Blog

How Video Doorbells Work

June 14, 2019|fsstechnologies

A video doorbell is a system that allows you to see who is ringing your doorbell by way of a video connection. If your video doorbell has a two-way audio system, you also can talk to the person at the front door, whether you’re home or not. How you connect your system and how you access it depends on you.
 

Why would I want a video doorbell?

video doorbells are offered in hardwired or wireless

  • More designer choices in doorbells to match your home’s décor
  • There are no batteries to worry about – your doorbell always has power, as long as the electricity is on because it is hard-wired into your electrical system
  • There are no issues with interference from your neighbor’s wireless devices operating on the same frequency/channel as yours
  • Consistency and reliability of operation
  • You will have to drill holes, and you need to have some wiring knowledge, or you will need to have professional installation
  • If you rent your residence, you may not be allowed to install
  • There is no need to drill holes in your house for installation
  • It’s simple to move
  • Wireless doorbells are affordable and feature-rich, such as the ability to have your doorbell chime play up to 50 different tones, depending on the season or the location of the door
  • A wireless doorbell can be synced with other home automation systems (be sure to check the compatibility carefully before purchasing a video doorbell, not all systems are compatible)
  • If your home is large, you may need to purchase multiple extenders to relay the signal further
  • There is a chance of interference from other devices running on the same frequency. However many video doorbells offer multi-channel operation features to help avoid this issue
  • You will need to change the battery on your wireless doorbell, and perhaps your receivers

video doorbells each have their own set of features and accessibility

  • Camera resolution – The higher the resolution, the better quality video you get, and that will give you the ability to distinguish facial features. Ideally, look for a 1080p camera.
  • App reliability – You log in to an app on your phone to watch the video of the person at your front door or to converse with them on the two-way speaker system. Make sure you purchase an app that is known for reliability and customer service.
  • Night vision – If you want the camera to be able to see who is at the front door, even if the porch light isn’t on, make sure your camera has night vision.
  • Field of vision – This is how wide of an angle your camera can monitor. Can it see your entire front porch or just the area directly in front of your door? If you want the best results, look for the widest field of vision available.
  • Two-way speaker system – If you want to be able to speak to the person at the front door, as well as see them, you will need to make sure your system has a two-way speaker.
  • Motion detection – Some people want their system to alert them that someone is at the door (and possibly start recording video) even if that person hasn’t run the bell. Motion detectors provide this feature.
  • Real-time or recorded video – Not all video doorbells allow you to see the video in real-time, although most do. How frequently your camera records video is another consideration? Does it only start recording when someone presses the doorbell? When it senses motion? At what frequency does the system record over previously recorded footage? Do you want a system that gives you a continuous recording so you can see all events that happen around your door during the day?
  • Video storage – Depending on how much video you record, you will have to store it somewhere. It may be in the cloud, which will involve a monthly fee for storage or on a local storage device, such as a microSD card in your camera or a digital recording device.

Speak with a security expert

Explore Our Other Blogs

Hero-fire-preven-min

Fire Prevention, Protection, and Suppression Systems

Fire safety is a crucial matter that every business should prioritize. Whether it’s caused by arson or an accident, a fire can cause catastrophic damage to a company’s property, inventory, and equipment if the proper protection measures aren’t in place or there are operational issues. In more unfortunate cases, insufficient fire safety standards can put…

Continue reading
Heroalarmbeeping-min

The Top 5 Reasons Why Your Smoke Alarm Is Beeping

Do you hear a faint chirping noise coming from the back hallway or the basement? Don’t ignore it. It might be your smoke detector. Smoke detectors are designed to chirp or beep when they need servicing. Common Reasons for Smoke Alarm to Beep When the battery in your smoke alarm is starting to get weak,…

Continue reading
2020-01_FSSTechnologies_blogs_training_hero-min

What Kind of Certifications Make Our Team Security Experts?

At FSS Technologies, we pride ourselves on the fact that we are not your typical fire safety or security company. When people call us, they don’t want a one-size-fits-all solution — they want our experts to design a system that perfectly fits their needs. We take “First in Security, First in Satisfaction” seriously to ensure every…

Continue reading
Hero-smoke

What are the Different Types of Smoke Detectors?

Smoke detectors are vital to fire safety for homes and businesses. Because they protect lives from fires or gas leaks, it’s essential to choose the best detector for your environment. There are various options to choose from, meaning you need to understand the benefits each one offers before making a selection. Learn more about the…

Continue reading
Hero-carbon-monoxide-detector

Everything You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide Detectors

What is a Carbon Monoxide Detector? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid that is poisonous to humans. Detectors are designed to identify carbon monoxide leaks and warn those in your home or business. This advanced warning can save lives as it allows you to get outside as fast as…

Continue reading
convential-vs-addressable_fire-alarms-hero

Addressable vs. Conventional Fire Alarms

When determining what type of fire alarm systems are best for your business, it boils down to your choice between a conventional and addressable alarm system. The combination of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors work together with your control panel to keep your business safe. Additionally, you will need to determine what kind of automatic…

Continue reading
BusinessBurglary-Hero-min

Which Businesses are Burglarized Most?

The idea of business theft and burglary is not a pleasant one; however, the likelihood of your business being burglarized is rather high. In fact, approximately 37% of small business owners were impacted by burglary or theft over the past year. Retail businesses in particular are highly targeted as thieves are seeking the opportunity to either use or resell stolen items. Everything from simple shoplifting to employee theft can contribute to overall business…

Continue reading
NFPA-Standards-Hero

What are the NFPA Standards for Commercial Fire Protection?

What is NFPA?  The National Fire Protection Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1896. Working with more than 9,000 volunteer members, the NFPA works to create fair, balanced standards for the health and safety of the general public. The NFPA’s goal is to eliminate death, injury, and property loss caused by fire; therefore, they have developed more than 300 codes and standards for fire…

Continue reading
2019-12_FSSTechnologies_blogs_types-fire-alarms_hero-min

Types of Fire Alarm Systems

How Does a Fire Alarm Work? Thermal detectors- these detect fire through a heat-sensitive element Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – detect fire in its early stages, while it is smoldering and producing smoke or senses a build-up of certain chemicals in the air Flame detectors – line-of-sight devices that use infrared or ultraviolet light to…

Continue reading
commercialsec-quarantine-hero

How Commercial Security Monitoring Benefits Your Business During Quarantine

Instating work from home policies to protect your employees and help to stop the potential spread of COVID-19 is one step that organizations are taking to keep their company safe. But, with all your employees at home, how can you protect the other assets that make up your business? Regardless of the type of company…

Continue reading
24h emergency
Secure My Space
chat with us