Bad: Dahua Villa Video Doorbell Tested

By Brian Rhodes, Published Jan 11, 2019, 07:30am EST

Doorbells are one of the hottest segments in the residential market but Dahua's Villa Video Doorbell is the worst we have tested.

We bought and tested the 'Villa' DHI-VTO2111D-WP, adding to our previous testing of Ring, SkyBell, and DoorBird.

Inside, we examine the product's problems and share Dahua's response.

Purchased **** ************

***** (*** ** **********) offers******** '********' *****, *** *** '*****'***-********-***** *** **** *** available ******* ***** ******** distribution **** ** ******* last ***** *** *** one ************ ******** *** the ***********/***** ********** ***** doorbell ******, ******* ** units ********,*******, ****, ***********. *** **** ****** '1 ** *****', '**** Networking', *** **** ******** an ********** *** *** card ******.

**** ****** ***** ***** consumer ***** *********, *** Dahua **** ** ******** larger *** **** ************* looking **** *** *** the ***** ****, ***** resistant********* **-******-**:

doorbell door station physical comparison

**** ****-**-*****,********* **** *******,**** ***, ***** *****,******* **, ********** ****/ **** *****.

** ****, **** ********* our **** **** **-***** from ******** ******** ************ for ~$***.

Doorbell **** *** *******

*** **** *** * showstopping *****: ******** ******* does *** ****.

************, ******* *** ****** does *** ******** ************ to *** *********** ** a ****. ******* *** recommended ****-*** ********** *** (both***************** *********) *** ** based********.

*** ****** *** ********** to **** **** *** onboard ****** *** *** successfully ***** ** *****'* recommended ************. *******, *** doorbell ****** *** *** connect, ****.

*** ***** ***** ************ this:

Other ********* ******

***** **** *** *******, even * ***** ********** unit ***** ****** **** significant ******** *** **** users:

  • ** **** ***** *********: * *** ***** is **** *********** *****'* doorbell **** ***** ****** is *** *********. *** retrofit ************, **** ***** doorbells **** ******** ********** or **** ******* ** buy ********** ********* ******. Dahua **** *** ** users **** **** * phone *** *** ******* someone ** ******* ** the ****.
  • ************ *****: *** ***** **** is ******* **** * camera, ***** ****** *** (802.3af) ** ** ***. However, **** ******** ********* use ** *** *** hardwired **** ******, *** attempting ** **** ***** from **** *********** (******* of ***** ***** ******** products) ***** ***** *********** issues. ******* *** ***/***** spec ******** ***** ******* new ***** *** ******** new ***** ******** ** the ******** ********, ***** is * **** **** residential ***** **** *** undertake.

No *** ************

**** ******** ***** ****** that **** *** ****** is ******, **** *** remotely ******** ** ** app. ** *****'* **** this ******** ******* *** not ****. *** **** unit *** ********** *** streamed *****, *** *** intercom ***** ******** *** not ********.

*** ********** ***** ***** the *****-*** *** ********** manually ********* *****:

******* ******** ** ***** quality, ***** *******, **** of ***, ** ** interface *** *** **** for **** ****, ** the ******* ******** *** not ****.

Not ***** *** *******

*** ****** **** ** most ********* **** ***, nor **** **, **** with *** ******* ** Dahua's ****. **** ***** doorbell ******** *** ** configured, *********, *** **** with ******* ******** *** minor ******.

******** ***** ** **** support, ***** ******** ********, and ********** ******** ************ is *** ******* *** consumer ***** *********, *** Dahua's **** ***** *** not **** ******* ****.

Dahua ********

***** ************ *** ******** with *** '*****'***-********-**, ******* **** ** is ****** ** ** EOL'd *** ********:

"*** ******* *** ******** two *** * **** years *** *** **** be ******** ** ** upgraded ******* *** *** retail ****** ** *** near ******, * ********** version ** ** **********."

*** **** *** **** was **** **-***** *** has **** ******** *** several ***** ***** ** just *** *** *****.

US **** ******* **********

******* ****** ******** ** get *** ******** *******, Dahua *** **** ******* worked ****, ******** *** support ******* ******** ****** their ********* ******.

** ****** *** **** US ******* ****** *** spoke **** * ********** who ******* *********** **** to ******** *** ***** within *****. ** ********* ticket *** ****** ** that ****, ******* ** skilled **** ****. ** two *********, ***** ** tech ******* **** ******** up ** ***** ** progress.

