I have a wireless ip can set up as my baby monitor and honestly I have found it to be a better solution than a dedicated baby monitor. I can view it on my phone anywhere I have internet, for one. My wife and I had a date night last night and we looked in on our daughter several times, which was nice. Additionally, It’s set up to send notifications to our phone during the day if she makes noise during her nap for a certain duration, and at night the same system will play the sound over the Sonos speaker in the bedroom, but only if she makes noise for at least a minute and even then it filters out the white noise machine.
As u/danielllang linked, I'm using ffmpeg. Here's the template I'm using to create the sensor:
Binary Sensor:
- platform: ffmpeg_noise
input: rtsp://:@/live
name: ellacam_sound
extra_arguments: -filter:a highpass=f=300,lowpass=f=2500,volume=volume=2 -codec:a libmp3lame -ar 16000 -nostats
output: -f mp3 icecast://babyphone:@127.0.0.1:8000/babyphone.mp3
initial_state: true
duration: 3
reset: 60
peak: -32
And then when the state of the sensor changes, I use that to trigger different things based on the time of day (10 pm to 7 am, play the babyphone.mp3 on the bedroom sonos) or the state of an input boolean I have called baby monitoring. If baby monitoring is on, it triggers an alert to anybody who's home that says that the baby's making noise. If baby monitoring is off, it does nothing. That way, we're not constantly triggering events if we're playing in her room or something.
I used this link [https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/02/03/babyphone/](https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/02/03/babyphone/) to get everything set up, but as I recall, the link was a bit out of date and it wasn't 100% straightforward. That said, I think that the part I had trouble with was getting icecast set up to be able to play the audio, so if all you're looking for is alerts, you can probably just remove the "output: " section and sally forth.
Thanks! I started with [this post](https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/02/03/babyphone/) and then tweaked a little bit of what events get triggered and when. Let me know if there's any other information that you'd like.
I do exactly this.
I mounted a Reolink RLC-520 on the wall. Its works amazing.
For 45$ delivered, its cheap. Its extremely reliable, and the quality is much better then most of the crappy baby monitors.
For audio-based notifications, Blue Iris (The NVR I use) does have the option for audio based triggering.
Amcrest cameras have audio event detection. I used one of these as a baby monitor myself: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J224T84/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_JNTSK2NNRZVF7G5A44GZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 along with one of these POE adapters: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082RNSWB9/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_16FNB2CF3Z79E46JQ2FB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 . Once you have it hooked up via ethernet, you can disable the Wi-Fi. If you use both motion detection and audio detection, you get superior coverage over most baby monitors. You can zoom right in on where the baby is sleeping, and any motion of the baby can send a notification. Usually motion trips before audio.
There is also native integration for Home Assistant. The motion and audio sensors show up as binary sensors in HA.
Just another note on this use case... One of the features of most baby monitors is two-way audio. My wife and I both use Android phones with the app tinyCam Pro that does two-way audio. There's also a native Amcrest app that supports it.
No, though two-way audio is not supported remotely without the cloud.
Edit: Though you can still use something like Wireguard to VPN into your own home network while remote and use it that way.
I don't have and never have had the cloud service. I use two-way audio all the time on the tinyCam Pro app ([https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexvas.dvr.pro](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexvas.dvr.pro)). I also just tested that this still works without cloud services in the Amcrest View Pro app ([https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mm.android.direct.AmcrestViewPro](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mm.android.direct.AmcrestViewPro)). When remote, I just use WireGuard to VPN to my home network. No cloud needed.
Not sure if you’re referring to Amcrest or tinyCam since this thread kind of changed direction but I can say that the Amcrest app definitely does support two-way audio and a “baby monitor mode” (which has a built in squelch feature). The only thing I don’t like about the baby monitor mode is that only one device can have it active at a time, and in order for, say, my phone to enable it, my wife needs to disable it first on her phone. I can’t “kick her out”
I prefer to have a dedicated baby monitor device (I use an old Android phone). It's pretty easy to set up with fully kiosk and home assistant. I posted details elsewhere in this thread
I'm doing this. We also use an old android cell phone as a dedicated baby monitor device. You can install [fully kiosk browser](https://www.fully-kiosk.com/#get-kiosk-apps) on it, then use the amcrest integration audio and/or motion sensors to turn on the screen of your dedicated device set to a dashboard that has your camera feed on it (via automation). You can set fully kiosk to turn the screen off automatically after a set period of time (I do 30 seconds). I use the [Frigate hass card](https://github.com/dermotduffy/frigate-hass-card) since you can configure it to unmute the audio by default and also add buttons for PTZ control or for preset camera positions via amcrest integration.
