Video doorbell pain - so ring ?

[Pocster]

Ok - I give up on the reolink . For the love of Jesus it won’t maintain a consistent connection to the chime . I have the chime places as near as is possible to the front door ( less than 2m ) . App says it’s all fine of course . Whilst I can get it to usually trigger a home assistant event so that perhaps Alexa makes an announcement there’s no feed back of this at the door bell .

So ! As this appears to be the only poe one ( apart from ubitique - cost too high as need cloud key ) looking at ring . I can poe to usb so I don’t have to rely on battery .

Anyone with a ring on permanent charge see any issues ? - I assume it’s not a problem .

Or indeed any other video doorbells that can be powered of usb . Googling seems a bit random / unhelpful on how some of the less well known brands are powered .

[Nickfromwales]

Ring cannot be networked via LAN, they’re WiFi only, which is a piss-you-off tbh. 
 

I’ve got 6 devices and they’ve been pretty consistent and reliable over the last couple of years, decent wide angled view that zooms in pretty well for not much money).

 

The floodlight ones are shite for the lighting, nearly 50% of the lamps are now dimmer or dead, so beware.

 

If you’re going for one that takes an USB (C?) then you’ll have to generate that remotely and fire it down 2 cores of your CAT6 and use a soldering iron to splice.

 

None of the Ring devices can run POE afaik. 

[Pocster]

30 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Ring cannot be networked via LAN, they’re WiFi only, which is a piss-you-off tbh. 
 

I’ve got 6 devices and they’ve been pretty consistent and reliable over the last couple of years, decent wide angled view that zooms in pretty well for not much money).

 

The floodlight ones are shite for the lighting, nearly 50% of the lamps are now dimmer or dead, so beware.

 

If you’re going for one that takes an USB (C?) then you’ll have to generate that remotely and fire it down 2 cores of your CAT6 and use a soldering iron to splice.

 

None of the Ring devices can run POE afaik. 

Ring elite is poe so I assume uses that for power and data .

But it’s pricey for a (expletive deleted)ing doorbell 

Also after more reading it would appear ring video streams aren’t accessible locally I.e no rtsp/url like normal but accessed via their ( amazon! ) cloud shite .

So less keen on ring now .

Regarding usb - can just stick an adaptor on the poe to take it to usb-c / micro whatever .

Just want a (expletive deleted)ing chime that works - bastard things .

[Nickfromwales]

4 minutes ago, Pocster said:

Ring elite is poe so I assume uses that for power and data .

But it’s pricey for a (expletive deleted)ing doorbell 

Also after more reading it would appear ring video streams aren’t accessible locally I.e no rtsp/url like normal but accessed via their ( amazon! ) cloud shite .

So less keen on ring now .

Regarding usb - can just stick an adaptor on the poe to take it to usb-c / micro whatever .

Just want a (expletive deleted)ing chime that works - bastard things .

I didn't look into it too intensively, just inherited some of it from jobs / surplus stock etc. Yes, if you lose the app / cloud then no way to view cams or save footage is a ballache, but was (is) quick & convenient which is the market it is pointed at I guess.

[Pocster]

Just now, Nickfromwales said:

I didn't look into it too intensively, just inherited some of it from jobs / surplus stock etc. Yes, if you lose the app / cloud then no way to view cams or save footage is a ballache, but was (is) quick & convenient which is the market it is pointed at I guess.

Yeah , I don’t need their cloud shite . Just want to treat it as a normal camera and record / spy via frigate and home assistant. (expletive deleted)ing Amazon shite .

[Pocster]

Probably just buy a BS brand off Amazon - test it for 28 days then send it back as “ reason for return “ - shite 

Edited May 6 by Pocster

[Pocster]

Ffs !

the UniFi g4 does it all - even the chime is poe ! So perfect ! But I’m not paying £200 for the (expletive deleted)ing protect bs 

[Pocster]

(expletive deleted) it !

