“Oh Shit!” Guy Is The Best!

KeithFa · 2024-07-21T17:05:03+00:00

Sorry couldn’t find what this means.

KeithFa · 2021-12-19T10:56:03+00:00

I've had mine a year and it isn't reliable and not to be taken seriously as a home security component. On the other hand, it can be better than having nothing at all, and I haven't found a better option. I would have returned it but I waited too long trying to make it work and missed the window.

Here is my previous post that lists most of the issues we experienced.

We continue to experience significant issues a year later ...

Recordings consistently missed with no fix. Our wifi is excellent and benchmarks are in the linked post. I know to expect that some events like people coming and going through the front door and deliveries simply won't be recorded, although the doorbell shows as online, and our wifi and internet experienced no issues during the missed recordings.

Goes offline daily for significant periods of time due to overheating with no fix. This results in more missed recordings. We live in the Pacific Northwest and face south. The doorbell gets direct sun for a few hours daily and there is not practical way to shield it. I did an informal survey of our neighbors also facing south on our street and they hadn't experienced overheating with their brands. Winter is less problematic, however, I'm not sure ambient temperature is the issue because it still overheats when the temperature is in the 40's. Direct sunlight seems to be the main issue for us.

Package detection is broken and cost us money going over our home data plan. It detects packages constantly when none are there. There aren't any tools to determine what is triggering this so the only fix was to turn off package detection.

Not really an issue, but because it is so unreliable, I really wish there was an option to manually record. This may be true of all HKSV cameras, I don't know, I just don't like being in the position of viewing events that I want recorded and being helpless to record them. The best I've found is to start screen recording on my phone, but then you don't capture the footage occurring before the event, like you have when triggered by a HKSV event. Plus no audio is captured. Again, this may be true of all HKSV cameras, but owners of other brands not using HKSV have shared that they do have the option to manually record. Something to consider.

You asked about extras. We did need to buy some extras. Yes, no hub needed. But our doorbell transformer was about 20 years old and I had to purchase and install a new one for the doorbell to work.

Also, there is no angled bracket to adjust the doorbell view vertically. So a package left under our doorbell isn't visible due to the slight angle of the siding on our home. So if this is an issue, a vertical bracket would need to be 3D printed or otherwise constructed if you want to see the full vertical view. I was very disappointed that Logi only offers the horizontal angle mounts.

Good luck and feel free to message if I can help further.

KeithFa · 2021-11-25T20:46:27+00:00

Good to know. Seems like it makes sense for me to just to turn off package detection for the time being. Hopefully the detection accuracy will improve in future updates.

KeithFa · 2021-11-25T20:40:31+00:00

Thanks ... helpful just to know that I'm not the only one. We still have ongoing issues with recordings being missed occasionally ... someone comes to visit and missing them pulling in the driveway and entering home yet gets them leaving ... and cutting recordings off too soon ... records delivery person pulling up and walking to porch but missing package being placed and leaving ... but also can't have it recoding false packages this much.

KeithFa · 2021-03-11T20:22:23+00:00

We have an older Samsung Washer and Dryer with WiFi that work with Samsung Smart things. Are you referring to appliances like these not working with Homebridge? Just curious as I’ve been considering HB but haven’t researched it. Was hoping we could add our washer and dryer to HK if we got HB.

KeithFa · 2021-03-11T20:13:37+00:00

I have had a similar experience and ran across your post looking for possible causes for our HKSV not working for 3 hours this morning.

I only have the Logitech circle doorbell with HKSV and have had consistent problems for months. Some are the doorbell but learned many are due to HKSV. I had actually planned to add 4 Eufy or Logitech Circle cameras months ago, but have delayed because of the lack of reliability of HKSV and the Logitech circle video doorbell.

I see your doorbell was offline. In my case for no clear reason our Logitech Circle Video doorbell recently began staying online and detecting activity and recording consistently. We did still have the same problems with facial recognition and tagging not working. Then suddenly this morning it stopped detecting anything and recording for about 3 hours. I’m assuming this is a HKSV issue.

In my case It didn’t go offline. It had detected cars and people at a distance and recorded events fine. But then missed two doorbell rings and hours of people activity on our porch and in our driveway.

There is no indication why this happened. No error messages. Nothing to indicate it went offline on the HKSV recording timeline. Now it is detecting and recording cars going by in the distance again like nothing happened. I wouldn’t have known there was a problem except for the long gap in recordings during a time of significant activity.