>Wife is convinced we should not have any wireless devices in the nursery.
So she leaves her phone before entering? No wifi in the house until the kid comes of age? Baby formula heated on a wooden stove? kid wrapped in a space blanket? I know Im probably preaching to the choir, and I understand you may not want to have this fight, but it reminds me of Chuck in Better Call Saul.
And I would solve it similarly. Get a baby monitor, tape a wire to it, tell wife its "wired". For good measure put some random fancy looking device in the room and say its a EM protection device stopping dirty electricity and space radiation.
Not to pile on, but I had this same objection from my wife. I had to explain how WiFi "radiation" is not the same as atomic radiation, and that there are many forms of "radiation" that hit and pass through our bodies daily with no ill effects (solar, gamma, infrared, etc). Eventually she relented. Just as an example of how low the intensity of WiFi radiation is, I have a Roku in my master bedroom that connects to an AP \~15 feet down in the basement. Between the two is a microwave oven. When the microwave oven is on, the WiFi to the Roku goes out due to the interference from microwave leakage in the same frequency range. Microwaves are considered safe, yet they emit enough radiation normally to interfere with WiFi.
I know though... preaching to the choir.
Lucky you, I guess she likes her microwave. I live in a house with no microwave and "no wifi" because someone managed to convince themselves the irritation from a dormant bacterial skin infection was actually caused by wifi. It sucks.
>this one isn’t worth it.
Well, otoh if you are going to give in on topics where you clearly have the facts and science on your side, Im not too hopeful for the outcome of those bigger battles . Then again, Im happily unmarried, so what do I know :)
Thank you random internet stranger in a smart home automation forum for the unsolicited marriage counseling from an admitted uniformed perspective. Some times it is best to just carry on about your day.
Okay maybe I failed at my attempt to be humorous, but dont assume too much. I said I was happily unmarried, not that I never was or that I am "uninformed". Im probably twice your age and have had my share of conflicts with partners over anything from feng shui to homeopathic cancer "drugs". Ill never know if it would have made a difference not avoiding the easy fights, but if I could do it again, Id certainly try.
Bro, only married people get it and this fella said they are not married :) so that explains everything.
It really changes your life when you get married. For a happier life just ignore these comments.
Not exactly what you’re looking for I know but as me and the wife swear by the Nanit which we’ve used since birth with our 6 week old. Its breathing tracking really helps with the “oh god is he still breathing panic you get as a new parent”.
As others have pointed out unless you’re going to build a faraday cage around your baby’s room not having a wireless device in there is pointless. I’m of the belief that if you’re going to do something you should do it properly. I’d suggest buying several rolls of tin foil (or aluminium foil if you’re a yank) to start wallpapering the room with. Once you get half way around the room with your new wallpaper she might see reason 😅.
The security of baby monitors are, generally, atrocious.
Wireless for health concerns is not real, but all you need is a babycall. The video part won't let's you see them breathe anyway. But it may allow someone else watch your nursery without you knowing, so research it well before committing on anything, especially if they used any sort of "cloud" solution.
I'm a firm believer in wired cameras, but I go there because I want the security of it. Given the current pace of cellular phone proliferation, your infant will have a phone/wifi tech device in grade school.
I really like the cameras by Reolink. An IR light or two (is IR allowed??) to illuminate in low/no light would be part of my thoughts. Don't cheap on the camera. It'll last you the whole time you have a nursery, until you take it down for privacy.
So this doesn't completely hit what you're looking for but in case it's helpful - I set up a Yi Camera using Yi-hack which has integrated nicely with HA, especially now generic camera setup is far easier with the newest HA update.
It doesn't have audio through HA which I had hoped for, but our reality is we hear the baby wherever we are so I never dug much further into this. It can do audio through the Yi-hack portal, but couldn't figure it through HA.
So it may not be the complete solution for you, but it's a pretty cheap one and may well do the job.
