New RCA HSDB2A 3MP Doorbell IP Camera

really surprised u guys still rockin the RCA doorbell.

think that was my first one i tried.

the reolink POE seems to be the crowd pleaser in 2024
 
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I do have a separate PoE camera with a larger IMX347 1/1.8" sensor as well, running PoE to my doorbell is a nono lol.
The Reolink Doorbell quality is fine if you have sufficient lights but still has it's limitation due to its form factor
 
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Daijoubu said:
I do have a separate PoE camera with a larger IMX347 1/1.8" sensor as well, running PoE to my doorbell is a nono lol.
The Reolink Doorbell quality is fine if you have sufficient lights but still has it's limitation due to its form factor
Click to expand...
All Video DBs have their small form factor limits.

ReoLink's lack of WDR & BLC is it's major flaw IMO. Anyone with a porch where the DB is mounted in and has the sun in the background will have to chose which one of the two to tune in the best video quality. I chose the porch and capture any walking up to the porch with my other camera(s)
But I do agree with flynreelow, out of the two (Hikvision DB) and (ReoLink's DB), ReoLink is the winner. We both had our Hiks for several years and they served us well. Presently I am running the WiFi version of the ReoLink without any issues.
 
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I just noticed all my EZVIZ images are stored publicly, with no encryption or login. I know there was a massive uproar when Eufy didn't encrypt stuff, but I suppose that's because they promised encryption. EZVIZ doesn't mentioned anything about encryption. Just seems bizarre to me that all images would be stored on a public server.

I suppose people know about this because the URLs are built into third party integrations (like in Home Assistant etc).

Can I disable this? I'm happy to VPN into my network if I need to see images. I still want it to act as a doorbell though so don't want to block all Internet connectivity.
 
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Kallb123 said:
I just noticed all my EZVIZ images are stored publicly, with no encryption or login. I know there was a massive uproar when Eufy didn't encrypt stuff, but I suppose that's because they promised encryption. EZVIZ doesn't mentioned anything about encryption. Just seems bizarre to me that all images would be stored on a public server.

I suppose people know about this because the URLs are built into third party integrations (like in Home Assistant etc).

Can I disable this? I'm happy to VPN into my network if I need to see images. I still want it to act as a doorbell though so don't want to block all Internet connectivity.
Click to expand...
There is or use to be a setting in the App (EZVIZ) where you can encrypt your video, don't remember any encryption with Images.

There are several options to get off their cloud. The one I use(d) is using Home Assistant with Blue Iris. Having the Home Assistant App running on our phones, we get notifications when someone was at our door. No 2 way Talking though...I run a local VPN Server that our phones connect to. Oh one more thing with EZVIZ, in order to get doorbell button press notifications, normally a relay with usually Z-Wave/Zigbee will be needed. Many here came up with different options which you can find in our 101

HTH
 
David L said:
There is or use to be a setting in the App (EZVIZ) where you can encrypt your video, don't remember any encryption with Images.

There are several options to get off their cloud. The one I use(d) is using Home Assistant with Blue Iris. Having the Home Assistant App running on our phones, we get notifications when someone was at our door. No 2 way Talking though...I run a local VPN Server that our phones connect to. Oh one more thing with EZVIZ, in order to get doorbell button press notifications, normally a relay with usually Z-Wave/Zigbee will be needed. Many here came up with different options which you can find in our 101

HTH
Click to expand...


Thanks David, I think I have encrypted video, it's just all our images being stored on a public server that makes no sense to me. I had assumed that logging into the app would authenticate me to access images/video from the doorbell itself (or at least access it from a restricted cloud server).

I know a lot of people seem to have migrated go Reolink, do we know if they have a sane cloud architecture?

I would prefer not to set up a relay for doorbell rings, there's only so much tech debt a household can take on I already run stuff via Home Assistant, it's just doorbell notifications are a key missing piece there that requires the app.
 
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Kallb123 said:
Thanks David, I think I have encrypted video, it's just all our images being stored on a public server that makes no sense to me. I had assumed that logging into the app would authenticate me to access images/video from the doorbell itself (or at least access it from a restricted cloud server).

I know a lot of people seem to have migrated go Reolink, do we know if they have a sane cloud architecture?

I would prefer not to set up a relay for doorbell rings, there's only so much tech debt a household can take on I already run stuff via Home Assistant, it's just doorbell notifications are a key missing piece there that requires the app.
Click to expand...
I personally try to stay away from clouds. I did use the EZVIZ App when I had my LaView DB (Hik/DB1 variant) but now with ReoLink I do not use their Cloud/App.

What drew many of us to the ReoLink is their POE version. No more RF signal issues with WiFi, plus much more secure...

