New RCA HSDB2A 3MP Doorbell IP Camera

[David L]

@David L

Background

I've been following this thread for some time now, As I stated in an earlier post it took me 3 days to read the entire thread back when there were only 80 pages, and I've stayed current to now, as a result, I too purchased an EZVIZ-DB1, about a month ago, I just haven't gotten around to installing yet.

I'm also thinking of buying a second EZVIZ to use indoors for access to 2 side by side bedrooms. I will be installing the first one traditionally, with an existing chime, and the second, I will probably attempt to power via DC power, and use a relay, like discussed by others here to announce over Ggl and or AMZ speaker and or chromecast devices in both bedrooms simultaneously, if both bedrooms are occupied it can then be determined by the occupants of the intended bedroom to respond.

I have just a couple clarification type ?'s, I'm hoping you can clear up for me?

It is my current understanding that because certain feature compatibility is somehow tied to the EZVIZ hardware serial
#'s that one can, "possibly" have access to all 3 capabilities, (AMZ + Ggl + ONVIF) with the combination of the EZVIZ and the Nelly's or Lav firmware


Main ? being

Because, the EZVIZ is both AMZ & Google capable, "out of the box",

If I were to install the Nelly's or Lav firmware on the EZVIZ would it then continue to be AMZ & Google capable + have the added ONVIF capability?

Or would the EZVIZ lose Google capability because of the Nelly's firmware, or lose AMZ capability if the Lav firmware were used to upgrade the EZVIZ for additional ONVIF support?

same ? In other words

Is their a scenario where,

AMZ= Yes Ggl=Yes & ONVIF= yes

I hope my question is clear.


On the subject of debricking these Doorbell cams

Is there a usb interface?

So I just got off work, I will be back on later this evening and will search for you. I am pretty sure an EZVIZ Owner confirmed with either LaView or Nelly's firmware, can't remember, it worked, I think with Alexa.
I can share my experience. I have a LaView, which Is Alexa compatible and I installed Nelly's firmware and my Alexa continued to work. But let me find a confirmation message for you this evening...Will share it...

No USB, we wished...

 

[David L]

Hello,

Thank you for everybody who gave info about these cameras. Obviously special thanks @David L ! for his 101 guide.

After reading all the pages, I bought the Ezviz DB1.

Here some specific info for port opening in my firewall. It might be helpful for some.

My network is pretty closed and these cameras talk a lot... At the beginning I placed the cam in my standard network but I needed to open too many ports. And even doing so, I had hard time getting 2 ways communication after someone rang the bell.

I decided to place the camera on my guest network (VLAN). This vlan has full internet access but all traffics are blocked TO my local lan devices. In another words, guest devices cannot talk to my internal lan devices but lan devices can talk to guest devices. I don't care about somebody being able to look outside my house but I care about my internal access.

And at the end I wanted the 2 ways communication feature of this cam. If not I would have bought a standard cam.

In order to view the video from Ezviz app I needed to allow traffic from my local_devices_ip TO any external ip at port : 6500, 7100 and 10554
In order to answer a ring call from Ezviz app I needed to allow traffic from my local_devices_ip TO any external ip at port : 9664

I already had a rule that allows traffic from my local_devices_ip TO all_internal_ip at port : 554. So streaming was already working thru zoneminder(NVR).

I will follow closely for the next few days if I need to open more ports but these are the ones I found so far!

If you want more info about securing your network with pfsense, here is a really good guide

https://nguvu.org/pfsense/pfsense-baseline-setup/

. This guy did a really good job to explain networking for people building their network rules.

Cheers!

Thank you for the share. I will add this info to the 101 later this evening or tomorrow. I need PFSense help so thanks. I installed mine on a Fanless i5 box a few months ago but went no further. Time is mainly my reason I have not continued, but also I need to redesign how I am going to wire our house and add VLAN Switches. I need a Switch to be in our Attic and its gets quite hot up there (Southern Living) , may need to build a rack or box with fans...

