So here’s an update on the Skybell.
I received the Skybell this afternoon. Here are my first impressions.
The physical device itself is inexpensively made. As a person who literally owns 5 2nd Generation Nest thermostats, I can tell you that this device isn’t even close to the same build quality as a Nest, despite the similar price points and target market. The exterior housing is cheap plastic, the circuit board is fully exposed and viewable from the rear of the device (see pictures), and the power leads are really thin inexpensive aluminum wire that is soldered to the board and hot glued to help keep them from being pulled out.
As I have read in numerous reviews, the “set screw” and mounting method are not the best. That being said, since I knew what to expect, it wasn’t a big deal to install. Just not as robust and secure as I would prefer.
Because of all the syncing complaints, I initially set the bell up while in the house, using a 12v AC adapter. After reading all the syncing horror stories, I thought this was best. I read and re-read all of the instructions prior to doing anything. In the end, the bell synced perfectly the 1st try. No problems at all, using an iPhone 5s. It was actually anticlimactic because I expected there to be lots of issues.
Ok. After syncing, it came time to test it. Again, I expected issues. Nope. It operated exactly as expected. No big deal. Push the “doorbell” button. The cellphone notification came up within a second or two. Answered the call, and the video popped in. I tested it multiple times on my test bench, and every time, it worked flawlessly. So far, so good.
So what do I think of it in operation?
The camera is certainly on the inferior side. It does what it needs to do, but don’t expect HD video. More like the quality you’d get from a '90’s era cell phone camera.
As for the viewing angles, yes that needs to be improved. But since I already knew to expect that, I wasn?t disappointed. Yes, there is going to be the potential to cut a person’s head off, depending on where they stand. I mounted my bell a bit higher than standard, so it isn’t as big of an issue in my case.
I can say that the bell seems to need a strong WiFi signal to reliably connect. My door is on the opposite end of the house from the router. The Skybell worked after mounting, just somewhat sporadically. I expected that to happen, already knowing that the WiFi signal there was weak. So I installed a WiFi repeater, and now all is well.
I’ll update the thread once I have used the bell for a few days. But overall, my initial impression is significantly better than the reviews I had been reading. I think it’s about setting the proper expectation, and having good documentation for the initial install. For me, the install truly was anticlimactic.
For Skybell 2.0, I want a metal face, a fully enclosed design, and a more secure mounting method. The camera should be significantly improved, with better clarity, color, and wider viewing angles. All for the same retail price. But for now, as an early adopter, I am happy to have purchased it (so far). It’s a neat gadget, and fits perfectly with my lifestyle.
