Hi guys, looking to install same brand door chime + floodlight camera.
Any recommendations? Ring, Arlo, Eufy, and Google Nest seem to be the most well-known ones.
Door Chime + Floodlight Camera Recommendations
Pbm33 on 22/05/2025 - 23:20
Comments
Either Reolink or Ring.
I've got Reolink currently and love it. I had a Ring Doorbell and it was fine, same with the Outdoor Cameras/Lights. The only thing with Ring items (besides the doorbell) is that you need an electrician for it.
Reolink is great because you don't need an electrician and it's all POE or Solar/Battery Powered.
I’ve got a battery operated Ring spotlight camera
Okay, let me rephrase. some of the ring items require an electrician.
Depends on how you feel about Solar Charging and how they look. I see some solutions with solar and mounted to the gutter with some wiring hanging out, looks ugly as!
Then you have to also consider outdoor wifi requirements to ensure you get sufficient coverage. I did a site assessment for a customer with the exact problem, poor WiFi outside so their ring devices keep dropping in and out.
Ring spotlights allow for 2 batteries so provides sufficient charging capabilities for several weeks to a month if people aren’t keen for solar attachments.
@Downvoter: That's handy. But it could be frustrating to charge, especially if they are in an elevated position. It was frustrating enough for me to charge the doorbell. Glad its gone and now all via Reolink.
Sorry OP. I don't have any recommendations but I am also looking for same.
So far Eufy seems to be the better option for me. No subscription costs. I am currently learning what NVR is and if it is needed for my use case.I am currently learning what NVR is and if it is needed for my use case.
NVR - Network Video Recorder. Solutions like Ring, Eufy, Arlo and Google Nest have no NVR. They are all cloud remote based. NVR is what you generally plug cameras into or detects cameras on your network which then records them.
Like Reolink have an NVR solution. It powers the cameras and records everything.
So far Eufy seems to be the better option for me. No subscription costs.
Ring has no subscription costs either, but that comes with downsides. Eufy is the same. If you don't want Cloud Storage, sure, no subscriptions. Google Nest, similar. Only has the last 3 hours of recording, anything beyond that you need to pay.
If you want to review footage and review it a number of days after, then you will want a solution with an NVR (or similar like recording back to a NAS).
Oh wow. Thanks for your detailed response.
I didn't know NVR powers the cameras too. I'm assuming it is with power-over-Ethernet (POE) cabling? Do you know if category 6 cabling is POE or are those two do different things?
Yes, Category 6 (Cat 6) cabling is compatible with Power over Ethernet (PoE)
I didn't know NVR powers the cameras too. I'm assuming it is with power-over-Ethernet (POE) cabling?
Yes.
Do you know if category 6 cabling is POE or are those two do different things?
POE is just Power of Ethernet and that is standard Ethernet Cabling you would use for a network. CAT6 is the current standard, but CAT5 is also sufficient.
We use Eufy, good integrations provided the wifi is strong.
I've got Eufy internal cameras (only used when away on holidays), Aqara doorbell and Ubiquiti external cameras.
The only ecosystem that always works, every time, is Ubiquiti. The UI is great, there are no bugs I have encountered and it doesn't feel like the entire network is jury rigged together.