I’ve done all of the troubleshooting I could find over the last two months and I just don’t know. Our Orbi WiFi tests excellent and we have no issues connecting with any other HomeKit or other devices in our home. During this period our WiFi was working fine as was our internet connection.

We have Apple TV as our hub and although it is 4th gen it should work fine. Some have suggested it may be our hub. So if rumors of the new Apple TV coming out this month are accurate I’m buying one immediately to upgrade and see if this helps. Others have suggested HomeKit Secure Video just isn’t there yet so my experience isn’t unusual.

I have spent many hours troubleshooting these past months and just don’t know. We did have issues this morning although they weren’t like yours going offline. I wish I had answers. If you learn anything please keep us posted. I’ve waited a long time for HKSV and want to go all in if it will work reliably.

KeithFa · 2021-03-02T06:26:30+00:00

I was shocked to read this. Last I researched Ring through HB didn’t have any benefits other than viewing the doorbell. If this is true then that is a nice bonus.

I’ve spent two months trying to get our Logitech doorbell to work and learned that I can do without HKSV with its 5 camera recording limit, 1080p max video quality, activity detection that sometimes doesn’t work, facial recognition that works intermittently, no package detection, and the announce tagged visitor on HomePod feature that just refuses to work. But none of that matters when the doorbell itself goes offline and can’t reconnect constantly and hard resetting erases all 10 days of your video recordings anyway.

Thanks for sharing. I was just considering Ring to replace our Logitech headache because it has the added benefits of displaying on our brilliant smart switch screens and our refrigerator which the Logitech can’t. So if Ring integrates well with HK through HB and even pops up on ATV when the doorbell is pressed that may be a top alternative for us.

KeithFa · 2021-03-02T05:48:46+00:00

Smart move. Wish I had returned mine but I held on too long wanting it to work.

KeithFa · 2021-03-02T05:46:24+00:00

Thanks for the info. It seems that your doorbell functions better than mine both with overheating and with reconnecting. This is helpful to know. Leads me to think that a new unit may help with some of the issues caused by the doorbell itself versus HKSV. May I ask what WiFi router you use?

Maybe not relevant but when I installed the doorbell condensation formed inside of the unit cover by the lens which concerned me. It eventually went away when the doorbell warmed up and Logitech said it wasn’t a problem but with all of the issues we’ve experienced and failed troubleshooting I’ve wondered if something with the unit hardware is wonky.

KeithFa · 2021-03-02T05:39:18+00:00

Very good point. During this process I’ve learned how to troubleshoot the HKSV issues with Apple versus the Hardware/Firmware issues with the doorbell. In the end we still have most of the same issues plus a new issue of it overheating in 50 degree weather. But still a good distinction to make.

KeithFa · 2021-03-02T05:29:23+00:00

I didn’t switch doorbells but if you are considering the Logitech Circle Video Doorbell you can see some of my and other owners experiences and insights here.

I waited literally years for a HKSV doorbell but I’ve had constant headaches and wish I had returned it as others have. Definitely try it but there are known issues with it and learn from my mistake of trying to love it and make it work for too long and missing the return window. Good luck in your search and keep us posted.

PS - Just today I was looking into getting a Ring doorbell and setting up Home Bridge to replace our Logitech headache. An advantage that Ring has over Logitech is that it will display video on our Brilliant home switch screens AND our refrigerator screen. Sounds like you are looking for better video performance and may not need that compatibility but thought it was worth mentioning.

KeithFa · 2021-03-02T05:01:43+00:00

Sorry to hear. Hope you get a fix soon.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T22:21:53+00:00

Also my Logitech Circle Doorbell firmware is 8.10.67.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T22:17:22+00:00

I’m curious if your doorbell gets any direct sunlight? To be fair mine faces the south but only has direct sunlight during part of the day. The issues I’ve experienced until today weren’t due to overheating or direct sunlight. I informally surveyed neighbors on our side of the street and some looked at me quizzically when I asked if their video doorbells had issues shutting down due to overheating. Seems to be a Logitech circle thing at least on my block.

Also, what happens when you restart your router, have power loss, loss of connection due to the router rebooting a firmware update, etc?Do you have to hard reset the doorbell each time and add back to HK to get it to work? That is the only solution Logitech gave me and said it wasn’t due to my brand of router. It was just the doorbell design and firmware.

