After weeks of extraneous research (okay, not really that extraneous), I have finally decided which brand of smart doorbell to buy, and got them installed on the front and side door of my home right away. It was the gadgeteer in me that wanted them so much. I have WiFi everything at home. By “everything” I am talking about my alarm clock, smart TVs, Ecobee Thermostat, LIFX Smart Light Bulbs, DLink WiFi camera and other smart devices I own.

I chose to buy the Skybell HD Doorbells for two main reasons. First, they were on sale at $159 each ($40 off at the time) at Best Buy. Secondly, I found out that this is the only smart doorbell that can withstand the cold and frigid Iowa winters. Because of it’s wired setup, the Skybell HD Doorbell’s operating temperature is between -40F to 150F. I will make a more detailed review of my doorbells in a separate post.

With everything we hear on the news on home invasion, porch pirates (people who steal packages left at the door) and other bad things that I’d rather not mention on this post, here are some of the smart doorbell security features that can help you protect yourself and your family:

1. Live Video/Audio Streaming

This is the main feature that separates a smart doorbell from a traditional doorbell. With a smart video doorbell, you can see, hear, and speak to the visitor at your door whether you’re at home, at work, or on the go. Once the doorbell is pressed, a notification is sent to your smartphone. You can talk to your visitor via push-to-talk feature.

Here’s where the security aspect comes in. Most burglaries happen by first checking if anyone’s home. They do this by ringing the doorbell. If no one answers, then it’s an open invitation for them to come in. With a smart doorbell, you can deter would be burglars by making them think you’re at home even if you’re actually out of the country.

2. Motion Detection

Here is another great feature you will enjoy when you own a smart doorbell. This feature allows your doorbell to automatically start recording when motion is detected. In some models, you can set the detection area and sensitivity to minimize false positives. Once triggered, it automatically records and saves the video into your account, sends a notification alert to your smart phone and gives you the option to talk to your visitor. How neat is that? It is like having a motion detecting CCTV system right when you need it.

Remember, not all burglars will try to ring your doorbell. They can just move around and smile while they are caught on live camera recording their every move.

3. Automatic Cloud Upload

The “Cloud” is a happy place where your videos are stored. It is basically an internal backup system that allows you to view every visitor who presses your doorbell, and every movement that it detects. Everything is time stamped so you will know exactly when and where it happened. Best part of all, this is done automatically through the software that comes with your doorbell.

Conclusion:

These are the basic smart doorbell features that can give you the peace of mind and security you need to protect yourself and your family. There are other extended features like facial recognition and setting up pre-recorded responses that might be available depending on the brand you’re getting.

Your family’s safety is and will always be your top priority. If it’s added security you want, getting a smart doorbell installed is definitely an option to consider.