We officially enter Category D, the pillar of Safety. Here the Smart Home stops being just "convenient" and becomes the guardian of your property and family. And of course, security always starts at the first line of defense: The front door.
For decades, our experience at the door was limited to a simple doorbell or, at best, an analog intercom with a small, black-and-white screen on the living room wall. If you were missing from home, you had no idea who looked for you.
Today, Smart IP Doorbells (Video Doorbells), pioneered by companies such as Ring (Amazon), Google Nest, Eufy and Reolink, have changed the rules. Let's take a look at how they work, what to look out for before you buy, and the eternal dilemma: Battery or Cable?
The Video Doorbell is, in effect, an advanced security camera, microphone, speaker and call button all squeezed into a sleek device next to your door. It connects to your home's internet and turns your mobile (or tablet) into the "middle" screen.
The main usage scenarios:
You're at the office (or on holiday abroad) and the doorbell rings. Your phone rings like a video call. You see the courier, talk to him (Two-way audio) and tell him to leave the package at the door. He doesn't know if you're talking to him from the sofa in the house or from another continent.
No one needs to ring the bell to register. The camera has motion sensors. If someone "picks" your lock in the middle of the night, your mobile phone will send you a notification and record the video silently.
As engineers, the first question we ask when asked to propose a system is, "Do you have wires in your door?"
They are the most popular with the general public (DIYers) and renters, because installation takes 5 minutes. How they work: You screw the base to the wall, snap the device on, and it connects to your Wi-Fi. It works with a built-in, rechargeable battery. The Pros: No need for an electrician. Ideal if there is no waiting for a power cord at the front door. * Cons: You have to charge them every 2-4 months. Due to battery saving, they are in "deep sleep" (Sleep mode). When someone passes in front, they often take 2-3 seconds to "wake up", as a result of which they sometimes register the... back of the departing visitor (Lag).
This is the permanent, professional solution (Mission Critical). How they work: They take direct current. In new builds, we use PoE (Power over Ethernet). A single network cable (UTP) provides both power AND wired internet to the device. If you are renovating and have the old 2 wires of the old bell, there are 2-Wire IP systems, which send data and power over the old copper! The Pros: Instant response. Zero Lag. They record video 24/7 (Continuous Recording) 365 days a year, since they don't worry about the battery. Zero Wi-Fi disconnections. * Cons: Requires installation by a technician (or careful wiring during build).
Before you buy, don't just look at Megapixels. The really critical features are three:
1. The Aspect Ratio: The old cameras were horizontal (16:9). Today, you want a video intercom with a vertical or square lens (eg 3:4 or 1:1). The reason? You want to see the visitor from the top of the head to the shoes so you can see the package the courier just left on the doormat. 2. AI & Package Detection: Inexpensive cameras sound an alarm at every moving leaf or passing dog. Modern IP video intercoms have AI processors (Artificial Intelligence) that distinguish whether the movement is a Human, Vehicle, Animal or... Package, sending you the correct, specialized notification. 3. The "Hidden" Cost of Subscriptions (Cloud vs. Local): Companies like Ring (Amazon) and Nest (Google) store the videos on their own servers. To see a video of what happened yesterday, they require a monthly subscription (about 3€-5€/month). If you want to avoid subscriptions, choose companies like Eufy or Reolink, which store videos locally (Local Storage), either on an SD card inside the device, or on your own recorder (NVR) inside the house.
What happens inside the house when someone rings the doorbell?
If you have Smart Speakers (Alexa / Google Assistant), you can set them to work as digital "chimes". There's a knock on the front door, and Alexa in the living room announces, "Someone is at the front door." If you have a speaker with a screen (like the Google Nest Hub), the door video automatically appears on the screen next to your couch!
Even better, through central Hubs (SmartThings, Home Assistant), you build protection routines:
The Smart IP intercom is the device you will use more than any other in your Smart Home "arsenal". It offers invaluable peace of mind, removes the stress of lost parcels and acts as the ultimate deterrent to would-be burglars. If you can, run a network cable (PoE). If not, a good battery-powered device with Local Storage is the next best, "smart" investment.
Next Step: We saw who is at the door and talked to him. But what if it's the cleaner, a relative who arrived earlier, or your Airbnb guest, and you want to open the door for them while you're gone?
We continue to the next guide: Smart Locks (Smart Locks) & Airbnb: Installation guide, operation with PIN codes, fingerprint and Bluetooth access.
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