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Simple video doorbell software recommendations?
(lemmy.world)
Home Assistant is open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. Perfect to run on a Raspberry Pi or a local server. Available for free at home-assistant.io
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:
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.
@GreatAlbatross @Heavybell the person detection is very nice.
I have HA play a gentle tune in basement stairwell when that detection fires. It allowing us to detect the delivery guys who don't bother pressing the doorbell, and thus avoid the risk of pkgs sitting in view of passers-by all day.