This Is The King Of Video Doorbells (for some people) - Reolink Video Doorbell Review

The Reolink Video Doorbell is finally here, and today we are taking a look at how it performs when compared to the brand new Aqara Video Doorbell G4, and what makes it the best video doorbell you can buy right now, for certain people. We also take a look at the Reolink Video Doorbells image quality, clarity and other features, including RTSP and Home Assistant integration!

Reolink Video Doorbell:

Aqara G4 Video Doorbell:

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[EverythingSmartHome]

Which one is your favourite!?

Small error of missing video at 7:58 and 8:11 but audio is all good - sorry!

[TheHookUp]

Very complete video. A couple things in case people ask in the comments:
The indoor chime is RF433, so if you have an RF bridge you can easily pick up the signal from the doorbell to the chime if you want to use it in automations (it is slightly faster than using the HA doorbell ring sensor).

When using the Reolink doorbell with blue iris you MUST uncheck the "Send RTSP Keep Alives" box, otherwise the video feed will reset every 30 seconds. I've had loads of people tell me "this doorbell sucks with blue iris, you are a paid shill" because they decided to check that box.

[kjoy]

I’m using the Reolink video doorbell and love it. This video is fair but only glosses over the #1 use-case for this doorbell: POE isn’t just about powering the device. It’s about how the data feed is communicated to your hub.

I know this YouTube channel focuses on secures virtual networks so it makes sense that Wifi cybersecurity isn’t as much of a hot button topic, but the reality is that it’s possible to build an entirely wifi-free smarthome in Zigbee and Z-Wave with the exception of video and audio feeds (due to bandwidth). POE offers a solution to this challenge with camera feeds.

The problem is that, you’re correct, doorbells are embarrassingly behind the curve and there are almost zero POE options out there. After doing a lot of research, I chose Reolink for all of my cameras and I now have POE 24/7 surveillance of my home without sending my camera feeds to the cloud. Given most homes already have some form of wiring at the doorbell, I’m shocked that there aren’t more Poe doorbell options, but there really are not. At least today.

[ChrisGriffinP]

I've been using this with Home Assistant and have been really pleased. It looks like additional controls like Quick Replies are coming with the 2023.4 update, which makes it even better!

[Wheemer]

A battery powered unit with no batteries is certainly interesting to say the least.

[cromemcos]

What a complete and informative video. So rare these days. Somebody who actually knows their stuff combined with a well edited vid. I subscribed!

[AwesomeOpenSource]

A few spots starting around 07:58 where the video goes black for a few seconds at a time. Still a great review, and I am really excited about Reolink with HA. Thanks for this!

[junkins]

I've been using mine for almost a month and love it! Happy how well it works with Home Assistant. Thanks Lewis!

[AsadMulla]

3:27 the reason you have to "short out" is because the door bell requires a direct connection from the transformer. If you connect it to the existing bell button only and don't short out the mechanical chime, you will be receiving the supply via the bell solinoid. That will reduce the available current from the transformer. It will also constantly energise the solenoid.

[mike_x]

Such an awesome video to start off April!
I ripped out all my Axis cameras and door station and replaced them with Reolink today.

[TristynRusselo]

The jumper wire is for 2 reasons: 1 the camera does not have a small backup battery to power the camera while the button is pressed. pushing the button completes the circuit when the chime rings, and any doorbell cameras will disconnect if they dont have a backup battery/capacitor to keep it powered. the reolilnk could go offline if someone rings the back door doorbell.
the 2nd reason, when you power a device, like a camera on the doorbell power, it puts a constant load on the coils in the chime box. they can burn out with constant power going through for a couple years.

[georgewilliams]

I suspect the reolink discovery protocol is like Bosch IP cameras. If so, there is a workaround. The two switch commands are "Ip helper" and "ip directed broadcast." IP helper is used to forward broadcast packets from one VLAN to another. It is commonly used to forward dhcp requests to a single server across a multi-vlan site. You will have to know the port number the reolink camera is broadcasting on for discovery. The directed broadcast command is used to allow the ip helper to broadcast into the target vlan where the NVR lives. It is a security risk, so turn it off once you're done. It might also be unnecessary if the nvr will accept the discovery message as unicast. You may have to have two helpers, one in each vlan. One handles the discovery message from the camera and another handles the response from the nvr.

[ryanandrewbaker]

Annoyingly still not realised in Australia. Been waiting for what feels like forever for this. Now this review makes it even more of a desire to upgrade. Thanks.

[marcodigits]

I am using simply an Aqara single button as my doorbell. I screwed the cap of the battery compartment to the wall. Works obviously perfect with home assistant.

When someone rings my doorbell, my home assistant server play a mp3 soundfile to one or more speakers in the house.

home assistant server
I consider and looking for a small WiFi camera that I can integrate to the front door or wall. Theft proof and discreet.

Next week I will add a little microphone and tiny speaker to my front door.

The advantage could be to not to be depending one an device that has all in one. Which gives you more flexibility with future replacements or adjustments. It’s possibly cheaper too:

- The Aqara button is about
€12.
- A mic + speaker can be even
less if you wish.
- Behind the door you could
use a raspberry pi or
something like that as audio
server that runs Volumio-
audio or MoodeAudio. But
have AirPlay 2 on board.
Moode supports Bluetooth
too. Volumio too but after a
Payment. But Volumio has a
home assistant integration.
Both are great, currently I
preference Moode audio.

Airplay works best for me. I
Use it all over my house. It’s
a bit more flexible when the
audio source changes
Playing music, a doorbel or
an alarming sound.

best in my opinion

Another advantage is that you can choose the best suitable spot for each function. For example: in my case I have the Aqara button on the (preferred) right side of the front door. But, that would be too windy to record through a microphone. So I probably will put the small speaker and microphone a bit above my door.
For security preference I want to place a future camera on the left side of the door. Besides, in that way I have better view of the person(s) at the door.

So yeah, I’m not so much a fan of the idea that all of the functions (door bell button, speaker, microphone and camera) in a single device.

Okay enough for me now. Maybe it helps others in their situation.

[frogjmon]

I got myself a reolink setup about a month ago including the poe doorbell. Only 1 camera up so far due to not having the time to run Ethernet. Happy to see your thoughts on the doorbell, might be the inspiration I needed to get back to it 😂

[speedracer]

This could have been the king for EVERYONE if they made it ring existing wired chime. Insane oversight by reolink considering almost every smart doorbell does.

[---GOD---]

You can connect while on a different subnet. I've set up multiple Reolink WiFi cameras in the same way.
All of my Reolink products (including a WiFi Doorbell) are on their own VLAN.

[pfak]

Have the PoE version of this doorbell for the past two weeks. It's been amazing with HA!

[ronm]

I lean towards the Reolink as well. Thanks for the review.

[Incognito]

I just gotta say, that's an interesting wall socket at 2:42. I have a number of switched outlets in my house, and the switches are nowhere near the outlets. They make sense for their intended purpose (for a lamp in the living room/entryway, or a switch for an outlet above the stove for a lamp???), but figuring that out was a PITA.