Best doorbell cam is no doorbell cam?

[OD1]

Are any of these video doorbell things actually worth my NVR space?

I had a camera above my door for over a decade. Wife wanted to talk to strangers so I try unifi, Reolink Dahua and Tapo. Since when does a 2/10 camera combined with a 1/10 intercom become remotely acceptable? Is it the button everyone loves? Is that what I’m missing? Do we (but not me) just have them because everyone else does? Help me figure this out.

Props to Dahua and TP-Link for at least using communication grade audio protocols. I actually probed the Dahua down to UDP/RTP realtime and realized there is no DSP to speak of so the latency IS the DSP. Straight feedback if you make it convo speed. The rest interleave audio and video so latency is unavoidable.

I still can’t wrap my mind around “enthusiasts” using these junky video doorbell things on purpose. I’m currently using the old camera above the door and an Aiphone ix-ss-2g intercom for the doorbell. What has everyone else figured out?

 

[wittaj]

I think you nailed it.

Most here like the Reolink doorbell simply because it is POE.

But if you care about video, then your approach is better. Maybe get a 4M-T that has two-way, but it is more like walkie-talkie.

 

[OD1]

I think you nailed it.

Most here like the Reolink doorbell simply because it is POE.

But if you care about video, then your approach is better. Maybe get a 4M-T that has two-way, but it is more like walkie-talkie.

AIphone is great. You can talk like you’re present and even talk over one another. If it is actually a security incident, this gives a real human opportunity for deescalation instead of making the perp even more mad due to poor communication.

Only bad thing is they treat SIP as a stepchild protocol and make you waste both relays just for auto answer.

 

[Flintstone61]

I'm using a an amcrest Ad110. We never have talked over it. I have an Amcrest 1179ew also on the porch wall. Basically to review deliverys and cars coming and going.
real time back and forth dialogue would be the only real benefit that would excite me into doing any changes up there.
I don't think we even need the doorbell, but I noticed the 6-8 teen pranksters doing ding dong ditch down my block last tuesday at 4 am...Skipped my house.
So it's like a bit of a deterrent to have the LED's glowing in the night.
Also the stark raving "white" IPC-54IR-ZE against a mocha colored house above the garage door
seems to have an effect on passersby.
Sometimes I see couples walking and one will point out the cams to the other.
Good. tell two neighbors, and they tell two neighbors.
Even victims of nearby crime have come over to ask if I have anything from such and such a time....over at the apartments.
Oh wait this is a doorbell thread.
Look at the time, the ZZzquil is kicking in....I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't track right. Terminate the life forms, and set the course for Alderon.