You can continue to use a standard key from the outside or open the lock via a smartphone app. Instead, they are installed on the inside of the door only, replacing only the interior part of the deadbolt. A sizeable number of smart lock products don’t require you to replace all your existing hardware. Replace or retrofit? You’re forgiven if you don’t want to replace your antique doorknob on your vintage Victorian with a metallic device that looks like it would be more at home keeping people out of a strip mall bank branch. That’s fine if you’re looking to get rid of the keys in your pocket, but less impressive if you want to make your entrance portals a true part of your home network. These work with a smartphone app, but can’t be monitored remotely or via a smart home system. One step up from that, you’ll find Bluetooth-only locks. How smart is it? An important caveat to consider first: Some “smart locks” don’t work with a smartphone app or any smart home networking hubs at all they’re really just electronic locks that use a code instead of a key to open up. That said, here are some key considerations to take into account to help you narrow down your shopping list. The bottom line is that it’s tough to declare that any product is universally perfect for every home. Make your lock smart and maintain the design integrity of your home. Even top products can balk when dealing with old or stiff deadbolts, doors that don’t shut well, or environments where non-standard fixtures are in use. Level Bolt is the only way to invisibly transform your existing deadbolt. How do you pick a smart lock? (No pun intended.) This is a young and wildly immature space, and many products on the market are still extremely rough around the edges. Consider these factors when shopping for a smart lock In a more advanced setting, different keys can be generated for the same lock, so a homeowner can tell when each member of the family came in, or when the housekeeper arrived. To make sure this doesnt happen constantly when youre moving around your. Digital locks can be changed at a moment’s notice (which is why that old hotel key card in your wallet isn’t good for anything), and the property owner can generate a record of when each door was opened. The Bold Smart Lock recognizes you and activates itself when youre arriving home. While the lock performed well on the whole, I again had trouble with Z-Wave pairing, first by failing to realize the needed QR code was printed on the back of the Z-Wave module (so be sure to write down the included PIN before you install it).But the biggest benefit of electronic entry systems is that they are highly configurable. Christopher Null / IDGĪlfred’s simple app covers the basics with little opportunity for confusion. That may not be a big deal when you’re opening and closing the lock, but when using the keypad to perform programming operations it’s helpful to have an audio guide along for the ride. While the DB1 simply beeped in response to commands, the DB2 audibly tells you what’s going on. One of the biggest enhancements with the DB2 is the inclusion of voice technology in the lock. Smart Deadbolts Benefits Keyless Entry With your own personal code, you can enter your home with just a few simple pushes of a button and lock it with just one. It hasn’t changed since our review of the DB1. If you also want Wi-Fi connectivity, you’ll need Alfred’s optional 2.4GHz Alfred Connect WiFi Bridge ($49). You can connect a mobile battery pack to the micro-USB port on the DB2’s exterior escutcheon to unlock the door if the lock’s batteries fail while you’re out. If you wish to control the Alfred DB2-B smart lock with your smart home hub, you’ll need the optional Alfred Z-Wave module, which costs $29. This gets installed beneath the lock’s bank of four AA batteries. One of the strongest, most intelligent Bluetooth-enabled locks available, the Schlage SenseTM Smart deadbolt gives you the option to enter your home with an. If you want Z-Wave connectivity for a SmartThings or similar hub, you’ll need to add Alfred’s $29 Z-Wave module to your shopping cart. At press time, both it and the non-keyed version were selling for $169 (a good discount off the $199 MSRP). As I’ve already mentioned, the model DB2-B reviewed here comes with a key cylinder and two keys. The standard DB2, like the standard DB1, comes with only a keypad or mobile app as options for entry. The new hardware design features a more modern, appealing silhouette, even with the physical key cylinder.
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