
- BEST LED LIGHT PANELS FOR VIDEO HOW TO
- BEST LED LIGHT PANELS FOR VIDEO INSTALL
Both apps have brightness controls, sensor settings, and scheduling, as well as the option to link devices together, so that when one light turns on, others automatically turn on. We used both an iPhone and an Android phone, with the latter having a slightly different layout in the app but performing the same functions. We used the Ring app to turn lights on and off individually and as a group.
BEST LED LIGHT PANELS FOR VIDEO HOW TO
This also included how to set up each device within the corresponding app. Others weren’t as simple, so we took notes whenever something had an atypical installation process.
BEST LED LIGHT PANELS FOR VIDEO INSTALL
Setup: Some devices we tested were as easy to install as (literally) screwing in a light bulb. Everything we tested can pair with some type of voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, so you can operate it by voice. When you wirelessly connect lights to other devices in the home, it makes them more convenient and enjoyable because they can be triggered by other lights and devices (such as security cameras). Smart-home compatibility: You can make most smart lights work together with other smart devices. We also set up schedules and tested any other features. App interface: We used iPhone and Android devices to look at the app controls to see how easy the lighting devices were to set up and to control at home and away. Check out our guide to Wi-Fi routers and our guide to Wi-Fi extenders for suggestions.) (And if you’re having signal issues, consider upgrading your router or adding an extender or repeater. (Wi-Fi can’t do this, so it may have range issues.) A good rule of thumb is that if you can connect your smartphone or laptop to your Wi-Fi network in a specific spot, you should be able to park a Wi-Fi device there. Range: Z-Wave and Zigbee have a range of about 100 feet between a device and a hub, though each device can act as a wireless repeater to create what’s called a mesh network, where each device shares its signal and extends coverage. But every other device on our list uses Z-Wave or Zigbee, two common types of wireless signal that require the use of another device called a smart hub or bridge to connect the lights with other smart devices. A few of the bulbs we reviewed use regular Wi-Fi for remote control and connecting to things like Amazon Alexa. Technology: In order to set up and control outdoor lights, you need to use a smartphone app, and the lights need to connect to your home network wirelessly. By comparison, the path lights we tested were far more subdued, producing just 35 to 600 lumens. The outdoor smart bulbs we looked at were rated to produce 1,100 to 1,300 lumens. Brightness: We took note of each model’s rated lumens, which is a measure of light output.