Doorbell wired gen2 cuts recordings short

[dubert37]

I have 2 zones setup and whenever people or animals are within the zones the recordings are cut short before the subjects are out of sight. Is there any fix for this? I pay for nest aware, but with only partial video, what's the point?

[MplsCustomer]

@dubert37 

Under Settings | Video for your doorbell in the Google Home app, what do you have "Maximum event length" set to?

[dubert37]

@MplsCustomerodd, I don't have that setting. I'm on the most recent app update for Android. 

[MplsCustomer]

@dubert37 

It seems quite odd that you wouldn't have that setting. It's been there ever since we got our battery camera 22 months ago, and Google Nest documents it as existing for cameras or doorbells:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/10901611

[EmersonB]

Hi everyone,

@dubert37, thanks for reaching out here in the Community. How's it going with your Nest Camera? Were you able to read the information and check the link that MplsCustomer has shared? In case you have an update, you know where to find us.

I appreciate the help, MplsCustomer.

Regards,

Emerson

[dubert37]

@EmersonB @MplsCustomer  I have read through the support article, but that appears to be for Battery Doorbells. Mine is wired. That option is not present in the Home app for my doorbell. 

[MplsCustomer]

@dubert37 

Sorry. I was trying to find Google Nest documentation on the "Maximum event length" for the doorbell and that's all I found.

However, it seems extraordinary for the battery doorbell and battery camera (whether plugged in or on battery) to both have the "Maximum event length" parameter, but NOT the 2nd Gen Google Nest Doorbell.  Maybe @EmersonB can explain.

[EmersonB]

Hello dubert37,

We appreciate you getting back to us. To confirm, were there any recent Wifi outages in your area? How far is your Nest Doorbell from your Wifi router? Try reinstalling your Nest app and restart your Wifi router and mobile phone. Let us know your update here.

Best,

Emerson

[dubert37]

Hi @EmersonB - No wifi outages. Doorbell is maybe 20ft from my primary router and about 12ft from a mesh satellite.  To confirm, I am not using the Nest app, but the Google Home app.  By reinstalling either app and restarting my router, what are we hoping to accomplish?  My issue is the service cuts event recordings short.  

[MplsCustomer]

@EmersonB 

Can you please explain why, at least for this customer, the 2nd Gen Google Nest Doorbell does NOT have the "Maximum event length" parameter"?

[dubert37]

From the article, to me at least, it appears to be a Battery Doorbell specific option that allows you to shorten recordings in order to maximize battery life. 

[MplsCustomer]

@dubert37 

Our battery camera--plugged in and therefore powered continuously--has the same parameter.

[Lance_L]

Hi dubert37,

Thanks for posting in our Community. I'm sorry for the delay and to hear you're having trouble with this. Let’s check it out.

Are you using an iOS or Android device? Do the two Activity Zones overlap?

Let’s remove and recreate the two Activity Zones. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Tap Favorites or Devices.
3. Select the camera with the Activity Zone that you want to edit.
4. Tap Settings > Events > Seen Events.
5. Select the zone you want to delete.
6. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Delete zone.
7. Re-create the two Activity zones and make sure they don’t overlap.
8. Tap Favorites or Devices.
9. Select the camera that you want to make an Activity Zone for.
10. Tap More > Settings >Events > Seen Events.
11. Choose + Add a zone. The new zone appears in the middle of the camera’s view.
12. Change the shape of the zone to capture what you want.
    1. Turn your phone to go into landscape mode for a full screen of your camera’s view. Make sure the screen rotation setting on your phone is on.
    2. Tap and drag inside the zone to move it.
    3. Tap and drag any of the eight dots on the sides of the zone to change its shape.
13. To change the color of the Activity Zone, tap Zone color. You can pick from four different colors.
14. Under the camera view, tap on the Zone name to give your zone a descriptive name.
15. Under Event History, you can choose which types of events you want to record in that zone and which notifications you want to receive. 

More information here: Set up and use Activity Zones.

Let me know how it goes.

@MplsCustomer, the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) doesn’t have the "Maximum event length" parameter because it is not designed to run on batteries. The Nest Doorbell (battery) has this option even when it is plugged in because the battery is used to power the camera and other features of the doorbell, while the power from the wires is used to keep the doorbell charged.

Thanks for chiming in, Emerson.

Cheers,

Lance

[MplsCustomer]

@Lance_L 

Our battery camera still has the "Maximum event length" even when it is plugged in with the optional power cable and is NOT running on battery power.

[dubert37]

Thanks for the info @Lance_L . The 2 zones do overlap some, so I ended up just deleting one zone, expanding the remaining zone, and the animal event.  This should accomplish the same thing that I want. I'll keep review over the next few days and report back if this solves the issue.

[Lance_L]

Hello dubert37,

Thanks for getting back to me. Keep me posted, and let me know if you have any other questions. I’ll be happy to help.

I appreciate the input, MplsCustomer.

Best,

Lance

[dubert37]

@Lance_L  No improvement. I had a cat walk through the zone and it recorded fine until the cat was near the edge of the zone.  As it sat the edge of the zone, the recording stopped.  When the cat walked back through the zone a second recording commenced.  I can kind of understand this as the cat was RIGHT at the edge of the zone, however, it was still IN the zone.  However, I had a skunk walk through the zone last night and the recording stopped after 23 seconds while the skunk was right in the middle of the zone. Both scenarios are representative of the experience I've been having since day 1 with this doorbell.

[Lance_L]

Hi dubert37,

Since the steps didn't work on your end, I'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out this form with all the needed information, then let me know once you're done.

Best regards,

Lance

[EmersonB]

Hey everybody,

@dubert37, I wanted to follow up and see if you were able to fill out the form? Let me know if you have additional questions.

Thanks for answering, Lance.

Regards,

Emerson

[dubert37]

@EmersonB Done.

[EmersonB]

Hi there,

We got your form — thanks for filling it out. Our team will reach out to you via email to further assist you. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to create a new thread as I will be locking this thread after 24 hours.

Cheers,
Emerson