G4 Doorbell

Looks like the g4 WiFi is still in stock outside of the USA. For how long who knows. The WiFi version can work with mechanical chimes but often requires a transformer upgrade to use on doorbell power,as the one most people have for just the door bell are usually pretty weak. If it’s a gen 2 + I believe the cloud key has a 2.5 inch bay that can be used for protect storage. The unas can only be used as an archive location not nvr storage

My older G4 (non-pro) doorbells have worked fine for years, until one just died in September. I quickly picked up a G4 Pro POE as I'm going to wire Ethernet 20 feet to my door, but I haven't installed it yet as the Pro is total overkill for my use. I don't need a separate package camera, NFC reader, fingerprint reader. At the same time I am sick of WiFi with a doorbell camera. I need reliability and that's not WiFi's strongest suit. I'm holding out for the new Doorbell Lite.

That would be me. My front door is 12 feet from my network closet under the stairs. Two small holes drilled and I have POE. I have a G4 doorbell there now that will move to the back door to replace one that died. I WFH so I'm not fussy about a package camera, the main camera captures it just fine. Do not need access control as that would require replacement of my front door and jamb. Old fashioned key still works fine.

I can't speak for 'people' but my G4 doorbells have been terrible with WiFi. The front door one is 12 feet from an AP but still shows signal strength issues. The antennae in the original G4s was pretty poor. There are plenty of how to articles on replacing them here on Reddit and ending up with fantastic signal.

After using the original G4 (not Pro) doorbells, I will never use a WiFi doorbell again. It is POE all the way and I will buy once cry once on running ethernet. One of my G4 doorbells just died after 3 years. Both doorbells constantly disconnecting/reconnecting even though they are each 10-12 feet away from an AP. I bought a G4 Pro POE for $379 to replace my dead G4 (because they don't sell the POE without the Chime). Turns out I could have waited until the Doorbell Lite ships as that is pretty much like an improved G4 with POE. I am deciding whether to resell the G4 Pro POE. I don't need a fingerprint reader and additional package camera, but I am concerned about being without one of my doorbells for months.

I have 2 G4 Doorbells and will be replacing one with the Doorbell Lite. The doorbells have 2 settings: 1. When to record - Always, Custom or Never. I have it set to Always. (note that this only enables in conjunction with setting #2) 2. Recording Mode - Continuous, Events Only or Adaptive. I use Events only so it only records when triggered by motion. So if you had #1 set to Custom 7 AM to 7 PM, and someone came up to your door at 7:10 PM, no recording would occur. This vs. Pro: I actually bought a Pro POE a couple months back. I will not be installing it, too big and I don't need a dedicated package camera and fingerprint reader. The use case for the Pro is business facilities and rich homeowners.

You’re all welcome. 2 G4s bought 6 weeks ago. Fml

Seems too dang big. I don’t want a doorbell that quite so massive. I don’t really need a screen on… a doorbell. I’m happy with the g4 doorbell. (Non pro). Better camera would be nice but meh. It’s good enough now. Frankly I’m thrilled that it’s POE… I wish my current one was. It does need to be white, however. I’m not sticking a black monstrosity on my front wall. I’m sure it’s fine with some houses, but not mine.

If you have no issue running a cable to your doorbell location, do it. Its a world of difference. It is even different between Unifi G4 doorbell wifi version and PoE version. If you have Home Assistant you can repurpose your Ring chime. Running a cable is the best thing I've done. I had Reolink cameras but I prefer having all on one ecosystem. Having Protect easily available is a plus too. The Reolink NVR is not very user friendly and their app is ridiculous if you have their NVR. It makes you install the camera from either the app or the NVR. If you pick one you will miss out on features the other doesnt have. If you do both then your cameras will be duplicated in the app. Protect/Unifi is easy and straight forward. You may want to also post this question on the Reolink sub to get opinions there too.

Unifi Protect. Also, they have just released 3 new models, and they are all PoE. For many people that's a dealbreaker, as it's often not easy to run an ethernet cable to where a doorbell is. The previous generation UniFi doorbell could be powered by the 2 wires generally run to a regular doorbell button, and then connected via WiFi for data. It's now out of stock and may not get restocked, and so far they haven't announced a new WiFi doorbell.

The lite is fine, people just love bitching about the field of view because most unifi users buy products before reading the specs.