1
Votes

Doorbell

 
1
Votes

Doorbell

Doorbell
Doorbell
3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago
Model: Tapo D130  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version:

Subject: Feature Request: Customizable Live View Duration for Hard-Wired Doorbells (e.g., Tapo D130) on Echo Show

Body:
I am a user of the Tapo D130 hard-wired video doorbell paired with an Echo Show 5. Currently, the automatic live view on the Echo Show only stays active for a very short time (approx. 15-30 seconds) before returning to the clock.

Since the D130 is a hard-wired device, battery drain is not a concern for me. I would like to request a "Live View Duration" slider or toggle in the Tapo app settings (or within the Alexa Skill) that allows users to:

  • Set a custom timeout for the automatic live feed (e.g., 1 min, 2 mins, or 5 mins).
  • Optionally keep the live feed active until manually closed.

This would be a massive improvement for users who want to monitor their front door for longer periods after a doorbell press without having to use voice commands to restart the feed.

#1
6 Reply
Re:Doorbell
2 weeks ago

  @Majid1976 

 

Could you share the specific reason you’d like to extend the live view time? On Echo Show, the doorbell feed typically stops if no more activities occur after a sustained period. When there’s no ongoing movement or events, what situation makes you want to continue watching?

CES 2026 Meet TP-Link AI Assistant and More New Products!
#2
Re:Doorbell
2 weeks ago

  @Majid1976 

Thank you for asking for clarification. Even when there is no ongoing movement, there are two distinct situations where an extended live view time is necessary for my household:

  1. Elderly Care & Accessibility: I have elderly family members who take longer to walk over to the Echo Show screen after the doorbell rings. If the feed times out quickly because the visitor is simply standing still waiting for the door to open, my family arrives at a blank screen. This confuses them, and they struggle to manually restart the live stream.
  2. Package Delivery & Security Verification: Often, a delivery driver will ring the bell, drop a package, and immediately walk out of the sensor’s motion zone. I need the feed to stay active so I can verify that the package is safe and see if anyone else approaches the porch immediately afterward, even if there is a temporary gap in movement.

Having an option in the Tapo settings to customize the timeout duration (e.g., keeping the feed active for 2–3 minutes) would make the D130 significantly more accessible and secure for families."

#3
Re:Doorbell
a week ago

  @Wayne-TP 

Thank you for the reply and for looking into this!

I have thoroughly tested this scenario, and unfortunately, the livestream does still cut off after 15–20 seconds even while there is constant, active motion directly in the camera’s frame. The Echo Show 5 drops straight back to the home screen regardless of the visitor moving.

The issue is that Amazon Alexa handles third-party video feeds very strictly. Unless a continuous, active stream command is maintained from the skill side, Alexa's operating system times out the feed to prioritize its home screen assets and background ad loops.

Because of this behavior, relying on motion detection to keep the screen active is not reliable in a real-world Alexa integration. I have actually had to build custom Alexa Routines just to bypass this issue and force the screen to stay open.

This is exactly why a dedicated "Live View Display Duration" slider in the Tapo app settings is so important for hard-wired models like the D130. It would allow users to define a fixed stream duration (e.g., 1 or 2 minutes) that overrides Alexa’s aggressive timeouts, ensuring we can actually see and interact with our visitors without the feed suddenly disappearing.

#5
Re:Doorbell
a week ago

Majid1976 wrote

  @Wayne-TP 

Thank you for the reply and for looking into this!

I have thoroughly tested this scenario, and unfortunately, the livestream does still cut off after 15–20 seconds even while there is constant, active motion directly in the camera’s frame. The Echo Show 5 drops straight back to the home screen regardless of the visitor moving.

The issue is that Amazon Alexa handles third-party video feeds very strictly. Unless a continuous, active stream command is maintained from the skill side, Alexa's operating system times out the feed to prioritize its home screen assets and background ad loops.

Because of this behavior, relying on motion detection to keep the screen active is not reliable in a real-world Alexa integration. I have actually had to build custom Alexa Routines just to bypass this issue and force the screen to stay open.

This is exactly why a dedicated "Live View Display Duration" slider in the Tapo app settings is so important for hard-wired models like the D130. It would allow users to define a fixed stream duration (e.g., 1 or 2 minutes) that overrides Alexa’s aggressive timeouts, ensuring we can actually see and interact with our visitors without the feed suddenly disappearing.

  @Majid1976 

 

I just checked with our tech team, the continuous livestream on Alexa requires a manual command to sustain—such as asking Alexa to show it or clicking “View Details” after the automatic pop-up.

 

Given this design and your description of the elderly person being unable to reach the screen in time, what you’re experiencing is actually the expected behavior. I sincerely apologize for any confusion my earlier response may have caused.

CES 2026 Meet TP-Link AI Assistant and More New Products!
#6
Re:Doorbell
a week ago

  @Wayne-TP 

"Thank you for confirming. It is disappointing that the smart home ecosystem still lacks basic accessibility features for the elderly and less mobile. A simple settings slider to extend the viewing duration would make your devices far more useful for vulnerable users who cannot sprint to a screen or speak commands clearly. I will look for alternative workarounds elsewhere."

#7
Re:Doorbell
Wednesday

  @Majid1976  We appreciate your feedback and it has been documented. We’ll keep an eye on the thread to see if others share the same idea.

CES 2026 Meet TP-Link AI Assistant and More New Products!
#8