If you wish to make a little bit of a press release at your entrance door, the August Doorbell Cam Professional 2 will do the job. At just below three inches sq. and an inch deep (7cm sq. and a pair of.5cm deep) and with a big outsized button, it is certain to be seen by callers.
It supplies a transparent picture and in my testing did not get set off continually by passing automobiles or leaves blowing round within the wind. There are a few tweaks I would prefer to see and the subscription payment is on the high-end, however when you’ve got an present August sensible lock (the August Sensible Lock Professional us is our high decide within the retrofit class), the doorbell makes a great companion.
The August Doorbell Cam Professional 2
Set up
One consequence of the sq. design is that you’re going to want to ensure the bell can match the place you plan. If it is occurring the facet of your home then you definitely’re in all probability nice, however if you need it on a door body it’d stick out over the perimeters.
And for those who’re changing a vertical doorbell, you may want to use a bit paint to cowl up the place the earlier bell was put in, as was my case.
Maybe essentially the most disconcerting a part of the entire set up expertise is whenever you first open the field, discover a bit card that claims “Welcome,” after which notice that is it. There aren’t any directions within the field.
Martyn Williams/IDGA card within the field factors on-line for set up assist.
There’s an set up information constructed into the app, and at first it threw me, nevertheless it’s a fairly good thought as a result of it gives a step-by-step information with footage primarily based on whether or not you are putting in on wooden, concrete, brick, cement, stucco, drywall, or vinyl siding.
Set up is not tough: a mounting plate screws onto your doorframe or home and connects to the prevailing doorbell wiring to attract energy. To get a clearer view, August additionally provides a plastic wedge that may angle the doorbell left, proper, up or down. The doorbell clips onto the body, and there are a few small catches that may be set to cease anybody grabbing the bell from your home.
Martyn Williams/IDGThere’s just one sensitivity setting for the August Doorbell Cam Professional 2.
In use
The picture from the digital camera is sweet and sharp on a smartphone display screen. It shows video in portrait mode and the picture would not rotate for those who flip your cellphone round. This implies you get a fairly good have a look at what is going on on in entrance of your door however little visibility on both facet. The decision is 960 pixels by 1,280 pixels and the sphere of view is 120 levels. That covers the doorstep, however not the whole entrance of your home.
One factor I would prefer to see is an adjustment for the brightness or publicity. With the intense sky behind some callers, seeing their faces might be tough and an on-screen brightness management would assist that. If you do not have a darkish porch, this could be much less of an issue.
Martyn Williams/IDGThe faces of those supply employees approaching the digital camera are unexposed.
Detection is predicated on an infrared sensor and there’s no video detection, however that is not essentially a nasty factor. My entrance door faces a road and video detection is just about ineffective as a result of passing automobiles routinely set off it, so the August started with far fewer false positives. There is a sensitivity setting for the detection however that is just about it. There aren’t any detection zones.
Martyn Williams/IDGThere’s just one sensitivity setting for the August Doorbell Cam Professional 2.
When somebody rings the doorbell, you will hear a nice repeating chime and your cellphone will come alive, mimicking it. Your previous mechanical chime will ring as effectively. If you wish to swap off any of the three, you are able to do so by the app.
In your smartphone an alert accompanies the chime and permits a fast stay view from the doorbell cam. If you happen to miss the motion, you may assessment recorded video.
The digital camera includes a pre-record operate known as “Hindsight” that constantly buffers a number of seconds of video in order that when triggered, it may well present video of not simply what occurs subsequent however what occurred earlier than.
If you first set up the doorbell, you get a month of free cloud storage for recorded movies, however you will should pay as soon as that is executed. A subscription prices $5 per 30 days or $50 if paid yearly.
One of many options of August’s doorbell cam is a bit gentle in the course of the doorbell button. August calls it a “floodlight” nevertheless it’s no alternative for an actual floodlight or perhaps a porch gentle.
The sunshine is required as a result of the doorbell is not outfitted with the infrared LEDs wanted for evening imaginative and prescient. That may be good, since you get to see actual colours at evening, not a grayscale picture. However I discovered the sunshine on the doorbell simply would not illuminate sufficient space. When somebody is at the doorstep, it supplies sufficient gentle to see their face, nevertheless it’s not sturdy sufficient to light up them as they method. So hold your porch gentle.
Martyn Williams/IDGThe August icon in the course of the doorbell hides a light-weight.
Compatibility
This video doorbell will work along with August’s sensible lock and and its Sensible Keypad to supply look-out and entry, if desired, to your entrance door. The sensible lock might be opened remotely from the identical app, so if a supply particular person involves the door, it is technically doable to unlock the door to allow them to place a bundle inside, after which re-lock it when they’re executed, all whereas watching and conversing with them by the doorbell.
You may as well join Nest cameras and thermostats to your system, enabling you to view a number of digital camera feeds utilizing August’s and triggering your HVAC system to fireplace up whenever you unlock the door (though it could be higher thought to depend on the thermostat’s Dwelling/Away Help function for that, so your house will probably be at a snug temperature earlier than you arrive).
You may as well view video from the doorbell on an Amazon Echo Present.
It is value noting the Doorbell Cam would not have as a lot compatibility as August’s door lock, which works with a wider vary of units.
Conclusions
The August Doorbell Cam Professional 2 is a stable performer. Throughout my testing it labored as marketed, and the firm has put a variety of thought into the set up course of. I additionally just like the design, however that is a private choice.
I would prefer to see an publicity management on the video picture, and the “floodlight” actually did not do an important job of nighttime illumination. The subscription is costlier than competitors like Ring, which fees $30 per yr, and SkyBell, which has no subscription payment. It additionally lacks among the sensible residence compatibility of the SkyBell.