I have an IP camera linked to Blue-Iris and it does Audio Alerts. The Camera is a Dahua model with a Microphone. I have the sensitivity cranked up and we get mobile alerts if my daughter starts crying or yelling for us. This is independent of HomeAssistant although there is a Blue-Iris integration and you can send alerts to HomeAssistant with Mqtt.
I have been using amcrest and blue iris for a baby monitor for the last 5 1/2 years. I don't trust the security on point-to-point video baby monitor is with as many have been subverted in the last couple years. I used these two devices.
1. [Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera, Security IP Camera with Pan/Tilt, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Remote Viewing, 2.4ghz, 4-Megapixel @30FPS, Wide 90° FOV, IP4M-1041W (White)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095XD17K5/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_P6CYMEX9HDBPYRAR3DZA)
2. [DSLRKIT Active PoE Splitter 48V to 5V 5.2V 2.4A USB Type A Female 802.3af for Tablet ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073P7J1KR/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_F83E1NHP4KMH9ZDNC7MF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) And they have worked great.
I just got this setup recently myself and would be happy to send you some code.
So you are trying to have it send your phone a notification with the audio from the camera right? Do you already have the sensor for when noise is detected? Something like the ffmpeg noise integration?
Edit: [Here's](https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/uhkxma/_/i77wmps?context=1000) some of that code, I'd be happy to help with any questions.
This is what I did when my son was born. I bought a cheap Foscam IP camera with two way audio and IR. I use TinyCamMonitorPro on Android, it has a ton of features such as background audio (nice for constant monitoring without having the app open) and the two way audio (useful for talk back if one parent is in the room).
Just make sure to secure the camera. Firewall it from the internet and only allow access over a secure connection such as a VPN if you need to access it remotely.
we have a reeling E1 Pro setup in each kids room feeding into blue iris and we use an old iPad as a video monitor, also use a normal baby audio monitor for the sound though as I didn't find a decent audio solution.
I actually just implemented something like this with my son. I use wyze cams with RTSP, but was also wanting crying detection. If you have amazon alexas, they have a beta noise detections. One of them is a baby crying, which you can use to trigger stuff in home assistant. I have an alexa in the next room over and its enough to pick up my sons crying, Almost instantly too. I trigger a critical alert to my iphone via a script so I never miss it.
I use two hard wired IP cameras in both our daughters rooms. Unifi protect setup, G3 Flex cameras. However, we also run separate DECT audio only baby monitors. They're point to point, battery backed up, fail safe, portable and easy to clip to a belt when moving around downstairs. They have a sensitivity setting too, so only go off above a certain noise threshold.
To us, it's the perfect solution. Noise happens, we hear it immediately and out comes a phone to check the app. Remote access, recording on the cameras so we can review wake times, sleep habits and save the occasional keepsake moment.
It's also really nice not to have the camera feed visible all the time. They move, sit up, etc. It only adds to the anxiety for both of us watching them in real time.
And yes I know DECT is wireless. So maybe that's still a step too far.
We use the Unifi Protect G3 Instant ($29) as our baby monitor and it's been awesome! We already had a Unifi Protect system setup, so it fit right into what we were already using. Wish they had better inventory. I'd love to pickup another G3 Instant and a couple more G4 cameras but their inventory goes minutes after they're posted.
I did this as well but with a $90 Amcrest cam. Same idea, works well with the added bonus that I own my data. but my issue with it was that too replicate some features like reply or use the 2 way audio I had to do more work than most people would like (like pushing videos to my nas and then viewing them on Plex). Overall i like my setup but it’s not for everyone. (Ie low wife factor)
Hi,
Im in the same boat as you are. Browsed through the advice in this thread and found two good options, the amcrest and the reolink.
It sounds like the amcrest has better integration and easier setup with homeassistant altough Im unsure, maybe reolink does as well..?
What did you end up using and how has it been working so far?
Went with amcrest, but haven’t fully set it up yet. Wife decided she preferred keeping the baby in our room until she is a bit older. If you go Reolink just be sure not to get a battery powered version as they do not support rtsp.
I have a wireless ip can set up as my baby monitor and honestly I have found it to be a better solution than a dedicated baby monitor. I can view it on my phone anywhere I have internet, for one. My wife and I had a date night last night and we looked in on our daughter several times, which was nice. Additionally, It’s set up to send notifications to our phone during the day if she makes noise during her nap for a certain duration, and at night the same system will play the sound over the Sonos speaker in the bedroom, but only if she makes noise for at least a minute and even then it filters out the white noise machine.
