I’m looking into adding a video doorbell and some security cameras and want to integrate with HA. I have some cameras that came with the house, but I don’t think they will work. The system has been discontinued and I don’t have the “base unit” that connects them. If there is a way to use them, I’d be happy to find out if they are operational and use them. Web search has not helped.
My first priority is a video doorbell. I don’t really understand much about how it works, and there is a lot of conflicting information out there. I have a wired doorbell, and I could probably manage to figure out how to run a data line if needed.
I want it to play nicely with any future system. The current camera system is wired, and I’m happy to run new wires if needed. I have plenty of storage on my home PC server, and I’d prefer to use it.
Any guides out there that really cover the overall process?
I recently picked up a Ubiquity Dream Machine router, so I’d probably go with PoE Unifi camera if possible. Just got a find someone to run conduit, or I’ve gotta watch some home improvement videos.
I’ve got a Unifi switch and a gateway instead of a dream machine, but that’s not far from the setup I’m working on (just need the weather to cool down so that I can coexist with the sun in the attic so that I can do the run to the doorbell).
Ethernet’s not nearly as scary as mains power, I wired up our house with 10 runs though the attic and it’s super doable as a DIY project. Consult your local codes/ laws and all, but I was able to run my cable though j-hooks instead of having to put conduit up everywhere, the biggest gotcha was more in the trying to keep my lines away from existing AC power and finding the wall framing under the insulation in the attic. The company TrueCable has a YouTube channel with a bunch of helpful resources on pretty much everything Ethernet/ networking, I’d highly recommend it even if you aren’t buying cable from them (I ended up doing so because they were cheaper than everywhere else and I could get all my jacks, wall plates, and tools in the same order - this was also a year ago though, so prices may have shifted since).