 

[digdoug]

On oddity is that the brand of the doorbell you bought will want to be bound to its branded mobile app.
After a “non-native” firmware upgrade, you may end up having problems reconfiguring/re-adding the doorbell after a reset as the SSID of the doorbell will now follow the prefix of the brand of the firmware you are using which is not corresponding to the mobile app you initially used. You could then use the mobile app corresponding to the new firmware you are using but the QR code may then not match... problem.

The solution is to use a PC or a MAC with iVMS4200 installed (can be laptop or desktop as long as it has wifi).
1. Disable the PC or Mac’s ethernet interface to make the IP discovery easier.
2. From you wifi menu, after the doorbell has been reset, you should see an SSID from the doorbell. It should show “brandprefix_Serialnumber” as the SSID. Try joining that network.
3. You mac or PC will prompt you for a wifi password which should be “brandprefix_6lettercode”. Replace the brandprefix with the one from the SSID. It could be Laview, EZVIZ, RCA etc... and replace the 6 letter code with the password provided on the QR code sticker for the camera.
4. Once you have successfully connected to the doorbell’s wifi, your wifi interface should have been assigned a DHCP IP address. You can now discover the doorbell using iVMS4200.
5. Make sure once again to not activate the camera or change any passwords... Instead login to the camera using the username “admin” and the password “6 letter QR Code” and go into the wifi section of the menu. From here you can get the camera to discover wifi network and get it to join your wifi network using your home SSID and wifi password.
6. Once this is done, you can now go back to your phone/tablet and use any mobile app to continue setting up your doorbell which will skip through the wifi setup section.

Rafale, you rock!!! This worked for me!

 

[digdoug]

So, I just wanted to add some new information to the thread. David, take it for what is worth.

I am one of those people that changed the password on my EZVIZ doorbell and activated it using iVMS-4200. It has been written in this thread that you should not do that and that is probably correct. For no reason I can figure out, my doorbell started giving me errors and then ultimately went offline. The only option I felt I had was to reset the device by removing the coverplate and holding down the reset button.

Because I had previously installed the Laview firmware, the necessary credentials (WiFi and/or EZVIZ) would not allow the doorbell to connect to my network or allow the EZVIZ app to connect to the doorbell.

I then followed Rafale's instructions for connecting to the doorbell and changing the network information. I found out 2 things. The reset of the doorbell reset the password BACK to the original 6 letter code on the back of the doorbell. It was stated in the 101 guide that once you change the password, there is no reverting back. In my case, this was not true.

I can now login with iVMS-4200 to my doorbell with the default username "admin" and the 6 letter password. I've upgraded to the latest EZVIZ firmware for the moment as I'm not sure what happened with my original installation to make the doorbell go offline.

 

[Fietspomp]

@David L
Could you also add this piece of hardware to your "other hardware" in the 101?
Doorbell Modernizr

Works like a charm with my Ezviz DB1, just hook it on in parallel and it works.
I use this with Home Assistant, which takes a snapshotand sends it to me via Telegram.

 

[digdoug]

Alright, I'm a bit new to RTSP vs ONVIF. What is the difference? With the Laview firmware, I was able to connect via ONVIF. The picture quality wasn't that great BUT I was recording to my Lorex NVR. I am running the EZVIZ firmware right now and I connected my NVR to the RTSP. The image quality looks as good as it is in the EZVIZ app.

What am I missing between using one over the other?

 

[Fietspomp]

Alright, I'm a bit new to RTSP vs ONVIF. What is the difference? With the Laview firmware, I was able to connect via ONVIF. The picture quality wasn't that great BUT I was recording to my Lorex NVR. I am running the EZVIZ firmware right now and I connected my NVR to the RTSP. The image quality looks as good as it is in the EZVIZ app.

What am I missing between using one over the other?

