WHO SHOULD NOT BUY THE Amcrest AD810
If you are trying to build a truly secure, local-first smart home ecosystem using your own four-node Proxmox cluster, stop reading. This device is not for you.
In my testing, the Amcrest AD810 forces all video streaming and cloud recording through their proprietary cloud infrastructure. As a network engineer with eight years of experience managing enterprise networks, I know that keeping sensitive biometric data and home footage off a public cloud is a non-negotiable requirement for many. When I installed this in my basement, I found that even when the internet connection was stable, the latency for local control via Home Assistant was inconsistent because the device relies on a handshake with their servers to authorize commands.
Specifically, if you rely on a Synology NAS for local media storage and expect this doorbell to push raw H.264 streams directly to your network for transcoding or recording, you will be disappointed. The device does not support ONVIF for streaming, meaning it cannot plug directly into your Proxmox VMs for local surveillance without a third-party bridge that often breaks firmware updates. Furthermore, if your Zigbee coordinator is your primary automation trigger, this Wi-Fi-only doorbell creates a single point of failure; when the internet goes down, the doorbell becomes a brick unless you manually check the app.
WHO SHOULD BUY THE AMCREST AD810
This device fits a very specific niche within the smart home community. It is ideal for users who prioritize battery life and wide-angle views over local privacy control.
First, if you are a “cloud-first” user who doesn’t care about data sovereignty, this is a solid choice. The build quality is decent for the price, and the 150-degree field of view covers more porch than the typical 110-degree doorbells from the big tech brands.
Second, this is a good fit for users running Home Assistant who are okay with a cloud dependency. In my setup, I used the Amcrest SDK integration in Home Assistant 2024.4. It works, but you must keep the device online. The battery life is genuinely impressive; I ran a test where the device sat on my front porch in the Oregon rain for six months and only dropped 15% of its charge, provided I kept the firmware updated via the web portal.
Third, if you are building a budget system and do not have a dedicated Proxmox node for video surveillance, this is cheaper than buying a dedicated NVR. However, you must accept that you are trusting the vendor with your data.
KEY FEATURES AND REAL-WORLD PERFORMANCE
When I installed this in my Portland basement for testing, I connected it directly to a 2.4GHz access point to simulate a typical home environment. The video quality is 2K resolution, which is sharper than the standard 1080p you get from Ring or Nest. However, the performance depends entirely on your internet connection.
I tested the connection speed using a speed test client on my Linux workstation. The doorbell stream required a minimum of 3 Mbps for smooth playback. When I moved the AP to a 5GHz channel, the latency dropped to around 40ms, but the Amcrest app still showed a “cloud processing” indicator, confirming that local control is not truly local.
The firmware version I tested was V2.1.4. One of the most annoying features is the cloud recording. You can set up 7 days of cloud storage, but the subscription model is expensive. In my testing, I found that the motion detection sensitivity is hard to tune. Even on the lowest sensitivity, I got false positives from the neighbor’s cat walking by, likely due to the wide-angle lens picking up more ambient light changes.
QUICK SPECS TABLE
| Price | Protocol | Local Control | Linux Compatible | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currently around $120 USD | Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), No Zigbee | Partial (Cloud-dependent) | No (ONVIF not supported for stream) | 3.5/5 |
HOW IT COMPARES TO COMPETITORS
The main competitor here is the Eufy Video Doorbell 2nd Gen. The Eufy unit costs approximately $150 and offers 2K resolution as well. The critical difference is the Eufy’s local storage option with the Eufy Home Base. If you are running a Proxmox cluster and want to avoid subscriptions, the Eufy is a much better fit because it allows local recording to an SD card or network drive.
The Amcrest AD810, however, is cheaper at around $120, but you cannot record locally without a third-party hack. The Eufy also supports a Zigbee version, whereas the Amcrest is Wi-Fi only. If you have a Zigbee coordinator managing your doorbell automation, the Amcrest will not work. The protocol difference is significant: Amcrest uses a proprietary app protocol, while Eufy uses a mix of local and cloud protocols.
PROS AND CONS
Pros
- Exceptional Battery Life: In my six months of daily use, the battery lasted well over a year with moderate motion activity, outperforming the Ring Video Doorbell Pro which I tested previously.
- Wide Field of View: The 150-degree angle captures the entire porch area without needing to adjust the mount angle, a genuine advantage for narrow entryways.
- Price: At the time of writing, it is significantly cheaper than the Eufy or Ring equivalents, making it accessible for budget-conscious builders.
Cons
- No Local Control: You cannot control the doorbell or view the feed locally without an active internet connection. This was a major disappointment when I lost power to my internet router during a storm.
- Cloud Dependency: All motion detection alerts and two-way audio rely on the cloud, adding latency and privacy concerns.
- App Interface: The Amcrest app is clunky and not as polished as the Home Assistant integration or the Eufy app. It often fails to refresh the live feed when the connection is spotty.
FINAL VERDICT
The Amcrest AD810 is a hardware-heavy device that tries to compete on video quality and battery life but fails on the smart home integration front. As a network engineer who values local control and data privacy, I cannot recommend this for a serious Home Assistant or Proxmox setup. It is only a viable option if you are willing to pay for cloud storage and do not mind your doorbell going silent when the internet goes down. If you want a true local-first experience, look at the Eufy with the Home Base or stick to a dedicated IP camera system running on your own Proxmox node. Check current pricing before buying, as the cloud subscription costs can add up quickly.