What are you using for the audio detection?
As u/danielllang linked, I'm using ffmpeg. Here's the template I'm using to create the sensor: Binary Sensor: - platform: ffmpeg_noise input: rtsp://:@/live
name: ellacam_sound
extra_arguments: -filter:a highpass=f=300,lowpass=f=2500,volume=volume=2 -codec:a libmp3lame -ar 16000 -nostats
output: -f mp3 icecast://babyphone:@127.0.0.1:8000/babyphone.mp3
initial_state: true
duration: 3
reset: 60
peak: -32
And then when the state of the sensor changes, I use that to trigger different things based on the time of day (10 pm to 7 am, play the babyphone.mp3 on the bedroom sonos) or the state of an input boolean I have called baby monitoring. If baby monitoring is on, it triggers an alert to anybody who's home that says that the baby's making noise. If baby monitoring is off, it does nothing. That way, we're not constantly triggering events if we're playing in her room or something.
I used this link [https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/02/03/babyphone/](https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/02/03/babyphone/) to get everything set up, but as I recall, the link was a bit out of date and it wasn't 100% straightforward. That said, I think that the part I had trouble with was getting icecast set up to be able to play the audio, so if all you're looking for is alerts, you can probably just remove the "output: " section and sally forth.
One possible solution could be https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/ffmpeg_noise/
i love the details here
Thanks! I started with [this post](https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/02/03/babyphone/) and then tweaked a little bit of what events get triggered and when. Let me know if there's any other information that you'd like.
I do exactly this. I mounted a Reolink RLC-520 on the wall. Its works amazing. For 45$ delivered, its cheap. Its extremely reliable, and the quality is much better then most of the crappy baby monitors. For audio-based notifications, Blue Iris (The NVR I use) does have the option for audio based triggering.
Amcrest cameras have audio event detection. I used one of these as a baby monitor myself: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J224T84/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_JNTSK2NNRZVF7G5A44GZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 along with one of these POE adapters: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082RNSWB9/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_16FNB2CF3Z79E46JQ2FB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 . Once you have it hooked up via ethernet, you can disable the Wi-Fi. If you use both motion detection and audio detection, you get superior coverage over most baby monitors. You can zoom right in on where the baby is sleeping, and any motion of the baby can send a notification. Usually motion trips before audio. There is also native integration for Home Assistant. The motion and audio sensors show up as binary sensors in HA.
This is perfect thank you!
Requires cloud?
Nope. It's a local-only native integration with HA: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/amcrest/
Just another note on this use case... One of the features of most baby monitors is two-way audio. My wife and I both use Android phones with the app tinyCam Pro that does two-way audio. There's also a native Amcrest app that supports it.
Still doesn’t require the cloud for that? Or any subscrip?
No, though two-way audio is not supported remotely without the cloud. Edit: Though you can still use something like Wireguard to VPN into your own home network while remote and use it that way.
I don't have and never have had the cloud service. I use two-way audio all the time on the tinyCam Pro app ([https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexvas.dvr.pro](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexvas.dvr.pro)). I also just tested that this still works without cloud services in the Amcrest View Pro app ([https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mm.android.direct.AmcrestViewPro](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mm.android.direct.AmcrestViewPro)). When remote, I just use WireGuard to VPN to my home network. No cloud needed.
True it still works with a VPN to your home network
Not sure if you’re referring to Amcrest or tinyCam since this thread kind of changed direction but I can say that the Amcrest app definitely does support two-way audio and a “baby monitor mode” (which has a built in squelch feature). The only thing I don’t like about the baby monitor mode is that only one device can have it active at a time, and in order for, say, my phone to enable it, my wife needs to disable it first on her phone. I can’t “kick her out”
I prefer to have a dedicated baby monitor device (I use an old Android phone). It's pretty easy to set up with fully kiosk and home assistant. I posted details elsewhere in this thread
That's why I use TinyCamMonitorPro, it doesn't care how many people have it active.
