Family just got one of these dumb things and I need a quick replacement option to order and return this crap. What is there that works offline and I can set up to work with fruit phones? (Not a fruit phone/fruit salad user)
This is by no means a quick replacement but it is private. I went with wyze cams, wz_mini_hacks firmware, put them on a vlan with no access outside of it including the internet. I have Frigate pulling the video from them and doing detection with a Coral USB accelerator and homeassistant for alerts. Amcrest doorbells seem good but honestly I stuck a ZigBee motion sensor by the door and between that and the two cameras watching the front I know who’s there and if I don’t want to answer I just ignore them. The only way it will be private is if the data never leaves your network so it’s unfortunately a bit of work but a fun project if you’re into that kind of stuff!
Not worrying about bait&switch with a company removing device features and forcing a subscription is why I did it after those stupid Canary cameras burned me.
What I ended up doing was just keeping a traditional doorbell, but mounted an old smartphone running IP Cam and a Solar Power Bank with it. I have a few “proper” cameras, but they’re far less reliable than my janky-ass cellphone rig.
Reolink or Amcrest
Amcrest have way too much crap they collect; telemetry, location, and 3rd party info sharing. I saw no mention of how they are processing data. The “we can change this at any time and it’s up to you to figure it out” policy is all I ever need to know. This says 'this doc is all about how much we f$$$ you over, for now, but maybe we’ll double you up later without warning. https://amcrest.com/privacy-policy
Reolink is straight up using google analytics. Definitely not private either.
Reolink has had some concerns over privacy, and transparency. You’re required to use their app, even if you’re linked into HomeAssisstant/Frigate. Most of their cameras also don’t offer continuous recording, which has made me really regretting my Reolink E1 Outdoor.
Yeah. FOSS or fuck 'em. I am on Graphene and will never install anything from google. Android means the app is on F-Droid. If it is on the google proprietary framework, it is not Android.
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Frigate is a camera server. In order to link Reolink into it you’re required to download their app, register for an account, and then setup your server. The fact that you’re required to download their app, and make an account is the problem.
It’s entirely possible I missed some method of doing this that doesn’t have this problem, but google turned up no results when I was setting it up.
A normal goddamn doorbell
This really isn’t a helpful answer. People don’t get a Ring for the doorbell, they get it for the camera. This post is requesting a good private security camera that can also record and maybe allow you to talk to whoever is at your door. Your answer is the equivalent of:
Q: Gasoline-powered car - what are the easiest hybrid alternatives?
A: A normal goddamn bicycle
I unironically agree with your equivalent, too. Car bad bike good.
Putting a camera on the front of your house is stupid just answer the door asshole.
A security camera is to document crimes and such, not to help you answer the door.
It’s to feed your suburban paranoia
But I only want to talk to the Jehova Witnesses id they are hot?
I know. I hate this stalkerware garbage.
