I’m requesting recomendations for what camera to start out with without spending too much, most cameras on sale for ~50€ is not recomended for or incompatible with frigate. Some recomendations I’ve found are outdated, are double the price or unavailiable in the EU/Sweden. If I don’t get started soon I’ll have to put it on hold for a year or so until my alarm system has been replaced.
I’m going to start testing out frigate and I’m thinking of starting with one camera covering my main entrance, I plan to use this to alert us of visitors and perhaps identify who is outside. How cheap can you go and still have a useable stable stream? If the family approves I might add cameras covering the garden as stage 2.
I choose between replacing my doorbell with a doorbell camera at the green dot or a camera above the door under the balcony at the red dot.
because of the tree at the left all visitors must walk up the driveway to the right and walk along under the balcony towards the door. I will be able to supply ethernet or power to the red dot and my old doorbell is supplied by 8V AC, I’m unsure if I can get an ethernet-cable
Since you will be able to run an ethernet cable to the desired location, I would consider the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE. I’ve been using it for a few months after my previous doorbell decided it was time to rest after several years of use. The Reolink can be purchased from AliExpress, has it’s own iOS/Android app and also works perfectly with both Frigate and Scrypted. Of course you will need a PoE capable switch (or a PoE injector) to power it.
You can keep existing doorbell and add camera at red dot.
Frigate detection can just notify you of arrivals. I find this better since criminals dont always ring doorbell. Same with delivery. Setup HA notification when frigate detect “person” or
“Animal” to send message to phone or even ring bell. You can also use esphome device to add smarts to existing bell
Doorbell cams have lower resolution than standard cam at same prices
Toro Poo-poo.
Most of the cameras around my house are Wyze Cam3 (indoors) and Wyze Cam4 (outdoor). The first thing I did with them was to flash them with the TRSP hack (from Wyze), then Frigate sees them just fine. All of these except one are Wyze cameras. I never paid more than $40 for any of them.
Here’s a better view of my Wyze cam4 on my porch. Not bad for a $39 camera.
Sadly Wyze focuses on US & Canada and is not an option. Wyze cam v3 that is 35$ on their official site is on sale on Amazon for 92$, v4 can’t be found on any store.
You have a very good point there. Your answer helped cut the options in half.
I wonder why I didn’t think of ESPHome for the doorbell.