[RickFLM4]

I'm looking for a smart lock to replace the deadbolt on the door that goes from a hallway inside the house to the attached garage. Main purpose is to let cleaning people in when we are out by giving them a code to unlock the door (have code on garage door already). I'd also like to be able to connect it to WiFi so I can check locked status and lock / unlock remotely from my phone. Nothing all that fancy or anything to try to integrate with.

Anyone have any suggestions of brand / models to check out or brand / models to avoid (and why)? For example, we have a Schlage that came with a vacation property but didn't connect to WiFi until I figured out I needed some hub for it to connect to first, something I'd like to avoid for such a simple application.

[upstatedoc]

You keep that door locked in case the garage doors get breached?

[dtox9]

I just bought two of these about a month ago...
So far pretty straight forward and not a single hiccup.

I usually prefer Schlage, but kwikset was on the house when we moved in, and I never changed them out. It is very convenient using their smartkey rekey method, so that turned into another plus.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

You keep that door locked in case the garage doors get breached?

It is locked when we go to sleep or when we go out of town. Otherwise unlocked. There are the garage doors and a side door to the garage that could conceivably get breached.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by dtox9

I just bought two of these about a month ago...
So far pretty straight forward and not a single hiccup.

I usually prefer Schlage, but kwikset was on the house when we moved in, and I never changed them out. It is very convenient using their smartkey rekey method, so that turned into another plus.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I see it references Z-Wave. Does it require some kind of hub in addition to the lock?

[dtox9]

It connected to our ring alarm setup seamlessly - no additional components.
It also connected to Alexa without any hiccup, as well.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by dtox9

It connected to our ring alarm setup seamlessly - no additional components.
It also connected to Alexa without any hiccup, as well.

OK thanks. I don't have Ring or Alexa.

[M_Six]

The new Thread protocol works pretty slick without a dedicated hub because some Thread devices act as hubs. For instance, I have an Eve Home wifi plug that not only works as a remotely controllable plug, it also acts as the hub for my Eve Weather gadget that sits outside the house. There is an Eve app for phones that lets you see your devices. No other hub needed. But as of now, I don't know of any Thread capable door lock.

There are door locks that work with Apple HomeKit. And HomeKit can be run using an Apple TV 4k or a HomePod Mini or even an iPad, so it's pretty easy and cheap. But that may be more setup work than you want.

What model is your Schlage door lock?

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The new Thread protocol works pretty slick without a dedicated hub because some Thread devices act as hubs. For instance, I have an Eve Home wifi plug that not only works as a remotely controllable plug, it also acts as the hub for my Eve Weather gadget that sits outside the house. There is an Eve app for phones that lets you see your devices. No other hub needed. But as of now, I don't know of any Thread capable door lock.

There are door locks that work with Apple HomeKit. And HomeKit can be run using an Apple TV 4k or a HomePod Mini or even an iPad, so it's pretty easy and cheap. But that may be more setup work than you want.

What model is your Schlage door lock?

Something that works with an Apple TV 4K might be ok as we have one of those. I am hoping for simple overall.

The Schlage that came with our NC condo is model BE469ZP. I had to buy a Samsung SmartThings hub for that one, which is the only use of the hub. It was annoying because I had to do a bunch of research to even figure out I needed a hub.

This purchase is for our home in FL so I can replicate what we have in NC or find something easier.

[Mason Hatcher]

I use August. I have full local and wifi control of it via my smartphone. I can add users, limit their access and remove all from within the app. No code required for them, their smartphone acts as the key. For users it is Bluetooth only, they have to be in BT range to access my door. I really like it. Thinking of adding one to the back door.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Something that works with an Apple TV 4K might be ok as we have one of those. I am hoping for simple overall.

The Schlage that came with our NC condo is model BE469ZP. I had to buy a Samsung SmartThings hub for that one, which is the only use of the hub. It was annoying because I had to do a bunch of research to even figure out I needed a hub.

This purchase is for our home in FL so I can replicate what we have in NC or find something easier.

Here's a how-to link for setting up some Schlage locks with HomeKit. Scroll down to the HomeKit part.

https://www.schlage.com/blog/categor...e-devices.html

Either Apple TV 4K model (1st or 2nd Gen) will act as a HomeKit base, but only the 4k 2nd Gen is Thread capable. That Schlage model number appears to be a few years old, so it may not have Thread unless it was added during a firmware update.

Note that when you set up HomeKit, you have to have HomeKit turned on in iCloud. That's what allows remote access.