As far as I know not much. ONVIF is like a standard which devices use to communicate to eachother.
ONVIF can be automatically detected by some software, and it will return the RTSP stream, so there's no difference in quality.
With no ONVIF you just have to enter the stream url manually.
Please correct me if I'm wrong

 

[TechBill]

As far as I know not much. ONVIF is like a standard which devices use to communicate to eachother.
ONVIF can be automatically detected by some software, and it will return the RTSP stream, so there's no difference in quality.
With no ONVIF you just have to enter the stream url manually.
Please correct me if I'm wrong

You are correct but it more than just streaming .. it also communicate other functions across different brands such as

IP configuration
Device discovery
Device management
Media configuration
Real time viewing
Event handling
PTZ control
Video analytics
Security

 

[meddle]

OK. I got the EZVIZ installed today. I joined it to my IOT network and all worked well in the app. I want ONVIF/RTSP, so I installed the Nelly's 190625 firmware. Batch config verifies that 190625 is loaded, but it shows ONVIF as not supported. Everything still works in the EZVIZ app. What am I doing wrong?

 

[mOtOman]

I just purchased an RCA model, and my firmware is V5.2.4build 190124 in answer to the below currently in the 101:

" IF YOU JUST RECENTLY (End of 2019 or 2020) PURCHASED A RCA (HSDB2A) DO NOT UPGRADE TO ANOTHER FIRMWARE (LaView or Nelly's) until we solve this issue. (If you could share with us what firmware build your RCA came with it would help us)"

 

[phatboyj]

I just purchased an RCA model, and my firmware is V5.2.4build 190124 in answer to the below currently in the 101:

" IF YOU JUST RECENTLY (End of 2019 or 2020) PURCHASED A RCA (HSDB2A) DO NOT UPGRADE TO ANOTHER FIRMWARE (LaView or Nelly's) until we solve this issue. (If you could share with us what firmware build your RCA came with it would help us)"

Purely, out of curiosity why buy the RCA, when the EZVIZ is cheaper, "Currently under $100us @ AMZ" and offers wider feature support?

 

[David L]

@David L
Could you also add this piece of hardware to your "other hardware" in the 101?
Doorbell Modernizr

Works like a charm with my Ezviz DB1, just hook it on in parallel and it works.
I use this with Home Assistant, which takes a snapshotand sends it to me via Telegram.

Will do thanks...

 

[David L]

@David L

Background

I've been following this thread for some time now, As I stated in an earlier post it took me 3 days to read the entire thread back when there were only 80 pages, and I've stayed current to now, as a result, I too purchased an EZVIZ-DB1, about a month ago, I just haven't gotten around to installing yet.

I'm also thinking of buying a second EZVIZ to use indoors for access to 2 side by side bedrooms. I will be installing the first one traditionally, with an existing chime, and the second, I will probably attempt to power via DC power, and use a relay, like discussed by others here to announce over Ggl and or AMZ speaker and or chromecast devices in both bedrooms simultaneously, if both bedrooms are occupied it can then be determined by the occupants of the intended bedroom to respond.

I have just a couple clarification type ?'s, I'm hoping you can clear up for me?

It is my current understanding that because certain feature compatibility is somehow tied to the EZVIZ hardware serial
#'s that one can, "possibly" have access to all 3 capabilities, (AMZ + Ggl + ONVIF) with the combination of the EZVIZ and the Nelly's or Lav firmware


Main ? being

Because, the EZVIZ is both AMZ & Google capable, "out of the box",

If I were to install the Nelly's or Lav firmware on the EZVIZ would it then continue to be AMZ & Google capable + have the added ONVIF capability?

Or would the EZVIZ lose Google capability because of the Nelly's firmware, or lose AMZ capability if the Lav firmware were used to upgrade the EZVIZ for additional ONVIF support?

same ? In other words

Is their a scenario where,

AMZ= Yes Ggl=Yes & ONVIF= yes

I hope my question is clear.


