Skip to main content

August Smart Keypad - An Almost Mandatory Accessory

When we moved into our new house, we inherited an August Lock Pro. 

It's generally worked out as advertised, but a few issues have sprung up from time to time. 

First off - as we discussed in the earlier article, the lock occasionally spins without turning the deadbolt... and the only way to open the door is to remove the August Lock entirely. 

This may be specific to our door. It only happens when the door isn't completely closed, so the deadbolt is a little bit misaligned, and there's too much friction. 

Still, it's embarrassing when your friends and family can't open the door from the inside. A door should be open-able! 

I'm ASSUMING that the fix here is to replace the deadbolt adapter, which is a little worn. They're $10 from August - I'll report back.

The second issue is more of a "pet peeve" than an actual issue... You need to use your phone to unlock the August Lock Pro. 

And by the time you've pulled your phone out of your pocket, you may as well be using your keys! 

Enter - the August Smart Keypad. 

This is a $60 August Smart Lock accessory that is often bundled with the lock, and after adding one, I can see why. 

Here's the review: Everyone with an August Smart Lock should get a Smart Keypad. 

The Smart Keypad removes your phone, and the August App, from the equation. It allows guests to open your door with a keycode - which can be time-limited and specific to each guest! 

The Smart Keypad makes it possible for your kids to lock and unlock the door, without a smartphone. 

This is the sort of functionality that you don't even realize is "missing", until you have it. At that point, you realize that it should be mandatory. 

Some notes - 

The keypad runs on two AAA batteries. (Frankly, it's not much bigger than 2 AAA batteries.) And just like the Smart Lock Pro, they're going to run out from time to time, and it will ALWAYS seem to be the worst possible time. 

Be especially aware of battery drain if the Keypad is exposed to extreme cold where you live. (We live in a Chicago-ish suburb, it's currently extremely cold, and our Keypad is currently dead.)

The Keypad numbers light up - which is absolutely necessary at night if your porch lights aren't automated - but which also adds to the battery drain. 

The Keypad is surprisingly "deep" - especially considering its small size. It's not going to mount flush with your door frame. 

I recommend that you just consider it to be a bold design choice, live with it and move on. 

Next Steps

In the next few weeks, I'll be replacing the deadbolt adapter... and if that doesn't resolve the "sometimes spins without turning the deadbolt" issue, I'll be replacing the entire Smart Lock Pro with the brand new Smart Lock Wifi, which is quite a bit smaller and which can be opened and closed from anywhere. 

Some other Smart Home projects in the queue:

  • Converting an ADT Pulse security system to Ring with their Ring Retrofit Alarm Kit
  • Connecting the entire Ring ecosystem to HomeKit using HOOBS
  • Extending Eero wifi to our detached garage with a Powerline Wifi Adapter

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Not All AirPort Extremes are Created Equal (UPDATED)

I'm looking for a used AirPort Extreme. In all the usual places - eBay, Craigslist.  I'll probably get one this week. Why? It's a long story.  A while back, I picked up an AirPort Express A1084 router on Craigslist, and found that it was incompatible with my AirPort Utility and wireless-n network, even though it looked *identical* to the current model of AirPort Express.  So, I wrote a post on this blog about the different types of AirPort Express routers, noting that if you're looking for used Airport Express routers to extend your AirPlay network, you'd better seek out model A1264. In the months that followed, Apple updated the AirPort Express again, changing the form factor (it looks like a little white AppleTV now), adding simultaneous dual-band support, and giving it model number A1392.  ASIDE: I'm not totally convinced that the form-factor change was an improvement. The A1264 plugged directly into the wall, which was incr

Review - WOW Ultra TV vs. DirecTV HR34 Genie

Here in the Chicago suburbs, we had two options for whole-home DVR services. We initially went with WOW Ultra TV, and after about 4 months, we switched to DirecTV's HR34 Genie system. (Neither Verizon FIOS nor AT&T UVerse were available in our area, so we can't review those. I haven't used Dish's Hopper, either. This is a straight compare/contrast review of WOW vs. DirecTV.) Both Ultra TV and Genie have their plusses and minuses. Both offer 1080p output, but that's primarily for the menus, as most TV content is provided at lower resolutions.  Both systems have a similar design architecture - a central hub, with multiple tuners and a large hard drive, recording and storing all TV shows, and distributing them to televisions around the house upon request.  Both systems also bring a number of "add-on" apps and have ways of accessing "on demand" content.  We've had each system for enough time to really put them through

Review: NuCore Flooring from Floor & Decor

This NuCore flooring review will also function as a Basement Update: We're finally, officially moving forward on the Phase 2 finish work.