Hot ********* ******

*****'* **** ***** ******** release ******* ** ** unfortunate **** *** *** company, **** ****** ****** demand ******* *** *********** for *** ******* ** gain * ***** ******** in *** *******. **** has ***** *** ******'* adoption *** ******** ** video *********.

******* ********* **** ***** significantly, ***** ************ ** our*** **** **** ******:

***** ********* **** * common ******** ** *** this ****, **** * count ****** **** *** notable ******* ************* ** media *******. ***** ***** are *** ********** **** as ******* **** ******, most ******** *** ******** trends **** ****** *********** and ***** ********* ****** into *****.

*** *** ******** ******* customer ******** *** ******, with **** ***** ********* routinely ******** **** ** customers. *******, ********* *** *** ***** said ***** *********:

********* ******* **** ********, everyone ***** * ********

********* **** ********, **** will **** *****'* ****-********** video ******** **** ** is ********.

Comments (25)

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | 01/11/19 12:47pm

2.5 years and the core function does not work? It just goes to show their mentality. 

 

This is just one of the many reasons we are moving away from Dahua.

 

Maybe they should stop trying to build electric cars,and focus on making their existing products work correctly.

 

 

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John Bazyk

Command Corporation
IPVMU Certified | 01/11/19 01:15pm

Honestly. They’re all terrible. They all have some major flaw IMO. Video doorbells are by far our most requested product from both business and residential customers. We get more requests for video doorbells than anything else. 

Ive tried nearly every doorbell I can find and I still have not found one I’m 100% confident in. 

Between power requirements, WiFi requirements, app and installation user friendliness, and storage options. No one really has everything we need in one package. 

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Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Bazyk | 01/15/19 06:36am

I would agree. I like the Nest Hello and it seems to work fairly well. The major issue is that it doesn't support ONVIF. I would really like all the features the nest offers, but would like to record the data on my own system. The Wisenet SmartCam D1 has worked well for my own purposes because I can get the human detection alerts but record the RTSP stream to Spectrum. This has been working well for many months now. The native app isn't my favorite though and loses big time to Nest in terms of app quality/speed.

I haven't found a doorbell scenario yet where the doorbell hasn't worked. I have integrated two on a NuTone intercom system (meaning chime activation on Nutone) and on the constant power 8-note mechanical chimes. A relay and 24VAC transformer is needed, but that solution works well.

The Dahua and Hikvision wouldn't work on many of the doorbells I've encountered. Those form factors are too big. However, the other Hikvision doorbell is smaller.

Undisclosed #1

01/11/19 01:31pm

Well, at least you probably don't have to worry about as many security issues as you do with Ring, since the whole alerting part is broken :)

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Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
01/11/19 03:03pm

In fairness, you have to understand Dahua's and other Chinese manfacturers beta release program. This is more than likely a beta product. One in which they have released to all of their beta testers.
When I say beta testers, I mean the general public.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Sean Nelson | 01/16/19 01:42am

If Dahua channeled their inner Oprah...

You're a Beta!

You're a Beta!

EVERYONE IS A BETAAAAAAAA!!!

Edgar Mora

01/11/19 05:54pm

Dear Friends:   To be fair with Dahua, this video door bell should be tested with BTH5221D which is a screen that must be placed inside premises. Better to make sure you have unit with latest firmware. 

Edgar Mora,  Intrade ABC, Dahua distributor in Costa Rica.

 

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Edgar Mora | 01/11/19 06:21pm

The addition of the VTH5221D (~$200) View panel is not required, plus puts total package cost well above anyone else's comparative doorbell offering.

Configuring the unit for local viewing only significantly undermines why most users buy video doorbells.

Dahua is not being fair by claiming only an app is needed to use the doorbell, from the included 'Quick Start' Guide:

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/11/19 06:45pm

They have 10,000 engineers. Engineer #9999's job was to google translate the manual. Job Done.


The 10,000th engineer's job was to make sure the doorbell worked on the mobile app. YOU HAD ONE JOB # 10,000!

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 01/11/19 06:19pm

Our test had a showstopping issue: doorbell calling does not work.

Specifically, pushing the button does not activate notification to any application of a call.

Aside from the annoying glitch, how was the tactile feel of the button during depression?  

Undisclosed Integrator #3

01/12/19 02:49pm

Just wait a week and Dahua tech support will send you an automatic ticket saying your case has been resolved, even when the issue is not resolved. 

Tamas Menyhart

01/13/19 06:06pm

Hello everyone!
You need to sign up for a call alert for push notification within gDmss and it will work.
If you would like to receive the call push notification, need the subscribe first.