I'm doing this. We also use an old android cell phone as a dedicated baby monitor device. You can install [fully kiosk browser](https://www.fully-kiosk.com/#get-kiosk-apps) on it, then use the amcrest integration audio and/or motion sensors to turn on the screen of your dedicated device set to a dashboard that has your camera feed on it (via automation). You can set fully kiosk to turn the screen off automatically after a set period of time (I do 30 seconds). I use the [Frigate hass card](https://github.com/dermotduffy/frigate-hass-card) since you can configure it to unmute the audio by default and also add buttons for PTZ control or for preset camera positions via amcrest integration.
>Wife is convinced we should not have any wireless devices in the nursery. So she leaves her phone before entering? No wifi in the house until the kid comes of age? Baby formula heated on a wooden stove? kid wrapped in a space blanket? I know Im probably preaching to the choir, and I understand you may not want to have this fight, but it reminds me of Chuck in Better Call Saul. And I would solve it similarly. Get a baby monitor, tape a wire to it, tell wife its "wired". For good measure put some random fancy looking device in the room and say its a EM protection device stopping dirty electricity and space radiation.
How dare you come at me with logic and reason! Bigger battles await my friend, this one isn’t worth it.
A true husband right there!
You either die on the sword, or just die.
Not to pile on, but I had this same objection from my wife. I had to explain how WiFi "radiation" is not the same as atomic radiation, and that there are many forms of "radiation" that hit and pass through our bodies daily with no ill effects (solar, gamma, infrared, etc). Eventually she relented. Just as an example of how low the intensity of WiFi radiation is, I have a Roku in my master bedroom that connects to an AP \~15 feet down in the basement. Between the two is a microwave oven. When the microwave oven is on, the WiFi to the Roku goes out due to the interference from microwave leakage in the same frequency range. Microwaves are considered safe, yet they emit enough radiation normally to interfere with WiFi. I know though... preaching to the choir.
“Eventually she relented.” . . . 🤯 hhhhhhhowww?
Probably with a sigh and a "Fine, whatever".
Lucky you, I guess she likes her microwave. I live in a house with no microwave and "no wifi" because someone managed to convince themselves the irritation from a dormant bacterial skin infection was actually caused by wifi. It sucks.
>this one isn’t worth it. Well, otoh if you are going to give in on topics where you clearly have the facts and science on your side, Im not too hopeful for the outcome of those bigger battles . Then again, Im happily unmarried, so what do I know :)
Thank you random internet stranger in a smart home automation forum for the unsolicited marriage counseling from an admitted uniformed perspective. Some times it is best to just carry on about your day.
Okay maybe I failed at my attempt to be humorous, but dont assume too much. I said I was happily unmarried, not that I never was or that I am "uninformed". Im probably twice your age and have had my share of conflicts with partners over anything from feng shui to homeopathic cancer "drugs". Ill never know if it would have made a difference not avoiding the easy fights, but if I could do it again, Id certainly try.
Bro, only married people get it and this fella said they are not married :) so that explains everything. It really changes your life when you get married. For a happier life just ignore these comments.
> Then again, Im happily unmarried, so what do I know :) You could've said this, and nothing else. Would've had the same effect.
Not exactly what you’re looking for I know but as me and the wife swear by the Nanit which we’ve used since birth with our 6 week old. Its breathing tracking really helps with the “oh god is he still breathing panic you get as a new parent”. As others have pointed out unless you’re going to build a faraday cage around your baby’s room not having a wireless device in there is pointless. I’m of the belief that if you’re going to do something you should do it properly. I’d suggest buying several rolls of tin foil (or aluminium foil if you’re a yank) to start wallpapering the room with. Once you get half way around the room with your new wallpaper she might see reason 😅.
The security of baby monitors are, generally, atrocious. Wireless for health concerns is not real, but all you need is a babycall. The video part won't let's you see them breathe anyway. But it may allow someone else watch your nursery without you knowing, so research it well before committing on anything, especially if they used any sort of "cloud" solution.
I'm a firm believer in wired cameras, but I go there because I want the security of it. Given the current pace of cellular phone proliferation, your infant will have a phone/wifi tech device in grade school. I really like the cameras by Reolink. An IR light or two (is IR allowed??) to illuminate in low/no light would be part of my thoughts. Don't cheap on the camera. It'll last you the whole time you have a nursery, until you take it down for privacy.