 

g4 pro off eBay new 

stupid (expletive deleted)ing chime from Amazon 

 

used cloud key off eBay .

 

Thats an expensive (expletive deleted)ing doorbell 

[Roger440]

7 hours ago, Pocster said:

Ring elite is poe so I assume uses that for power and data .

But it’s pricey for a (expletive deleted)ing doorbell 

Also after more reading it would appear ring video streams aren’t accessible locally I.e no rtsp/url like normal but accessed via their ( amazon! ) cloud shite .

So less keen on ring now .

Regarding usb - can just stick an adaptor on the poe to take it to usb-c / micro whatever .

Just want a (expletive deleted)ing chime that works - bastard things .

 

I found this, well one similar to be 100% reliable. And no "running" costs. https://doorbellworld.com/products/traditional-butlers-bell-kit-with-black-iron-pull-and-nylon-cord?variant=13874942509174&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping+|+PMAX+|+Doorbell+World+|+Remarketing&utm_id=17870755657&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17869557480&gbraid=0AAAAABPG94uKNMo3BHKxL8sMxL-C3bCMM&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5ubABhDIARIsAHMighav5I7prkrtm580BXzbWqguTFA4izCgr9LIKg4fmDXoSg1fs_gn5GAaAhm6EALw_wcB

 

Could be argued the thermal bridge it creates isnt so good.

 

Or was this not what you are looking for 🤣

Edited May 6 by Roger440

[LiamJones]

I’ve gone ubiqui for all my networking + security needs. Makes the cost of the ‘hub’ more palatable, and it’s rock solid. Got 4 g5 turrets connected to a dream machine pro. Will add a ubiquiti doorbell + chime to the mix at some point, but been OOS for a while, expecting a g5 doorbell to be announced soon. Or I go with a gate + intercom setup, that’d be nice.

[Thorfun]

Did you ever try this @Pocster?

[markharro]

Ive gone the ubiquiti route as well - guess it is a wee bit pricey but its good kit and pretty much works

[Adsibob]

On 06/05/2025 at 12:47, Pocster said:

Ok - I give up on the reolink . For the love of Jesus it won’t maintain a consistent connection to the chime . I have the chime places as near as is possible to the front door ( less than 2m ) . App says it’s all fine of course . Whilst I can get it to usually trigger a home assistant event so that perhaps Alexa makes an announcement there’s no feed back of this at the door bell .

So ! As this appears to be the only poe one ( apart from ubitique - cost too high as need cloud key ) looking at ring . I can poe to usb so I don’t have to rely on battery .

Anyone with a ring on permanent charge see any issues ? - I assume it’s not a problem .

Or indeed any other video doorbells that can be powered of usb . Googling seems a bit random / unhelpful on how some of the less well known brands are powered .

You can get PoE Ring doorbell. 

[Nickfromwales]

2 hours ago, Adsibob said:

You can get PoE Ring doorbell. 

Thanks, I just found the "Elite" one, so may swap that out for my rechargeable one as it's an annoyance, but not the end of the world.

[Pocster]

4 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

Thanks, I just found the "Elite" one, so may swap that out for my rechargeable one as it's an annoyance, but not the end of the world.

Don’t you dare ! . You swap to even more expensive Ubiquiti like I have !

[Pocster]

7 hours ago, Adsibob said:

You can get PoE Ring doorbell. 

I said that many posts earlier ! I want credit for that !!!

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, Pocster said:

I said that many posts earlier ! I want credit for that !!!

All hail, king @Pocster, 👑 🤴, bringer of posh doorbells and……stuff. 

 

1 hour ago, Pocster said:

Don’t you dare ! . You swap to even more expensive Ubiquiti like I have !

I’ll wait until you get fed up of it and snag it off you for half price on eBay. 👊😜

[Pocster]

Well ! You ubiquti guys must love this shite !