   

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Tamas Menyhart | 01/13/19 06:24pm

You need to sign up for a call alert for push notification within gDmss and it will work.

If that fixes it then someone needs to fix Dahua tech support...

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Tamas Menyhart | 01/13/19 09:57pm

Hello Tamas:

Thanks. For iDMSS-Pro which option should be selected?

Tamas Menyhart

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/13/19 10:09pm

I don't know the iOS app so much. It is a bit different from Android, but I think it will be within the Alarm Manager. And you must need add the device as doorphone, not cameras or dvr/nvr.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Tamas Menyhart | 01/14/19 02:44am

Hello Tamas:

Thanks for the help. 'I checked the option to subscribe to the doorbell device under 'Alarm Manager'. It was partially successful, but the unit still does not work as expected. Push notifications work, but video/audio calls did not.

Here are some screenshots:

Below is a push notification when the button is pushed

Opening iDMSS from that notification cannot open a video or audio session with the doorbell:

The notice that follows on the phone shows an unsuccessful 'CallNoAnswered' log, although it was attempted.

Thanks for the help.  Your suggestion prompted deeper response than previous tech support attempts, which is positive.  However, it still does not work, and like we note in our report above this level of troubleshooting/trial and error is beyond what is needed with basic consumer products.

Thank you again!

Tamas Menyhart

01/13/19 06:36pm

I'm was Dahua tech support in Hungary. :) Check it this. Default settings is without push notifications. If after not work it then you need a ticket... ;)

By the way: It's support MIFARE 13.56 MHz not the 125kHZ cards.

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | 01/14/19 12:30pm

It should not take that much work to make a doorbell work.

 

I installed an ADC doorbell at my house and it took just a few minutes and everything worked fine.I did have an issue where I could not stop notifications on motion. I opened a ticket and they quickly pointed out I had notifications configured under notifications and video. They suggested I delete all rules under video. That solved the issue.

 

Point being ADC made it easy and was able to resolve my issue. They also have a huge FAQ and knowledge base.

 

Dahua makes it hard, no manuals,no documentation, etc on most of their products. NOBODY should have to work that hard to get a ~$200 item to work.

 

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jay Hobdy | 01/14/19 12:35pm

NOBODY should have to work that hard to get a ~$200 item to work.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree here ;)

Image result for it is the things we work hardest for

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 01/14/19 08:34pm

Avatar

Dave Gideon

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 01/15/19 06:08pm

I see what you did there with the whole Zen thing and all, but finding Total Consciousness won't buy gasoline or make payroll

Erik Fredeen

IPVMU Certified | 01/14/19 06:42pm

Given the demand, I commend IPVM for testing these doorbells, and I am looking forward to more tests and shootouts!!

I have no financial interest in saying this, but the dbell product caught my eye since it's supposedly ONVIF compatible, able to connect to a NVR and they are a Canadian company.  Another curiosity for me on the dbell product is the altogether new chime box so the legacy 16VDC wiring is not an issue. I recommend IPVM consider their product for a future review.

Regarding wiring, POE/POE+ wiring should be a plus for video doorbells and not a minus.  Legacy 16VDC wiring predates the explosive growth of IP cameras, and it's way past due to change this paradigm IMHO and I'm surprised IPVM isn't beating this drum.  More and more DIYers are installing their own IP camera networks, and the criticism of not using existing 16VDC wiring is akin to criticizing these "newfangled" IP cameras are not compatible with existing analog coax wiring (and we know how that turned out).  I think there is a market segment yearning for a POE video doorbell with push notifications that is ONVIF compliant, even if it's not the public masses (yet).

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Erik Fredeen | 01/14/19 06:55pm

More and more DIYers are installing their own IP camera networks, and the criticism of not using existing 16VDC wiring is akin to criticizing these "newfangled" IP cameras are not compatible with existing analog coax wiring

Any criticism comes due because doorbell chimes and transformers do not use PoE, but two wire 16 VAC.  The vast majority of retrofit applications will not have PoE available at the doorbell, and running new cable to that point is pretty advanced for 'DIY', especially when the doorbell is marketed as 'WiFi'.

PoE certainly is useful.  In this case it is not the utility most users already have at the intended point of use.

Carl Kristoffersen

01/16/19 04:29am

16VDC?  
I have yet to see a DC doorbell.  Where are these unicorns?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Carl Kristoffersen | 01/16/19 04:40am

Ah.  Good catch. They are typically 16 VAC.  I'll make that edit now.

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