Unlock Reolink Battery Devices in Home Assistant: A Step-by-Step Guide with Reolink Home Hub!

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Did you know your Reolink battery-powered cameras (like the Argus Track or Video Doorbell Battery) can integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant? With the Reolink Home Hub, you can bridge these wireless wonders to HA while preserving battery life—no cloud required! Here’s how to set it up.
Why Use a Home Hub?

Battery Efficiency: Home Hub handles HA communication, keeping cameras asleep when idle.
Full Feature Access: Motion alerts, AI detection, and controls work just like wired cameras.
Local-Only: Data stays on your network—no subscriptions, no privacy risks.

Step 1: Set Up Your Home Hub

Connect Home Hub to your network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Pair Battery Devices: In the Reolink app, add your Argus Track/Doorbell Battery to the Home Hub (Settings > Device > Add Device).

Step 2: Enable HA Integration

Enable RTSP/ONVIF on the Home Hub:
- Open Reolink app > Settings > Network > Advanced > Toggle RTSP and ONVIF.
Add Home Hub to Home Assistant:
- Go to Settings > Devices & Services > Add Integration > Reolink.
- Enter the Home Hub’s IP address and local credentials (set in the Reolink app).

Step 3: Optimize for Battery Life

Avoid 24/7 Streaming: Use snapshots or motion-triggered automations instead of live feeds.
Monitor Sleep Status: Check the sensor.[camera_name]_sleep_status entity to ensure devices enter low-power mode when idle.
Leverage AI Alerts: Use binary sensors (person/vehicle detection) to trigger actions without waking the camera.

Automation Ideas

Motion → Lights: If Argus Track detects a person, turn on outdoor lights.
Doorbell Press → Notification: Send a snapshot + chime to smart speakers.
Geofencing: Disable alerts when your phone is home.