General > General Technical Chat
I bought a cheap Chinese video door bell
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Lango1818:
 :palm: :palm:Having not researched the topic I deserved  everything I got.  |O I did not realize that the majority of “video doorbells” have to contact the mothership (Cloud) in order to work. Silly me thought that you could just hook it up to you LAN install a bit of software and bibbity boo off you go. OH No when someone is at the door, the video feed shoot off into cyber space, probably to China, and then comes back through your internet.  :scared: If anyone is on the market for a vid doorbell steer well clear of any that use the Aiwit app. It is absolutely shit. It can take up to 8 seconds to show video and has numerous other faults. The app blames slow internet connection; maybe on their end my connection is fine.
As I cannot seem to find a video doorbell that does not involve a cloud of some sort and monthly fees I think I will run with a conventional door bell and a camera hooked to my camera system. My camera system works fine locally and I love it.
soldar:
I cannot speak of doorbells but I can speak of cheap security IP cameras but I suppose the basic way of working is the same.

If I want to see the camera from another location then obviously it needs to do so using the internet. Not only to communicate directly but also to establish the connection initially. Two devices wishing to establish a connection need a central server where they both log in and then the server tells each other their IP addresses.

I have a remote switch which I bought in LIDL and which worked briefly because the company disappeared and there is no way for my app to connect to a central server.

But, getting back to my cameras, the app does have a way to connect directly to cameras on the same LAN without need to connect to the Internet. There is some obscure little button and then you enter the IP address (if I remember correctly).

I have also managed to see the camera streams with VLC and Linux.

I think it is very probable, almost certain, that you can use the camera on the LAN with no Internet.
Bicurico:
What is the point of a video doorbell (the modern type, not the composite video type that connects to a small screen on the other side of the door), if it is not connected to the internet?

Such a camera is used so that you can do a video call to whomever is at your door, while you are not at home. Ideally this should be combined with an electronic door lock, so that you can open the door remotely, too.

However: visit the Lockpicking Layer's Youtube channel and check what he has to say on electronic door locks. They are all rubish and can be defeated easily (using magnets, high power RF coils, etc.).

Also, you need to use a third party server, so that your phone knows the current IP of your video doorbell. Of course, a technical user could just configure everything to use DynDNS (or similar) and would not require a third party server. But this does not work for everybody. If you have a 4G/5G internet connection, it will not work. If your ISP filters incoming requests, it will not work. If your ISP provides you with a locked router, it will not work.

What you have to do is to purchase the video doorbell from a reputable manufacturer. I consider TP Link and their TAPO range of devices reputable. They work for me. I am not sure if they do include a video doorbell, though.

soldar:

--- Quote from: Bicurico on September 17, 2023, 08:01:29 am ---What is the point of a video doorbell (the modern type, not the composite video type that connects to a small screen on the other side of the door), if it is not connected to the internet?

Such a camera is used so that you can do a video call to whomever is at your door, while you are not at home. Ideally this should be combined with an electronic door lock, so that you can open the door remotely, too.
--- End quote ---
You should not make the mistake of thinking that everybody has your same needs, likes, wishes and desires. Different people have different needs and different preferences.

I have a house with three levels, four sides, a big back yard, a front gate, etc. I have several CCTV IP cameras for security and convenience and I can observe any and all from anywhere. When I am in my computer room I have a screen showing several camera feeds and can see everything going on around the house, including the front gate. if it is an unwanted visitor I can just ignore it without having to move from where I am or disclosing that I am home. 

I could give many examples of the usefulness to me of my security cameras, including the front gate. I can ignore calls, I can pretend to not be home or to be busy. I am just so used to seeing all around the house without moving from wherever I am.

About a year ago two young men in plain clothes called and said they were police and wanted to talk to me. I said I would come out and talk to them as soon as I saw a police car with uniformed police. It turned out they were legit and did call for a patrol unit but there have been cases of police impersonators robbing people in their homes.

But, yes, these cheap cameras are extremely vulnerable and full of back doors. I only have them connected to the internet very exceptionally and they are all pointing outdoors so that they will never show anything private.

PlainName:

--- Quote from: soldar on September 17, 2023, 07:51:56 am ---If I want to see the camera from another location then obviously it needs to do so using the internet. Not only to communicate directly but also to establish the connection initially. Two devices wishing to establish a connection need a central server where they both log in and then the server tells each other their IP addresses.

--- End quote ---

Wrong. They only need that when you have no idea what you're doing and can't open a port in your router.


--- Quote from: Bicurico ---What is the point of a video doorbell (the modern type, not the composite video type that connects to a small screen on the other side of the door), if it is not connected to the internet?
--- End quote ---

I have a remote display for my front door camera so I can see who is there from my office instead of tramping through the place to tell a JW we're satanists. Our doorbell flashes a light in the (remote) garage so we can nip out and get the Amazon package before he buggers off. There are many reasons why a non-internet-connected camera is useful; it's just that you haven't discovered them yet.
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