Video doorbell recommendations

Upzeecreek

We want to replace our doorbell with a video doorbell and just wondering what the lived experience is with various makes? It would be a battery powered doorbell. Would appreciate hearing your good/ bad experiences! TIA

Billxx

I have a battery powered Ring doorbell.  Video is very good, notifications on mobile phone can be flaky but that is more down to the signal/location of myself rather than a doorbell issue.  Integration with smart speakers and IoT is very good.

BUFF

do you want to pay a monthly fee for record/review video or would you prefer something with local storage?

Upzeecreek

BUFF said:

do you want to pay a monthly fee for record/review video or would you prefer something with local storage?

Looked at Eufy which has no fee. Obviously would rather not pay a monthly fee but I don't mind paying for something that is good! 

Swasterix

Upzeecreek said:

BUFF said:

do you want to pay a monthly fee for record/review video or would you prefer something with local storage?

Looked at Eufy which has no fee. Obviously would rather not pay a monthly fee but I don't mind paying for something that is good! 

Have a Eufy, can’t complain. Glad I don’t have to pay a subscription, although was a little steep up front. Sometimes there can be a couple of second delay in receiving notifications, but nothing significant. Been pretty decent so far. 

BUFF

Blink also do a battery video doorbell which when used with the sync module 2 takes an USB memory stick for storage. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SGJRHS2?
I would expect will go on offer in a few weeks for Prime Day

There is a new sync module coming which will take MicroSD instead of an USB stick

BlueVeranda

With Ring products we've found you essentially have to pay the subscription so as not to be spammed with useless notifications. Unless they've changed something in the last six months, when you don't have the subscription you can't customise the alerts and they seem to be reset to the highest sensitivity. We do like it otherwise, but can't help feeling we might have gone for different products if we'd known that up front.

ashe

I'm a smart home enthusiast and if the tech works and can automate or make something smart, I do it.

that said, not a single doorbell on the market works as well as I'd like so we don't have one

much better solution; get a decent mp3 doorbell with plugin chimes around the house, and fit a cctv camera of your choice covering the door. Based on your selection you will still get alerts, video, 24:7 recording,!cloud or local storage, 2 way audio, even facial recognition without coupling a key service to it (so some ringing the bell and you knowing about it) and your doorbell isn't the size of a brick. Another advantage is people will use it. Lot of couriers etc avoid smart doorbells, even though they're probably already being recorded because of motion. 

Maybe in a few generations they will be better - same with smart locks - but not yet. 

Vannaa

Swasterix said:

Have a Eufy, can’t complain. Glad I don’t have to pay a subscription, although was a little steep up front. Sometimes there can be a couple of second delay in receiving notifications, but nothing significant. Been pretty decent so far. 

Same here, got a battery version for £60 from Amazon. SD card in the ring unit stores the images. It's odd to be on the beach in Cyprus and to be able to see the postman delivering letters to my home.

sevenhills

ashe said:

Lot of couriers etc avoid smart doorbells, even though they're probably already being recorded because of motion. 

Maybe in a few generations they will be better - same with smart locks - but not yet. 

I noticed that a few days ago. I generally knock, but sometimes they can still choose to not speak in person.