- Receive email or text notifications
- Install and set up the system with ease
- Access your home from anywhere
- Remotely monitor access to your home
- Monthly subscription fee required for remote access
1. After pairing the bridge to my schlage lock and lamp module, I went online to register. Before you can do ANYTHING, before you can even test that the box is working, you must give them a credit card which they charge up front and enroll you in a monthly subscription. You can't do anything without paying them monthly, and there's no trial period or anything to see that the device works before you enroll. And they told me on the phone this subscription enrollment is non-refundable even if the device doesn't work and I return it to Amazon. So, the bottom line is, I had to start paying them up front just to find out that the product is totally broken.
2. When you try to pay them, the web browser (firefox) gives warnings that Schlage's online security certificate is not properly setup. The only way to proceed is to click "exceptions", even though Firefox warns you that you should never do this and no legitimate company will ask you to. Screen shot attached. If Schlage doesn't even have the technical skills to secure their online credit card page and keep my credit card safe, something every mom and pop etailer can do, how on earth do they expect me to trust that their lock entry system is safe? Clearly they don't trust themselves since, the first step of the online process, requires you to accept terms and conditions that waive any responsibility on their part, even if they are negligent.
3. During the setup I chose to have them send the cell phone app to my Blackberry. The cell phone app, also, does not have a security certificate and the Blackberry warns you that it's unsigned and untrusted.
4. Right now, you cannot use the Schlage link with ANY cameras or thermostats or sensors or scene controllers or handheld remotes or any of the other hundreds of ZWaves devices out there, except basic lamp modules. Schlage confirmed this when I called their support line. They said that in a few months they will sell a Schlage brand camera and it will work with their camera, but not with 3rd party IP cameras. So my Panasonic IP cameras will not work at all and I have to buy all new Schlage cameras; which, btw, don't appear to have pan/tilt/audio and other stuff like the Panasonic.
5. At this point I've resigned that this bridge will, basically, just allow me to control the Schlage lock, and for everything else I will need another gateway. But, wait, it gets worse. The web interface at Schlage's site says my bridge is disconnected. But that's wrong. It ---IS--connected. And I can login to my dhcp server and see that it's getting an IP. So it is plugged in and working. There is NOTHING in Schlage's documentation to explain this. The green light on the bridge is blinking 3 times. But there is nothing to indicate if this is normal, or an error. So I call Schlage's customer support line. I get bounced around between low level operators who know nothing more than to read trouble shooting guides. They ask stupid questions that prove they don't know what they're talking about. They ask me to try removing/reinserting the ethernet cable. At this point the bridge locks up; all the lights stop working. We need to remove the battery to get it working again. Then we need to exclude and pair again the lock and lamp module. Still nothing. They tell me to get a longer ethernet cable (mine is 6') so I can move the Schlage bridge further from my network router. Huh??? It's not a wi-fi device, it's hardwired. What's that about? They can't give me a technical explanation, just saying it's on their trouble shooting guide that the Schlage should not be too close to the router. After an hour on the phone, they say that an engineer will need to look into it and get back to me. They can't give me a timetable. And they don't have any answer about getting back the money they charged me up front for their subscription.
Bottom line: the lock works as a lock. You can lock/unlock it with a key and with the pin pad. But the bridge is a joke. It doesn't work at all. And it's impossible to troubleshoot because, although the bridge gets an IP address, it doesn't run a web server or telnet or anything else to let you log into the bridge itself and see what's wrong. All you can do is login through schlage.com and see that "the bridge is disconnected". Therefore, without a way to talk to the bridge locally on my network, and with the bridge unable to connect to schalge's online service, I seriously doubt they'll ever be able to get it working and imagine it's just a black brick. After all, if the Schlage bridge is too buggy to get a network connection and find the Schlage server, how will it ever upgrade, since there's no way for me to talk to it over my local network.
The part that pisses me off the most is that I had to pay up front for their stupid subscription just to find out this thing doesn't work and can't get my money back! So watch out!
Buy Schlage LiNK Wireless Keypad Deadbolt Starter Kit System, Bright Brass Now
I received the starter kit and had the whole thing up and running successfully within an hour. If you're somewhat tech savy and good with a computer the installation should be pretty painless. I have to say, I'm fairly impressed at how well it works and that I haven't run into any real problems yet BUT beware, the deadbolts are NOT motorized. Perhaps I misread, or was mislead but I am a bit upset that the only functions you gain with the lock is knowing whether its locked or unlocked and temporarily engaging it to be opened. So, just know it will not unlock itself if you send the signal, rather someone has to be there to turn it and you have to co-ordinate this with them(which to me makes it someone less useful). That being said, being able to assign and manage separate codes online, get alerts based on who is coming and going, and control lights makes the overall experience worth it and the value pretty spot on. My last issue(which is why I give it 4 starts) is that there is a major lack of compatible devices at present and that makes the $13 charge for the SchlageLink subscription weak. If I were able to control most of my lighting, a camera, and the HVAC then I'd feel much better about the yearly cost but for now, just knowing whether my door is locked or turning off/on a single lamp hardly justifies the fee.Read Best Reviews of Schlage LiNK Wireless Keypad Deadbolt Starter Kit System, Bright Brass Here
I was getting ready to buy this thing when I read that you cannot actually lock or unlock the deadbolt remotely because the thing is not motorized. The only thing you can do is monitor whether it's locked or not, and also send a signal so someone can get in. Why pay $13 a month (not to mention about $250 for the product) when the only thing you can do is MONITOR the thing. If you're on vacation and you find out you didn't lock it, it doesn't do any good.Want Schlage LiNK Wireless Keypad Deadbolt Starter Kit System, Bright Brass Discount?
Schlage's interface requires you pay 100.00 annually to access even the most basic functions. The interface is not even accessible from a home network without intent access.User codes entered manually in the lock transfer to the online web page without any way to distinguish what they are.
There is no way to add or remove users from the GUI without setting it up online and paying the fee. The interface is primitive at best and far from intuitive.
As a Schlage loyalist I will consider replacing all of my locks with another brand, because they would rather force people into their revenue stream rather than give them choice and options.
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I have a house and cabin that I am installing some home security/automation in. I have found the Schlage Link system to be the best in the market but they are too spendy. I am now using a Vera2 at my cabin by Mi Casa Verde. With the Vera2 I'm able to setup lights and my Train home thermostat to be remotely managed by my phone or a web browser with NO subscription fees!Schlage Link $9/Month really isn't worth the cost for the extra items that you get. Some of the items that I like about the Schlage Link is the fact that you can monitor the usage of your heating or cooling over time and you can also schedule codes on the front door lock. Other than that I'm not impressed with them. I asked if I could add another Schlage Link Bridge for my cabin with no additional monthly cost or at least with a discount but they were not willing do either. So It would cost me $18/month to monitor my cabin and home which is way to costly. Not to mention the fact that they only sell the Schlage Link bridge as a package with other products. They don't communicate that hardly at all unless you call them which doesn't impress me much.
If you don't have any problems with the service fees, I will say that the product is pretty solid and works as expected.
The only other problem that I have is the android app to control the system. It seems like a web page almost. I feel that they could improve the application to be more of an application that is quicker then just a regular web page.
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