New RCA HSDB2A 3MP Doorbell IP Camera

TechBill

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Does, Hubitat require any special hardware, to make use of it, or is it a software only utility?
and ,
How does it compare to HA?

again, it's early days for me, I have a few scattered smart devices, but I'm just starting into autimation?

I do Have the 3rd Gen Smart Things Hub, but have yet to make use of it.

Currently, As we speak I'm struggling with a couple of Lenovo smart plugs.
I can not for the life of me get them to pair.
supposedly, according to, postings, in the lenovo device forums, one is supposed, to be able to pair them, with the Tuya smart app, but no luck, on my end. Their are supposed to be 2 different pairing modes,
1 where the light flashes quickly, twice per second,
and,
1 where the light flashes slowly, once every 3 seconds,
But,mine, on both,
Only flash once per second,
no matter how many times I've,
reset it,
held the button down for 4-5 seconds,
and a bunch of other crazy attempts,
always the same result
if it were only one I might think defective product but both give the same results
I'm at my wits end we these F***ing things
If you’re trying to pair to it Hubitat, I would go to their community board and ask this question.
 

phatboyj

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If you’re trying to pair to it Hubitat, I would go to their community board and ask this question.
Sorry,
No, not related to Hubitat, at all I just kinda started into ranting

I asked the Hubitat ?'s because I'm new to autimation and don't know what route I should take.
I'm not setting up any automation at this time just doing the research

The rest was me ranting about not being able to setup my Lenovo Smart Plugs,
on my simple network.

I got them bundled with the 2.)
7" Lenovo Smart Display's,
I ordered, from B&H, over the holiday season, and was hoping, to get some use, out of them

Sorry for the Rant
and for it being off topic
 
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flynreelow

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Sorry,
No, not related to Hubitat, at all I just kinda started into ranting

I asked the Hubitat ?'s because I'm new to autimation and don't know what route I should take.
I'm not setting up any automation at this time just doing the research

The rest was me ranting about not being able to setup my Lenovo Smart Plugs,
on my simple network.

I got them bundled with the 2.)
7" Lenovo Smart Display's,
I ordered, from B&H, over the holiday season, and was hoping, to get some use, out of them

Sorry for the Rant
and for it being off topic
What router do u have?
 

alexdelprete

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Does, Hubitat require any special hardware, to make use of it, or is it a software only utility?
and ,
How does it compare to HA?

again, it's early days for me, I have a few scattered smart devices, but I'm just starting into autimation?

I do Have the 3rd Gen Smart Things Hub, but have yet to make use of it.
Hubitat comes with a small device unit, very compact, and it has zigbee and z-wave integrated. But the thing I liked the most is its community. Really helpful people, and for me that has been the key to decide on which hub to use.

Another important factor is that Hubitat is for people that want full control of the devices, so to not rely on cloud etc. many people don't realize that when internet goes off (it happens often in some countries) and your automation relies on cloud services (like IFTTT for example) then your house doesn't work. I used HA and OpenHAB, very powerful, but even though I am a tech since more than 30 years, I couldn't really get into the "philosophy"/approach of the two. Plus, I felt that the communities were not really good as the HE one.

This was my experience, and I am happy about the decision.
 

TechBill

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Hubitat comes with a small device unit, very compact, and it has zigbee and z-wave integrated. But the thing I liked the most is its community. Really helpful people, and for me that has been the key to decide on which hub to use.

Another important factor is that Hubitat is for people that want full control of the devices, so to not rely on cloud etc. many people don't realize that when internet goes off (it happens often in some countries) and your automation relies on cloud services (like IFTTT for example) then your house doesn't work. I used HA and OpenHAB, very powerful, but even though I am a tech since more than 30 years, I couldn't really get into the "philosophy"/approach of the two. Plus, I felt that the communities were not really good as the HE one.

This was my experience, and I am happy about the decision.
I feel the same ... I am really happy with my Hubitat too ...
 

David L

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Does, Hubitat require any special hardware, to make use of it, or is it a software only utility?
and ,
How does it compare to HA?

again, it's early days for me, I have a few scattered smart devices, but I'm just starting into autimation?

I do Have the 3rd Gen Smart Things Hub, but have yet to make use of it.