[paquet]

The newer Schlage lock doesn't need a hub unit (Schlage sells their own which can control a couple of locks)

I need to swap out the non-smart lock on that door myself with something that my lazy ass can be all 'xyz, lock that door gracias'

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by packet

The newer Schlage lock doesn't need a hub unit (Schlage sells their own which can control a couple of locks)

I need to swap out the non-smart lock on that door myself with something that my lazy ass can be all 'xyz, lock that door gracias'

Actually, I should have mentioned that back in June I tried that one (Schlage BE489WB), which I was able to physically install myself but could never get it to connect to my WiFi (2.4 GHz connection) network. I returned it and got another and had the same result. It seemed like the perfect solution on paper, but was an exercise in futility for me.

[paquet]

That has to be one of the most annoying things ever - buying something and not getting it to work right.
That looks like their newer lock - with the built-in wifi, so you don't need the extra hardware. I'm sorry to hear it didn't work correctly for you

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by packet

That has to be one of the most annoying things ever - buying something and not getting it to work right.
That looks like their newer lock - with the built-in wifi, so you don't need the extra hardware. I'm sorry to hear it didn't work correctly for you

Entirely possible there is some detail I missed, but I thought I followed directions closely. All it takes is one minor thing to be off for it not to work though.

[omasou]

Nest/Yale or Level Lock

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Entirely possible there is some detail I missed, but I thought I followed directions closely. All it takes is one minor thing to be off for it not to work though.

One thing that can make life difficult is the 2.4GHz/5GHz thing. Tons of "smart" devices use 2.4GHz only whereas most new wifi routers work on the 5GHz range or are dual band. I have both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels running, but if I try to use some smart devices through my iPhone when it's connected to the 5GHz network, it fails. I have to switch my phone to use the 2.4GHz network. My wifi routers (Apple AirPorts) were set to work on both bands, but each individual device would choose which band to use. My Apple TV 4k boxes kept defaulting to the 2.4GHz band even though they can use both. I'd be watching TV and Wifey would fire up the microwave and my TV would freeze because of the 2.4GHz interference from the microwave. So I had to create a 5GHz only network and force the Apple TV boxers to use that band only.

[ggunn9]

I use Schlage at my front door, but a have Nest Yale at my garage door.

I like the Nest yale lock more. I am trying to do a Nest smart home. I have the nest doorbell and the Nest thermostats. They all come up on one app on my phone.

The Nest Yale allows different codes and it keeps a history of what code/who opened the door.

Nest Yale is normally about $250(usd) to $300(usd) I found it on sale a few years ago at Sam's club for $89(usd)

[omasou]

Originally Posted by ggunn9

I use Schlage at my front door, but a have Nest Yale at my garage door.

I like the Nest yale lock more. I am trying to do a Nest smart home. I have the nest doorbell and the Nest thermostats. They all come up on one app on my phone.

The Nest Yale allows different codes and it keeps a history of what code/who opened the door.

Nest Yale is normally about $250(usd) to $300(usd) I found it on sale a few years ago at Sam's club for $89(usd)

Also check the Yale web site. I found a bundle w/a lever and discount (call and ask) that was significantly lower at the time. Pay attention to which one you buy. The Yale Assure Lock supports different modules.

The Nest version is all-in-one and does not support different modules and cannot be changed in the future.

[wrickem]

Another Nest x Yale user here and am very happy with it and the app to use it. I installed it myself replacing an existing deadbolt, easy.

This house is tough with Wi-Fi (4 floors of stone, brick, stucco, horsehair) - the router is on the 3rd floor, the plug in hub on the second floor and the lock is on the first floor and it works perfectly.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by M_Six

One thing that can make life difficult is the 2.4GHz/5GHz thing. Tons of "smart" devices use 2.4GHz only whereas most new wifi routers work on the 5GHz range or are dual band. I have both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels running, but if I try to use some smart devices through my iPhone when it's connected to the 5GHz network, it fails. I have to switch my phone to use the 2.4GHz network. My wifi routers (Apple AirPorts) were set to work on both bands, but each individual device would choose which band to use. My Apple TV 4k boxes kept defaulting to the 2.4GHz band even though they can use both. I'd be watching TV and Wifey would fire up the microwave and my TV would freeze because of the 2.4GHz interference from the microwave. So I had to create a 5GHz only network and force the Apple TV boxers to use that band only.

Using different SSID for 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz is nice b/c I can force newer devices on 5 GHz but had the problem you mentioned.

Using the same SSID for 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz will solve the issue you mentioned.

My newest issue is most devices don't support WiFi 6 (WiFi 7 coming soon) and WAP3.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by omasou

Using different SSID for 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz is nice b/c I can force newer devices on 5 GHz but had the problem you mentioned.

Using the same SSID for 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz will solve the issue you mentioned.

My newest issue is most devices don't support WiFi 6 (WiFi 7 coming soon) and WAP3.

I have the 2.4GHz band labelled with the SSID name and the 5GHz band labelled with the same SSID + 5GHz (So SSID-5GHz). That way I can force my Apple TV boxes to use the 5GHz band. Those are the only devices I need to force into 5GHz. The rest can use whichever band they want.