Your doorbell is watching

Ding-dong!

Whos there?

When someone is at your door, you dont know who they are until you check the peephole, or a pricey security system. If youre not at home, you may never know.

But what if your doorbell could talk? Two gadgets have turned the humble doorbell, little changed since the Victorian era, into a digital doorman.

Press the Ring or Skybell doorbells, and theyll still set off a chime in the house, but then also alert your phone with a live video feed of who is at your door. When someone prowls around the door without pressing the bell, theyll show you video of that, too. No rewiring is required, since most existing doorbells already have power.

Think of these $200 doorbells as home-monitoring systems and two-way intercoms for the smartphone era. After testing them both, theyre among the few smart-home gadgets I would actually buy and use.

Skybell Handout photo showing the Skybell doorbell

There are heaps of DIY connected security cameras on the market, but Ive found most to be a little creepy, and of questionable utility for securing regular homes. A doorbell camera makes more sense because it captures a critical passageway for the people you want to see, as well as intruders you want to keep out. It is socially acceptable: If youre standing within 10 feet of my door, pretty much everyone can agree youre presenting yourself for inspection.

There are good reasons why you might want your doorbell connected to the Internet. You can use an app to show you who is ringing while youre in the backyard, or to tell the delivery guy to leave the package when youre at work. And even if you dont have to answer the door frequently, it can offer peace of mind by alerting you if someone is casing the joint.

Setting up either the Ring or the Skybell doesnt require extra gear or an advanced degree in operating a smart home. You will need a strong Wi-Fi network in the vicinity of your front door and an Apple or Android smartphone for everyone in the family who wants to be able to check the live video feed. Both products can handle rain and a fair amount of cold.

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Your doorbell is watching