YoLinkLoRa Smart Door Sensor Starter Kit: - 1/4 Mile Open-Air Range, Door Left-Open Reminders,5 Years Battery Life, SMS/Text, Email & App Alerts, Alexa, IFTTT, Home Assistant

I got this for my mailbox opening detection. I tried some indoor contact sensors but they do not have long range and I tried ring mailbox sensor (RMS). But I found out the RMS does not work well when I placed it in the back of the inside of the mailbox. I found out RMS is human heat based instead of detection of any object movement. With Yolink, I placed it inside a metal mail box and it works every time. Initially, the only problem I have is the sensor falling. I placed the sensor on a stationary side of the mailbox and the magnet on the back of the opening door. Maybe the door with the magnet hit the sensor. So I put some strong two sided tape on the sensor and placed it a bit further from the magnet (but need to be within 0.4 inch gap as specified). And I put one side of velcro tape to the small contact between two metal plates of the mail box so when the door is closed, the door will not slam each other and create vibration to dislodge the contact sensor. If it falls again, I will replace the two sided tape with velcro tape so I can remove it easily for battery change in the future. So far it works really well without falling. It works with Amazon Alexia well and it will pronounce "You've got mail". That is pretty cool. The software is pretty encompassing. It looked like yolink spent a lot of time on the software. After you get used to it, it is pretty powerful. I put another one as refrigerator door opening sensor. Each sensor can have its own alerting scheme if you wish. Both notify on my iPhone (you can select if the notification can appear in locked screen (critical alert) or just a banner on top of the phone or on apple watch. And it also alerts on Alexia, if you wish, "The refrigerator door is opened". And if it stay opened for a specified time, you can have the notification again repeatedly on the iPhone. It is pretty useful since the range from the sensor to the hub is very long so it works consistently. I like this purchase - easy installation, works well within metal, long range for consistency, comprehensive software, work with Alexia. I wish it works with Apple HomeKit but it seems like not for now.

I've spent a large amount of time researching on the what would be the best Hub for my smart home. For me, a hub needed three qualifications: It has to work with Alexa -- has to be compatible with various devices like sensors, smart plugs, smart lights ect. -- and has to be user-friendly; easy to setup. The Samsung SmartThings Hub was on top of my list. Although, I wasn't ready to jump in and get a hub right away, since I've been using the TP-Link Kasa smart home products - which require no hub. Also, I've been using the Amazon Echo Flex with motion sensor, which requires no hub either.Unfortunately, I had just found out last week, Samsung has discontinued the SmartThings hub and SmartThings products. They're doing a re-structuring of their smart home product line and are staying quiet of what the future of products would be.This left me with a problem. If I want to give my smart home more functionality, I needed more sensors (that worked with Alexa). For the most part, most sensors I've found require a hub and needed compatibility with some standard like z-wave or zigbee -- or required some know-how like linux or needed IOS. So, what was my issue? When it came to user-friendliness and easy to setup, SmartThings was my best choice for that.I started searching for door sensors that required no hub, and somehow found this hidden gem. Like SmartThings, Yolink consist of similar products and has it's own hub (YoLink Hub). So, I took the chance.Pros: Setup of the devices was fairly easy. Response from the sensors is quick. As soon as I open the door, I hear Alexa instantly tell me the door is open (need to create a routine of course). I have a kid :) Has been working really well with TP-Link KASA products - as well as the Amazon Smart Plug. So far, the Yolink door sensors and Yolink hub have responded great to any routine I created in alexa. Had no issues - reallyCons: The device has to be registered in the Yolink app. To do this, you have to scan a QR code labeled on the device. For some reason, it can take a while to scan, or my phone has trouble scanning it. Eventually it does recognize the device. I did not take a star away from the review because it could be my phone or how I'm holding the phone.I preferred connecting my Yolink Hub via ethernet to my router, which is what I recommend. The connection is more stable, safer and quicker. Although, you can connect to your home router using wireless if you want.Conclusion: Great Alternative to SmartThings. I'll be expanding with more Yolink devices in the future.

I can't speak highly enough of how much I respect this company for delivering such an easy to use device that is robust, fast and also cost-effective!I work in this industry and use all sorts of home and business automation, security systems, door systems and smart products of every type and I have to say this is the best unboxing and set up experience I've ever had!ON TOP OF THAT the sensors have just been AMAZING, great communication with the base, I've had zero issues with them ever, the app is amazingly well built with options for all sorts of customized alarms, alerts, notifications (and the notifications/alarms are so fast).. it's just all around a winner and if you're looking to get something like this I would confidently say to stop your search and just purchase!!I've never purchased anything from this company before but I'm going to check out what other products they offer because I've got to say I'm impressed, I've never had communication with this company and this is my review two months after purchasing!