Posts made by md

@joseph_1979 While installing cams some do not put the cable ends in junction boxes, in wall, etc. and their cams get stuck in reset mode or fail when moisture gets into the ends. People should know better but some don't. Users have been asking Reolink to include more specific instructions in the manual or add cable end caps. Reolink listened. Some new models have end caps like the CX410 I bought and really like. THANK YOU Reolink. They do listen. So maybe they will do something about E1 drift or at least add possible drifting in the specs.

@chris-norris270_659249440973712 This is a known issue with the E1 Outdoor wifi and also the E1 Outdoor new POE version. Reolink is aware of it. Some users have reported their E1 Outdoor has guard and reset points drift. See comments here, on Reolink Reddit forum and on YouTube. See LifeHackster's YouTube review of the E1 Outdoor POE version. In my opinion it's a hardware issue not firmware. The camera motor/gears are just not precise enough. I had a E1 Outdoor wifi and it had drift. Overall, It's still a good cam for the money though. I have a 823A. It is better built, no drift, precise. The Trackmix is also a better cam than the E1 Outdoor, no drift.

Reolink please tell the truth, be honest, tell customers the E1 Outdoor can have drift problems. Being silent just makes people disappointed who may not buy Reolink cams again! I think all camera brands have released a camera that had hardware or firmware problems. Reolink needs to tell customers in the specs the cam can have drift! I don't think Reolink will fix the difting, it's in the design of the cam. Hope they prove me wrong.

@anthony_62269329690 I assume your pics are to show cams use plastic gears. They don't look the same as the inside of my wifi E1 Outdoor. Last summer lightning struck close to my E1 Outdoor and shorted it out. I took it apart. The motor shaft goes directly into the camera housing. The white plastic gears are on the side for pan, tilt. A few are seeing some monitor point drift with the new POE version like wifi version. See LifeHackster's review on YouTube. It's still a good camera for the price. Slight monitor drift is annoying but not serious IMO. My more expensive 823A is built better, more precise, faster, etc.

Once in a while a cam will get condensation inside. It most often happens with temperature changes shortly after install. Users report after mounting the cam, in a couple days the condensation clears up, goes away. I've you've had the cam for a while the seal may have gone bad, the water will not go away. This does not happen very often. Contact Reolink support. If you bought the cam from them it has two yrs. warranty.

@mamymam2013_465350299701478 Others are having issues as well. For some it's with older phones and older computers still running Windows 10 or third party programs. I have a new computer Windows 11 and newer phone. The new apps are not causing me problems. Hopefully Reolink will fix things soon. New firmware can have bugs, Reolink relies on and appreciates users who report specific problems but they need to know your operating system specific info to fix things. Contact Reolink support, let them know. Meantime nothing wrong staying with older versions that work and wait for bugs to be worked out of the new version.

@nacster_1969 I agree with you sometimes companies release cameras or firmware too early and there are problems. Reolink openly says their firmware can have issues and they actually rely on users for feedback, they appreciate the responses from beta versions so they can improve it. It can be frustrating though. Some users do not update firmware right away, they have auto updates turned off. They wait for others to experience the problems, wait for fixes then update.

For examples of other brands problems, when Arlo released their first Ultra 4K camera it was so bad they had to pull it off the shelves, recalled it. One of Blink XT2 camera versions was also bad, they stopped selling it until a better version was released. Numerous brands have reported data breaches or security vulnerabilities, Amcrest, Wyze, Eufy, etc. A few years ago Ring fired several employees for spying on users live views. Look at the Google play store comments of the various camera brands. They ALL have complaints of apps not working! All camera brands have to keep up with the numerous software updates for computers, phones.

As you know, there are frequent recalls of vehicles for defective parts. So while it's annoying to sometimes have problems with Reolink firmware, they do eventually fix it. They want customers to be happy. I get regular updates with Windows on my PC. When my old PC updated from Windows 10 to Windows 11 it crashed. I had to buy a new computer.

@nacster_1969 Starting a support ticket lets you send Reolink specific information privately about your devices, software programs, firmware etc. so they can analyze it and work on a fix. General complaining here may not fix your specific problems. Please contact Reolink Support with specific information. After they have worked with you privately you can post publicly here how it went.

@user_688345176162512_688345176162512 Go to Reolink Support, type in the search line "forgot, lost password" or similar. Write down your password, keep it somewhere.
https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/

@nacster_1969 Sorry you're having problems. There's a few users on Reolink Reddit forum that are having issues as well. I have a one year old laptop running Windows 11, a Samsung phone Galaxy 22+ and the new RLK36 NVR. I haven't had any problems with the updates. I like the newest client and Android phone updates. So far the client does not freeze during live view like the prior version. A stretch mode button was added. The Android update brought back leaving the control icons visible unless you tap them.

I wonder if those having problems are running on older devices or having issues with third party apps like Home Assistant, etc. I'm just guessing. Someone had problems with Java and the Reolink updates. Someone else said on Reddit in the updates some of the camera settings by default turned off. Check the server and network settings for each cam if you can, UID on, http on, etc.

