Google Nest Battery Wireless Doorbell Camera (Open Box)

This review is for the Google Nest Doorbell Wired 2nd Gen in Linen color. I did a lot of review reading, both individual and professional reviews. I wasn't able to find a perfect solution for what I wanted. I really wanted something that had home server storage capability (not cloud storage) and had a good Android app. It seemed like there were some options available, but from what I could read they either had security flaws, were challenging to setup, or did not have a good app. What brought me to Nest was a decent security rating, they did not seem to be openly sharing video information, had one of the better cosmetic looks (I didn't want something ugly next to my front door), a good app, and great pricing plans. My install was not bad. I have a voltmeter and was able to confirm that I had enough volts and amps. So, I removed the old wired doorbell/intercom box, tested the volt/amps with my multimeter, attached the included capacitor to the doorbell chime, drilled holes for the Nest bracket, installed the bracket, trimmed the existing wires to size, and connected the Nest Doorbell. The proper lights showed up indicating the Nest Doorbell was receiving proper power. It did a software update and started working right afterwards. The setup was super easy and straightforward with the instructions and Google Home app. The video and audio looked and sounded good. The doorbell chime would not ring though. I could hear the motor buzz, but there just wasn't enough for both the Nest Doorbell and the chime to operate. I will need to find the transformer and upgrade it. The video and audio worked great for about a week. I have not tried the paid service options yet, so I am able to view live video, audio, intercom, and see motion events of prior three hours. I'm about a month in now, and for the past three weeks I get constant messages of camera not available, not able to see live feed, choppy intercom (my voice keeps cutting out), and far too often event videos keep saying not available yet. I have not been able to find the location of the current transformer, so I will need to upgrade it before I can determine if the issue is with the transformer, Nest Doorbell, or the cloud service. I am also running into issues with the alerts. You can create a zone on the app. You open the app to display alert area. It will show you the complete live camera view. You can then draw a six-point box of the portion of the view that you want the camera to alert you to motion for. You also have boxes you can check for alerts for anything, packages, animals, and people. I have it set for just packages and people. At first I didn't have a zone set up, so I was getting alerts anytime anyone walked down the sidewalk or a car was in the street. I created a zone to go to the end of the driveway before the sidewalk, but the shadows of the people on the sidewalk would trigger an alert. I decreased the zone size to get away from the shadows, but it still triggers alerts. I have shuck it down quite a bit. Now someone has to be halfway up my driveway before it triggers and alert. This was the largest I could make the zone without getting unnecessary alerts, so I'm not happy that the zone box is not accurate. Overall, I am not sure what my opinion is of this Google Nest Doorbell Wired 2nd Gen. There is a very good chance that some of my issues are being generated by the transformer. The doorbell chime not ringing is for sure because the transformer does not have enough watts. But according the indicator light on the Nest Doorbell, the doorbell is getting enough power. It is disappointing that the included capacitor for the doorbell chime is not doing its job to make the chime work. I am not happy about the constant messages of event videos not being ready yet. It reduces some of the security if you can't look at an event for minutes or hours. On a side note (not that I have used the free trial or paid services yet), the two available pricing plans are the best that I have seen from all the providers. It was one of the biggest selling points for me in choosing Google Nest Doorbell. If replacing the transformer will fix the video feed problems (also hopefully the audio too) and doorbell chime, then my goal would be to get multiple Nest Cameras added to the system and go with the premium paid service option. But first I have to see if I can get this Nest Doorbell working properly.