On the subject of debricking these Doorbell cams

Is there a usb interface?

So I have not had any luck in my search to confirm that Alexa and/or Google will continue to work if you change firmware to LaView or Nelly's. I personally believe it will continue to work since I had luck with my LaView DB running Nelly's firmware using Alexa. I will continue to search.

phatboyj, I do plan to install my EZVIZ DB1 and do the same (upgrading to LaView or Nelly's), but unfortunately I have a medical procedure this week scheduled and do not want to change anything yet. I hope to install next week.


Can Anyone with an EZVIZ DB1 confirm if your Alexa or Google is still working after upgrading to LaView or Nelly's firmware for ONVIF support?

 

[David L]

I've been busy and haven't had time to troubleshoot anything. My doorbell is currently offline, however, there appears to be this weird behavior that the doorbell becomes active for a short period of time. I'm going to try resetting it.

Ok, keep us update to date. It will help others...Thank You...

 

[David L]

Purely, out of curiosity why buy the RCA, when the EZVIZ is cheaper, "Currently under $100us @ AMZ" and offers wider feature support?

I have noticed Face Plates to be a big reason for choice, of course money too. It is funny but prior to the EZVIZ sale, Nelly's and LaView were the hot sellers.

Edit: Oh, I also want to add that availability is also a reason, especially those outside the US, though I would guess EZVIZ would be widely available, but can't say. I know that reading messages from those outside the US, there have been cloud issues since their cloud servers are not the same as ours.

 

[David L]

I just purchased an RCA model, and my firmware is V5.2.4build 190124 in answer to the below currently in the 101:

" IF YOU JUST RECENTLY (End of 2019 or 2020) PURCHASED A RCA (HSDB2A) DO NOT UPGRADE TO ANOTHER FIRMWARE (LaView or Nelly's) until we solve this issue. (If you could share with us what firmware build your RCA came with it would help us)"

Thank you for sharing. So your build is the same one we have listed in our 101, so it does not seem to have changed. Please do not upgrade to Nelly's or LaView at this time until we find the cause of the recent brick's. I am presently going back on messages to see if I can confirm those who have RCA DBs and have successfully upgraded. I will post what I have found, more than likely by day's end.

 

[David L]

As far as I know not much. ONVIF is like a standard which devices use to communicate to eachother.
ONVIF can be automatically detected by some software, and it will return the RTSP stream, so there's no difference in quality.
With no ONVIF you just have to enter the stream url manually.
Please correct me if I'm wrong

So my question is, why there have been several here that could not get their RTSP fed to work until they upgraded to ONVIF? Is there some NVR's that reject these feeds unless it is their own brand or ONVIF compliant? I have tried both, with/without ONVIF via Blue Iris, although I have not compared or looked at all options available or not, the stream seemed to be the same either way.

 

[David L]

OK. I got the EZVIZ installed today. I joined it to my IOT network and all worked well in the app. I want ONVIF/RTSP, so I installed the Nelly's 190625 firmware. Batch config verifies that 190625 is loaded, but it shows ONVIF as not supported. Everything still works in the EZVIZ app. What am I doing wrong?

How are you confirming ONVIF is not supported?

 

[pete_c]

but it shows ONVIF as not supported. Everything still works in the EZVIZ app. What am I doing wrong?

The Hikvision Batch Configuration program will show that ONVIF is not supported and will error out when you try to enable it.

Try the direct ONVIF streaming via VLC.

IE: rtsp:/ipofcamera/onvif

Or utilize the Windows ONVIF application located here ==> hxxps:/sourceforge.net/projects/onvifdm/

 

[David L]

You are correct but it more than just streaming .. it also communicate other functions across different brands such as

IP configuration
Device discovery
Device management
Media configuration
Real time viewing
Event handling
PTZ control
Video analytics
Security

Thank you, this helps me understand it better.