To use your Skybell with a digital doorbell, you’ll need an adapter from Skybell before you get started. Many newer homes are equipped with digital doorbell chimes, which replace the traditional mechanical chime device with a speaker which plays the sound of a doorbell when there’s a ring at the front door. A mechanical chime uses two metal cylinders and a tiny hammer that strikes the cylinders to produce that famous “ding-dong” sound. The Skybell is compatible with mechanical doorbell chimes.
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The original Ring doorbell had a battery powered option available, although Ring has done away with that for the Ring Pro and Ring 2 models.īefore you get started with the installation process, you’ll want to take a look and see what kind of doorbell chime you have. For the most part, there’s no alternative to wired installation for smart doorbells. Keep in mind that this is unavoidable, there’s no non-wired installation option with the Skybell HD, so you’re going to have to dust off your electrician hat for this job. If that’s not something you’re comfortable with, you may wish to hire a professional. Of course, you’ll have to contend with some very basic electrical work to complete the installation. When it comes to installing a Skybell HD, the process is fairly straightforward. But, on it’s lowest setting, the Skybell HD can pick up on what it should be recording, while ignoring the things it shouldn’t.
We think the motion sensor on the Skybell HD is a bit sensitive, and depending on how far back your house is from the street, you may find that the Skybell begins recording every time a car passes by your home. Through the app, you’ll be able to control the motion detection sensitivity and set it to high, medium, or low. Motion DetectionĪn onboard motion sensor allows the Skybell HD to detect motion across any of its zones, prompting it to begin recording immediately. Unfortunately, Skybell has yet to develop a web application, which means you’ll only be able to access video from the mobile app on your smartphone or tablet. The app also allows you to control the different integrations, and sync your Skybell with your existing smart home products. From the app, you can watch on-demand video, view any previously recorded video or pictures that have been stored in the cloud, and modify the settings of your Skybell. The Skybell app is comprehensive, and it allows you to control fully each aspect of the Skybell.
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Here’s the full list of Skybell integrations:
More recently, the Skybell has added integrations with Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. The Skybell has always led the way with integrations and has featured Amazon Alexa and IFTTT support since its inception. Perhaps the area where the Skybell HD shines the brightest is with its impressive range of integrations with other smart home products.
When there’s someone at the door, you’ll be able to use the Skybell’s built-in speaker and microphone to communicate with whoever is at your front door. Other smart doorbells also offer cloud storage, but unlike the Skybell HD, it’s a paid service that runs $30-50 per year. Skybell will store your videos in the cloud for seven days from the date of recording.
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Cloud StorageĪnother unique feature of the Skybell HD is free cloud storage. The Skybell shoots video with a full 180-degree field of vision, so you’ll be able to capture every aspect of what’s happening in front of your home, without having to worry about blind spots. Another impressive aspect of Skybell’s video capabilities is its field of view.