Help: Looking for a Outdoor Camera

Hardware
1

Hey,

I’m looking for a outdoor camera for my homeassistant. Maybe someone can recommend me a model which is working good with HA. My requirements:

  • It does not need to be battery driven, it’s ok if it needs a persistant power supply.
  • Live Video streaming with home assistant should be possible
  • No additional gateway/hub needed
  • Wifi connection
  • Motion sensor (it would be neat, if i could take a picture if a motion occours and show that in HA)
  • Works in cold environments (till -20° Celcius)

I would appreciate some recommendations :slight_smile:

2

I have this one:

Based on the description it supports up to -40ºC … never tried.

3

Does this one support motion, and can it be used as a motion sensor in HA?

4

Thanks davedan, could you show me the configuration you are using in HA for this camera? :slight_smile:

5

sure!

here it is:
- platform: ffmpeg
ffmpeg_bin: /usr/bin/avconv
name: Car Ramp
input: -rtsp_transport tcp -i rtsp://[UserName]:[Password]@[CamIP]:554/12
extra_arguments: -pred 1 -q:v 2

I must say that provides a very nice image. I’m planning to buy a couple more :slight_smile:

6

Thanks! And the camera is showing up as camera. entity in HA right? Is there also a motion sensor showing up in HA? (I’m just wondering if it is possible to take a picture by movement with an automation)

Have you ever tried things like face detection?

If all that is possible with such a cheap camera, that would be awesome :grinning:

7

yes! it is!!

Shows as a regular cam.

I have not tried that, honestly, I have now something for this weekend :slight_smile:

have you tried in any other cam?

thanks!!

8

No i did’nt, just stumbled over this while “reviewing” your configuration in the ffmpeg component. :slight_smile:

And is there also a sensor for motion showing up in HA?

9

Not in the camara (AFAIK). The camera component already have the method, but unfortunately is showing as NotImplemented. I open a Feature Request, getting this working would be awsome :slight_smile:

Check here:

1 Like
10

I’ve been going mad for Reolink cams. Great products at amazing rates!

11

Well, if the camera is able to take a picture each time it detects a motion it’s maybe possible to store that image somewhere in the network?
I’m running HA on a rasperry, setting up a samba share or similar would be easy. It should be possible to show the last X taken pictures via the local_file component: https://home-assistant.io/components/camera.local_file/

At least for this use case a motion sensor inside of HA would not be necessary. :slight_smile:

@monkey-house
Hm, which model are you using? It seems like HA does not have a component for Reolink. Which entities show up for your camara?

12

the camera component can take an snapshot based on events, not a problem. Check this: https://home-assistant.io/components/camera/#service-snapshot

But it can’t detect the motion by itself as long as that is not implemented. In the meantime I’m using a reglar motion sensor (Xiaomi - not for outside).

13

I use to use my cameras with zoneminder, so you get the motion detection, zones and the event history/player. Besides not having to run another daemon, is there any advantages in using only HA to manage the cameras?