You attach it outside the door with either screws or 3M tape, and it serves as yet another way to open August's lock. Then there's the Smart Keypad, which is a lot simpler. The keypad is simple and takes some worry out of trusting August's system Right now, that functionality is missing, but should be coming within 90 days.
August keypad software#
August is promising to give the pricey Doorbell Cam some new features in future software updates, like a motion sensor that will alert you whenever someone's outside the door (even if they're not ringing the bell), and the ability to play back video recordings on demand. Out of the box, the August Smart Lock only lets you unlock it when you're actually nearby remote lock/unlock either requires buying a $79.99 "Connect" accessory or this Doorbell Cam. The ability to unlock the Smart Lock from anywhere is really nice. The camera also captures occasional snapshots to give you an idea of what's going on outside throughout the day - even when a video session isn't live. That'll depend on your data connection, but August claims to have optimized the video stream for various conditions. In my tests, the Doorbell Cam worked reliably my phone was pinged almost immediately after the button was pressed, and booting up the video call was relatively fast. All activity is logged in August's app, which already keeps track of who's been in and out of the house thanks to the Smart Lock.
August keypad install#
They could install August's smartphone app and gain access (with your permission) that way, but this cuts out jumping through those hoops. Really, the Doorbell Cam is meant to be an easy way of letting friends or family inside when you're not around, or on the opposite side of your house. The picture quality also holds up pretty well in low light, though there's no night vision of any sort, which is something offered by some smart home security cameras. It outputs video at 1280x960, which is sufficient to determine just who's standing outside your door. That was my situation, unfortunately, but August sent a demonstration unit (with all of its products attached to a tiny door) so I could test the Doorbell Cam's quality. If you've got a wireless doorbell, you'll be totally out of luck this is the first August product that doesn't operate on battery power alone. Even if you use the screws, this is not a tamper proof installation.The doorbell camera, which comes in either silver or dark gray, is designed to replace a standard wired doorbell setup, so there must be power running to it. August supplies a double stick tape mount for this device, but they also supply a screw kit if you need a more permanent installation. All you need to do is depress the tab at the bottom and you can get to the (2) AAA batteries. Flipping the unit over you'll see the rear hatch is removable to get access to the batteries. From the front you just see a matte dark grey keypad with individual numbers up top and a larger button on the bottom which has the August logo on it. The August Smart Keypad is really a pretty clean looking device. Under the device is a small mounting kit with a few screws. Under the envelope you will find the Smart Keypad wrapped in plastic nestled into a molded cardboard tray. Sliding the cover off reveals an envelope with a Quick Start Guide, Terms and Conditions and a double sided tape mounting strip.
August keypad full#
It has a full color sleeve over a cardboard tray. The August Smart Keypad comes in a package which appears to be the same size, shape and design as the August Connect. ยป Powered off (2) AAA batteries which are included. One touch lock as you leave your home is performed by pressing the August logo. Universal refers to the users not needing a phone or a key to get access to the lock. Smart Access refers to the integration with August devices and other third party apps.
Again they mention secure access, in this case it means you can send codes directly to users via the app. The August Smart Keypad is a relatively small device, about the size of an average doorbell, but considerably thicker at about an inch. So let's see if this device is worthy of your consideration. Well recently I came across the August Smart Keypad and thought I would give it a try even though it sells out the presence of your August Smart Lock to passers-by. Overall I was very happy with the operation of the lock and that it, unlike many other smart locks, kept its presence under wraps to people outside your home since it only replaces the inside portion of the lock. In October of 2017 we reviewed the August Smart Lock with HomeKit.