With the partial lifting of telework, it is becoming more and more complicated to receive your packages when you are in the office. The Arlo Wire-Free Video Doorbell connected doorbell that “20 Minutes” tested will let you know when the delivery person comes to drop off your Vinted, Le Bon Coin or Amazon orders. With it, you can even give him direct instructions so that he can drop off your package in a safe place.
A bell that plays concierge
With its Wire-Free Video Doorbell, Arlo lets you keep tabs on who’s coming and going at your home. Near the front door of your apartment or house, this connected video doorbell has two virtues. First, it advantageously replaces a classic doorbell. Once paired with your smartphone, it acts as a chime and alerts you when someone rings your doorbell. But the device then goes much further since it is equipped with a camera, a microphone and a speaker. If someone shows up, it is therefore possible to see who it is, but also to interact with him, and this, directly from his smartphone.
Scheduled posts
On the screen of your terminal, each triggering of the doorbell is notified in the manner of a telephone call (in VoIP) that can be picked up. From then on, it is possible to check who your visitor is, and even to exchange a few words with him. The audio quality remains perfectible, but sufficient to tell a delivery person to drop off your package with the neighbor opposite or in a corner of the garden. From the application, automatically opened when you answer a ringtone, it is even possible to send a pre-recorded message which will be stated to the visitor: “Can I help you? », « I am not interested », « I am busy », « We are coming », « Leave the package outside ». What to do in most situations. If necessary, it is even possible to activate a siren remotely. Having tested it (and alerted our neighbours…), we can say that it is effective.
Occasionally unwanted notifications
But to be even more reassuring, the Video Doorbell Wire-Free is equipped with a motion detector. The doorbell therefore alerts before someone rings. Please note, we advise you to set this function correctly in the application. You will have to define up to three detection zones, then choose whether you want to be alerted in the event of detection of a vehicle, person, animal and even a package.
The alerts work very well, but our tests reveal that the detection zones may not be respected: cars driving in our street have sometimes triggered a notification when we had excluded their passage zone from that of our alerts…
Alexa and Google Home compatible
We also had fun connecting the doorbell to our Amazon Echo Show 10 (the Video Doorbell is also Google Home compatible). To do this, we just had to add Arlo to our skills. With each motion detection or ringtone, Alexa alerted us. And at any time, we were able to ask it “Alexa, show Doorbell” to have the Echo Show’s screen display the doorbell camera’s vision. With its 180° “eye”, the Video Doorbell offers a very wide view at the entrance to our house. It’s quite reassuring, especially at night when the vision offered is very clear, although in black and white.
Wifi or wired
Launched at 199 euros a few months ago, the Video Doorbell Wire-Free is now sold for 129 euros on the manufacturer’s website. It’s a good thing. We can associate it with Chime 2, an electronic Wifi doorbell sold for 49 euros which can be installed anywhere in the house. And against a subscription of 2.99 euros / month, Arlo offers a cloud service in which each motion detection or each doorbell will be immortalized on video and stored for 30 days.
Attention: the Video Doorbell Wire-Free requires a small installation. It is not only necessary to create an account, but also to play the chignole. The drilling of two holes in the wall to accommodate the device remains necessary. The operation will take longer if you decide to install the doorbell wired rather than wifi, this second option assuming you hang the product not too far from its Internet box. If it is a bit long (about 15 minutes), the configuration of the Video Doorbell Fire-Free is still quite simple. It remains to take the time to customize the settings.
Finally, we appreciate that its rechargeable battery is removable. It can thus be replaced if necessary, increasing the life of the product.