Hey everyone, I’ve been diving into the world of smart cameras and automations lately, and I wanted to share some of my experiences and questions with you all. 
First off, I recently set up a Reolink Duo 3 Wifi camera and I’m absolutely loving its capabilities. I’ve managed to mount it outside my house, and the zoom feature is a lifesaver for focusing on specific areas like my front door. Has anyone figured out how to set up a specific zoom zone for targeted monitoring? I’d love to hear if there’s a way to automate the camera to zoom in on certain spots when motion is detected!
On the automation front, I’ve been experimenting with Home Assistant and Blueprints. It’s been a bit of a learning curve, especially when it comes to reloading automations without restarting the entire system. What’s the most efficient way to reload automations that use blueprints? I’ve heard that restarting the whole instance isn’t ideal, so I’m curious if there’s a smoother method out there.
Another project I’m working on involves integrating a VistaCam PT camera. The two-way audio function is pretty cool, but I’m still figuring out how to control the audio settings effectively. Plus, the blinking white light in front of the camera is a bit of a nuisance. Has anyone found a way to disable that? It would make the setup much cleaner!
I’d also love to hear about your experiences with custom panels in Home Assistant. I tried setting up a custom panel using some JavaScript, but it ended up being empty when I navigated to it. Where did I go wrong? I followed the instructions, but I’m still missing something. Any tips or resources would be super helpful!
Lastly, I’m curious about how others handle alarms and notifications. I’ve got a system set up with motion sensors, but I’m looking for ways to make the notifications more effective. Do you prefer push notifications, sirens, or something else? I’d love to hear about your setups and what works best for you.
Thanks for reading, and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences! 