As technology races onward into the future, it means that there are a lot of changes to how most people see regular home use. Everything is “innovative this”, and “smart that”. One of the biggest changes is doorbells. If your home even HAS a doorbell, most people don’t use it. Many are actually considering door cams — aka doorbells that have cameras (and often, audio) integrated right in. Are these the real deal? What should you know about them?
Pros of door cameras
Here are some of the top pros to investing in camera doorbells, regardless of brand or amount of smart features.
- You can “answer” the door from anywhere: If you’re at work and UPS drops off your package, you can use the app on your phone to thank them and let them know where to leave your package until you get home to take it in.
- It can catch wrong-doers in the act: If someone is playing “ding dong ditch”, or otherwise being a pest, you can catch them in the act since most of these will automatically start to record from the moment they press the doorbell, or even get into range of the doorbell’s motion sensor. This is also great if you are worried about package thieves!
- Great for knowing who’s there ahead of time: If someone randomly shows up and your hair is a mess, it’s good to know who it is before you answer. It gives you precious seconds to both say “just a minute” and then frantically fix your hair or pull on pants, etc. It’s also great for kids who are only allowed to open the door for certain people if parents are away!
Cons of door cameras
Of course, these handy devices can absolutely come with a few drawbacks that any responsible adult should be thinking of.
- They are hackable: Since these are connected to your home’s WiFi network, it means that if someone hacks your doorbell (yes, that DOES sound weird), then you also can have your home’s WiFi network compromised for its security. This can be fixed and there are way to stop it happen.
- Don’t work great as general motion detectors: While most have an especially localized motion detection, it’s not going to work like typical motion detectors when picking up threats or wrong-doers.
The verdict
Like a lot of things when it comes to your home and safety, it really depends on what you consider more. They have some serious upsides but also some very authentic downsides that you need to consider carefully so that you can decide.
It’s always a good idea to reach out to a professional if you do decide to go for one, as professionals will make sure to maximise the pros and minimise the cons.
Speak to Sheffield’s premier locksmith company today for the best advice.
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