Let’s talk shop about the ADT Self Setup doorbell camera (also sometimes known as the DIY Doorbell Camera). It’s reasonably priced and has a lot of useful features, but the facial recognition needs some work. ADT Self Setup video doorbell camera features:
Facial recognition Motion detection (with customizable motion zones) Night vision Two-way talk Cloud storage Push notifications 180° field of view 1080p resolution Rechargeable backup batteries
Users say the facial recognition can be erratic, which is a bummer. But we’ve tested facial recognition with Nest (arguably the second-best brand for video doorbells), and we have to say that’s erratic too. During a test conducted by one of our reviewers, the Nest Outdoor Cam IQ struggled to recognize the same person from different angles. So basically, facial recognition, in general, is still a work in progress. We don’t think you’re gonna get drastically lower recognition quality with ADT Self Setup. Plus, we like that the company isn’t charging an arm and a leg for this experimental tech. You also have the option to disable the motion-detection feature and only get alerts when someone pushes the doorbell button. The $2.99-per-month, cloud-storage subscription is an excellent deal as well. Most companies are charging $5, $10, and even more per month for cloud storage. That’s not the best smart home automation we’ve seen. Still, the flexible nature of IFTTT means that you might be able to set up chain reactions using a Google Home or Z-Wave product. Your camera comes with brackets, screws, wires, and connectors so you can install it on your own. You’ll also need to open your ADT Self Setup app to complete installation. If the thought of setting up the camera overwhelms you, you can always hire a professional or bribe a friend to do it. If you aren’t feeling this camera, check out our video doorbell roundup and this Ring video doorbell review. If you aren’t feeling ADT Self Setup in general, we have a lot of alternate home security suggestions. It’s unusual for a company to offer professional video monitoring, TBH. Probably because security cameras easily pick up on things users don’t want to share outside their homes. ADT has two offerings. There’s the DIY system (ADT Self Setup), and there’s the traditional ADT system, which you can get using plans from a variety of third-party dealers. If you already have one of these numerous plans, it seems natural that you could add a ADT Self Setup camera to your security system, right? Well, ADT Self Setup systems are rebranded LifeShield equipment, while typical ADT equipment is from Alarm.com. Because of this, they’re unlikely to be compatible with each other.