If you have not done so, you could contact Reolink support, start a ticket, specifically say what devices and firmware versions you are using, hopefully they can fix it.

https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/requests/new/

@user_692173041451191_692173041451191 I lost a screw for card cover on my 811a. A while back I had bought a 500 pieces set of small mm screws on eBay for about $10. They are sold on Amazon also. The size that fits 811a is 2.5mm x 6mm. They are metric not fraction/inches. I don't know if it's the same for 823a but a metric screws set ranging from 2mm to 6mm would likely have one for 823a.

Only problem, I tipped over the screws plastic case on the kitchen table. Took me quite a while to sort the little screws and put them back in their correct size bins, I used tweezers, LOL.

@mytemp2_357429820989576 When you first got/installed the cams and app you were supposed to create your own password, write it down and/or remember it. Go to Reolink Support, type in search line, forgot password.

https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/

@user_692258092847314_692258092847314 Probably the easiest thing is to wrap it around and around and around....the solar panel mounting bracket :). Or roll it up and use a twist tie. Or install a junction box and put most of it inside. Ring has a new solar panel with plastic brackets on the back to wind the cable. But Ring cams are inferior, I don't like them and don't want to pay their subscription for full functionality.

@user_691940902326442_691940902326442 Your camera should have smart AI detection since it has a A in the model number. Go to Reolink Support site, use the search line, type in something like smart detection, human, vehicle, push notifications etc. There will be articles you can read. Also you can go to YouTube and look at Reolink cam reviews. Reolink has its own YouTube channel with info.

To reduce false alerts go to Push Notifications, in Schedule turn off "any motion," only have person, vehicle or pet on. In detection settings experiment with the Sensitivity, Alarm Delay and Object Size settings if your camera has those. Cameras are not perfect, they will sometimes send false notifications with heavy rain, snow flakes, flying insects, birds, etc. But Reolink's AI smart detection which they released about two years ago has helped a lot in reducing false notifications.

Check your camera firmware number, compare it to Reolink download center for that cam. See if you have the newest firmware.

Yeah, lots of things have gone up with inflation. My house taxes went up $41/month, cable bill up $15/month, car insurance up $23/month, not to mention food, gas, etc.

@rywolf01_258009613922457 Contact Reolink support. Some users prefer an older firmware version. Reolink support will often email an older version to those who want it. I have a 823A. It works fine. When a camera does not work it could be numerous problems, the camera, the POE cable, the NVR or POE switch. Contact Reolink support, they will help you troubleshoot the problem. Reolink also has a support web site with lots of info. The 823A requires 25 watts, more than other POE cams. The 410e NVR should power it but may need a different firmware. NVR firmware needs to be download onto your computer, put on a memory stick, then put the memory stick into the NVR.

This is a common problem with home security cameras. Doors with overhangs, porch roofs etc. can be very dark compared to background bright light, sunny sky. A face will be too shadowed to see it. Some brands have HDR/WDR setting. Depending how good the HDR/WDR function is, the benefit may or may not be enough to ID a face by the front door. Plus a bad guy could just lower his face with a cap or use a mask. Reolink app has a brightness control which will make the foreground brighter but the background may become brighter than you want.

@user_647659261177881_647659261177881 Reolink phone app has a on/off notification button for each camera to send the phone motion alerts. But you have to also allow your phone to use Reolink notifications. Go to phone general settings, go to all the apps listed, find Reolink app and open it, turn on allow sound notifications. I get a message pop up and sound alert with each notification.

Reolink cams do not require cloud subscription to fully function. Some brands require it. Reolink cloud is optional. Reolink cams can save recordings multiple ways, to internal memory card you buy and install, NVR, FTP, email, etc. With internal memory card you can watch the recordings in the app using Playback button. The Reolink doorbell uses memory cards up to 256GB. Buy a good high endurance card, put it in the camera, format it in the app. You could watch YouTube reviews of Reolink doorbell cam, how to set up, use. I like Reolink reviews by LifeHackster channel. Also, Reolink has its own YouTube channel.

@joseph_1979 Thanks for responding. I had seen that YouTube video, but it's not the 36 channel. I contacted Reolink support, the rep. said she didn't know if a second fan would work in the 36 or not. Apparently only higher ups would know. I won't add a second fan unless I find out more. I bought a small USB powered fan at Walmart for $6 and put it close to the NVR. If I think the NVR is a little too hot I'll turn this fan on and check the HDD temps to see if it makes a difference.

I recently bought the 36 channel Reolink NVR. I like it. It has one small fan on the motherboard. It looks like there's an input on the motherboard to add another fan? If so, what kind of fan and specs would it need? The NVR may stay cool enough with just one fan, but I'd like to have the option to add another fan. I check the HDD temperatures. Thanks.

@md Nobody responded so I'll answer myself. 1. Reolink support said the NVR records to first HDD that's installed. When it fills up the recordings go to the second drive. If overwrite is on first drive, the NVR keeps recording to it. Reolink NVRs do not alternate between HDD to record like RAID capable systems. 2. Reolink support said the general motion sensor does nothing for cams with AI, it only functions with non AI cams.