Best budget fully wireless battery powered RTSP camera (only streams when motion detected)

mkanet · May 7, 2020, 6:11pm

I just realized that I don’t have a realistic place to use any wires for a camera… and, have to keep it out of reach from my children.

I’m looking for the best battery powered RTSP camera that I can get under $75.

I realize that using wifi is very power hungry which causes the battery to run out extremely fast… however, I only need it to turn on automatically from deep-sleep when motion is detected;l and start streaming RTSP to a URL (without the need for MotionEye or any other extra software).

PS: If there isn’t a product that does this all with RTSP… then maybe something with MJPEG… as long as it’s battery powered and only streams when there’s motion.

donkawechico · May 7, 2020, 6:27pm

I don’t know much about wireless cameras, I’m afraid. But out of curiosity, is the wire-placement issue that you don’t have a safe/convenient power outlet nearby? I ask just in case you weren’t aware of “PoE” cameras that can be powered over an ethernet cable.

I have two reolink PoE cameras that I swear by because of how tidy they are with their wiring. Not to mention reliable and fast due to being wired.

mkanet · May 7, 2020, 6:36pm

I don’t have Ethernet access unfortunately. Or I definitely use PoE. I actually use PoE for my front door security camera.

Engineer · May 7, 2020, 6:57pm

Hi I use blink cameras but there is also Arlo Netgear cameras which are maybe better (no idea) but more expensive.

We are praying for a fix for the Blink integration due to blink API changes but it looks likely there will be no issue.

BR

SJ

donkawechico · May 7, 2020, 7:36pm

Ah, gotcha. Well, I can’t help with hardware suggestions, but I can say I chose my cameras based on an excellent video review from “The Hook Up”. It was very thorough, and data-driven.

And it looks like he has a similar review for wireless cameras! I’d definitely try watching it as it’s probably just as thorough.

mkanet · May 7, 2020, 8:14pm

Thanks for the tip. I’ll definitely check out those videos. I like watching review videos… especially, if it’s a good review for something I want to get.

omayhemo · May 7, 2020, 8:39pm

None of those options support RTSP. In fact, I’ve yet to find a battery powered wireless cam that natively does. As soon as you do find one, please let us know. Reolink wireless lineup,powered (not the battery powered/solar ones), contains some cameras that support RTSP. The 42* line for example. But they require access to 110 power.

mkanet · May 7, 2020, 8:40pm

Im okay if it doesnt ave RTSP, as long as it has mjpeg.

omayhemo · May 7, 2020, 8:41pm

MJPEG is just the compression method. You need access to the stream to acquire it. None of the cameras on that video allow you access to it, AFAIK.

I’ll directly recommend against Blink cameras.

mofongox · August 26, 2022, 5:14pm

Yeah, I got some Blink cameras on offer to test a bit, and got rid of them faster than it took me to order them. Not only are they seriously unreliable, but the privacy concerns are a nightmare.
I fully support your comment.

dimadusk · September 24, 2023, 7:36pm

Ezviz C3A supports rtsp, can be integrated into Synology DSM or Ezviz integration. But it must have older firmware which can be downloaded and manually downgrade. I have one and know for sure. On battery power it will probably live about 8hours (at least on Synology) since you have to disable sleep mode.
Also IMOU battery cameras support rtsp and onvif protocols (unofficially) you can read this review of a popular model at the end of article there is info about Onvif and Rtsp. If it has those protocols you can use them with hass wherever those cams located through Synology or IMOU integration (using HACS)