Impeccable timing as usual... Feel like your always a few months ahead of my plans in everything home assistant, heat pump, reolink etc 😂 I swear we're in a time warp together!
@SpeakToTheGeekTech ha saving up for solar and battery next but I know you've already got your batt. Next is creating an alarm system in HA. Also hoping you'll do a full walkthrough video on how you got live energy data via your esp board into home assistant. 😏
Yes, you menioned it but didnt elaborate further. It would be good to see what hub you are using, and a walkthrough of its functionality and installation. I'm looking to replace my ageing analogue swan camera/dvr system with something more current, so I have been watching your camera reviews with interest.
Automate your sprinklers. You can then use them to moisten the cats and teach them that your back yard is off-limits. The Reolink animal detection works very well for this.
They're for different situations. TrackMix offers wired Wifi, PoE and fully battery/solar versions and has dual lenses. Atlas PT Ultra is just fully battery/solar and has a single lens. I can say that the TrackMix works very well - I have had it installed for a while now in my garden and it tracks animals really well and the spotlights give enough illumination to see what you're doing out there at night. I've never used the Atlas PT Ultra.
I've got 3 Reolink cameras but struggled to setup the motion alarm settings, whatever I tried its either to sensitive or not sensitive enough. I've now given up and set them to continuous record and put up Philips outdoor motion sensors which also turn on the floodlights, now I only get alerted in Homeassistant when there really is motion and not because its raining or some other random thing sets it off.
Yes the general motion detection can be difficult to tune. But, the smart sensors (people, animals, cars) works extremely well so I just select those in Home Assistant. You can combine those three in to one virtual grouped motion sensor, or just use them individually. Works a lot better than general motion.
Rich notifications are a feature of their subscriptions only. But if you use Home Assistant you can achieve the same with an automation for free (you need their Home Hub to do that for battery cameras and doorbells)
It really depends on the lighting conditions and which camera. The TrackMix is probably the best of all of them for picking out the detail so yes that works well in all conditions. The CX810 isn’t great at night - too much glare from car lights due to its colour night vision, but in the day it’s very good and you can read number plates.
So far so good, thanks for the concern. Wind has dropped a bit but still gusting over 50mph! Will have to inspect the damage properly when the weather is better.
I’ve not used it but have done a lot of reading. You are right, it would do the job, but it’s not “consumer friendly” and for certain solutions I just want them to work without having to play around to start with.
Best decission ever not to go with the Eufy brand. Lucky you only bought one of their camera. I bought six and all have stopped working, some within weeks others within months. Low quality and I am not sure where they get their weather rating from but their solar powered outside camera do not really live up to their rating. Eufy's warranty policy is another can of worms. They have a significant number of products because instead of fixing whatever is wrong with whatever is their current lineup at the time, they just keeping churning new models rinse and repeat. Integration with HA like you mentioned is not the greatest.
That's a shame, I thought their internal camera was pretty good quality - obviously I have no way of reviewing their outdoor worthiness though. I have a couple of friends with external eufy cameras and they've been quite happy with them for about a year now. Maybe we'll see how they do over winter!
i have reolink cctv upgraded from a different system a lot more easier to use which is what you want and not difficult i really like being able to view my cameras on my iphone imac ipad really good
Impeccable timing as usual... Feel like your always a few months ahead of my plans in everything home assistant, heat pump, reolink etc 😂
I swear we're in a time warp together!
Haha well I’ve got to get my Amazon affiliate links out there for you to use ready… what’s next on your list so as I can make a note? :)
@SpeakToTheGeekTech ha saving up for solar and battery next but I know you've already got your batt.
Next is creating an alarm system in HA.
Also hoping you'll do a full walkthrough video on how you got live energy data via your esp board into home assistant. 😏
Interesting cameras.
Disappointing that the storage options wasn't reviewed or discussed.
Maybe another vid on this?
I’m sure I mentioned the Home Hub I’m using instead of individual SD cards.
