# August View FAQ > This article provides answers to some commonly asked questions about the August View doorbell camera. How do I install the August View? The ... Source: https://support.august.com/en_us/august-view-faq-SJ4bjr6D4 Last updated: 2021-02-24T00:12:43.064Z This article provides answers to some commonly asked questions about the [August View](https://august.com/products/august-view-wireless-doorbell-camera) doorbell camera. ## How do I install the August View?  The August View offers easy, do-it-yourself installation, with complete step-by-step instructions in the mobile app. August View Doorbell Cam is completely wire-free and doesn’t require an existing doorbell circuit or electrical wiring. Its ultra slim profile allows for mounting to the front door framing or any other convenient location by the door. You can choose to mount August View Doorbell Cam to your exterior wall using either the provided screws or double-sided foam tape (not included, but often available at your local hardware store). Follow these three steps: 1. Mount the mounting bracket to the wall, 2. Insert the fully charged battery into the doorbell camera housing, 3. Slide the doorbell camera to the mounting bracket. Detailed installation steps with images and in-app set up instructions are available in the article [How to Install: August View](https://support.august.com/article/how-to-install-august-view-B1m1k2BRH). ## What is the optimal placement for my August View?  There are a limited number of installation options that result in the desired customer experience. For optimal performance, a 15ft path of view is ideal. If needed, August View ships with a wedge mount to assist with positioning the device ideally for your front doorway’s configuration. ![optimal doorbell placement](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5a79d3e2c8b66e0001ba953e/c5d2d1a38917493b5aa52d83245fe736.png) ## Do I need to have an existing doorbell and chime to use the August View?  The View Doorbell Cam includes a chime. The chime is also completely wire-free and doesn’t require an existing chime circuit. If you have an existing doorbell circuit, it could be confusing to visitors to that you have two different doorbells. Therefore we recommend that you remove your existing doorbell button. You can mount the August View to your exterior wall using either the provided screws or double-sided foam tape (not included, but often available at your local hardware store). First, affix the mounting bracket to the wall, then insert the fully charged battery into the doorbell camera housing. Lastly, slide the doorbell camera to the mounting bracket. If you have an existing doorbell circuit, we recommend removing the button as visitors may find multiple buttons confusing when they arrive at your door. The View Doorbell Cam includes a chime. The chime is also completely wire-free and doesn’t require an existing chime circuit. ## How do I adjust the volume of the August View chime?  Adjust the functionality of your doorbell chime using the August App. You will find the Chime Settings associated with your View Doorbell Cam by following the steps outlined in [this article](https://support.august.com/adjusting-the-settings-on-your-august-view-chime-BJcuwvGtV). ## What is August View's chime range? We recommend placing the chime near the doorbell. We have tested the chime to work with the August View doorbell as far as 100’ (30m) away, in direct line-of-sight. Building materials and the number of walls between the doorbell and chime will affect chime range. ## Do I need any other products in order to use the August View?  No, the August View can operate as a standalone product although you will need to download the August App for iOS or Android. ## Do I need a subscription plan to use the August View?  The August View Doorbell Cam will provide free snapshots of all the activity at your door. Review any missed moment for 15 or 30 days with a [Video Recording subscription](https://support.august.com/about-august-video-recording-subscriptions-H1MvUkR_G). ## What are the main features/capabilities of the August View?  The August View allows you to see and speak with visitors at the door from wherever you're located. You can view on-demand video live-stream, receive instant notifications when motion is detected, communicate over two-way audio, and buzz visitors in via the August Smart Lock paired with Connect all through the August App. The August View Doorbell Cam delivers high-performance image quality with up to 1920 x 1440 resolution (33% more pixels than full HD video), an ultra wide _and_ tall field of view (FOV), and reduced fisheye for a more complete and realistic view of your doorstep. Infrared night vision, two-way audio, and motion detection provide enhanced peace of mind. View Doorbell Cam is powered by a rechargeable battery to simplify installation and maintenance. It also includes a plug-in chime to provide an all-in-one solution right out of the box. ## Do I need to download a separate app to use August View?  