SnapAV has revealed the new Control4 Chime Video Doorbell during the first day of its three-day event, Snap Pro Live.
Chime is the first video doorbell solution designed to leverage the capabilities of Control4 OS 3. It adds another level of security to the home, giving integrators the option to customise actions that take place when the doorbell is pressed.
As Charlie Kindel, chief product and technology officer for SnapAV points out: “Video doorbells are incredibly popular, giving families the ability to see who is at the front door. But many are simply smart accessories that don’t leverage the full capabilities of a smart home to protect a family.
“Chime marries security and automation to a level that has never been done before. Users can determine what actions they want to occur when motion is detected, or the doorbell is pressed. It’s entirely customisable, transforming the doorbell’s role in the smart home to deliver the experience homeowners want.”
Specific automatic actions can be programmed to take place when the doorbell is pressed or if it detects motion. They can also be user-initiated. For example, homeowners can use the Control4 app to see and speak with a visitor while unlocking the doors, turning on the lights inside and outside, and disabling the security system.
Homeowners can also use Chime to alert them of movement around the property using its advanced motion detection with five adjustable zones. Users can choose whether to receive video notifications when movement is detected in a specific video zone, or when the doorbell is pressed.
Ensuring a high-end user experience, Chime features HD video with a 5-megapixel camera for a sharp, crisp video experience, a 180-degree field view to see more of the property, and a built-in night mode for clear visibility in the dark.
It also enabled natural two-way communications using standards-based communications technology, allowing users to hear and speak at the same time without having to press an intercom button.
Homeowners can use their smartphone to answer the door, talk to visitors, and receive notifications anywhere with a 4Sight subscription and the Control4 Intercom anywhere app, which is now included within the Control4 OS 3 app.
Users can also use the app or a Control4 touchscreen to access a history of video recordings, in case they miss or ignore a call. Video can also be captured with a network video recorder (NVR), including Luma Surveillance NVRs.
To ensure seamless installation for all customers, integrators can choose from a Power over Ethernet model for new constructions with a simple one-wire installation and solid reliability or retrofit Wi-Fi models for existing homes where an Ethernet cable cannot be pulled.
Chime accessories include a new-construction wall box and two 15-degree wedges (left and right) to help optimise the viewing angle.
OvrC-enabled, integrators are able to remotely monitor Chime’s system status, receive notifications, and reboot devices if needed from the OvrC web or mobile app.
To appeal to different styles, the video doorbell is available in two metallic finishes – black and satin-nickel.
The Control4 Chime Video Doorbell has an MSRP of $400 and is available in four models: Black, PoE – C4-VDB-E-BL; Black, Wi-Fi – C4-VDB-W-BL; Satin Nickel, PoE – C4-VDB-E-SN; and Satin Nickel, Wi-Fi – C4-VDB-W-SN.
Chime will start shipping immediately.