On a Totally Unrelated Note:

Currently, As we speak, I'm struggling with a couple of Lenovo smart plugs.
I can not for the life of me get them to pair.
supposedly, according to, postings, in the lenovo device forums, one is supposed, to be able to pair them, with the Tuya smart app, but no luck, on my end. Their are supposed to be 2 different pairing modes,
1, where the light flashes quickly, "twice per second",
and,
1, where the light flashes slowly, "once every 3 seconds",
But,mine, on both,
Only flash once per second,
no matter how many times I've,
reset it,
held the button down for 4-5 seconds,
and a bunch of other crazy attempts,
always the same result
1 flash per second

if it were only one unit showing this behavior,
I might think defective product but both give the same results
I'm at my wits end with these F***ing things
I too want to go either the HA or Hubitat route. I presently have SmartThings. Since you have SmartThings, I personally would set it up first.
Yes it is cloud based, but it is extremely easy to add devices plus I think you will love their App. Oh and their Support is off the chain, they are Extremely helpful, they have talked me through several newbie issues.
You can migrate to one of the other hubs in the future, SmartThings is a good start...
 
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TechBill

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So is this what you guys have?

Yes, this is the one ... "HE" for Hubitat Elevation

Lots of former SmartThing user moved to HE or run both hub linked together.

HE actually have an app that will link more than one hub together and talk to devices on other hubs like SmartThing so you don't have to move all the devices from old hub to HE all at once or if there are devices that does not have driver on HE yet. Pretty much any devices that work on SmartThing will most likely already have a driver on HE.

Hubitat is local "cloud-free" automation. If internet goes down, home automation still works just you won't be able to access it remotely when you are not at home however your dashboard at home still function as normally without any outside network access.
 
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David L

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Yes, this is the one ... "HE" for Hubitat Elevation

Lots of former SmartThing user moved to HE or run both hub linked together.

HE actually have an app that will link more than one hub together and talk to devices on other hubs like SmartThing so you don't have to move all the devices from old hub to HE all at once or if there are devices that does not have driver on HE yet. Pretty much any devices that work on SmartThing will most likely already have a driver on HE.

Hubitat is local "cloud-free" automation. If internet goes down, home automation still works just you won't be able to access it remotely when you are not at home however your dashboard at home still function as normally without any outside network access.
I think I may order me one :) Found out the Hub works on my Alarm system.


Quick question, SmartThings has Automation/Routines so for example when my wife and I leave (both with our phones) the Goodbye routine does several things, lights go off, doors lock, alarm sets to Away Mode. When we return the I'm Back Routine executes, unarming our alarm. Can Hubitat track phone location?
 

pete_c

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Here have used (still on line) Smartthings Hub and Hubitat Elevation Hub. I've built a micro Intel server and a maxi intel server.
Historically also have tinkered with Home Genie and Domoticz.

Newest Homeseer 4 has incorporated CCTV DVR functions and cameras can be seen from the interface. Thing about Homeseer is that it is not freeware. It is easy to use whether you run it in Windows or Linux.

I am using Hubitat today as a multiple protocal controller for Homeseer software (been using Homeseer since the 1990's).

That and using a combo security / automation panel which originally was an HAI Omni Pro 2 and then it was bought by Leviton and today no longer supported.

That said the panel is built to last forever.

The small box is running Home Assistant, Mosquitto server, MQTT, Node Red and Homeseer. I mix and use primarly UPB for my in wall light switches and X10 for outdoor lighting for Christmas, ZWave, Zigbee and MQTT (via modded WiFi devices not in the cloud today). Long range RFID tags are in the automobiles.

Homeseer utilize Microsoft SAPI speech (I have collected voice fonts since the 1990's). On the above small box I am running a WIndows 7 embedded instance with 5 SAPI voice fonts. That and today directing TTS to Alexa devices from the HA box. Mix the audio to a Russound zoned audio system.

Sensors which count (PIRs, Doors, Windows) are all hard wired to the Alarm panel which is connected to an ethernet (used to be serial) add on to Homeseer and a MQTT add on which works with HA. Not in to wireless battery operated sensors. It is (was) a real PITA to run cabling for the sensors (22/4 and 22/2).

This doorbell (Hikvision) is my first venture to a wireless camera device.
 

David L

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Here have used (still on line) Smartthings Hub and Hubitat Elevation Hub. I've built a micro Intel server and a maxi intel server.
Historically also have tinkered with Home Genie and Domoticz.

Newest Homeseer 4 has incorporated CCTV DVR functions and cameras can be seen from the interface. Thing about Homeseer is that it is not freeware. It is easy to use whether you run it in Windows or Linux.

I am using Hubitat today as a multiple protocal controller for Homeseer software (been using Homeseer since the 1990's).

That and using a combo security / automation panel which originally was an HAI Omni Pro 2 and then it was bought by Leviton and today no longer supported.

That said the panel is built to last forever.

The small box is running Home Assistant, Mosquitto server, MQTT, Node Red and Homeseer. I mix and use primarly UPB for my in wall light switches and X10 for outdoor lighting for Christmas, ZWave, Zigbee and MQTT (via modded WiFi devices not in the cloud today). Long range RFID tags are in the automobiles.

