thanks you very much for your help
Reolink works well with Home Assistant. I have it working here, and have been quite pleased with it. No subscriptions required.
Does it give you the option for 2 way audio through home assistantm And how are your experiences with wifi connection stability?
I have had a bad experience with HA + reolink
First one, audio stopped after a winter storm, only static playing constantly
You can set them up with 2 way audio with HA, but it’s an endeavor, not a one click it works thing
I highly recommend you look up ubiquity, get a ubiquity protect router and bite the bullet cost wise because they work flawlessly
Or better, just get home cameras and keep a dumb doorbell
I just have two wires stuck out there. You have to twist the wires together to get it to ring, and you receive a little low voltage shock, so it makes you think whether or not you really need to ring the doorbell.
He is out of line, but he does have a point. A camera could still be useful for varying the voltage. I’ve heard, that Jehovas Witnesses could use a little more of a shock to get their life together
