Reolink Home Hub: Top Features & How to Set Up

Reolink Home Hub is designed to bring compatible Reolink security cameras together in one system for easier storage and management. But how does it work, and when do you actually need one? This guide covers its key features, compatibility, setup, and how it compares with other storage options.

Key Takeaways:

• Reolink Home Hub manages up to 8 compatible cameras and centralizes their recordings in one place.
• It supports up to 2TB of encrypted local storage with no monthly subscription fees.
• It works with compatible PoE, plug-in Wi-Fi, and battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras.
• It is ideal for multi-camera setups that need centralized management, local storage, and better protection for recorded footage.

What is Reolink Home Hub?

The Reolink Home Hub is a central security hub that brings compatible Reolink cameras, recordings, and alerts together in one place. It supports up to 8 Reolink cameras, including compatible PoE, plug-in Wi-Fi, and battery-powered Wi-Fi models, allowing users to manage their security system through the Reolink app.

For local storage, the Home Hub features two microSD card slots with support for up to 1TB per slot. Recordings can be protected with AES-128 encryption, helping prevent unauthorized access even if the storage card or device is stolen. All footage is stored locally with no monthly subscription required.

Pros:

• Centralized management for up to 8 Reolink cameras
• Local storage up to 1TB × 2 via microSD cards
• AES-128 encrypted video storage
• Wi-Fi 6 and 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi
• Local access and recording without an Internet connection
• No monthly subscription fees

Key Features and Specs

The Reolink Home Hub brings local storage, camera management, and security features together in one place. It can manage up to 8 compatible Reolink cameras and store their recordings locally without requiring a monthly subscription.

Local Storage without Subscription Fees

The Reolink Home Hub stores camera recordings locally, so you can access your footage without paying a monthly subscription. It features two microSD card slots, supporting up to 1TB per slot. Stored recordings are protected with AES-128 encryption to help prevent unauthorized access.

All-in-One Control

With the Home Hub, you can manage up to 8 compatible Reolink cameras from one place. Through the Reolink app or Client, you can access live views, play back recordings, check alerts, and manage connected cameras without handling each device separately.

Encrypted Storage

The Home Hub uses AES-128 encryption to protect locally stored recordings. Even if the hub or its storage card is stolen, encrypted footage is protected against unauthorized access, adding another layer of security compared with storing recordings directly on individual cameras.

LAN Access and Offline Recording

The Home Hub supports LAN access, allowing connected cameras to operate locally without relying on an Internet connection. If your Internet connection goes down, recordings can still be saved to the Home Hub, helping maintain local monitoring and recording.

Centralized Alerts and Security Reports

The Home Hub brings security events from connected cameras into one place. When a compatible camera detects a person, vehicle, animal, or other supported event, you can receive alerts and review the corresponding recordings through the Reolink app. Security reports also make it easier to review recent events across your connected cameras.

Together, these features make the Home Hub especially useful for multi-camera setups where centralized management, local storage, and data security are important.

Which Cameras Work with Reolink Home Hub?

Reolink Home Hub works with compatible Reolink PoE cameras, plug-in Wi-Fi cameras, and battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras, with support for up to 8 cameras at the same time.

For PoE and plug-in Wi-Fi cameras, models with a UID starting with 9527 generally support Home Hub, with some model exceptions. This covers many Reolink indoor and outdoor cameras, including fixed, PTZ, and dual-lens models.

For battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras, compatibility is model- and hardware-dependent. Supported models include cameras from Reolink's Argus series and other compatible battery-powered models, but some older hardware versions may require a firmware update or may not support Home Hub.

Home Hub does not make an incompatible camera compatible simply because it uses Wi-Fi or PoE. Check your camera model, UID, hardware version, and firmware against the latest Reolink Home Hub compatibility list before connecting it.

How to Set Up Reolink Home Hub

Setting up the Reolink Home Hub is quick and straightforward. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Start the Hub

Connect the Reolink Home Hub to power using the included power adapter. Then use the provided Ethernet cable to connect the hub to your router.

Step 2: Initialize the Hub

Download the Reolink app and create an account if you don't already have one. Then simply follow the in-app instructions to complete the initial setup of your Home Hub.

