Full history on new Nest doorbell

[Cobbyco]

I have recently got the new battery Nest doorbell and, having resigned myself to the fact that I can no longer use a browser or the Nest app, have started trying to get used to the Google Home App. 

i can see event based history on the app but I have a full Nest Aware package and so hoped to be able to see a full video history as I could on my old doorbell with the Nest App. Is this possible at all?

[Cobbyco · Accepted solution]

Sigh, how I wish I’d never bought this ‘new and improved’ model. EBay here we come

[Cathal_S]

Hi Cobbyco,

Battery powered cameras and doorbell's will only record events and not 24/7 due to the impact this would have on battery life.

Nest aware:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9233159 

[MplsCustomer]

@Cathal_S 

Our Google Nest Camera (Battery) records 24/7 with a Nest Aware Plug subscription because it is plugged in all the time with the optional power cable. (The Google Nest Doorbell [Battery] cannot record 24/7 even if it is wired.) This is all per what Google Nest documents, though it's not always clearly worded: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9233159

[Cobbyco]

I guess the point is you expect things to get better with new versions, like Apple products, rather than take backward steps

[Cathal_S]

I understand your frustration, as I have seen many other customers that are not completely satisfied with the 2nd Gen cameras.

This is a community forum so leaving feedback for the Google Nest team is the best way for getting your input to the people that can actually change things.

Feedback:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7071494 

[Cathal_S]

@MplsCustomer 

Not sure what your issue is???

The information I provided is correct and the help center link explains the fact that wired connections can record 24/7.

I found the information easy enough to absorb!

 

[Cobbyco · Accepted solution]

I think I can probably match your ability to absorb written information. My issue is purely that I thought I was upgrading by leaving my old Nest doorbell when I moved host and buying a new one.  My clearly lower intellect means that I didn’t fully appreciate that Mrs new doorbell wouldn’t work with the Nest App, couldn’t be streamed to my Alexa devices and couldn’t record continuously as I foolishly thought that a news version would be even better than the old one. 

Anyway, I feel you’ve flogged this particular dead horse for long enough so let’s just move on and I’ll track down an older version on eBay and sell my new one. 

thx

[Cathal_S]

My apologies to both @Cobbyco & @MplsCustomer 

The statement about absorbing information was meant towards @MplsCustomer , sorry.

As a normal user myself I am also frustrated with the lacking of features with the Nest cameras 2nd Gen and try to provide the best (unbiased) information.

I mistook what you had written and will pass the information onwards to the Nest team about the battery doorbell working 24/7 when powered, I will also report this using the help center.

[Brad]

Hi there,

Just checking in to see how the conversation is going as there's been a lapse in activity on this thread. Please let me know if you need further assistance. 

Best Regards,

Brad.

Thank you for your assistance and explanation, @Cathal_S!

[Cobbyco]

Hi Brad, I’m not sure there is much more to say. My initial point was frustration at getting the newer doorbell only to find that it doesn’t work with the Nest App, or a browser, or with Amazon Echo and that it won’t record 24/7 on my Nest Aware (although from another post the 24/7 recording may be an option?!). 

it really isn’t helpful for people to say that if I’d pored through the documentation I would have clearly seen all these deficiencies pointed out. 

My only solution seems to be to sell the new camera and get an old one on eBay so that I can get a better overall product. 

Thanks to you and others for your input. This is all very annoying but I guess  it’s just life these days! 😬

 thx

[Brad]

Hey folks,

At this time, I'll go ahead and lock this thread. If you're still experiencing problems, feel free to start a new thread and we'll be happy to help.

Best Regards,

Brad

[MplsCustomer]

@Cathal_S 

I guess I was misunderstood. I simply wanted to clarify that the new battery-powered camera--when plugged in--can record 24/7. Your statement said "Battery powered cameras and doorbell's will only record events and not 24/7".

My only concern about the documentation on the link is that, under the topic "Nest Cam (wired), Nest Cam (battery), Nest Cam with floodlight", one might think that the statement "Continuous 24/7 video history is only available for wired Google Nest cameras and Nest Doorbell (wired)" does not include "Nest Cam (battery)". People might not realize that a plugged-in "Nest Cam (battery)" counts as a "Nest Cam (wired)" in this context.

That's all. No offense at all was intended.

[Cobbyco]

This is interesting as my battery doorbell is wired so does this mean that it should be able to record 24/7 for 10 days rather than just event based?  

[MplsCustomer]

@Cobbyco 

No, unfortunately the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) is incapable of recording 24/7 even when wired.  They set it up so that it ALWAYS runs off of its battery, and the battery cannot support 24/7 operation.  Wiring it is supposed to enable it to remain charged, but a couple of months ago Google Nest admitted that it can't charge below freezing.  So it can only record events, and many customers report that, since it is in "Idle" mode most of the time, it doesn't wake up in time to fully record events.

The footnote on the link I provided says: "**24/7 video history is only available for wired Google Nest cameras and Nest Doorbell (wired). Not available for Nest Doorbell (battery), even with optional wired installation." (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9233159#zippy=%2Cnest-doorbell-battery)

[Cathal_S]

@MplsCustomer if you believe that the help center information is incorrect you can submit feedback about it either by using the 'Give us feedback about this article' option or by answering 'No' to the "Was this helpful" option.

 

[Cobbyco · Accepted solution]

Sigh, how I wish I’d never bought this ‘new and improved’ model. EBay here we come

[MplsCustomer]

@Cobbyco 

I'm sorry for your experience. We were lucky enough to have read the comments in this forum about problems with the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) before adding a video doorbell to our unwired third entrance, and so we bought a Google Nest Hello Doorbell instead, and wired it with an OhmKat Power Adapter for the Nest Doorbell along with an OhmKat chime.