 

umpteen updates - to everything , cloud key , protect , os , doorbell , chime ; half the (expletive deleted)ing ubiquiti global network I think .

 

Over and over again !

 

Finally can’t get anything else to update . Device discovery seems a bit hit and miss . But finally it’s all up !

 

Doorbell install is the worst I’ve ever seen . Plastic bits that don’t fit all held in place by a tiny m2 screw . Shite . Googling confirms my frustration . Hence in the photo the packaging tape holding that tiny (expletive deleted)er in place to reduce  probability of falling out and losing it .

 

Package cam is shite ( not that I was concerned about that ) - doesn’t even show that in the app - but does in the web ui .

Oh and doesn’t identify a package anyway .

 

Custom ring tones ? - nah , without ssh into it . What (expletive deleted)ing year is it !?

Chime not loud 🫤

 

Anyway the chime works ( poe ) though you can’t configure / custom the chime .

 

For a premium product with a premium price it’s a bit slack .

 

Still - on test now . Instead of the default (expletive deleted)ing pointless dog picture on the screen I have a photo of one of my curries .

 

 

 

 

[LiamJones]

Be keen to see how you get on with it, maybe it’s been out of stock because they’re dropping it/people don’t rate it? 

[Pocster]

9 hours ago, LiamJones said:

Be keen to see how you get on with it, maybe it’s been out of stock because they’re dropping it/people don’t rate it? 

Maybe … or the g5 pro edition is due !

 

 

[joth]

Agree their doorbell is a bit of an electrical-mechanical-firmware fail.

At least you don't have the previous version with PoE over USB-C (a horrible connector for outdoor installation use), and pisspoor electronics that would melt down and release magic smoke if you enable "mechanical chime" mode when powering it direct from a 12V psu.

 

Do you need a cloud key to run it, or just to setup? In the old days you could use a laptop to run the cloud config software just when needed. And most the "smart" features (like AI object detection) are built into the doorbell itself. You should be able to configure webhook(s) on it to have it ping HA (or whatever) when object spotted or button pressed, and this part at least doesn't need the cloud key. I guess remote answering via app does though.

 

Anyway good news is now you have cloud key you're one of us, and lower marginal cost to buy your next shinny unifi object.

 

[Pocster]

5 hours ago, joth said:

Anyway good news is now you have cloud key you're one of us, and lower marginal cost to buy your next shinny unifi object.

I was always reluctant with ubiquiti because of the cloud key . In the future say g6 - they can then do “ needs super cloud key gen 3 + “ … I did manage to get a 2nd hand one off eBay for £90 though .

Or make its functionality paid subscription only …. . Don’t like locked in brands .

But ! they do have some interesting cameras and sensors ( price ranging from reasonable to (expletive deleted)ing stupid ) .

So I’m sure something will cause me to open my wallet once I’m convinced their doorbell works reliably.

[Adsibob]

I know Ring gets a poor report on this forum because of the subscription, but I’m fairly happy now that I have improved my outdoor WiFi.

we have:

1 doorbell cam (wired, but only for power)

3 outdoor PoE cams

1 outdoor battery cam plus with a solar panel battery booster

 2 indoor cameras

 

All seven cameras get 180 days rolling unlimited cloud storage which has always been reliable. If I want to keep something beyond the 180 day period, I need to download it.

 

I pay £80 a year subscription, which is a lot, but for 7 devices I don’t think that’s so much. I can have as many devices as I want for that price, although I doubt we would ever get more than we have at the moment, possibly one more if we ever upgrade our shed into a man-cave.

 

[BotusBuild]

Just saw this on FB

https://safedoorbells.com/products/doorbell

 

Not looked at the detail yet

[Pocster]

A few updates on the g4 doorbell

 

You can see the parcel cam view - it’s just not obvious in the app ; but it’s there .

It does indeed recognise parcels as the recorded footage shows it . But notifications of a parcel being left appear not to work .

Managed to hopefully get another poe chime for upstairs .