Reddit reviews August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. Remote access, Alexa integration for your August Smart Lock.
We found 3 Reddit comments about August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. Remote access, Alexa integration for your August Smart Lock.. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Control your door from anywhere.Connect your August Smart Lock to Wi-Fi. Requires North American outlet with 110-240V.Always know that your door is locked. Requires iOS (9.0 or higher) or Android (5.0 or higher) smartphonesLock or unlock your door, even if you are away from home.Voice control? Connect your lock to Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant or Siri.Get instant alerts when someone enters or exits your home.
> My husband and I are closing on our first home next month (yay!) and we know one of the first things to do is change the locks. A smartlock is very appealing but I'm having trouble deciding which one is best for us, because it seems the more I research the less certain I am. I also have a couple questions.
Ah, the perks of home ownership: feeling optimistic and creative, with a blank canvas in front of you. I envy you both!
Let me tell you why you should be considering the August Smart Lock brand of locks. I will post a small blurb on my contextual background and specific situation (which I posted elsewhere), then briefly mention the possible choices you have, and then respond to your list of requirements and setup,
 
 
PART I: CONTEXT
I am a renter; so obviously a lot of what I have to say may seem irrelevant. Seeing as I do not have a lot of creative control over the property, this would make smart locks tricky business. However, my landlord gave me permissions to replace the entire deadbolt, if I wanted. So, the first set of requirements were drafted as:
MUSTS:
WANTS:
So, my research began, in earnest. It consumed me. Off the bat, the first names to pop up were August, Kwikset, Schlage and Yale.
Of those, three had keypad options, which became a requirement soon after. Despite the perks of the Kwikset Kevo (the touch to open), I removed it from the list.
Also, despite the fiance having an iPhone, I had an Android, so the lock had to have equal footing mobile phone ecosystem-independent. That removed things like Schlage Sense and other Homekit-only options.
The final list:
I did a ton of cross referencing, reviews websites, pros and cons, etc etc. And CONSISTENTLY, the August locks were ranked #1/#2/#3. I won't go into too much more detail on what those websites and reviews indicated, I trust you guys can do that research.
But, in the end, the August locks were exactly what we needed, AND more. They were going to be the easiest to set up, and the best out of the gate. So we went with them, and haven't looked back since. My fiance, a "smart-home-always-listening" skeptic, casually told me yesterday how awesome she finds the smart lock.
 
 
PART II: THE LINEUP
So, what options to choose from?
Pros: Most up to date, improved tech under the hood, Z-Wave Plus compatible, Door Sense, most smart home integrations available, Auto lock/unlock
Cons: Most expensive
Pros: Improved tech under the hood from the previous generation, Door Sense, Auto lock/unlock, traditional form factor, Cheaper
Cons: No useful smart home integrations (missing homekit, alexa/echo, google home, z wave)
To compare the above two, go here: http://august.com/keyless-entry/
Pros: Most cost effective ($125, but last week it was $109!) but still ranked #1 on MANY reputable websites (CNET | PCMag | etc), has built-in HomeKit capability, can be enhanced with additional devices
Cons: Least impressive underlying tech, no Door Sense capability, no effective smart home integrations
 
"Door Sense": The ability to detect "Door open" / "Door Closed" situation.
 
An Aside : Enhancement Products
This keypad adds in the functionality that you'd expect:
-- keyless code entry for guests (unlimited codes, managed via the app)
-- Lock it with a button press
-- Attachable for preferred outside entry
 
This device enables you to link your otherwise-bluetooth-range-only smart lock to your wifi, effectively allowing you to connect and manage the smart lock from ANYWHERE that you have network connectivity. With it, you can:
-- Remotely lock/unlock your door
-- Receive alerts on any actions taken on your door remotely
-- have faster access to your lock as your app selects the best connection to use
 
PART 2.5: BUNDLES/SALE
Consider price-watching for sales; I saw the 2nd gen for, like $109...
Personally, I jumped when the Smart Lock Pro + Wifi bridge bundle went on sale for $229 (same price as the lock itself), and the keypad was $55, on Amazon.
 
 
PART III : Why the August Locks work for your situation (below)
It connects to a cloud service. So no hub needed. You can buy a Wifi Relay if you want, but its not necessary. The relay allows you to open the lock even when you're not in bluetooth range.
I guess the only other thing I can add is it does have IFTTT support. So if you are interested in automation at all (e.g. the lights come on when you come home) that's possible as well.
Actually if you get the August wifi bridge you can connect from anywhere