So I’d like to have a video doorbell set up so that it communicates locally with my HA, raising an event when the button is pressed, allowing me to watch its audio and video stream live, and speak back to whoever is at the door. Ideally either from the browser or my phone, when I’m at home or not.
I don’t care about motion sensing or AI or even NVR functions really. What software do I need? Should I bother going through the process of setting up Frigate or is there something simpler that would do the job?
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I’m currently using the PoE doorbell from Reolink, and regularly use it for intercom, because I don’t like wasting delivery drivers time while I run to the door. I can definitely recommend it. It’s worth the effort running the cable to have something that just works.
The default Reolink integration can raise events on:
- Button press
- Person detection (adjustable sensitivity)
- Motion detection (same)
Recording can be on-device with a micro SD, on network (recording the incoming stream), or by FTP.
Recording can be set like a dashcam too (only save when needed, and overwrite after a certain time)By default it lights up around the button when it detects movement, I do not like this, so I turned it off.
If the area outside your house isn’t busy, you can do cool things like getting the person detection to alert you as someone approaches, rather than waiting for them to press the bell. Can make the postman jump the first few times.
There are also some features like doing TTS replies if you don’t acknowledge the doorbell inside a certain time.
I haven’t gone through the effort of setting up return audio from Homeassistant, and just use the RL app.when the button is pressed, allowing me to watch its audio and video stream live, and speak back to whoever is at the door.
I’m curious.
You want the video and speak back and all, but you don’t want the ability to open the door for your visitor? Why not?
Maybe I’ll look into electronic locks later, I guess. It’s not really a priority.
So what’s the use of all the other functions when you cannot (or don’t want to?) open the door?
As someone else said, it’s mainly so I can ask couriers to leave packages in specific places, tell salespersons to go away without getting up, etc.
ask couriers to leave packages in specific places
Around here, they drop the parcel in front of the door and then they run away like thieves.
Sometimes they ring, too. But they don’t bother waiting.
They’re a lot better than that where I live.
So he can give them instructions like “empty your pockets and place your weapons in the slot on your right, and put on the blindfold and ball gag on your left, and wait for someone to lead you a play room.” The video is for blackmail.
Or tell the courier to leave the package in whatever place I ask them to.
This one. Especially if I am not home.
Yup, same here. Sometimes they wouldn’t bother to call, and would just take the package with them if I wouldn’t answer.
I haven’t used it, but scrypted seems pretty cool. Maybe worth an investigation.
Ubiquiti unifi g4 doorbell works great for me with home assistant. But it’s a bit of an upgrade as you would need all the supporting hardware as well.
frigate.
Still the best option, huh?
yes.
I have the Reolink doorbell, among a couple other Reolink cams. It integrates very nicely with HA. I have it set up for essentially what you’re looking for, audio/video feed, notifications with an image attached when the bell is rung (also motion detection notification from another cam, but could do the doorbell too), and the ability to have it play quick reply messages, including custom ones.
I believe you can have the two way audio in HA as well, but I haven’t explored it. The Reolink app has this functionality if I really need it, but haven’t come across an instance where I needed to use it.
You should be able to do all this with just the Reolink integration.
Are you able to have it blocked or limited from the greater internet and just comm with HA or does it need that as well.
Yep, but the method is separate from HA. Could do it two ways, I use Pi-hole so that it’s still able to contact the NTP server (could also set the time server to something local through the desktop app, I believe) but block all other external traffic, or you can block external access through your router firewall. I noticed the time would occasionally be inaccurate if I had blocked all internet access.
Either way you can use a VPN or other tunnel service to access while you’re away from home. I use WG-tunnel on my phone to auto connect to VPN when I disconnect from my home network, it’s quite handy.
Awesome that’s good to hear, all my LEDs and stuff I have blocked to everything but HA at my firewall but some devices like my smart vacuum apparently NEED internet access to work at all which I was hoping it didn’t. My current doorbell needs it I think but hoping to get a new doorbell and camera when I move next year.
Yep, Reolink cams can be fully local only and still work fine.
You could also set up a local NTP server, and block them entirely.
Currently, I have mine set with an invalid gateway, and blocked from the internet to be sure.
I have a motion sensor by the door and home assistant takes a picture and sends a notification when there is motion, it’s not perfect but it works fine for me