The video quality is much better with the ReoLink, the HA integration is nice, you get motion, person detection and door button press (Visitor)

1714300436498.png

I use Blue Iris for my motion and CPAI person detection, when someone is motion detected, the wife and I get a notification on our phones, thru the HA App. Our phones are connected to our local VPN Server (pfSense), so viewing any cameras are encrypted...

But here are the negatives, the ReoLink DB does not connect to your Chime, it comes with it's own chime. Not a problem, we actually like it's Chime plus there are ways to still use your existing chime:


Next negative is no WDR or BLC, so if you get alot of sun in the background where you DB is pointed to, a person's face will be washed out until they get out of the sun, or you can adjust to where you can see them in the sun but they will be too dark out of the sunlight. Most of us have other cameras that capture someone walking up our yard to the front door so we adjust for a good picture when they are out of the sun.

But minus these few negatives I still like the ReoLink much better than my LaView. I enjoyed my LaView for several years so I am not downing it, had Hik came out with a newer version, I might of went that route, but from what I read here some are saying with newer firmware versions, they were taking away ONVIF and other features.

HTH
 
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IdleWild said:
This one?
REOLINK Doorbell WiFi Camera - Wired 5MP Outdoor Video Doorbell, 5G&2.4G WiFi Security Camera System, Smart Detection Local Storage No Subscription Front Door Camera Is it that much better?
Click to expand...
thats the wifi version if you cant use POE for the doorbell.


and yes, its the best doorbell on the market.
 
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flynreelow said:
thats the wifi version if you cant use POE for the doorbell.


and yes, its the best doorbell on the market.
Click to expand...
Just installed it. I liked hikconnect app way better. There was notification tab and you can see all thumbnails of the events. And if you needed to play them back you just click on it. This reolink app doesn't provide same friendly no clutter convenient interface... you can only scroll from left to right so you only see a little bit. Where in hik connect they are presented vertically, and of course lots of the events fit vertically on the phone...Other than that seems fine so far. I connected it to the doorbell wires.
 
Would like to inform that reolink is a pure garbage. Reboots almost every other time I try to do playback from SD card. It either not responding or reboots, RTSP stream stops when trying to do playback as well. I don't know if recording everything to hikvision NVR (added as onvif camera) is too much for it or what. But Hikvision doorbell never ever had this issues. Ordered the battery for it from aliexpress and if the battery fixes doorbell on it I'll send this reolink back to Amazon...
 
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My Hikvision DB is still working fine. (RTSP and ONVIF)

Can you provide a link to the battery?

While the PIR is still active my preference is to utilize an external outdoor PIR.

The chime is working fine connected to the alarm panel with a debounce circuit board and a current sensor board.
 
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pete_c said:
My Hikvision DB is still working fine. (RTSP and ONVIF)

Can you provide a link to the battery?

While the PIR is still active my preference is to utilize an external outdoor PIR.

The chime is working fine connected to the alarm panel with a debounce circuit board and a current sensor board.
Click to expand...
1715086790432.png

fccid.io

CSDB1 Wi-Fi Doorbell Camera Teardown Internal Photos APPENDIX 1 Hangzhou Ezviz Software

Wi-Fi Doorbell Camera Internal Photos details for FCC ID 2APV2-CSDB1 made by Hangzhou Ezviz Software Co., Ltd.. Document Includes Internal Photos APPENDIX 1
fccid.io fccid.io
 
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Might be...have to check the size. Using something similar for my outdoor lightning sensor...except that it is 1400mAH...

 
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David L said:
Is this it?

Click to expand...
No. You need 3 wires, 3 pin flat connector.
This is what I ordered:

You'll also need to detach temp sensor from the top of the existing battery (it's just lightly glued), it has 2 pin connector. And put it on a new battery. Mine hasn't arrived yet..
 
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IdleWild said:
No. You need 3 wires, 3 pin flat connector.
This is what I ordered:

You'll also need to detach temp sensor from the top of the existing battery (it's just lightly glued), it has 2 pin connector. And put it on a new battery. Mine hasn't arrived yet..
Click to expand...
Thank you. When you get it installed and working I will include your post in our 101...
 
James92TSi said:
TLDR: Unbricking via TTL Serial was successful!

I was able to get connected with the TTL Serial adapter, and found that the Config file of the camera is what is causing it not to load. The magic bullet was to interrupt the boot and issue a format command to erase everything but the bootloader, then issue an update command (with sdcard inserted, having RCA firmware renamed to digicap.dav as the only file present). This loaded successfully and the doorbell booted to a blue flashing ring and voice prompt to configure via phone app.


[/CODE]
Click to expand...

So were you able to or is it possible to put hikvision firmware on RCA doorbells? What's the procedure to make sure no bricking?
 
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