RLC cameras stream lagging on Client

[nickburt218]

I have a mixture of RLC 822A, 833A and 1210A PoE cameras all connected via a GbE Unifi network, each camera has a fixed IP address. Cameras are running 100Mbps (FE) - auto set by the switch port when the cameras are connected. PoE power is between 3 and 4.5W depending on camera, well within the capability of the switches the cameras are connected to.

All cameras are monitored via two Windows 11 pcs (both up to date with Windows updates etc.).

One pc is used to record all cameras 24/7 to a large NAS, the other is used simply as a means to display the camera feeds on a monitor.

Therefore both pcs are running 24/7, but both are set to auto reboot once a week, in doing this, Reolink is also set to auto restart on pc boot up.

All cameras and the client are running the latest firmware versions:
822A - v3.1.0.1643_22122401
833A - v3.1.0.1648_22122727
1210A - v3.0.0.177_21012104
Client - V8.14.2 - with auto update enabled.

All cameras are set to auto re-boot at 06:00 every day.

When displaying on a multi display screen, all are set to balanced stream, or when just one is being shown, they're set to clear stream.

After a number of hours running, all cameras end up a few seconds behind actual pc time. This gets worse, the longer they run for. This is irrespective of stream settings - even at the lowest stream settings, the problem continues to exist.

As a work around (suggested on cctv and Unifi forums), I reboot Reolionk once a day, which immediately resolves the problem and gets the camera times correct.  

But after only a few hours they end up 5 or 6 seconds behind and occasionally with a jerky/jumping display. For example, one might be 5 seconds behind, but will freeze for a few seconds then jump a few seconds to end up 5 or 6 seconds behind again.

The recorded downloads to the NAS are not affected, it is only the live feeds that are affected.

App on Iphone is fine, since we only have a quick look on a phone from time to time and don't leave it streaming for any length of time.

Speed tests on the Unifi network show it's capable of speeds of 400 - 500 Mbs. I have 500Mbs fibre internet for which the Unifi network hardware is more than adequate. All ethernet cabling is CAT6.

Cameras are showing speeds of 16 - 32 bps download and 168 to 200 bps upload, with round trip pings of max 3ms.

I've heard that Reolink can issue "bespoke" firmware upgrades for certain cameras, but surely, that gets defeated when the next version is issued and installed?

Has anyone found a proper solution to this?

[nickburt218]

For further testing, I've disabled the auto reboot and find that the lag remains the same. It doesn't appear to get much worse with time.

[joseph_1979]

@nickburt_442836936192165 Can you do a test on a single camera? If it happens again then use VLC and enable RTSP. See if the time remains the same. If yes then there is an issue in the client.

[nickburt218]

I've also had the Reolink Support Team email me back now with:
"Sorry for the issue they caused, would you accept we provide 20 GBP refund as compensation for you to keep using them?"

So, I've been offered £20 compensation for over £200 worth of cameras, that don't do what they're supposed to do !!!!!

[nickburt218]

@nickburt218 They've replaced this offer with a 10% discount on future purchases - which I'm currently unlikely to do unless the lag issue is resolved satisfactorily.
In the future, I would be interested in adding cameras to the system, but at the moment .......... hmmm.

[nickburt218]

Last reply a couple days ago:

Sorry for this happened, we already forwarded your feedback to the relevant department, but currently, we have no better solution for this issue.
Or do you have any good idea or solution you want?

[bill doria]

I have the same issue.. My setup is (4) RLC-820A cameras, connected the Reolink NVR..
All have the most current firmware, and Reolink Client on Windows 10.
When there is a delay, I get the icons on the screen (let's say for vehicle motion), I can hear the vehicle drive by, and the video will show the vehicle drive by 5 seconds later.

[herringburdensome_603767752639193]

@bill-doria I've noticed the exact same problem. I have auto power on enabled on my computer, which launches the reolink client when the computer boots up, and if everything is unchanged, the live broadcasts begin to lag.

[160334357029011]

I have noticed the same exact problem. I have auto power on setup on my computer which will then startup reolink client when the computer has booted up and if everything is left untouched, the live streams are beginning to lag. In the afternoon, the lag can be anything from few seconds to a whole minute. I have witnessed a lag of well over 30seconds. I literally was able to see myself entering the property on the live screen when I just sat down infront of the workstation. All cameras are with latest firmware, I'm running client 8.8.5. because anything else after that has been garbage. Where are my compensations? I have 4 cameras and not the cheapest ones on the line.