Camera door bell

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Camera door bell

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#265345 17-Jan-2020 11:08

Trying to find out which camera doorbell that I want, as we’re currently having a house built.
Will have it hardwired, so no need for batteries.

Ring Video Doorbell 2 seems like a popular choice in NZ.
However, the Remobell seems very attractive, but doesn’t look like it’s available in NZ (I can still order from overseas).
Anyone got any experience with it! Got 2-way audio, 1080 video, works with Alexa and even free cloud storage (unlike other products). And the price is about half of Ring Video Doorbell 2.
Almost sounds too good to be true, but reviews are pretty good too.

Am I missing something?

https://au.pcmag.com/remobell-s

1 | 2

4705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 671

Trusted

#2400595 17-Jan-2020 11:41

I would stay away from Ring doorbell. They have privacy and security issues. Their support staff seems to be able to access video recordings. I would also avoid any WiFi only doorbells. If you are having a house built, then run minimum CAT6 rated network cable (multiple runs would be better) to the location where you will install the doorbell so it can be powered via PoE. Also run multiple runs of 4 or 6 conductor security cable to same location. WiFi can be very unreliable and easily jammed from a security point of view.

We are also currently building and I managed to snag a Axis door bell for a really good price from ebay. Below are the models I would recommend. They are very strong build quality and data is stored locally on internal storage or you can have a recorder inside the house and then do smarts on your recorder to upload video or photos to a secure cloud location.

Budget - Fanvil i30

Premium - Fanvil i31S, Axis A8105-E or Axis A8207-VE

You can install a electrical mortise lock either or a electric strike in your front entry door and connect that to the relays in the above door bells using the security cable to unlock via pin code, proximity cards or little complex to setup but cool is facial recognition.

Do whatever you want to do man.

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2400608 17-Jan-2020 11:52

billgates:

I would stay away from Ring doorbell. They have privacy and security issues. Their support staff seems to be able to access video recordings. I would also avoid any WiFi only doorbells. If you are having a house built, then run minimum CAT6 rated network cable (multiple runs would be better) to the location where you will install the doorbell so it can be powered via PoE. Also run multiple runs of 4 or 6 conductor security cable to same location. WiFi can be very unreliable and easily jammed from a security point of view.

We are also currently building and I managed to snag a Axis door bell for a really good price from ebay. Below are the models I would recommend. They are very strong build quality and data is stored locally on internal storage or you can have a recorder inside the house and then do smarts on your recorder to upload video or photos to a secure cloud location.

Budget - Fanvil i30

Premium - Fanvil i31S, Axis A8105-E or Axis A8207-VE

You can install a electrical mortise lock either or a electric strike in your front entry door and connect that to the relays in the above door bells using the security cable to unlock via pin code, proximity cards or little complex to setup but cool is facial recognition.

We already have a smart lock (Allegion Schlage S-6000), so it's only doorbell, camera and audio that I require (along with it working with Alexa). Therefore no need for keys like on the Fanvil.

The Axis is too expensive. Won't get that one past the wife...

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2400919 17-Jan-2020 18:00

Correction: Door lock is Assa Abloy - Yale 3109+ Digital Door Lock

rogercruse

644 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 211

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2400934 17-Jan-2020 18:30

danepak: Correction: Door lock is Assa Abloy - Yale 3109+ Digital Door Lock

After a lot of debate for our new home, we've ended up with a Yale 3109+ Digital Lock plus a Ring Video Doorbell Plus.

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2400935 17-Jan-2020 18:31

rogercruse:
danepak: Correction: Door lock is Assa Abloy - Yale 3109+ Digital Door Lock

After a lot of debate for our new home, we've ended up with a Yale 3109+ Digital Lock plus a Ring Video Doorbell Plus.

There’s no integration between the door lock and the bell, is there?
What made you go for exactly these two products? Keen on your input as I’m undecided about the door bell (we’ve already got the door lock).

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2402358 20-Jan-2020 13:41

In regards to pre-buffering (which you don't get on all camera doorbells), is this unnecessary to have, if you've got a decent speed internet (fibre) with 200/20 speeds?

Also, how far away can it be from the wireless access point? We'll have one installed approx 5 metres from the front door (where the bell obviously will be installed).

If I chose to add a signal extender near the front door, would this work with a wireless access point? Might be a dumb question, but I know that they're made to work with your router to extend the signal. Same deal, if you don't use your router for the WiFi, but instead wireless access points?

I've more or less narrowed it down to two models, which fits my budget. And either solution will be hardwired (so not running on battery).

Ring Video Doorbell 2 (I understand a previous posters concern about security, but we've not really got anything to hide, so not a deal breaker for us)

Remo S

Ring Video Doorbell 2, as it looks like it's a pretty popular choice. Not perfect, but it's got Alexa and IFTTT integration. I can get it on Dick Smith for $265 incl. shipping.

