Posted: 5/26/2009 5:17:00 PM EDT
Has anyone tried these? I was looking at the Kwikset SmartScan. Not a bad price if it works well... under $200 for fingerprint technology for home entry. We keep losing track of our keys since we normally go in and out of the garage door. 
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You dont have your house keys on the same key ring as your car keys? My wife does. I NEVER use the front door; she's normally at home and I just pull into the garage when I get home. I hate having tons of stuff on my keyring. Plus, my teenager can't drive, so he doesn't have a keyring. |
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I don't use a biometric but I do have a keyless lock system like this:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=40179-352-043156901364&lpage=none I have one on my front door and one on my back door. It is probably the best $250 (for the two) that I've ever spent on my house. Incredibly convenient to just tap a couple numbers and open the door. If you don't go biometric, it's something to consider. I didn't see the benefit of biometric over this so I just went with the keypad. I figured it'd probably be more reliable too but that is just personal speculation. |
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You dont have your house keys on the same key ring as your car keys? My wife does. I NEVER use the front door; she's normally at home and I just pull into the garage when I get home. I hate having tons of stuff on my keyring. Plus, my teenager can't drive, so he doesn't have a keyring. So if the current system is working... Why do you need to drop $200+ on a fancy lock system? |
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Our current door knob is broken as of a day ago, and we're getting a nice new door shortly.
And I like cool, techy stuff. Besides, cheaper locks are susceptible to bumping... and the SmartScan supposedly is resistant. You'd pay big bucks for a bump-resistant lock alone. The biometrics are just icing on the cake. |
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Our current door knob is broken as of a day ago, and we're getting a nice new door shortly. And I like cool, techy stuff. Besides, cheaper locks are susceptible to bumping... and the SmartScan supposedly is resistant. You'd pay big bucks for a bump-resistant lock alone. The biometrics are just icing on the cake. Get it then 
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Our current door knob is broken as of a day ago, and we're getting a nice new door shortly. And I like cool, techy stuff. Besides, cheaper locks are susceptible to bumping... and the SmartScan supposedly is resistant. You'd pay big bucks for a bump-resistant lock alone. The biometrics are just icing on the cake. Get it then I will... if it works! 
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Bumping is a joke that got spread and magnified by the internet. It does NOT work on almost any decent exterior door lock that isn't already so screwed up you could open it with any key that slid in. It's not totally a fake, but basically you don't need to worry about it if you have a modern quality lockset that isn't super loose. Realistically, bumping is trying to shortcut the usual lockpicking method, but modern locks are highly resistant to that shortcut. They're still vulnerable to torquing and raking with a proper pick though.
A lot of those keypad locksets are prone to wearing out rapidly in high traffic areas, but for a home owner on the front door if you don't have a dozen kids using it... it works fine. Just don't expect it to last twenty years. I haven't gotten to play with the biometrics yet though. We did get in some wi-fi connected ones though. Remy |
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E20lHqbWqN4
Mythbusters did a episode about them. Most seem to be weak. |
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I've worked with biometrics for a short time; one thing with the print scanners (and i'm talking expensive ones not $200) is that if anything happens to your fingers (cuts, excessive dirt, sweating/wet, super glue or anything else stuck to your fingers, and of course mutilation) and the scanner will not recognize you.
My neighbor uses a keypad entry for the kids when they get home from school; that's been going on for about 3+ years and the keypad has not failed yet. |
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Our current door knob is broken as of a day ago, and we're getting a nice new door shortly. And I like cool, techy stuff. Besides, cheaper locks are susceptible to bumping... and the SmartScan supposedly is resistant. You'd pay big bucks for a bump-resistant lock alone. The biometrics are just icing on the cake. 79% of home break in's don't come from the front door. they come through windows and back doors and garage doors. so save your money on fancy locks and get an alarm system. I am a home security expert and I can tell you a dead bolt and knob lock are all you need on a front door. the back door needs to be reinforced and the glass is your most vulnerable entry on any dwelling. |