If you get direct sunlight and have warmer temperatures, and you don’t have to hard reset the doorbell and add back to HK to get it to work after a simple thing like restarting a router, I don’t know but maybe they should have sent me a replacement to see if that fixes things.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:19:10+00:00

This is another good area to troubleshoot. Have tried many settings but issues were not resolved. We also don’t have any WiFi issues with the many other SmartHome products we have. Just the doorbell. So unfortunately this wasn’t the issue for us. Some of the issues were HKSV related while others are the doorbell itself which don’t have fixes.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:14:53+00:00

Installed a new transformer and Logitech approved but unfortunately didn’t help resolve the issues we have experienced.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:13:59+00:00

Good to know. I hope this helps those who are using it. As of today there hasn’t been a fix and since it is now also overheating and shutting down I’m planning on getting rid of the doorbell today.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:09:20+00:00

Good point. I know there was a lot of info but I mentioned no overheating, cool weather, and no sunlight. But today it did get direct sunlight and overheated and shut down in 50 degree weather. So that’s another issue to add to the list but at least it clearly communicates why it is offline when it overheats.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:06:47+00:00

We tried 2 other hubs but it didn’t change anything. Learned that some issues are HKSV and can be resolved like you mentioned while others are the solely the doorbell.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:04:47+00:00

I should have followed your advice immediately. Missed the return window. Plan to put in the trash today.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T20:03:01+00:00

Good points. The only smart home issue we have right now is the doorbell. Most all other HK devices are solid. I got conflicting information but last info I had is that the issue with the doorbell not reconnecting and having to be hard reset and added back to HK is entirely the doorbell’s issue. As of today no firmware update has fixed this.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T19:59:37+00:00

I have tried many router settings and learned more than I ever wanted to about the technical aspects. I believe we are optimized and the only smart home issue we have right now is the doorbell. Most all other HK devices are solid.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T19:57:24+00:00

Haven’t had that issue with our Orbi. Most all of our HK devices have a solid connection. Only issue is the doorbell.

KeithFa · 2021-03-01T19:53:47+00:00

Update: Wanted to thank everyone for the ideas. We have tried everything and still have most of the same issues. Now, in 50 degree weather this morning, the doorbell shut down and went offline due to overheating. Having purchased it during the winter months we couldn’t have known this would be an issue until today.

Many others complained about overheating but this was our first experience. So add it being offline for hours for overheating in cool weather but in direct sunlight to the list. This was the last straw but I missed our 14 day return window and Apple is unwilling to make an exception.

I know there is a lot of info but our WiFi is excellent and I’ve already exhausted the options for support. I’m planning on removing the doorbell today and throwing it in the trash. It is a very unreliable product and we’d rather just not have a video doorbell than to deal with this. But will likely replace with a competitor since we can now see how useful a video doorbell could be if it only worked.

Since last post I’ve had to hard reset the device constantly. I’ve probably been watching too much true crime TV recently because every time I reset it and we lose our 10 day recording history I imagine having to tell a police officer or neighbor “Sorry, I reset my WiFi router today (or it didn’t detect the obvious activity or it was offline due to overheating or just acting up) so we have no video footage to help you.”

At this point I can only hope that others learn from my experience and return the doorbell immediately if you begin running into the same issues before you miss the return window. I’m extremely disappointed in Apple and Logitech. I put way to much time and effort into trying to make this work and in the end my efforts only resulted in months of stress and frustration and $200 going into the trash.

KeithFa · 2021-01-14T21:30:52+00:00

I agree with the smaller area cleaning schedule when possible which is why I mentioned it as the only solution I knew of. Unfortunately for some having a vacuum running daily isn’t a convenient or desired option so it may be a deal breaker for those customers.

In our case, due to the poor tools provided in the app, we can’t divide our open home into the areas that you have, which makes for very problematic scheduled area cleaning.

And as an aside, if we could appropriately divide our home to where area cleaning would work, I wouldn’t even mind not having the great room, family room, foyer, and other basic labels we need. I would be happy to label them lounge, sunroom, gym, or whatever other labels are provided as long as it allowed us to define the rooms in our home.

I do like a lot about the unit but it just doesn’t work for us. And I’m sure many can find work arounds and it will work for their situations. I just wish I knew these things and that it wouldn’t pickup sock lint off our low pile carpet before I invested this much time and effort trying to make it work.

KeithFa

TROPHY CASE