Reolink cameras
Hi-
I saw a few posts with people having problems with Reolink cameras. I'd like to throw my name in the hat. I saw Ben said that they have asked about a bad packet that the cameras are sending. This seems consistent to my problems.
Here's what I notice:
1. When multiple instances of SecuritySpy try to connect to the cameras at once, you can get errors. I typically have one instance of SecuritySpy running that is licensed, and two other computers that I use for viewing live only. If I leave these other instances of SecuritySpy up, and the cameras do their normal maintenance reboot, the reconnections can be problematic. However this problem seems to have disappeared since the last SecuritySpy version 4.2.4.
2. Only two instances of SecuritySpy can connect to each camera at once. There are no settings in the web interfaces that indicate there is a limit to the number of streams.
3. There is a frame rate drop every 4 seconds or so. SecuritySpy doesnt indicate so, but it's clear when you are watching the cameras.
My setup:
I have 4 RLC-410s and 1 RLC-411 I bought as recommendation of Ben's post. All are wired, PoE. The cameras are wired into two different switches, both experiencing the same problem. Several are not actually set up outside yet, so the ethernet cords are short and located next to the switch and just hooked up to test my setup). I also have 6 other cameras, mixed of brands and models (2 are PoE). All working fine.
I'm happy to participate in any testing or debugging.
I saw a few posts with people having problems with Reolink cameras. I'd like to throw my name in the hat. I saw Ben said that they have asked about a bad packet that the cameras are sending. This seems consistent to my problems.
Here's what I notice:
1. When multiple instances of SecuritySpy try to connect to the cameras at once, you can get errors. I typically have one instance of SecuritySpy running that is licensed, and two other computers that I use for viewing live only. If I leave these other instances of SecuritySpy up, and the cameras do their normal maintenance reboot, the reconnections can be problematic. However this problem seems to have disappeared since the last SecuritySpy version 4.2.4.
2. Only two instances of SecuritySpy can connect to each camera at once. There are no settings in the web interfaces that indicate there is a limit to the number of streams.
3. There is a frame rate drop every 4 seconds or so. SecuritySpy doesnt indicate so, but it's clear when you are watching the cameras.
My setup:
I have 4 RLC-410s and 1 RLC-411 I bought as recommendation of Ben's post. All are wired, PoE. The cameras are wired into two different switches, both experiencing the same problem. Several are not actually set up outside yet, so the ethernet cords are short and located next to the switch and just hooked up to test my setup). I also have 6 other cameras, mixed of brands and models (2 are PoE). All working fine.
I'm happy to participate in any testing or debugging.
Comments
in an 'ode to Chubsta' post => I deem my Reolink cameras finally working well with SS.
There is ZERO question there is some sort of hiccup when the SS goes to connect to the Reolinks of any flavor - no idea if its the SS or Reolink. Any other brand camera opens immediately - reolink always takes a while.
That said - I needed to rewire everything. Minimize the number of switches, replace cheap switches with name brand (TP Link). Use either AC to the camera (yuck) or dedicated POE box. Be very aware of the total power consumption of the cameras vs POE af and at box/switch. Make sure firmware of cameras is updated. Connected computer via cable to a switch even though I had very good and fast WIFI. Each little bit seemed to lower the errors to the point I have now run 24hrs with 60 minute videos - 8 cameras - with 4 on continuous recording. Plus a few more only recording in Reolink app.
On a MacBook Pro which is probably my weak link at moment - but might be another month before I can get my MacPro onsite to put my security cam adventure to bed. Now I just need to hire someone to go through all the video that collects and remind me, the whole point was to secure and watch the house and not point them all into the woods to watch the animals!
Like you I am not sure where of the actual problem lies, all I know is that a 'perfect' network has been the solution for me, get rid of potential network errors and whatever is going wrong when they occur doesn't happen either, I can live with that, in fact I am awaiting delivery of another 410 to add in somewhere.
I temporarily put one of my old Tenvis cameras in at our other property to check the wildlife there and it was so blurry and such a poor frame rate compared to the Reolink that I know it was worth the grief to switch over here.
In relation to the original post, I would just suggest starting with the most simple setup possible, a single camera hard wired in to the router via cable, and then slowly add from there, will be interesting to finally find out the exact cause of the issues.
My SecuritySpy connects using ONVIF, but I have tried the Reolink profile. PTZ does not work if I use the Reolink profile. Switching between the two profiles just now forced me to not only quit SecuritySpy I had to reboot the camera with the Reolink app. The camera seemed to be having issues and I had to quit the app then reboot the camera. If I use ONVIF and don't change anything, the system is stable. I don't have the camera set to auto-reboot. The camera powered by a POE+ 802.3at and the switch is connected directly to the Google Fiber Network Box (router). Camera firmware is up-to-date. Sometimes after a power blip or failure the camera has to be rebooted, but that doesn't seem out of the ordinary to me.
Any ideas anyone?
Hopefully this will help!
https://www.bensoftware.com/forum/discussion/3519/camera-spinning-when-ptz-used-#Item_8
From the log:
03/26/2021 13:00:04: Error communicating with network device "Reolink-1". 5.3.2,70212,4001 Error from network device.
03/26/2021 13:00:08: Error communicating with network device "Reolink-2". 5.3.2,10,835 Excessive packet loss from network device, the network may be too slow or defective, or this computer may be overloaded. Check the network and/or reduce this camera's frame rate.
03/26/2021 13:00:29: Error communicating with network device "Reolink-2". 5.3.2,70212,4001 Error from network device.
03/26/2021 13:03:59: Error communicating with network device "Reolink-2". 5.3.2,70212,4001 Error from network device.
03/26/2021 13:03:59: Error communicating with network device "Reolink-1". 5.3.2,70212,4001 Error from network device.
03/26/2021 13:04:05: Error communicating with network device "Reolink-1". 5.3.2,80199,801 Error from network device. Data from network device not as expected.
To those having problems with lost PTZ presets, I think SS is not taking over the PTZ presets which were set on the Reolink Cams/NVR. I encountered that after a (scheduled) reboot of the NVR, the PTZ presets on SS didn't work anymore. Unchecked the scheduled weekly reboot (every Sunday 2AM) on the NVR, and presets remained on the SS. Thats for Information and... maybe improvement.
Mostly it will be "Error from network device. Bad video data sent by device."
and when I leave it at that, it will be "Excessive packet loss" (from Log file).
When I wait for about 5 minutes after I quit SS and the launch SS again, the Reolink cams will connect, even though they will be the last bunch that connect of all connected cameras to this setup.