@joseph_1979 I won't run newer versions of windows than 8.1 since after that Microsoft changed the EULA to basically allow themselves to root through your files and collect any/all data.. Yes you might be able to block it, but 'legally' they upholstered their gun after Win8.1... I also run an old version before they force bundled all updates vs select ones.. hohum... Linux switch soon I suppose.

I must run Reolink client 8.8.5 or I just get blank screens ; and 8.8.5 has some pretty big bugs where program goes black and flashes over and over until you click 'settings/gear' icon then it comes back..

I just bought 4 more reolinks and regretting it as I'm running into more bugs... I added 5 cameras to program and the android app; and when my R2 camera is powered off; it is replaced by higher quality stream from R3 cam.. So I have 2 R3 cams 'on screen'; I could delete it, but then that actually deletes R2 cam.. messed up.. in latest version of android app also...

Wanted higher video quality AND FTP; reolink was almost only provider with FTP support and they do it sooo poorly.. emailed and submitted basic feature requests a few months ago.. nada of course.. so easy to 'fix'/add these features they must not give a ...

Now that I am typing all this out.. maybe I should return while I can.. they do kinda work but ugh..

Edit:
https://home-cdn.reolink.us/files/client/electron-release/reolink_setup_8.18.10_0.exe
Thought I'd mention this version is working in windows 8.1...

@joseph_1979 They call it a BMS, battery management system and in theory they can do anything but in reality all(and temperature, and cell balancing) most do is cutoff the battery once a cell/battery is fully charged. Hence phones or whatever charges twice as fast with a 2amp power supply vs 1amp. IF* the charger/power supply is too high, it reads 'fully/overly charged too quickly, faster than the cells can absorb and 'trips it saying 'full' ; but then your device seems to power down quick.. ie: Sometimes why your battery will last longer when charged on a weaker/slower charger..

Just sitting here cursing Ring for "Ending livestream" cause I don't pay for a local camera, and Reolink for prompting to "stop live view cause of battery that is 100%"; Also have some delayed video even tho i have it on fluent at least kbps possible thats making me think of trying a different router; except in other 'apps' i don't see the lag so...... Watching dogs in backyard.

@joseph_1979 @weiliang There could be some exception, but generally internals of electronics just try to maintain voltage; so if the power input(available) is sufficient it'll go where it is needed... I have encountered insufficient external power before... running camera/features-on-max while plugged in, the battery % goes from 100%, to 99, to 98,97, down to potentially 0... This was resolved by having a higher amperage external charger/power supply...
This can have it's negatives hypothetically; if the battery is low, and device is in 'low power usage mode'; a higher capacity power supply can pump too much power, too quickly into a battery... With these low power cameras etc.. I'm sure one could find a happy medium.

I myself use an Argus 3E for 'hours at a time'(constantly clicking 'stay alive') with external power during daylight hours; it runs just fine; I wonder if anyone at reolink is gonna make those feature requests (ugh).. really could use a bypass to the sleep(keep alive checkbox, regardless of battery state) and ftp upload of images in the timelapse(most important) and those filenames uploaded really need an identifier for the type of event triggered(timer, motion pir, motion videodetection, yada).

USB connection is what the 3E uses for 'outdoor'/external power maintaining its waterproof rating .. I donno.. Reolink excuses perhaps.

@joseph_1979 Not true. You can test yourself by keeping camera live (manually don't let it sleep) and you'll see the battery stays fully charged. If you plug a USB power meter into it, you can also see the live power usage(charging vs 100% charge and running).

A wireless powered doorbell uses 3watts; a 1amp USB charger is 5W, and even 2A USB chargers work so...

Reolink is being quite lazy not implementing 'easy' features to make their cameras at least as functional as 15 year old Panasonic security cameras.. I want to buy more Reolink for the quality/power but hard to justify when you just can't get them to work right.

https://community.reolink.com/topic/15223/feature-requests-easily-make-reolink-much-better?post_id=36148&_=1739466286563

@onlooker_890638347890931 I also noticed on the time-lapse settings, it allows recording of 'clear' video, but only 'fluent' images.. Interval images would be all the more valuable 'clear'..

Reolink Suggestions
You need 'advanced features option' where you can put every feature that
whoever it is that says it shouldn't be there because it would be 'too
complicated'. TCPIP, ports, enabling/disabling things(webserver) that 'might be to
much of a power drain, everything under the sun).

An option to ignore live view time constraints on battery(all?) cameras in
general or at least 'when charge/electricity is provided'. Video
motion detection when in this state/option vs just PIR.

The Argus 3E has a timer/time lapse function that runs indefinitely and
even has option to turn lights on for photo; It takes insignificantly more
resources if it's waking up for the photo anyway to have a checkbox to upload
said photo/video to FTP. This at the moment is my biggest issue, apart from
Reolink latest client not functioning(and buggy older versions); Is there
anyway to enable a web-server on these models and access directly(again
power option bypass would be nice)

Have a LIST of Wifi SSID/passwords stored and access any in the list that
is sees.
ie: Neighbors allow me to use their wifi when mine goes down, and good if
camera changes locations regularly(I take the battery cameras with me to
observe dogs/car while traveling).

I noticed the IR light turns on for 9-10 seconds to take a photo on a time
lapse; should be able to cut that in half or better, extending battery
life.

There needs to be more specific events and actions... Motion detection, image/video and action(ftp/email otherwise), timers etc..
Of the 2 different reolink cameras I have both seem to upload with the filename: nameofcamera_00_datetimestamp.jpg That 00 or similar needs to change depending on what kind of event it was that triggered it. 00 for timer, 01 for PIR motion detection, 02 for sound alarm, 03 for Video Motion detection(kinda thing)... THis is what my 15+ year old panasonic cameras can do.. Then my own scripts can trigger alarms differently depending on the filename action code.

New Reolink user/customer... In-case it helps anyone else..
I downloaded latest Client for Windows and was getting audio from added camera but no video; rebooted; enabled disabled hardware acceleration; still nothing... Found this link looking for old versions:
https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012466173-All-Reolink-Client-Versions/

Uninstalled latest and installed Version: 8.8.5 and I get video/audio etc now.. Argus 3E...
Still I would like to use latest version, I presume there's other optimizations/features I'll be missing(2 way audio I donno, not tried yet).

Any tips to be sure "Reolink" servers/Cloud never access/relay the camera data, local and remote FTP access only? No cloud can be trusted.

Edit: I just unplugged my cable modem(keeping wifi router/lan up) and the Client 8.8.5 would not connect to the camera, but the Android app could... hmmm.. Will the latest Client function without internet connection?

<sub>Hi, new to Reolink; planning on giving it a 'good try' ordering a few cameras shortly;( Argus 3e's, Battery doorbell, Altas PT Ultra ). The selling point for me is FTP, Wifi, battery+SP. Current cameras are Panasonic that I connect to directly .. Which raises the question..
Reolink is known for giving you control locally over your data/video, but how is video handled when remote? Are you able to connect directly to the remote camera(router/ports) or is it all relayed through 'cloud'(reolink servers)? I'm interested in zero data being handled by a middle-man server. What happens when your viewing 5+ live views simultaneously?

Any comments on accessibility to cameras when on super-slow internet connection?</sub>