Video doorbells (also called doorbell cameras) provide an extra layer of security for homeowners and renters by enabling them to see who’s at their door anytime, whether they’re home or not. They are also great if you are conscious of the famous gunshot-through-the-peephole cliche.
The device allows you to safely view who’s at your door without having to put yourself at risk. Sometimes, we don't want to open the door if we see that we don't know the person who is approaching. Video doorbells are a very useful and safer way to respond to visitors.
If you’re interested in improving the security of your home, you need to choose a video doorbell that will easily integrate with your existing home security systems. The best video doorbells will offer features that will be easily adaptable and within a reasonable price range. Here’s a guide to assist you to make the best of your video doorbell decision.
What Video doorbell Features should I consider before I buy?
Here are the most common features customers look for in a smart doorbell camera.
Wired vs. wireless
Video doorbells are available as either wired or wireless. Choosing the right one depends on your current doorbell system, the type of climate you live in, and whether you want to install the system yourself or have a professional install your video doorbell. If you had an existing wired doorbell system, then replacing that with a wired video doorbell system isn’t badly complicated. If you don’t and do not want to go through the trouble of drilling holes and messing with your home’s wiring, then a wireless doorbell camera system may be a better fit for you.
Power
It takes up to 16 volts or more to power a video doorbell. In newer more modern homes, this may not create any issue but in older homes, there may be a need to ensure that an adequate amount of voltage is being routed to the doorbell system.
Video doorbells can also run on battery power. This is most appropriate and perfect for situations where your existing wiring isn't getting the job done and you don't want to upgrade the transformer. All you need to do is charge them regularly.
Doorbell placement
Another thing that should influence your choice of doorbells is whether you're replacing an existing doorbell or installing a doorbell where one doesn’t exist already.
Field of View
The field of view refers to how much you can see from the camera. You get options from getting a narrow view of just the person at the door to seeing everything around your entryway. The most efficient field of view for a Video doorbell is 180 degrees. This means that your device's camera captures everything that’s in front of it and to the sides of it. A 90-degree field of view only shows what’s in front of the camera and a little bit to each side.
Resolution and night vision
The more resolution you have, the sharper the image. This makes it easier to identify people at your door. Picture resolution determines how clearly you can see images and videos that stream from your video doorbell to your connected device. You get a choice of between 480p to 1080p, which is the maximum resolution for video doorbells.
Some smart video doorbells come with a night vision feature. This is handy if you want to keep an eye on what’s happening on your front porch when it’s dark out.
Motion detection
All the video doorbells have motion detection. What this means is that someone doesn’t have to ring the doorbell for you to know they are there. However, some video doorbells offer a different amount of control compared to others when it comes to detecting that motion. Some models allow you to select where you want motion detected. Other video doorbells have a motion sensitivity slider so you can adjust the level of activity that will trigger a recording and notification. You want your doorbell to be sensitive enough to capture the mailman but not so oversensitive that it gets triggered by flying birds.
Design
Since the doorbell is going to be in the front of your house, you may want to consider how it looks before you buy one. Video doorbells come in various shapes and forms that you can choose from. You get the option to select one that matches your house's trim or paint and that fits a shade or color you like.
What to look for in a video doorbell?
Typically, a video doorbell notifies you on your phone when someone rings the bell or walks within the camera’s field of view. You can then reply to the ‘door’ from wherever you are. The video doorbell provides you with a live view of the person on your screen and enables you to speak with whoever is on the other side of the door whether you’re at home or not. The person at the door speaks into the doorbell’s microphone, and you can respond through your doorbell app.
Smart video doorbells also usually include cloud storage up to a certain point for free. They will store videos for up to 30 days, but you need to check with each product before you decide whether you are going for it.
Security cameras vs Video doorbells
When it comes to the safety of your home, video doorbells do not necessarily make the best home security cameras. While the doorbell apps give you motion alerts as well as doorbell alerts, these events often result in videos of a person or car just exiting the frame.
You may be better served in getting a dedicated security camera because you can position such a camera in more places. Also, when you get a motion alert, you can follow through to check what happed before the alert.
Video Doorbell FAQs
What are the benefits of wireless doorbell cameras?
Wireless doorbell cameras are a lot easier to install than wired systems. All you need to do is set it up and download the relevant applications on your smartphones, and you’ll be able to see who’s at your door at all times.
How much should I spend on my video doorbell?
Like most gadgets, pricier doorbell cameras tend to be of higher quality and have a lot more features than cheaper video doorbells, although that’s not always the case. The amount you would spend on a smart video doorbell depends on why you’re buying one. If your need for a doorbell camera is to prevent theft or porch piracy then spending a little more may be worth it to make sure you’re getting the highest resolution images possible.
How to install a doorbell camera?
Generally, video doorbells aren’t that difficult or time-consuming to install. It should take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to get it all installed and functioning properly. The exact amount of time would depend on your expertise handling electrical installations and whether you have a wired or wireless video doorbell. If it’s a wired smart video doorbell, you may need to hire a professional to come in to install it, which usually takes longer.