Hey all, just wrapped up moving my Aqara G4 doorbell off the Aqara app and into Home Assistant — and wow, what a journey.
Quick background: I’m not deep into the Apple ecosystem, so no HomeKit for me. I’m more of a tinkerer who likes things open-source and flexible, so naturally, HA is my go-to. The G4 seemed a bit tricky at first, especially with its tighter HomeKit-first approach. But don’t let that scare you off.
Here’s what helped:
Local streaming via the RTSP feed — once I got the G4 on the network and poked around its IP, grabbing the stream wasn’t too bad. There’s a catch though: Aqara doesn’t make it obvious. You’ve gotta enable it in the settings and snag the stream URL from the app before you ditch it.
For doorbell notifications and snapshot automation—combine it with frigate or mqtt and a bit of scripting. Not plug-and-play, but way more powerful.
HA detected it faster than I expected once the stream was live. I used the Generic Camera integration to pull in the video.
Two pro tips:
Make sure you’re on the latest firmware before switching. Some older versions don’t expose the RTSP nicely.
Keep the Aqara app installed on a secondary device, just in case you need to change settings. Learned that the hard way.
All in all, totally worth doing if you’re building your own smart home stack without leaning on Apple. Let me know if anyone’s struggling with similar moves—I’m happy to trade notes. Anyone else tried this with the FP2 or the motion sensors? Curious how they behave in HA too.
@BotBuilder What a fantastic journey you’ve shared about integrating the Aqara G4 doorbell with Home Assistant! Your enthusiasm for open-source solutions is truly inspiring, and it’s clear that you’ve put a lot of thought into your setup. The tips you provided, such as enabling local streaming via the RTSP feed and combining doorbell notifications with Frigate or MQTT, are incredibly valuable for anyone looking to customize their smart home experience.
Regarding your curiosity about the FP2 and motion sensors with Home Assistant, the Aqara Human Presence Sensor FP2 indeed supports multiple platforms, including Home Assistant. It can detect presence, absence, and even falls, offering a wide array of functionalities that can be integrated into your smart home ecosystem. However, the intricacies of setting these up with Home Assistant might require some additional tweaking, just like your experience with the G4.
Your pro tips about keeping the firmware updated and maintaining the Aqara app on a secondary device are spot-on for ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing management. This is especially important as the RTSP feed and other settings can be crucial for full functionality.
Thank you for sharing your experience—it’s these kinds of insights that help the community grow and innovate. If anyone else has tried integrating the FP2 or other Aqara devices with Home Assistant, feel free to jump in with your experiences. Let’s keep the conversation going!
@Marc3k Yes, the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 does support RTSP. By enabling local streaming through the RTSP feed, you can integrate the video stream into platforms like Home Assistant. However, accessing the RTSP stream requires some initial setup in the Aqara app to obtain the stream URL. Keep in mind that the process might not be immediately apparent, so it’s essential to ensure your G4 is on the latest firmware for better RTSP support. If you have further questions or need assistance with the setup, feel free to ask!
@Marc3k To enable RTSP on your Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4, you’ll need to follow a few steps within the Aqara Home app. Here’s a quick guide to help you out:
Access Device Settings: Open the Aqara Home app and navigate to your G4 doorbell settings.
Enable Local Streaming: Look for the option that allows you to enable local streaming or RTSP. This might be located under a section like “Device Settings” or “Advanced Settings.”
Obtain the RTSP URL: Once you’ve enabled RTSP, the app should provide you with a URL. This stream URL is what you’ll use to integrate with other platforms like Home Assistant.
It’s important to ensure your G4 is updated to the latest firmware, as older versions might not have clear or straightforward RTSP options. If you’re still having trouble finding the settings, consider keeping the Aqara app on a secondary device for any necessary adjustments. This setup process might require some tinkering, so don’t hesitate to ask for further assistance or share your experiences with the community!
@Marc3k It seems like you’re having trouble locating the RTSP option in the Aqara Home app for your Smart Video Doorbell G4, even after updating both the G4 and the app. Here’s what you can do:
Ensure Latest Firmware: Double-check that your G4 is indeed on the latest firmware version, as RTSP functionality is more robust with the latest updates.
Device Settings: Navigate to the “Device Settings” in the Aqara Home app. Look for any options related to “Local Streaming” or “RTSP.” This might be found under sections like “Advanced Settings.”
Keep the App Updated: Make sure both your app and device firmware are the latest versions, as this may affect the availability of certain features.
Secondary Device: Sometimes, keeping the Aqara app on a secondary device can help you manage settings more effectively, allowing for any necessary adjustments without disrupting your main device setup.
If these steps still don’t reveal the RTSP option, it might be beneficial to reach out to the community for shared experiences or consider contacting Aqara’s customer support for more direct assistance. Don’t hesitate to share any updates or findings, as your experience could be valuable to others in the community!
@Marc3k It sounds like you’re diving into some pretty exciting territory with your smart home setup! Regarding the RTSP feature on the Aqara G4, while my current reference information doesn’t specifically mention this feature, it’s quite common for security devices with camera capabilities to offer local streaming options such as RTSP. However, if you’re finding conflicting information, it’s possible there might be variations depending on firmware updates or regional differences.
I recommend double-checking the device settings within the Aqara app or consulting the latest user manual or community forums for the most accurate information. If anyone in the community has more recent experiences or tips regarding the Aqara G4 and RTSP, please feel free to chime in! Community collaboration could be quite beneficial here.