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Smart locks aren’t new, but they generally come in the form of door locks, like the August. The humble padlock remains a convenient and economical way to keep things secure, however, and until now has remained largely untouched by tech. Venerable padlock manufacturer Master Lock changes that with its line of Bluetooth padlocks. These are built to be as tough as any standard lock, but use Bluetooth to unlock with the tap of a button when you’re nearby. They also let you grant temporary or permanent guest access on your terms simply by using an app. At $70, the 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock is pretty pricey compared with non-connected models, but the convenience and access control features could be worth it depending on your needs.
Design
To start, the 440D is meant for indoor use. If you want to lock up a shed or a gate, you should get the more rugged 4401DLH Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock.
At 3.3 by 1.7 by 1.1 inches (HWD) (including the shackle; the body is 1.9 inches in height) and 7.7 ounces, the 4400D is bulky for an indoor padlock. The front has a glossy black panel with a circular four-direction button and light in the center, and a silver Master logo near the bottom. The button can be pressed to manually open the lock using a Konami code-like sequence, while pressing it in the center wakes up the lock so it can search for any nearby authorized devices.
The 0.3-inch-thick steel shackle is resistant to cutting, and the holes in the padlock body from which the shackle extends have very little space in which to jimmy it open with a shim (a design fault in many cheaper padlocks). The word Boron is engraved on the top of the arch, indicating the body’s boron carbide construction. This is a very solid, sturdy padlock that won’t be easily broken open with blunt force, and even bolt cutters or power tools will likely take some time and make noise getting through it.
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A black tab on the bottom of the padlock pulls out to expose the CR2032 battery that powers it, which Master Lock says will last two years in Touch Unlock mode and four months in Swipe Unlock mode (more on these below). The tab will only pull out completely when the padlock is unlocked; otherwise it only pulls out a fraction of an inch to expose a set of contacts. The contacts can be used with another CR2032 battery to provide enough power to trigger the lock if the battery inside is dead. It’s a clever design choice that makes sure the lock can’t get stuck when the battery dies, and protects it from letting anyone remove the battery to tamper with it.
Master Lock App
You can control the 4400D with the Master Lock Vault eLocks app for Android and iOS. It requires you to create a free account in Master Lock Vault, the company’s password manager service. You don’t need to use the account for anything other than the padlocks. Once you’ve created and verified your account, you can register each lock by entering its authorization code into the app. The code is found on a sticker in the tiny folded instructions hidden in the lock’s packaging. Another sticker shows the lock’s default directional combination, so you can simply pop it open without the app if you want to.
If you lose the authorization code before you register your lock, you can bring it to an authorized Master Locks retailer and they will get the code using the lock ID engraved on the back. You can also get the code yourself from Master Lock, but it requires filling out a form and having it notarized (this isn’t required for getting the code at a distributor, because you’ll have the lock in hand and not attached to anything).
I registered both the 4400D and 4401DLH locks in seconds using the authorization codes, after which they appeared in the app without any manual pairing needed. The registered locks also carried across my mobile devices with the Master Lock Vault account, letting me control them from both my smartphone and iPad.
Once registered, the lock functions by default in Touch Unlock mode. This sets it to automatically open once you press the button and it detects an authorized mobile device in range. The light on the lock will flash blue while it searches for nearby devices, then turn green with an audible click when it unlocks. Once it unlocks, you have five seconds to open it before it locks again, though you can change the amount of time under the Manage Lock menu in the app. In our tests, the lock had a range of 10 to 15 feet. It’s shorter than the usual Bluetooth range, and that’s a good thing; if the range was very long, it would mean anyone could automatically unlock the padlock in this mode as long as you’re in the next room.
You can also set the lock to Swipe Unlock mode, which is currently in beta and according to Master Lock will cut down on the lock’s battery life significantly. This mode turns off the automatic unlocking feature and instead lets you manually unlock the padlock from your mobile device by swiping down in the app.
For extra security, you can set your mobile device to Locker Mode. This prevents that device from communicating with the lock, meaning you need to manually enter the direction combination or disable Locker Mode to unlock the padlock.
Guest Access
You can also provide remote access to other users in one of two ways. You can send a temporary direction code to anyone, letting them manually open the lock using that code within a window of time. You can also add guest users to the lock using your contact list. Guests need to make their own Master Lock Vault account and install the app, but once they’re registered, you can set them to have access to the lock at any time, or only during daytime or nighttime hours. Unfortunately, you can’t create a custom access schedule for guests.
Despite the lack of customization options, the temporary combination and guest options really stand out as worthwhile, unique features for a padlock. It’s a level of access control normally only seen in connected door locks that need to be permanently installed. You can even track each padlock’s history, including when registered guests or temporary code users unlock it.
Because it uses Bluetooth and doesn’t connect to the Internet, you need to be physically close to the lock to make any significant changes. Fortunately, you don’t need to be physically close to change guest access or send temporary combinations. Guest access is based on Master Lock Vault accounts you link from your account and work entirely through the guest’s device. Temporary combinations are automatically generated based on a specific window of time and the lock’s own code; there are over 65,000 possible guest combinations, and only one will work at a given time.
In testing, the app worked flawlessly with my iPad Air 2 and a ZTE Axon 7. The tablet and smartphone consistently connected to the 4400D and 4401DLH and unlocked them in seconds, and I could adjust the settings using either device. The guest access and temporary codes also functioned as described, and I could open the lock both with a secondary account I set up as a guest and the temporary combinations.
Conclusions
The Master Lock 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock is an expensive little lock, but it packs some compelling connected features into the nearly unbreakable package Master Lock is known for. Automatic unlocking using your mobile device is very handy, and the ability to let other people access the lock entirely on your terms is the biggest draw. This $70 padlock could be a vital tool for landlords, Airbnb hosts, or anyone who wants to keep something locked up securely unless a guest requires access to it. It’s only an indoor lock, though; if you want a lock you can keep outdoors in all sorts of weather, you’ll need to get the Master Lock 4401DLH Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock, a bulkier and pricier model.
4.0
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Master Lock’s 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock lets you pop it open with the touch of a button and provide guest access to anyone you want.
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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/master-lock-4400d-indoor-bluetooth-padlock