Alternative app for doorbell notification and camera operation?

M

mooch91

Getting the hang of it
Feb 11, 2022
101
21
PA, US
Hi all,

My situation is as follows: Amcrest AD410 doorbell is one of eight cameras being managed by Synology Surveillance Station.

I am seeking a simple, alternative app which will allow me to receive doorbell push notifications and quickly bring up the camera and intercom for the doorbell when mobile.

I've tried the Amcrest Smart Home app, but its UI is a little sloppy and it doesn't allow for doorbell notifications only. So it also sends notifications for all of the motion detected, which my Synology is also sending, creating a confusing mess of notifications when someone approaches the doorbell and pushes the button.

I've tried using the Synology DS Cam app for this purpose, but it is limited to sending only one push notification from the system every 30 seconds. So as someone approaches the door, the motion notification comes through, but Synology doesn't send the notification associated with the doorbell button press. Plus, finding the intercom functionality in DS Cam is not as intuitive as a dedicated doorbell app.

I've also tried using Dahua's DMSS. Setting the doorbell up as a VTO gives me button press notifications only, but the only way to get DMSS to work is to fully expose the port on my doorbell to the internet, which I wasn't keen to do. I suspect this is because the doorbell, although manufactured by Dahua, is not fully recognized in the Dahua system as one of theirs.

Is there an alternative doorbell app or setup which can allow me to receive notifications, view video, and two-way communicate through the doorbell? Willing to self-host something as well.

Thanks!
 
What about Amcrest View Pro?
 
TonyR said:
What about Amcrest View Pro?
Click to expand...
Nope. Neither version available for iOS (the old one or the new one in the app store) sees it as a doorbell and provides any 'call' notification. Let alone they are probably the sloppiest UI apps I've ever used. :( Thanks for the suggestion though, gave it a shot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyR
mooch91 said:
Nope. Neither version available for iOS (the old one or the new one in the app store) sees it as a doorbell and provides any 'call' notification. Let alone they are probably the sloppiest UI apps I've ever used. :( Thanks for the suggestion though, gave it a shot.
Click to expand...
Wasn't sure about the DB; a client of mine uses it on her iPhone to view 4 Amcrest bullet cams on an Amcrest NVR and has no issues with that.......and let me tell ya.......this woman, as nice as she is, couldn't pour pee out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel! :screwy:
 
  • Haha
Reactions: mooch91
TonyR said:
Wasn't sure about the DB; a client of mine uses it on her iPhone to view 4 Amcrest bullet cams on an Amcrest NVR and has no issues with that.......and let me tell ya.......this woman, as nice as she is, couldn't pour pee out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel! :screwy:
Click to expand...
If Amcrest would only add a switch to the SmartHome app to allow the motion (human) and doorbell call notifications to be set independently, I could probably make SmartHome work. I spent hours yesterday pouring through the doorbell config files to see if there was something I could change with the API to give me just doorbell call notifications without losing the human detection to my Synology, but it seems like anything that would change would be in the app itself. Oh well.
 
Amazon's "Rufus" say's it is ONVIF-compliant but Amcrest's own specs do not list it. If it was, you might be able to work something from that functionality (ONVIF events).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom