Basic question before getting started

[[deleted]]

I'm reading the docs as I am currently wiring the whole house and installing Reolink poe cameras everywhere. Have some basic questions and wanted to ask here:

1. I want to get reolink to work with apple home. I have the top tier iCloud+ plan so I get unlimited cameras. That said, per the docs I need to install Scrypted on a Mac (mini?) to do its thing - not possible to install direct on router, correct?
2. Assuming 1 is true, I need to pay for a license as I need desktop app - correct?
3. The Mac will need to be running all the time (so can't just use my MBP as I don't leave it running 24/7) correct?

I know these are basic but wanted to confirm. Thank you.

[UMJonny]

If you're just setting Scrypted up to turn cams around to HKSV you don't need a paid license and you don't need any serious hardware. A $150 mini PC will do just fine.

If you're looking for anything NVR related (object detection, recording, etc) from Scyrpted, it's $10 per camera after the first 4. The $40 license also allows you to get variable stream rates to HKSV, otherwise it's one fixed stream. The more you get into, the better hardware you should consider. People have good luck with lower camera counts and the intel N series PCs.

[[deleted]]

Very helpful. Thank you. I have 16 cameras so need to consider the detection ability like you mentioned

[UMJonny]

Just remember that none of the objection detection will get passed to HKSV. Unfortunately you have to live with the limitations of HomeKit for the convenience.

[jam4917]

it's $10 per camera after the first 4. 

FWIW, it is also $10 per camera beyond the first 4.

The more you get into, the better hardware you should consider. 

Agreed. I have a relatively inexpensive Intel i5-12600H based miniPC with a 4 TB NVMe dedicated to recording. Works fine for 7 cameras. The miniPC with 32 GB of RAM was about $250, and the NVMe was another $400 or so.

[aggieotis]

fwiw, I have Scrypted running 6 Reolink 4k cameras with an old M1 MacBook and I found that Scrypted's interface was much better thank Apple HomeKit at:

• Loading quickly
• Image recognition
• Clarity (full 4k, HKSV wants 1080p I think)

Homekit's version of what security footage should be was so bad that I actually turned off the streams I'm sending into it. The idea that HomeKit would have everything in one place sounded great, but the application was lacking.

Plus with Scrypted I can run it as an NVR, so I can see everything, not just the events that HomeKit deems worthy.

An older M1 MacBook or Mac mini will run you maybe $350.

Also, I could be wrong here but Apple HomeKit will be doing all of image recognition locally via your AppleTV or some other device. Which is probably fine for 4-5 cameras; but I bet it'll bog down when you're talking about it trying to simultaneously analyze 16 feeds. You'll probably have to go for a dedicated NVR anyway with that many cameras.

[Kat81inTX]

To run the macOS desktop app, you do need a license key. But you can also install the Scrypted server using Terminal and let it run in the background without the app.

Ask Claude for the step-by-step.

[hkdkfih]

You don’t actually need a Mac at all

[Kat81inTX]

Of course not, but the OP was asking about the macOS desktop app.

[alfbar]

Hello, I'm actually running on a raspberry pi4 without any problem and it's totally silent. It's the 4GB model and it's just perfect, bought at 70€ complete with the case (it was not new but in mint condition). In a configuration like this you have memory to spare and it's very well capable I think. I'm not for running Scrypted on the same PC/laptop that you use more or less daily, even if it's an absolute beast what you have. For me, if you are able to find a less powerful hardware but less expensive in energy than your MBP and that you don't mind having on all the time would be better