Blink camera snapshot

Configuration
1

I have tried to run an automation to take a snapshot from my blink camera and send it to my phone when someone presses the doorbell. It is working but I think the issue I am having is the camera is already activated with motion so when the trigger camera action fires it is delayed so the photo I get misses the person as they have left already. Any suggestions on getting the image at the time the button is pressed or as close to ?

2

Are you sure that is really the issue?

That would be a very long delay.

Share your automation yaml.

1 Like
3

I think so, here you go

alias: Doorbell Activated
description: Triggers Blink cameras, takes snapshots, and sends them to Kevin via Telegram.
triggers:
  - entity_id: input_boolean.doorbell_press
    to: "on"
    trigger: state
conditions: []
actions:
  - variables:
      frontdoor_file: >-
        /config/blinkcameras/images/frontdoor_{{ now().strftime('%Y%m%d_%H%M%S')
        }}.jpg
      frontdoorview_file: >-
        /config/blinkcameras/images/frontdoorview_{{
        now().strftime('%Y%m%d_%H%M%S') }}.jpg
  - target:
      entity_id: camera.front_door
    action: blink.trigger_camera
  - target:
      entity_id: camera.front_door_view
    action: blink.trigger_camera
  - delay:
      seconds: 2
  - data:
      entity_id: camera.front_door
      filename: "{{ frontdoor_file }}"
    action: camera.snapshot
  - data:
      entity_id: camera.front_door_view
      filename: "{{ frontdoorview_file }}"
    action: camera.snapshot
  - data:
      target: xxxxxxx
      file: "{{ frontdoor_file }}"
      caption: Front Door Camera
    action: telegram_bot.send_photo
  - data:
      target: xxxxxxx
      file: "{{ frontdoorview_file }}"
      caption: Front Door View
    action: telegram_bot.send_photo
  - target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.doorbell_press
    action: input_boolean.turn_off
mode: single
4

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/how-to-help-us-help-you-or-how-to-ask-a-good-question/114371#oneone-format-it-properly-16

1 Like
5

Thanks Tom, hopefully that is correctly posted now.

6

What happens if you try the camera.snapshot action instead?

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7

I will try that tomorrow when the house is awake :grinning:

8

That doesn’t work. The snapshot sends the last image rather than a current view. The trigger action refreshes the image.

9

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

10

No sorry. I don’t know anything about Blink cameras. It seems they do not behave like other cameras behave in HA.

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