Remo S looks good and at a lower price point $US99. It's got Alexa and IFTTT integration too. However, it's not being sold in NZ and I'm a bit worried about warranties etc., if it's not sold here.

Finally, with a chime, can I use any chime? Do I just buy one from Bunnings? I know that I can add one from Ring Video Doorbell and also Remo S, but I prefer one, which you don't have to plug into a power outlet.

Would a 'traditional' chime be powered from the same power, which goes to the door bell?

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

muppet

2642 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1660

Trusted

#2402368 20-Jan-2020 14:02

We bought a Ring 2 doorbell. It works great. Combined with a smart home lock I've been able to let couriers in to drop packages, and ensure the door is locked when I see them leave. (The door lock doesn't integrate with Ring)

The whole "Privacy issue" thing is sadly a terrible media blowup that technically minded people should be able to see through. All that's happened is Ring users have reused passwords, and someone tried a hacked password list against Ring, and found a heap. Yes, it was bad that Ring didn't rate limit the amount of checks, and 2FA wasn't something they heavily pushed. But they were hardly "hacked", just subject to a password reuse attack.

Any smartdoorbell that sends video up to the cloud is potentially viewable by owners of that doorbell company. It's either that, or you host it all yourself and then have to ensure you have good hardware to record video etc.

The ring solution "just works" with all the iPhones/iPads/Androids we have, and we've been really happy with it. But yes, you are beholden to another company who, if they decided to shut up shop tomorrow, would leave you with a paperweight doorbell.

Anyway, I'm obviously biased because I have purchased two (a doorbell and a floodlight) but I think they're great. I've got them integrated with my HomeAssistant, if motion is seen at night a light turns on etc, if the shed doors are opened when the alarm is armed then the ring floodlight sounds its siren. They've been trouble free for us.

We're on a 100/20 fibre connection and have Unifi access points around the place, so they have a good strong signal (I don't have a chime)

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2402380 20-Jan-2020 14:14

Thanks. How far away is your nearest wireless access point from the door bell?

muppet

2642 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1660

Trusted

#2402387 20-Jan-2020 14:21

danepak: Thanks. How far away is your nearest wireless access point from the door bell?

I have a UAP-AC-LR about 3 meters from it (through a wooden wall and a couch). The Ring Doorbell 2 is 2.4Ghz only, sadly.

The only thing with the Doorbell is you've got to charge it every ~3 weeks or so, especially if you leave "Live View" (the ability to always connect to the Doorbell) active.

You can turn live view off, but then you can only see from the Doorbell when it's detected motion, after which it goes dormant.

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2402397 20-Jan-2020 14:24

muppet:
danepak: Thanks. How far away is your nearest wireless access point from the door bell?

I have a UAP-AC-LR about 3 meters from it (through a wooden wall and a couch). The Ring Doorbell 2 is 2.4Ghz only, sadly.

The only thing with the Doorbell is you've got to charge it every ~3 weeks or so, especially if you leave "Live View" (the ability to always connect to the Doorbell) active.

You can turn live view off, but then you can only see from the Doorbell when it's detected motion, after which it goes dormant.

We will have it hardwired, so shouldn’t be an issue.
Why is 5ghz an advantage? I thought 2.4ghz had greater coverage. Yep, I know that it’s slower, but for a camera doorbell, does it matter with the slower speed on 2.4ghz, if I’ve got 200/20?

muppet

2642 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1660

Trusted

#2402399 20-Jan-2020 14:26

danepak: We will have it hardwired, so shouldn’t be an issue.
Why is 5ghz an advantage? I thought 2.4ghz had greater coverage. Yep, I know that it’s slower, but for a camera doorbell, does it matter with the slower speed on 2.4ghz, if I’ve got 200/20?

Hardwired all good then! 5Ghz is better because it's higher bandwidth and in heavy suburban areas it's much less congested. But yes, 2.4Ghz goes "further" as it's able to penetrate walls etc much better.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2402427 20-Jan-2020 15:02

Just decided to include the Google Nest door bell.
Looks very good and can watch on Chromecast too.

muppet

2642 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1660

Trusted

#2402437 20-Jan-2020 15:32

danepak: Just decided to include the Google Nest door bell.
Looks very good and can watch on Chromecast too.

Yes, in hindsight I wish I'd gone with Nest, especially as I'm a huge Google Fanboi. They look really good.

mentalinc

3384 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1023

Trusted

#2402456 20-Jan-2020 15:53

Anyone have any recommendations for a front door smart lock that can actually get wet (would be ideal if they were PoE not battery powered)

Never mind most front doors say no direct sunlight or rain on them please..

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

danepak

1124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#2402565 20-Jan-2020 17:40

Ended up buying the Google Nest Hello.
$299 incl shipping.

1 | 2