With the rise of smart home technology, video doorbells have become a popular tool for improving home security (and they can also be convenient). These smart home devices make it possible for people to see who’s at the front door without opening it, whether from within the home or remotely. But why would you want to incorporate a video doorbell into your home’s ecosystem? Let’s look into the purpose of video doorbells and how they can be integrated into your home.
What Are Video Doorbells?
A video doorbell is a smart home device that combines a traditional doorbell with a built-in video camera, microphone, and speaker. When someone rings the doorbell, approaches your front door, or moves into one of your activity zones, the camera starts recording, and you receive an notification on your smartphone or tablet. This allows you to see, hear, and even speak to the visitor in real-time, whether you’re at home or not. Some smart doorbells can also play a chime through a smart home speaker like a traditional doorbell would.
Video doorbells typically include features such as motion detection, night vision, and local or cloud storage for recorded footage. They can help you monitor visitors, packages, and other front door happenings while also acting as a deterrent to potential intruders.
Beneficial Features of Video Doorbells
One of the most convenient features of video doorbells is the ability to control them remotely using your smartphone or tablet. Through a doorbell’s app, you can:
- Receive Notifications: Get instant alerts when someone rings the doorbell or when motion is detected near your front door.
- View Live Video: Access a live video feed from your doorbell camera to see who’s at your door in real-time.
- Two-Way Communication: Speak to visitors through your smartphone or tablet, whether you’re at home or away.
- Review Recorded Footage: Access and review past video recordings stored in the cloud or on local storage.
- Customize Settings: Adjust motion detection sensitivity, set activity zones, and configure other settings to suit your needs.
Wired vs. Wireless Video Doorbells
When choosing a video doorbell, you’ll find two main options: wired and wireless. Wired video doorbells are connected directly to your home’s existing doorbell wiring. This means they have a continuous power supply and don’t require battery changes or charging. Wired models often provide more consistent video quality and power. However, installation can be more complex, especially in older homes.
Wireless video doorbells operate on battery power, making them easier to install in any location without the need for wiring. They offer much more flexibility in their placement, but they need regular battery charging or replacement. Wireless models may also experience slight delays in video transmission or event detection, and the battery life can vary depending on usage, features, and even the weather.
Popular Video Doorbell Brands
Several brands have skyrocketed in popularity in the video doorbell market. Here are just a few of the most popular options:
Ring
Ring is one of the most recognizable brands in the video doorbell world. Their product lineup includes a range of doorbells with varying features, such as 1080p HD video, motion detection, and two-way audio. Ring doorbells are compatible with a variety of smart home systems, including Amazon Alexa, allowing for seamless integration with other Alexa-compatible devices. Ring offers several subscription tiers to access premium features.
Nest Hello
Google offers the Nest Hello video doorbell, which is praised for its sleek design and high-quality vertical video. The Nest Hello provides continuous video recording, facial recognition (and package recognition), two-way audio, and integration with Google Home and Google Assistant. It’s an excellent choice for those already invested in the Google ecosystem. Note that some features require a premium subscription.
Arlo Video Doorbell
Arlo, known for their security cameras, also offers a video doorbell that boasts a wide field of view, HDR video, and advanced motion detection. The Arlo Video Doorbell works well with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, making it a versatile option for smart home integration. Arlo also offers a subscription for certain features.
Eufy Security Video Doorbell
Eufy, a brand under Anker Innovations, provides a video doorbell with features like 2K resolution, local storage, and human detection. It’s a popular choice for those who prefer not to rely on cloud storage subscriptions, as it offers local storage options.
Integrating Video Doorbells into Your Home
Wired video doorbells can be installed in place of your existing doorbell, using the same wiring. For homes without existing doorbell wiring, wireless options only need to be mounted on the front of your house—making installation even simpler.
Once installed, video doorbells can be connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network, which allows you to monitor your front door from anywhere. Most video doorbells have a corresponding smartphone application and can integrate with common smart home systems, connecting them with other devices like smart locks, smart TVs, and non-doorbell security cameras.
How Video Doorbells Connect Through Wi-Fi
Video doorbells connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing you to access the video feed and other features from anywhere via your smartphone or tablet. The signal strength and stability of your Wi-Fi connection are crucial for a smooth operation of your video doorbell. A strong Wi-Fi signal is recommended for clear video and reliable notifications.
However, as with any smart home or “internet of things” (IoT) devices, connecting a video doorbell to your regular Wi-Fi network can come with potential security risks. If your Wi-Fi network isn’t properly secured or if you fall victim to a phishing scheme, you could be vulnerable to hacking. Hacking your network may allow unauthorized access to your video feeds and personal information. To protect your home, it’s important to use a strong and unique password for your Wi-Fi network, enable WPA3 encryption, and consider setting up a separate network with a different password (a guest network) for your smart devices. Also, regularly updating the firmware on your video doorbell and other connected devices can help protect against security vulnerabilities.
The Takeaway
Video doorbells can be an excellent addition to your smart home, offering benefits like enhanced security, convenience, awareness, and peace of mind. With a range of features and options across popular brands, there’s a video doorbell out there for you and your home! By integrating these devices into your home, you can stay connected, aware, and secure—no matter where you are in the world.