Why shouldn't I use Reolink Cameras?
Why shouldn't I use Reolink Cameras?
The next step in my HA journey is adding cameras; indoor, outdoor, and doorbell so I've been exploring my options. I had originally intended to do a Frigate setup, I even have a Coral module and PC to do it with, but then I discovered Reolink.
Without having any experience with them they look nearly ideal. They seem to have tight integration with HA 2023.3 or later and their pricing and functionality look good.
They seem like a no brainer but I've noticed that they're often NOT the first recommendation in the HA Community. Why is that and why shouldn't I use them?
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The RTSP streams on most older units is really unstable (feeds freeze/stopworking etc) and makes it hard to use in frigate / Blueiris / Even Synology surveillance station.. SOME of the brand new ones are OK but it is really hard to tell as Reolink frequently sells the same "Model" but with completely different hardware revisions and DIFFERENT firmware available per revision.
If you stick with the native reolink HW / Apps / NVRs they are a great value. Lots of bang for the buck.
If you want to use cameras with frigate, look at the frigate and go2rtc projects recommended cameras / forums / git repos for info on models that are known to work.
Problem with the Frigate recommended ones is they are all currently being removed from government offices worldwide for security reasons. I mean, if you don't care about that then there's lots of cheap cameras going for auction....
If you need tinfoil don’t get cameras.
If you just have a security concern as you should with all IP cameras put them on an isolated vLAN and punch just rstp access to them through the firewall from a separate local vLAN for the NVR. Don’t give them internet access.
If it was that simple why are they being removed by governments?
They need to prove that they are using the allocated budget and they need an increase of the budget next year, definitely not a cut