Digital door viewer: the best solution for your home security?

How does a digital door viewer work?

A digital door viewer or “door camera” is an electronic product that lets you see who’s on the other side of a door, just like a regular peephole with a concave lens. It differs from a traditional peephole in that it has a small camera fitted to the outside of the door, which works with an LCD display inside the home so its inhabitants can monitor what’s going on outside.

Digital door viewer or smart video doorbell?

The digital door viewer and smart video doorbell (also called a smart intercom) have several similarities... So it’s not always easy to choose. Above all, it’s important to consider your needs and the features that will be most useful to you and offer your home the best level of security. You’ll want to take account of factors such as price, postage costs (some stores may offer free delivery), features such as night vision or motion detection, screen size, and quality rating (number of stars).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a digital door viewer?

Advantages:

• Very easy to install
• A door camera is generally more affordable than a video doorbell

Disadvantages:

• Digital door viewers give you a view of your doorstep but don’t let you communicate with the person outside your home
• You can only install them on the door so you have to be able to drill a hole and screw the device into it
• Unlike a video doorbell, a door camera’s viewing distance can be quite limited and the viewing angle may not be that wide
• Many digital door viewers do not include Wi-Fi connectivity. So, if you’re not in, you can’t look at the LCD screen and see if someone is ringing or trying to enter. Also, if you’re in a room far from the entrance, you have to come and look at the electronic display to know who rang the bell. However, some of the new generation of door cameras are gradually integrating Wi-Fi connectivity, making it easy to monitor your property while you’re away.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a video doorbell?

Advantages:

• Video doorbells give residents a way to communicate with the person or people outside through the associated mobile app.
• They can have a wider range of vision, generally higher image quality than digital door viewers, and more features (motion or person detection, for example).
• Most video doorbells work with Wi-Fi, so you can keep an eye on your entrance at any time of the day or night, no matter where you are.

Disadvantages:

• This type of product is often more expensive than a digital door viewer
• Video doorbells aren’t always easy to install and you may need to hire a professional, so you will need to budget for that as well as the price of the product and postage costs.

In summary

	See what’s going on or who’s at the door	Be alerted remotely any time a visitor rings your bell (on a smartphone)	Communicate with the person at the door, even from a distance	Record what’s happening on your doorstep	Need to drill a hole in the door to install the product	Additional features (person detection, night vision...)
Digital door viewer	yes	no	no	yes	yes	Depends on the model (mainly top-of-the-range or new generation door viewers)
Video doorbell	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	Yes, generally but depends on the model

In short, digital door viewers and video doorbells are similar products that ensure your home is protected by letting you know what’s happening outside your door. High-end and/or state-of-the-art door cameras are getting closer to smart doorbells in terms of features such as night vision and person detection, as well as price. However, to install a camera you will have to do some drilling.

What’s the price of a digital door viewer?

These products vary greatly in price. Prices range between £35 and £45 for very basic models with limited features or £130-175 for more high-end models. Indeed, the price will depend on the model, the brand, the features it offers... Bear the cost of postage in mind too, although free delivery may be an option.

The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell

Keep an eye on your doorstep, even from a distance

Has a delivery person rung your doorbell? The Smart Video Doorbell alerts you when a visitor comes by. You can view them live on your smartphone, and even talk to them, whether you're at home, in the office or on the other side of the world.

Person detection function

Animals, cars, autumn leaves... Don’t be disturbed by any of these false alarms. With the Person Detection feature, you’ll only get alerts when you really have a visitor or delivery. And to make sure you only film in front of your home, select the area you want to monitor with the Alert-Zones function!

Excellent vision... even at night

The full HD video with infrared vision gives you a very clear picture day and night. The HDR feature smooths out sudden changes in light so you can see even against the light. The 9:16 video in portrait format allows you to see your visitors at eye level, as well as packages on the ground!

Secure video recording with no subscription required

To ensure security and be free from worry on a daily basis, your videos are stored on the micro SD card provided, locally or directly in your personal cloud. Also, your app will update automatically, with no subscription or additional fees.

Go further by opting for a complete security system

To make sure your home is totally secure, nothing beats a complete system including surveillance cameras, alarms, motion detectors... Indeed, while a digital door viewer or a smart doorbell allow you to monitor what’s happening on your doorstep, they don’t show you what’s happening inside your house or activate an alert if an intruder tries to break in.