Schlage LiNK Review and Giveaway – Win Schlage LiNK Starter Kit and Trane Remote Energy Management Thermostat!

There are a lot of BlackBerry users that are tech geeks just like most of us here @NerdBerry. Most of us look for different things that we can do with our phones. One of the biggest things that can be done with smartphones; specifically BlackBerries; is home automation. This is where the Schlage LiNK fits in. This solution allows for wireless home monitoring and control from anywhere. The system revolves around Schlage’s Z-Wave® technology; which is a RF-transmitter based communication that allows everything that is tied into the system to be remotely monitored from either a cell phone or from the LiNK web page. Here is a screen shot of the web page in action.

Now as you can see from the image above, the system can be completely integrated with all aspects of your house, or in my situation, apartment. Yes I am a hot blooded male so my house stays on the brink of a meat locker. You can fully adjust the temperature of your HVAC unit from the webpage and even schedule a program to run to save energy costs and raise the temperature if would like to do so.

In addition to the Thermostat controls; you can control the lighting in your house, lock/unlock your deadbolt/knob on your door, view what is happening while you are away, and even allow the repair man into your house with out being there to unlock the door! It is a very complete system that can be expanded to fit all of your needs regardless of the size of your house.

Now to the contents of the Starter Kit…

Deadbolt/Door Knob
Z-Wave® Light Module
Schlage Bridge

The kit comes with all of the needed parts for the installation of the Hardware, as well as multiple options for installation in your door. It comes with clear and easy to understand instructions in the box; which guides you step by step on how the installation of the hardware is supposed to go. Here is a video from Schlage’s website outlining the installation of the Deadbolt:

Mobile LinkAs you can see from the video installation is very straight forward and easy; that is where the ease of installation ends. I started to pair the deadbolt with the Bridge and 45 minutes and a few choice words later the deadbolt was linked to the system. I would recommend that you set aside at least 30 minutes for this portion of the installation. I had to attempt the pairing and un-pairing of the lock many many times before I got the green light (literally).

This was by far the most difficult part of the installation. Once this is done the rest of the installation process is a piece of cake. The pairing of the light module to the Bridge is a walk in the park, I am pretty sure my golden retriever would be able to do this if he had thumbs. The Thermostat was also very easy to link to the Bridge. Although the installation of the Thermostat might want to be left to the professionals. There is a blanket sized installation manual that accompanies the Thermostat. Feel free to try and install it yourself but don’t blame us if you get frustrated and skip it across the house when it does not install quickly. Once you get the unit instal you will have to go thru the normal set up (date and time) and then it begins to function. It also allows for you to calibrate the thermometer to the actual temperature in the house if it happens to be in a hot/cold spot that does not accurately report the temperature.

After all of the pairing is finished you now move on to the creation of your LiNK account on Schlage’s website. Also very straight forward and easy to follow. The system looks for the Bridge and all of the components that are “linked” to it and loads them on to the website and allows you to tinker with them.

Requirements for the system are as follows

A laptop or desktop computer
High Speed internet access

A dial up connection will not work

A valid email address
internet browser IE 7.0 or higher, Firefox 3.0 or higher, Safari
A network router

Requires one available port where the Schlage Bridge will connect
Requires a second available port if a Schlage Wired Network Camera is installed
* If a Schlage Wireless Network Camera is installed, then the Network Router must
be a wireless router.

A supported web-enabled cell phone, if cell access is desired**

** In order to provide even greater remote management of the Schlage LiNK System, a supported cell phone and an active data plan with the service provider are required. Not all combinations of cell phones and service providers are presently supported. To verify if your cell phone will work with the Schlage LiNK System, text the word “phone” to “695465″ to receive a verification message.

Remote management can be performed anywhere that an internet connection is available, however the mobile application is optional and allows greater remote management options. The nice thing about the mobile application is the ability to adjust everything from the deadbolt to the temperature while being on the go. The Application takes a few moments to update the network when it is first opened and then you are free to change what ever you would like. The application also has added security built in and requires the user to input a 4 digit code before the system can be accessed.

Now on to the contest!

We Nerds thought it would be awesome to offer a giveaway of the Schlage LiNK Starter Kit with Wireless Keypad Deadbolt and Trane Remote Energy Management Thermostat!

Here are the rules:

You MUST post a comment here in this post on why you would like to win.
Extra Credit: ReTweet this post using the Twitter Button below be sure to mention @nerdberry in the tweet.

We will use random.org to pick the winners. Thanks to Schlage for supplying us with the Schlage LiNK Starter Kit with Wireless Keypad Deadbolt and Trane Remote Energy Management Thermostat for the contest! Once the winner is chosen we will email you for your shipping address and get it right out to you!

The contest starts today and ends on Saturday, September 24th 2011. Good Luck Nerds!!