The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a natural accompaniment for a company that markets security systems. It’s integrated into the SimpliSafe app and, like their security system, is very easy to install.
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro replaces your current doorbell. This will not add a doorbell where there is no wiring as it requires an electrical connection from the house.
This is an excellent accompaniment for those that already subscribe to the SimpliSafe security system as the monthly fee will include free cloud storage. Like the SimpliSafe SimpliCam, this is extremely easy to setup and use.
Software
You can access the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro with your Apple iOS or Android smartphone. A lot of home security cameras lack a web portal for accessing the video, but SimpliSafe provides full functionality from the browser.
SimpliSafe offers cloud storage for $4.99 monthly or free for those already subscribed to an alarm monitoring plan. The plan provides 30-days worth of video storage.
For those with a SimpliSafe security system, a feature known as video verification can be opted into. This permits the SimpliSafe monitoring center to access video corresponding to an alarm event. The video can be forwarded to law enforcement.
The iOS or Android app is used to setup the camera. It’s very easy. Tell the app that a camera is being added, have the camera scan a UPC code generated on your phone and setup is pretty much done.
There are a few motion sensitivity settings that regulate the sensitivity. A medium setting seems to work well. Separate settings for day and night are provided. Motion detection zones are lacking which is too bad as we have found these an excellent way to circumvent false motion alerts from things like blowing leaves or branches.
As expected, the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a dual purpose device. It’s a home security camera as well as a standard doorbell. Someone rings the bell and you get to see and talk to them. There’s two-way audio which allows you to hold a conversation with the person at the door. It’s especially nice when you aren’t home.
The doorbell integrates into your current wall mounted chimes. As long as it’s not digital, it will ring the same way as the old traditional one that is being replaced. Not all video doorbells can do this.
Hardware
It’s a very easy installation. The biggest challenge is ensuring there is no excess length in the electric wires coming out of the house. The reason is that the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro sits flush against the house. There is no storage built in to tuck the wire into. You can get around it by pushing any excess length back inside the hole on the house, but obviously ensure you don’t push it all the way in and lose the cable.
The doorbell assembly snaps onto the mounting plate which is screwed onto the house. A security screw that requires a special included screwdriver fits into a small hole on the bottom making it very difficult for a bad guy to remove.
When someone rings the bell, you receive a loud alert on your phone. If your previous doorbell was mechanical, it will ring there too. You can also set your SimpliSafe base to ring.
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell has a built-in speaker and microphone that will allow 2-way conversation with the person at the door. The quality of the speaker isn’t the best but can be heard if the neighborhood isn’t noisy.
There isn’t any on-board storage. You will need to rely on the cloud if there’s a need to go back and review some activity.
The day and night image quality is good. Setting max out at 1080p. If connectivity is a challenge, you can go lower and even 720p will provide a crisp image. Two infrared LEDS provide up to 30 feet of black-and-white night vision.
This camera provides a 162 degree wide angle lens which should cover a wide swath of territory. Some fish eye effect was experienced on the image which wasn’t overly distracting.
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is on the small end measuring 4.35 x 1.35 x 1.12 inches.
Connectivity
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro connects via 802.11n at 2.4 GHz frequency so be sure your home router is not a 5 GHz only model. While 5 GHz is faster, the 2.4 frequency carries further. Since this is a doorbell camera, that’s a good thing.
Mounts
It’s a doorbell and that’s where this mounts. It comes with a mounting plate that attaches to any flat surface. The device snaps on then is secured using screws and a special screwdriver they provide. There are also a few color plates that can be added to match your decor or cover any existing holes or imperfections.
Fun and Different
When you ring the bell, the visitor can hear it ring from the integrated speaker. You can also hear it from all phones that have the SimpliSafe app installed. It’s like there’s a doorbell on your phone.
Summary
For those already fans of the SimpliSafe home security product, this is a great fit and an excellent extension to their excellent security system. It’s nice to be able to access the camera directly form the same app used to turn the alarm off and on. It’s equally as nice to have video of potential bad guys.
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro gets a thumbs up. Ease of installation, integrated app and good looks makes this a good choice, especially for those already fans of SimpliSafe.
Quick Specs:
| Video Quality | Field of View | Cloud Support | SD Support | Night Vision | Mobile/Web App | Alerts | Outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 162 Degrees | Yes | No | Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes | Yes |
Manufacturer Link: SimpliSafe
All of these articles are written by someone (me) that figured out how to do this stuff the hard way. I have owned and tested dozens of cameras. Manufacturer support varies. There are a few good companies that provide timely answers when you have questions. There are several that sell you the camera and seem to have little interest in post sales support (which leads me to finding out stuff the hard way).