The August View operates through the existing August App for iOS or Android. [![link to app store](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5c910090d59ae9001aef1409/4c84a73b776b5e02905b5a7d1072f757.png)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/august-home/id648730592) [![link to google play](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5c910090d59ae9001aef1409/bc8fc7d668dcc08cbcf7b485d86fa677.png)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.august.luna&hl=en_US) ## How do I update the firmware on my August View?  Firmware updates are released periodically to help improve the connection speed and reliability of your August View. The firmware on your doorbell camera will update automatically whenever there is a new firmware update and there is no need to take any action provided the device is online. If you need to check the latest firmware update on your device, open the August App and go to House Settings. Select the View from the listed devices to enter Doorbell Settings. Scroll through the settings menu to find information for the latest firmware update. ## What are the main differences between the August View and Ring Video Doorbell, or other outdoor cameras?  The August View provides similar functionality to products such as Ring, in a slim, attractive package. When paired with an August Smart Lock and August Connect, the Doorbell Cam allows the homeowner to unlock the door for visitors remotely. This is something that no other product on the market offers. August View Doorbell Cam delivers high-performance image quality with up to 33% more pixels than full HD video and reduced fisheye effect for a more realistic view of your doorstep. ## How does the August View work in the dark?  The August View Doorbell Cam includes night vision, which uses infrared light to capture video images in dark locations. Our previous generation doorbell camera, August Doorbell Cam Pro, includes a built-in floodlight to capture video in the dark. ## Why is there a lag between when motion is detected at my front door and when someone presses the button on my View?  In order to optimize battery life, the August View wakes up from sleep mode when an event is detected. It takes approximately 5 seconds between the time the doorbell detects motion and the time it takes to wake up. Typically, there is minimal lag time between when an event happens, such as someone pressing your doorbell, and when the chime rings. It takes approximately 15 sec from sleep mode to watching a live video. If you are experiencing a delay that is longer than desired, the sensitivity level can be adjusted to decrease perceived chime and notification delays. Please note that changes to sensitivity levels will impact the battery life of the device. ## What adjustments can be made if I receive too many uneventful notifications?  If you live on a busy thoroughfare and are receiving notifications for events other than a guest at your door, such as cars driving by or people walking their dogs, you can turn down the sensitivity in the device’s settings. ## What should I do if Push Notifications from August View take a long time to reach my phone?  The standard duration for a push notification to reach your phone from August View is 1 to 4 seconds. If push notifications take longer than this, verify what is causing the delay by logging into your account on a secondary device. If you also experience the delay on the secondary device, check your Wi-Fi settings to ensure they are configured appropriately. It is also worthwhile to increase the device’s motion sensitivity settings to mitigate delays. ## Does August View work as a Wi-Fi bridge?  No. An August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge is required to access your lock remotely. ## How can I improve the Wi-Fi signal strength of my August View?  If you have a Wi-Fi signal of less than -70dB on the Wi-Fi screen in the Settings menu, the unit will not operate. The Wi-Fi signal needs to be stronger if you wish to install and use the August View. Move your Wi-Fi access point closer to the unit for optimal performance. Walls and other obstructions may impact your signal strength. For example, if your wireless access point is located under a bed or other piece of furniture, the springs of the furniture could impact radio emissions. To improve Wi-Fi signal strength, move your Wi-Fi access point to an open area with no obstructions. ## How does the August View integrate with other products and August Access?  If you have an August Smart Lock with a Connect Wi-Fi bridge installed, you can directly buzz visitors or service providers in after receiving a notification of their arrival and seeing/speaking with them through the View Doorbell Cam. ## How does the August View work with other smart home products?  