Review: Ajax Doorbell

Ajax Systems is an international technology company founded in Ukraine in 2011 and Europe’s largest manufacturer of security systems with over four million end users and 290,000 PRO users in 187 countries. The company offers comprehensive solutions for protecting homes and businesses of all sizes, and its product portfolio includes no fewer than 180 wired and wireless devices for burglary protection, video surveillance, fire and life safety, as well as comfort and automation.

At the end of March this year, they launched Doorbell, which can be used as is, but when combined with other Ajax products, it gains more features and a wider range of applications. For example, when connected to an Ajax NVR (or alternatively, by paying a monthly fee for Ajax cloud storage), you can save video clips and use it as a surveillance camera with AI to recognise people, pets and vehicles.

The Ajax Doorbell’s primary communication channel is Wi-Fi, with a stated range of up to 500 metres without obstacles and up to 30 metres through concrete walls. If the Doorbell is part of an Ajax system, it remains connected to the Ajax hub even if the Wi-Fi connection is interrupted, thanks to the backup communication channels – the Jeweller and Wings radio protocols. Both are proprietary protocols designed to detect interference and jamming, with built-in frequency hopping for enhanced protection. So there is both a belt and suspenders approach – if the doorbell is part of a larger system, that is…

The manufacturer recommends professional installation of all system units by Ajax’s official partners and installers.

Installation

The Ajax Doorbell comes with various screws, mounting adapters for angling left/right 25 degrees and up/down 10 degrees, Bellkit (for connecting to an existing doorbell) and a sticker with the text This space is under surveillance.

The product was easy to install, although it was a bit tight to find space for the cables (I used the existing power supply for my Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell, and since it was a temporary rather than a permanent installation, I used a connector that I had to cut in half to make room for it). After downloading the Ajax Security System app and creating an account, the two-part password (six digits each) arrived via SMS and email, and then it was just a matter of adding the doorbell to the app by scanning the QR code on the back of the doorbell (so I had to release it, scan, then reattach the wires and screw it back on), and everything worked perfectly right away.

After a few minutes, a message appeared in the app saying that there was an update for the device’s firmware, and five minutes later, a message appeared saying that the firmware had been updated. Exactly how you want these things to be done.

A smart detail is the built-in 600 mAh battery, which provides up to two hours of operation in the event of a power failure and has another function. If the doorbell’s temperature drops below the optimal level, automatic battery heating is activated to maintain stable operation of the device.

Operation

When someone rings the doorbell, a signal sounds, and you receive a notification and can see who is at the door and talk to the visitor – it works as usual. My impression is that Ajax Doorbell responds very quickly; it takes less than half a second from when the doorbell rings to when the notification arrives on your mobile phone. And when you click on the notification, the app also opens very quickly (it takes less than a second).

The menu in the app seems logical, and in Remote Control there is a mode called Panic, which causes an alarm to sound on your mobile phone, but not on the doorbell.

I noticed quite quickly that the clock was two hours wrong (i.e. a different time zone), and I tried to change it in the app, but couldn’t find anywhere to do so. If you click on the settings icon when you are in Ajax Doorbell, you get the message:

‘The system is activated. Cannot access settings when space is enabled’. Strange and annoying.

I also downloaded the Ajax software to my PC and installed it in the hope that there might be more settings there so I could adjust the clock. But it was not possible to do more in that program than you can do in the app on your mobile phone, so I had to live with the clock being two hours wrong. It is likely that you will be able to adjust the clock if you have several Ajax products installed (by professional installers) in a seamless system.

On the plus side, the Ajax Doorbell is available in four colours: white (RAL 9003), grey (RAL 7004), graphite (RAL 7024) and black (RAL 9005).

Conclusion

Ajax Doorbell is a high-quality video doorbell with top-notch image quality that can be used as is – with few features and a relatively high price tag.

When paired with a number of other Ajax products, it gains additional features that enhance both the user experience and security.