Step 3: Add Cameras

Once the Home Hub is initialized, you can add your Reolink cameras. Tap the "+" button in the Reolink app and follow the prompts to add each camera to the Home Hub.

Step 4: Access Cameras Remotely

With cameras added, you can now access live feeds from all connected cameras directly through the Reolink app. The app provides full remote access from anywhere in the world.

Best Reolink Home Hub Camera & Kit Recommendations

If you want to build a camera system around the Reolink Home Hub, the Argus 4 Pro and Argus PT Ultra are two options for different monitoring needs. Both are available in Home Hub kits for centralized storage and management.

Argus 4 Pro

The Argus 4 Pro is a good option for monitoring wide outdoor areas. Its dual lenses stitch two views together to provide a 180° blindspot-free panorama in 4K 8MP, making it suitable for driveways, front yards, and wide entrances. ColorX technology also provides full-color images in low-light conditions.

It supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 for more stable wireless connectivity and has an IP66 weatherproof rating for outdoor installation.

You can also choose the Argus 4 Pro kit, which combines the Home Hub with 2 or 4 Argus 4 Pro cameras. The system provides centralized camera management and local storage, with the Home Hub supporting up to two 1TB microSD cards.

Argus PT Ultra Kit with Home Hub

The Argus PT Ultra Kit is better suited to users who want flexible viewing coverage without running power or Ethernet cables to each camera. It combines the Home Hub with 4K battery-powered Argus PT Ultra cameras, which offer 355° pan and 140° tilt for monitoring different directions.

The cameras support rechargeable battery and solar power, while motion-triggered recordings can be stored centrally on the Home Hub. The system supports local storage with no monthly subscription fees and can be expanded to manage up to 8 compatible Reolink cameras.

Use Cases for Reolink Home Hub

Whole-Home Multi-Camera Security

For homes with cameras at the front door, driveway, backyard, and garage, Home Hub can manage up to 8 compatible cameras and store their recordings centrally.

Mixed Camera Setups

If your home uses different types of Reolink cameras, such as a video doorbell, PoE camera, Wi-Fi camera, and battery camera, Home Hub can bring compatible devices into one system for easier management.

Wire-Free Security for Rentals or Hard-to-Wire Areas

For apartments, rental homes, gardens, or detached garages where running Ethernet or power cables is difficult, Home Hub can pair with compatible battery and Wi-Fi cameras for a more flexible setup.

Centralized Storage for Outdoor Cameras

For outdoor cameras installed in accessible areas such as driveways or entrances, storing footage on an indoor Home Hub means recordings are not kept only inside the camera. Encrypted local storage also provides additional protection for recorded footage.

FAQs

Do I need a subscription with Reolink Home Hub?

No, the Home Hub does not require any monthly fees or subscriptions. It provides local recording to the built-in 64GB microSD card. And the hub's storage is expandable up to 2×512GB with two microSD card slots.

Is a Reolink Home Hub necessary?

A Reolink Home Hub is not required, but it is useful in several situations:

• You have multiple Reolink cameras and want to manage them from one place.
• You want recordings stored centrally indoors instead of only on microSD cards inside each camera.
• You want encrypted local storage for better protection if a camera is stolen.
• You need more local storage than individual camera microSD cards can provide.
• You want a multi-camera security system without monthly subscription fees.

What's the difference between Reolink Home Hub and NVR?

Reolink Home Hub is designed for smaller and more flexible camera setups, while a Reolink NVR is better suited to larger systems that need more storage and continuous recording. The Home Hub supports compatible battery-powered, Wi-Fi, and PoE cameras with encrypted local storage, while an NVR supports compatible PoE and Wi-Fi cameras and typically offers more camera channels, larger HDD storage, and HDMI output for local monitoring. Both provide centralized local storage without requiring a monthly subscription.

Conclusion

A complete hub-based solution is found in the Reolink Home Hub which can be used for wireless security camera systems. It is equipped with internal storage, supports multiple devices, and has intelligent theft prevention notifications, hence providing a flexible monitoring platform that does not require monthly costs.

This article discussed key features of the Home Hub as well as steps for setting it up and top cameras to get you started. When on a low budget one might want to think about using Reolink Home Hub which doesn’t call for any further charges to obtain a powerful wireless surveillance system.