In an age where we are more security conscious than ever before, video doorbells can give us peace of mind.
After all, it is very comforting to be able to see who is at your front door before you open it.
And wi-fi video doorbells, like these, are some of the best selling smart home products.
But wi-fi video doorbells are all well and good as long as your home has wi-fi and you own a smartphone.
But what if you don’t?
Well, then you need a video doorbell with a monitor.
And once you have decided that..
You have two main options- wireless video doorbells with monitor or wired video doorbells with monitor.
How do wireless video doorbells with monitors work?
This solution is the modern solution.
It uses the latest technology.
Because of that, you need to have a reliable wi-fi connection and a smartphone.
These systems require you to buy two separate products- a video doorbell and a smart assistant with a screen.
And in this article I refer to Amazon’s Echo Show.
And if you go down the wireless route, the Echo Show can do so much more than be a monitor for your video doorbell- but now is not the time to get distracted!
The other piece of the puzzle is to buy a wireless video doorbell- importantly it must be compatible with Alexa- which is the name of Amazon’s digital assistant.
And the choice of video doorbells to choose from is vast.
The doorbell and the smart assistant must be linked to your wi-fi network and then they can be linked together via the Amazon Alexa app.
How do wired video doorbells and monitors work?
The second option is for a wired system.
If the wireless option could be viewed as “leading edge” technology then a wired option is using decades old technology- modified from CCTV systems.
A wired video doorbell with a monitor, has three basic parts to it.
The first part, as you can see from the image, has a camera and call button built into a weatherproof casing- which is then mounted next to your front door.
The second part is a monitor that displays the footage from the camera.
These are typically between about 7″ wide
And the third basic part is a set of wires that connect the video doorbell to the monitor.
These wired systems don’t require you to have a wi-fi network in place and neither do you need a smartphone.
In fact, in that sense they are much simpler systems.
But if a wireless solution gives you lots of different video doorbells to choose from…
If you want a wired doorbell and monitor you have a very limited choice..
And by that I mean less than five products to choose from..
Key Differences Wireless Video Doorbells and Wired Video Doorbell Monitor
I have already mentioned wi-fi networks and smart phones but there are other key differences between a wired and wireless system.
And I want to mention three of these.
(1) Smart assistant isn’t just a video doorbell monitor
If you opt for a wireless approach, it will so much more than just be a screen for your video doorbell.
These include attaching other security cameras to the smart assistant or using the smart assistant to follow a recipe or to display the weather forecast.
In contrast the monitor in the wired system just displays who is at the front door.
(2) A wireless system can be accessed remotely
A wireless solution allows users to access the system even when they aren’t at home.
If you are at work or running errands, you will know when someone is at your front door.
A wired system can only be used when you are at home.
(3) Wireless video doorbells records, saves and shares footage
A wireless video doorbell will record, save and share any motion activated video footage that it captures.
And this can all be done relatively pain free via an app on your smart phone
In contrast, the video doorbell in a wired system might take and record a snapshot (if you are lucky) but it won’t record any video.
There is no convenient app to use- instead, if you want to take a look at any photos that have been taken, you will need to eject the SD card from the monitor and slot it into your phone or laptop.
Ideal Buyers
I think it is much easier to describe the ideal buyer of a wired system.
These are people who don’t have a wi-fi network at home (or aren’t comfortable using it) and they don’t have a smart phone either.
I would also say that these systems suit small home or apartments more than larger houses because there is a limit to the length of the wire that connects the monitor with the video doorbell.
All of which points us to older people- our parents or our grandparents.
And what about an ideal buyer of a wireless system?
It is a bit difficult because these people already have a smart phone- which can be used as a monitor for a wireless video doorbell.
And so I think the ideal buyer would be for someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen and likes to follow recipes online.
It is a blasted nuisance trying to look at a recipe on a smart phone because at a crucial moment, the screen will dim just as you are looking for your next step!
And because the Echo Show does so much more than be just a monitor for your doorbell, it would solve this culinary obstacle as well.
Let’s dive in and start having a look at some of the products that you can buy.
We will start with looking at wireless systems
(1) Echo Show 10 + Ring Video Doorbell 4 (Best Overall)
Here you go.
If you want one of the best systems on the market, which is my best overall, look no further than this.
Let me quickly take you through the main features of the Echo Show 10.
Main Features of Echo Show 10
- 10″ screen with an HD resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels
- Voice activated
- 13 MP camera
- 3 x 1.0″ tweeter
- 1 x 3″ sub woofer
In order to make up a complete wireless system, you need to buy the latest video doorbell.
Let me introduce the Ring 4.
And the main features of the Ring 4.