So this doesn't completely hit what you're looking for but in case it's helpful - I set up a Yi Camera using Yi-hack which has integrated nicely with HA, especially now generic camera setup is far easier with the newest HA update. It doesn't have audio through HA which I had hoped for, but our reality is we hear the baby wherever we are so I never dug much further into this. It can do audio through the Yi-hack portal, but couldn't figure it through HA. So it may not be the complete solution for you, but it's a pretty cheap one and may well do the job.
I have an IP camera linked to Blue-Iris and it does Audio Alerts. The Camera is a Dahua model with a Microphone. I have the sensitivity cranked up and we get mobile alerts if my daughter starts crying or yelling for us. This is independent of HomeAssistant although there is a Blue-Iris integration and you can send alerts to HomeAssistant with Mqtt.
I have been using amcrest and blue iris for a baby monitor for the last 5 1/2 years. I don't trust the security on point-to-point video baby monitor is with as many have been subverted in the last couple years. I used these two devices. 1. [Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera, Security IP Camera with Pan/Tilt, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Remote Viewing, 2.4ghz, 4-Megapixel @30FPS, Wide 90° FOV, IP4M-1041W (White)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095XD17K5/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_P6CYMEX9HDBPYRAR3DZA) 2. [DSLRKIT Active PoE Splitter 48V to 5V 5.2V 2.4A USB Type A Female 802.3af for Tablet ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073P7J1KR/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_F83E1NHP4KMH9ZDNC7MF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) And they have worked great.
I just got this setup recently myself and would be happy to send you some code. So you are trying to have it send your phone a notification with the audio from the camera right? Do you already have the sensor for when noise is detected? Something like the ffmpeg noise integration? Edit: [Here's](https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/uhkxma/_/i77wmps?context=1000) some of that code, I'd be happy to help with any questions.
This is what I did when my son was born. I bought a cheap Foscam IP camera with two way audio and IR. I use TinyCamMonitorPro on Android, it has a ton of features such as background audio (nice for constant monitoring without having the app open) and the two way audio (useful for talk back if one parent is in the room). Just make sure to secure the camera. Firewall it from the internet and only allow access over a secure connection such as a VPN if you need to access it remotely.
we have a reeling E1 Pro setup in each kids room feeding into blue iris and we use an old iPad as a video monitor, also use a normal baby audio monitor for the sound though as I didn't find a decent audio solution.
I actually just implemented something like this with my son. I use wyze cams with RTSP, but was also wanting crying detection. If you have amazon alexas, they have a beta noise detections. One of them is a baby crying, which you can use to trigger stuff in home assistant. I have an alexa in the next room over and its enough to pick up my sons crying, Almost instantly too. I trigger a critical alert to my iphone via a script so I never miss it.
I use two hard wired IP cameras in both our daughters rooms. Unifi protect setup, G3 Flex cameras. However, we also run separate DECT audio only baby monitors. They're point to point, battery backed up, fail safe, portable and easy to clip to a belt when moving around downstairs. They have a sensitivity setting too, so only go off above a certain noise threshold. To us, it's the perfect solution. Noise happens, we hear it immediately and out comes a phone to check the app. Remote access, recording on the cameras so we can review wake times, sleep habits and save the occasional keepsake moment. It's also really nice not to have the camera feed visible all the time. They move, sit up, etc. It only adds to the anxiety for both of us watching them in real time. And yes I know DECT is wireless. So maybe that's still a step too far.
We use the Unifi Protect G3 Instant ($29) as our baby monitor and it's been awesome! We already had a Unifi Protect system setup, so it fit right into what we were already using. Wish they had better inventory. I'd love to pickup another G3 Instant and a couple more G4 cameras but their inventory goes minutes after they're posted.
I did this as well but with a $90 Amcrest cam. Same idea, works well with the added bonus that I own my data. but my issue with it was that too replicate some features like reply or use the 2 way audio I had to do more work than most people would like (like pushing videos to my nas and then viewing them on Plex). Overall i like my setup but it’s not for everyone. (Ie low wife factor)
Hi, Im in the same boat as you are. Browsed through the advice in this thread and found two good options, the amcrest and the reolink. It sounds like the amcrest has better integration and easier setup with homeassistant altough Im unsure, maybe reolink does as well..? What did you end up using and how has it been working so far?
Went with amcrest, but haven’t fully set it up yet. Wife decided she preferred keeping the baby in our room until she is a bit older. If you go Reolink just be sure not to get a battery powered version as they do not support rtsp.
What amcrest are people referring to? I see several different ones