Yes, you menioned it but didnt elaborate further.
It would be good to see what hub you are using, and a walkthrough of its functionality and installation.
I'm looking to replace my ageing analogue swan camera/dvr system with something more current, so I have been watching your camera reviews with interest.
I replaced my foscam camera's for reolink camera's. Local storage on the home hub and awesome home assistent integration. I love them ❤
Good to hear! They are a great balance of price and features
Automate your sprinklers. You can then use them to moisten the cats and teach them that your back yard is off-limits. The Reolink animal detection works very well for this.
Do you recommend the Trackmix over the Altas PT Ultra?
They're for different situations. TrackMix offers wired Wifi, PoE and fully battery/solar versions and has dual lenses. Atlas PT Ultra is just fully battery/solar and has a single lens. I can say that the TrackMix works very well - I have had it installed for a while now in my garden and it tracks animals really well and the spotlights give enough illumination to see what you're doing out there at night. I've never used the Atlas PT Ultra.
i think battery camera does not work with home assistant / onvif ?
It does it you have the Home Hub - that’s your bridge for battery cameras
Does it have a bell notification like a ring does
How do you mean? The doorbell?
I've got 3 Reolink cameras but struggled to setup the motion alarm settings, whatever I tried its either to sensitive or not sensitive enough. I've now given up and set them to continuous record and put up Philips outdoor motion sensors which also turn on the floodlights, now I only get alerted in Homeassistant when there really is motion and not because its raining or some other random thing sets it off.
Yes the general motion detection can be difficult to tune. But, the smart sensors (people, animals, cars) works extremely well so I just select those in Home Assistant. You can combine those three in to one virtual grouped motion sensor, or just use them individually. Works a lot better than general motion.
Does Reolink allow rich notifications without a subscription? Whether with or without the hub.
Rich notifications are a feature of their subscriptions only. But if you use Home Assistant you can achieve the same with an automation for free (you need their Home Hub to do that for battery cameras and doorbells)
Can the outdoor cameras read reg plates on cars in daylight and night time?
It really depends on the lighting conditions and which camera. The TrackMix is probably the best of all of them for picking out the detail so yes that works well in all conditions. The CX810 isn’t great at night - too much glare from car lights due to its colour night vision, but in the day it’s very good and you can read number plates.
I hope you are safe and well after the storm
So far so good, thanks for the concern. Wind has dropped a bit but still gusting over 50mph! Will have to inspect the damage properly when the weather is better.
Have you evaluated frigate? Surely that would be the most straightforward integration with Home Assistant and allow you to be manufacturer agnostic.
I’ve not used it but have done a lot of reading. You are right, it would do the job, but it’s not “consumer friendly” and for certain solutions I just want them to work without having to play around to start with.
Best decission ever not to go with the Eufy brand. Lucky you only bought one of their camera. I bought six and all have stopped working, some within weeks others within months. Low quality and I am not sure where they get their weather rating from but their solar powered outside camera do not really live up to their rating.
Eufy's warranty policy is another can of worms.
They have a significant number of products because instead of fixing whatever is wrong with whatever is their current lineup at the time, they just keeping churning new models rinse and repeat.
Integration with HA like you mentioned is not the greatest.
That's a shame, I thought their internal camera was pretty good quality - obviously I have no way of reviewing their outdoor worthiness though. I have a couple of friends with external eufy cameras and they've been quite happy with them for about a year now. Maybe we'll see how they do over winter!
Would have been good to see you integrate the reolink into your home assistant. Maybe good idea for another video.
You mean like I did in this video? :) th-cam.com/video/RMBP18qKnxI/w-d-xo.html
i have reolink cctv upgraded from a different system a lot more easier to use which is what you want and not difficult i really like being able to view my cameras on my iphone imac ipad really good
Yeah the multi-device support is quite neat and useful.
One day you will come to the dark side and get unifi devices!
Well, if Unifi get in touch and say they can do better, here's a bunch of kit to prove it... then on that day maybe :)