Main Features of Ring 4
- 1080p video
- Voice activation
- Colour motion alerts
- Privacy zones
- Night vision
- Quick release rechargeable battery
- Two way talk
But perhaps this set up is a little too fancy and a little too expensive.
In which case, I have a more budget friendly option.
(2) Echo Show 5 + Aosu Video Doorbell (Best Budget)
So to start with, let me quickly take you through the main specifications of the Echo Show 5.
Main features of Echo Show 5
- Voice Activation
- 5.5″ touch screen (960 x 480 pixels)
- 2 MP camera
- 1x 1.7″ speaker
And what video doorbell have I chosen to pair with the Echo 5 Show?
Well, it’s price bracket might be “budget”, but its features are anything but.
Let’s take a look.
Main features of Aosu Video Doorbell
- 5 MP camera
- 180 day battery life
- Voice Activation
- 3D motion detection
- Night vision
#1: AMOCAM Wired Video doorbell (Best Overall)
This Amocam video doorbell is a wired video doorbell with a monitor.
It is one of the original, first generation video doorbells with monitor.
Created for people who either didn’t like the latest technology or have access to a smartphone, let’s take a look at some of its main features.
This Amocam video doorbell comes in two bundles:
- 1 camera and 1 monitor
- and 1 camera and 2 monitors
Main features
The doorbell camera has an aluminum and waterproof casing, which has a 92° viewing angle.
It has infrared night vision and to stop you getting bored there are sixteen chimes to choose from.
The monitor has a 7″ colour screen.
Pros
- Simple to set up and use
- This doorbell and monitor doesn’t require batteries or wi-fi.
Cons
- It looks old fashioned
- The monitor is powered by an adapter and so it needs to be positioned by an electrical outlet.
- The monitor can’t be too far away from the front door as they are connected by wires.
#2: Anboson Video Doorbell With Monitor (Runner Up)
Another of the wired varieties- the monitor and doorbell camera are connected by wires but in a slightly more stylish black design (when we compare it to the previous product.)
Available in two bundles:
- 1 camera and 1 monitor
- 1 camera and two monitors
Let’s take a look at the main features
Main Features
Not only is the camera housed in a waterproof case (with a cover) the camera has a resolution of 720p- which is plenty when most of your visitors will be inches or feet from the camera.
And there is night vision- perfect for those late night visits that you might have from the family!
A built in microphone will also pick up any sounds.
The monitor contains a 7″ colour screen with a choice of 16 different doorbell chimes.
Though far from the best when it comes to doorbell camera systems, AMOCAM is cheap and easy to operate.
Pros
- Simple to set up and use
- This doorbell and monitor doesn’t require batteries or wi-fi.
Cons
- The monitor is powered by an adapter and so it needs to be positioned by an electrical outlet.
- The monitor can’t be too far away from the front door as they are connected by wires.
#3: JeaTone Video Door Phone (Best Large Screen)
Our third and final wired video doorbell with monitor.
This model is great for all of you that want a really modern look and feel to their system.
One camera comes with two monitors.
Main Features
Two 10″ inch monitors with soft touch buttons.
Every time motion is detected, a snapshot is taken and saved to the SD card.
The camera has a 720p resolution, 110° viewing angle and uses night vision to improve visibility in the dark.
And to cap it all it has two way audio.
Pros
- 10″ monitor
- Simple to set up and use
- This doorbell and monitor doesn’t require batteries or wi-fi.
Cons
- The monitor is powered by an adapter and so it needs to be positioned by an electrical outlet.
- The monitor can’t be too far away from the front door as they are connected by wires.
#10: Digitsea digital doorbell peephole
One device that efficiently does the job of the security personnel is the Digitsea Digital Doorbell Peephole Door Camera. This looks like an ordinary peephole, but it is actually a camera that can take clear pictures and record videos of people coming near or passing by your doorstep.
More features include:
- Clear Night Vision: 4pcs IR LEDs, The camera is armed with infrared capabilities even in the dark. Clear night vision LEDs will turn on automatically under poor light.
- Automatic Snap Shots: Automatically taking and saving photos in micro SD, when visitor press doorbell button.
- HD Video with Live View: OV industrial high definition color sensor, 120-degree lens, very clear image
- Quality warranty: 1 year.
Pros
- Uses commonly available AA batteries.
- Installation is very easy and fast, once you have all your tools ready.
- JPG image is stored automatically in the SD card once someone presses the doorbell. You can review and delete the images.
- Bell sound is good, loud, and works well.
- Low power consumption
Cons
- Batteries are not included, you have to buy them separately
- You have to drill a peephole if your door does not have one
- The view range is not adjustable
- Does not fit in standard peephole without drilling a bigger 15mm hole diameter.