August remains committed to offering platform agnostic products. We are working with Google and Amazon and plan to have integrations with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa live once the August View is available for purchase. We continue to work with Apple and others to explore integration opportunities with our doorbell cameras. ## What is the expected battery life for the August View?  Expected battery life depends on a wide variety of factors, including usage, environmental conditions and settings. Users may have up to 3 months of battery life. Customers can set the August View to a low power mode to maximize battery life. Customers will also receive alerts as the battery begins to run low and will be able to easily swap out rechargeable batteries as needed. August will optimize battery life through regular software updates. ## How can I improve battery life for my August View?  The following adjustments can be made if you wish to improve the battery life of your August View: 1. Lower the motion sensitivity setting 2. Turn off the light illumination setting Make these adjustments in the Doorbell Settings menu in the August App. ## How do I recharge the battery for my August View? Fully charge the battery before setup and whenever receive low battery notifications. You can check the doorbell battery level when it is online by opening the August App, navigating to house settings, selecting the doorbell, and then battery information. To remove the battery when the doorbell is mounted to the wall, unlock the retaining screw and slide the doorbell up and out of the mounting plate. Press the metal release latch on the device and slide the battery out. Use the included USB cable to charge the battery, with any standard 5VAC wall charger (wall charger not included). It takes approximately 4 hours to fully charge a depleted battery using a 12W charger (for example, an iPad Retina wall charger). This can take longer with a lower rated charger (for example, an iPhone wall charger). It is not recommended to charge the battery using a computer’s USB port. When the battery is charging, the LED near the battery’s USB port will be RED. It will turn GREEN once fully charged. ## Does the August View work in all weather conditions?  The August View is designed to withstand a variety of conditions (rain, cold, heat, sun exposure). The operating specs are: * Operating Temperature: -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) * Operating Humidity: 0 to 95% * Water protection: IPX5 rated (water jetting) for outdoor use As with any lithium-ion battery product, battery life is impacted by cold weather and maximum battery capacity will naturally decrease over time with use. ## How is the August View secured from theft? Once the August View has been attached to the mounting plate, there is a retaining screw at the bottom of the mounting plate to secure the doorbell after it has been attached to the mounting plate. Additionally, we offer a [theft replacement guarantee](https://support.august.com/what-if-my-august-doorbell-cam-gets-stolen-S1Wl1wLyRdz). If your August View is stolen, we will replace it. Shipping and handling charges may apply. ## What is the August View’s field of view? August View offers an ultra-wide and tall field of view, capturing your entire front entryway and visitors from head to toe - an increase of over 60% more visibility compared to the Doorbell Cam Pro. ## Is facial recognition supported? Facial recognition is not offered at this time. We want to ensure that any offerings in this space addresses privacy and safety concerns before we bring this technology to our customers. ## Where I can find August View technical specs?  The specs are listed [here](https://support.august.com/doorbell-cam-operating-specs-Hkmxxv8yCOM). ## Where can I find August Home's privacy policy, copyrights, terms of service, and other legal info?  Visit our [policies and agreements page](https://august.com/pages/privacy-policy) for the most up to date information. ##### Related Products: * [August View](https://august.com/products/august-view-wireless-doorbell-camera) ## Related Articles ##### August View Installation Follow the first 5 steps below to install the August View doorbell camera. Depending on the orientation of your front door, you will either need to follo...  [View more](https://support.august.com/article/how-to-install-august-view-B1m1k2BRH)   ##### Setting Up Your Doorbell Camera in the August App The following steps will help you configure the device to your August Smart Lock in the August App: Step 1. Open the August App...  [View more](https://support.august.com/article/setting-up-your-doorbell-cam-pro-r1xwLkRdf)   ##### How to Use Call Controls on August View and Doorbell Cam During a call or on-demand video stream, there are control buttons along the bottom of the screen: Exit (X), Door Status (red or green lock circle), and Mute (m...  [View more](https://support.august.com/doorbell-cam-call-controls-H12gvIkRuf)