Founded in 1920, Schlage knows a thing or two about keeping your house safe. And though they were founded nearly a hundred years ago, they haven’t lost touch with today’s innovations. Embracing the convenience that smart technology has to offer, Schlage has stayed relevant by producing a line of smart locks like the Schlage Sense. If you’re looking to invest in a Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt, there are a few things you’re going to want to know about it.
Schlage Sense does not need a hub to be unlocked or locked with your phone via Bluetooth. However, if you wish to use it while you’re away from home or to link it to other smart home devices, you will need a hub of some kind.
Before purchasing a hub, you should understand what your Schlage Sense can do on its own and what options you have for optimizing its utility. The rest of this article will cover these topics so that you can make the best decision for your family’s needs.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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![]() | SCHLAGE BE479AA V CAM 619 Satin Nickel Sense Smart Deadbolt with Camelot Trim | $285.68 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2023-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What can Schlage Sense do on its Own?
Schlage is like most basic smart locks. It uses Bluetooth technology to connect to your phone, which then acts as a virtual key to lock and unlock your door once you get into range.
The standard reach of a Bluetooth connection is usually about 40 feet, which means that you can really only use your phone to access the lock as you are just returning to or just leaving your house.
This is still a significant upgrade from a traditional lock, and it’s far more convenient than having to fumble with your keys as you approach the door with bags in hand or as you leave in a rush to get to work.
If the ability to use your phone as a key is all you’re looking for, then you do not need a hub to use your Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt.
What is a Hub?
If you want a little more bang for your buck, the Schlage Sense’s capabilities can be expanded using a hub.
Hubs are usually third-party devices that can be installed in your home to help your smart lock and other smart devices connect to WiFi.
Because the Sense cannot communicate directly with your home’s WiFi router, the hub is used as a translator, connecting the smart lock to WiFi using its own code or language.
Once connected to WiFi, your smart lock can be connected to other smart home devices, like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or other voice-activated devices (depending on which hub you get).
You can also connect Schlage Sense to cameras, thermostats, or even other locks through third-party smart hubs.
Being able to connect all these devices means that you will be able to control the entirety of your home through an app on your phone from anywhere.
Whether you’re at work or vacation, a simple WiFi connection is all that’s needed to check the status of your door’s lock and control it.
Customers usually deem this expansion of control worth the extra money it costs to purchase a hub for their smart lock.
Which Hub is Compatible with Schlage Sense?
If you’ve already purchased a Schlage Sense and want it to go that extra mile, there are a few things you can do.
To give your smart lock the ability to be reached from anywhere, Schlage has designed the Sense WiFi Adapter to go along with the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt.
This simple device plugs into an outlet in your home and connects your lock to WiFi so that you can check up on your lock outside the usual 40-foot range.
The WiFi adapter itself needs to be plugged in within 40 feet of the lock and can support two Sense Smart Deadbolts at a time.
When you pair your Schlage Sense with the WiFi Adapter, you can access it from either an iPhone, other Apple device, or Android smartphone.
In addition, you can connect it with your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device like an Echo or a Dot to give the lock audible commands.
If you want to stick to Schlage products and don’t have any other devices you’d like to connect your Sense Smart Deadbolt to, this device is a great option.
However, if you want to connect the lock with products from other companies like Nest, August, or others, you’ll need a hub from a third party to achieve this.
Some popular options here are Samsung’s SmartThings or the Google Nest Hub.
Depending on whether you choose a hub that uses Z-Wave or Zigbee technology, you will be able to connect to a wider variety of smart home devices and their accompanying apps.
The cheapest option here is the Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter, but if you’re serious about making your home the smartest it can be, you may want to invest in a third-party hub device that gives you maximum control.
For more information on the different hubs and what they can do, see our article, Does Schlage Sense Work with SmartThings?
Related Questions
Do All Smart Locks Require a Hub? Not all smart locks require a hub, though many, like the Schlage Sense, require one to connect to other devices or to be used outside the home. There are some that are able to connect to WiFi as well as Bluetooth and so don’t need a hub, but they usually need to have their batteries changed more often as a result.
Does Schlage Connect Need a Hub? Yes. Like the Schlage Sense, the Schlage Connect does need a hub in order to connect to other smart home devices or to be used outside the home. However, once connected to a hub, it does have a wider variety of devices it can be connected to than the Schlage Sense.
What is the Best Smart Lock? Besides the Schlage line of smart deadbolts, other well-reviewed smart locks include the Yale Deadbolt Lock, the August Smart Lock Pro, the Kwikset Kevo, and the Yale Assure SL.