Video doorbells have crept into the marketplace and there are many different manufacturers and options to choose from. At their most basic, they are a way for you to see who is at your door before answering it. You can choose to not answer at all, or answer the door depending on who is there and what they want.
Video doorbells generally send an alert to your phone/device and allow two way communications. This allows you to interact with person(s) at your door without exposing yourself or your home to a possible physical threat by opening the door.
This is one extra layer of safety for you and your family. There will never be a need for you or your children to open a door to a stranger without verifying who they are. If it is an official, or someone claiming to be law enforcement, you can ask them to provide ID to the camera to back up their claim. You can make the choice to interact further based on more information.
Better video doorbells can also act as security cameras do. They can keep a record of what happens within view of the camera. This recording can be stored a number of ways. In the cloud, directly on the device via micro-SD card, or the feed can be stored on a network video recorder. Some will record on motion detection, some on AI detection, and others can record full time and store that footage for a certain period, depending on the device. High end video doorbells can also incorporate active deterrents like spotlights and verbal warnings to move away, depending on the device and scheduling capabilities.
Most video doorbells are set up so you can do a straight swap from your old analog doorbell. The same transformer that powered the old doorbell can power the new one, and it will ring your existing analog chime. You can also add your own WiFi chime, or multiple chimes if you have a large house and have trouble hearing the chime in other parts of the house. Some of the WiFI chimes allow you use it as an intercom without video if your phone or device happen to be elsewhere when the doorbell rings.
Installation of a video doorbell can be accomplished by most do-it-yourselfer’s in a few minutes. A few screws to remove the old doorbell, a few screws to mount the video doorbell, and two wires to connect. If your home does not have an existing doorbell and chime, you would need to supply power to the video doorbell and use a WiFi chime if you desire to hear the doorbell in the house and not just on your phone. Most are fairly easy to connect to your homes network. If you aren’t the DIY type, or your installation is more complicated, there are companies like Annapolis Valley Alarms that can perform the installation for you.
Overall, a video doorbell is an easy way to get started with video security and will provide an excellent enhancement to any home security system. One more layer of protection for you and your family. A video doorbell can also provide a record of any incidents for insurance or liability purposes as well.
