Looking for a video doorbell without Wi-Fi? The Reolink Video Doorbell PoE doesn’t use it at all. One Ethernet cable brings the doorbell both power and a network connection, which is what PoE (Power over Ethernet) means. So it’s the right pick when a network cable can reach your front door, and the wrong one when it can’t.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Network | One 10/100Mbps Ethernet port, no Wi-Fi |
| Power | PoE (IEEE 802.3af, 48V active), 12 to 24V AC doorbell wiring, or a 24V DC adapter |
| Video | 5MP, 2560 x 1920 at 20 fps |
| Field of view | 180° diagonal, 135° horizontal, 100° vertical |
| Recording | On motion (the default), 24/7 or on a schedule. Also saves the 6 seconds before motion is detected |
| Storage | microSD card up to 256GB (not included), Reolink NVR (network video recorder), Reolink Home Hub Pro, FTP (file transfer) server or NAS (network storage drive) |
| Chime | Plug-in Reolink Chime in the box |
| Weather | IP65 dust and water rating, works down to 14°F |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
Buy it if a network cable can reach your door
A PoE doorbell gets power and a network connection through one Ethernet cable. At the other end of that cable is a PoE switch (a network switch with power built into its ports), an injector (an adapter that adds power to the cable coming from a regular switch or router) or one of Reolink’s PoE recorders (NVRs). From there, the doorbell reaches the internet through your router. Use Cat5e or Cat6 cable. Reolink’s PoE cameras, this doorbell included, support cable runs of up to 328 ft (100 m) of Cat5e or better to the switch or recorder.
Our product page lists the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE (model D340P) as the REOLINK 2K PoE Wired Video Doorbell. The doorbell has no Wi-Fi radio, so the cable is its only way online. There’s no battery to charge, either. Reolink pitches PoE as more stable than Wi-Fi, with less lag. Still, the company admits that a Wi-Fi video doorbell is “much easier to install” because nobody has to run a cable to it.
The color you pick changes the picture. The black version shoots a wide 4:3 frame for doors with an open view in front of them. For long, narrow porches, the white one shoots a tall 3:4 frame.
Who it’s for: homeowners who already have Ethernet at the front door, or can run a cable there, and want a video doorbell that doesn’t depend on Wi-Fi.
Read this first if you only have doorbell wires
Doorbell wires can power the Reolink, but they can’t connect it to your network. It can run on 12 to 24V AC from those wires, or on a 24V DC adapter. Even then, it needs an Ethernet cable to get online. So you run the cable either way. The wires only replace PoE power, so the far end of the cable can go to a regular router or switch instead of a PoE one.
Your old chime goes quiet. Reolink says the doorbell “will not work with the existing mechanical chime.” There are two ways to wire the doorbell. You can bypass that chime with the jumper cable from the box, which silences it for good. Or you can connect the Reolink straight to your doorbell transformer. Reolink’s installation guide tells you to switch off power to the doorbell system before using either method, and to contact a qualified electrician if you have questions.
Indoors, the included plug-in Reolink Chime takes over. It gets the doorbell’s signal over a separate 433 MHz radio link rather than your Wi-Fi.
Skip it if no cable can get to the door
No cable means no Reolink, since Ethernet is its only way online. In that case, pick a Wi-Fi or battery video doorbell. Our wired vs battery video doorbell guide helps you choose based on what’s at your door. Skip the Reolink as well if you want to keep your mechanical chime.
What you’ll need besides the doorbell
Beyond what’s in the box, you need power for the doorbell, enough Ethernet cable, somewhere to save video and a router with an internet connection. The box holds the doorbell, the chime and a 1 m (about 3 ft) network cable. It also has extension and jumper cables, a mounting plate, a 15° wedge and a quick start guide. Plan for the rest before you order:
- A PoE switch, an injector or a Reolink PoE NVR for the far end of the cable. Doorbell wiring or a 24V DC adapter can supply the power instead. Any PoE switch, injector or NVR you use has to provide standard IEEE 802.3af PoE, which Reolink lists as “48V Active.” Skip injectors sold as “passive” PoE, because Reolink says they won’t work with its PoE cameras.
- Enough Cat5e or Cat6 cable to reach that switch, injector or NVR, since the included cable is only about 3 ft long.
- A microSD card of up to 256GB, unless you record to a Reolink NVR, a Reolink Home Hub Pro, an FTP server or a NAS.
- An outlet for the chime, in a room where you’ll hear it.
- Internet service at your router, for phone alerts and live view in the Reolink app.
Own a Reolink NVR already? Check its hardware version. The doorbell works with versions Hw_N5MB01, Hw_N6MB01 and Hw_N7MB01. Versions Hw_H3MB18, Hw_N2MB02 and Hw_N3MB01 need a firmware update first.
How long does a 256GB card last with 24/7 recording?
Roughly 139 hours, or a little under six days, at the default bitrate (how much video data is recorded each second) for full-resolution recording. Here’s the math. A 256GB card holds 2,048,000 megabits, and the default bitrate is 4,096 Kbps, or 4.096 megabits per second. Divide the first number by the second and you get 500,000 seconds of video, about 139 hours.
A Home Hub Pro holds far more. Its pre-installed drive is 2TB. At the same bitrate, that’s about 45 days if the doorbell is its only camera (16,000,000 megabits divided by 4.096 is about 3.9 million seconds). You can also skip 24/7 recording and keep the default motion recording, which saves video only when something moves.
What happens when your internet goes down?
Recording and the chime keep working, but you lose phone alerts and live view until your internet is back up. Reolink says that without internet, the doorbell still detects motion and people, saves video to its microSD card and rings its chime when someone presses the button. In Reolink’s words, it “cannot send alerts to your mobile devices and you cannot live view it.” So although the doorbell doesn’t use Wi-Fi, anything that reaches your phone still needs the internet.
What this doorbell won’t do
- Run on a battery. It’s hardwired, so a cable or doorbell wires have to reach it.
- Work with chimes from other brands. The included chime won’t pair with another brand’s doorbell either.
- Spot packages. Only the white version detects them, and our product page lists the black one.
More questions about the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE
Can the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE ring an Echo Show?
Yes, the Reolink doorbell can use an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Assistant device as its chime. You can also ask Alexa to show the doorbell’s live view, or say “Hey Google, show me the front door” to see the doorstep on a Google Nest Hub or a Chromecast-enabled TV.
Does the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE need a subscription?
No. Reolink says its Video Doorbell PoE needs no subscription. The doorbell’s recordings save to storage in your home, such as a microSD card or a Reolink NVR, so there’s nothing to pay each month. Our video doorbell without a subscription guide compares other doorbells that skip the monthly fee.
Does the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE work with Home Assistant?
Yes. Reolink lists direct Home Assistant integration for its PoE doorbell. The doorbell also supports RTSP, a protocol for streaming video, and ONVIF, a standard that lets security cameras work across brands. Beyond Home Assistant, Reolink says some third-party software can add the doorbell for live view.
How high should you mount the Reolink doorbell?
Mount the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE about 4 ft (1.2 m) off the ground, at the front door or another entry point. That’s the height Reolink recommends. The 15° wedge in the box lets you set or change the doorbell’s angle.