Homeseer utilize Microsoft SAPI speech (I have collected voice fonts since the 1990's). On the above small box I am running a WIndows 7 embedded instance with 5 SAPI voice fonts. That and today directing TTS to Alexa devices from the HA box. Mix the audio to a Russound zoned audio system.

Sensors which count (PIRs, Doors, Windows) are all hard wired to the Alarm panel which is connected to an ethernet (used to be serial) add on to Homeseer and a MQTT add on which works with HA. Not in to wireless battery operated sensors. It is (was) a real PITA to run cabling for the sensors (22/4 and 22/2).

This doorbell (Hikvision) is my first venture to a wireless camera device.
Hey Pete, one day if I could have half of what your setup is I will be happy :)
 

TechBill

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I think I may order me one :) Found out the Hub works on my Alarm system.


Quick question, SmartThings has Automation/Routines so for example when my wife and I leave (both with our phones) the Goodbye routine does several things, lights go off, doors lock, alarm sets to Away Mode. When we return the I'm Back Routine executes, unarming our alarm. Can Hubitat track phone location?
Yes, it have automation / routines and I am pretty sure that it does track phone location because I get prompt from my iPhone asking me if I want to continue allowing HE track my iPhone. I started a new thread over at Home Automation All about Hubitat Elevation Home Automation Hub to prevent us going too far off topic here :)
 

NOAMattD

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Getting my house painted and since I had to take off the doorbell I thought I might as well upgrade, so I bought the EZVIZ :lmao: Helps that the wife is worried about coronavirus so it was easy to make the case for seeing who's at the door without having to physically open it.

Anyways, we'd like to use the black faceplate but have the white button for usability and to avoid people prodding the PIR sensor like others have had issues with. I keep seeing talk of painting them; can you not just pop the buttons out and swap them between two different plates? I have a full kit of swedges, guitar picks, jeweler's screwdrivers, etc for stuff like that.
 

TechBill

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Getting my house painted and since I had to take off the doorbell I thought I might as well upgrade, so I bought the EZVIZ :lmao: Helps that the wife is worried about coronavirus so it was easy to make the case for seeing who's at the door without having to physically open it.

Anyways, we'd like to use the black faceplate but have the white button for usability and to avoid people prodding the PIR sensor like others have had issues with. I keep seeing talk of painting them; can you not just pop the buttons out and swap them between two different plates? I have a full kit of swedges, guitar picks, jeweler's screwdrivers, etc for stuff like that.
You can if you think you can carefully shave off the plastic melted rivet head and swap button then try to remelt the plastic rivet again holding the new button in place or carefully use some type of glue that will stick silicone rubber to plastic were the two rivet head were at if there aren't enough plastic to melt a new rivet head.

I did thought about doing this by swapping out the black button on black faceplate with a white button from the white faceplate but I decided to go mask and spray paint route instead to make the button more obvious than the rest of the faceplate.
 

NOAMattD

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You can if you think you can carefully shave off the plastic melted rivet head and swap button then try to remelt the plastic rivet again holding the new button in place or carefully use some type of glue that will stick silicone rubber to plastic were the two rivet head were at if there aren't enough plastic to melt a new rivet head.

I did thought about doing this by swapping out the black button on black faceplate with a white button from the white faceplate but I decided to go mask and spray paint route instead to make the button more obvious than the rest of the faceplate.
Hmm, doesn't sound IMpossible. I've soldered plenty of tiny contact points so I'm used to melting miniscule targets.

Any chance you or someone could take a couple hi-rez pics of their spare plates so I can see what you mean?
 

TechBill

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Hmm, doesn't sound IMpossible. I've soldered plenty of tiny contact points so I'm used to melting miniscule targets.

Any chance you or someone could take a couple hi-rez pics of their spare plates so I can see what you mean?

There is a post in this thread with the photo inside of the plate - New RCA HSDB2A 3MP Doorbell IP Camera
 

Jack007

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Hmm, doesn't sound IMpossible. I've soldered plenty of tiny contact points so I'm used to melting miniscule targets.

Any chance you or someone could take a couple hi-rez pics of their spare plates so I can see what you mean?
I wish you much succes and hope you can pull this off.
I also looked at this possibilty some weeks ago but chickened out.
If you take on this challenge please take pictures of the steps you take so that others can learn. Maybe a tip is to practice on the bronze faceplate as nobody seems to use this one.
 

redturbo

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hi yall,

Will this device work and function as normal and record to the SD card with doorbell press/motion without being hooked up to the internet? I ask because moving to a new place with no internet as of yet. I'm aware I wont get any notifications obviously.
 
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