Get Smartphone Alerts When Your Snail Mail Arrives?!

Apps / Software Tools Gadgets & Electronics Review Roundup Technology

add

Who said snail mail can’t be high-tech? If you’re tired of playing the waiting game with your mailbox or wondering if today is *finally* the day the Magnolia Journal will grace your mailbox (so you can hand-deliver it to your significant other and score those extra brownie points (let’s face it) you so desperately need), then you’re going to love this nifty little trick! It all started a few months ago as I was looking for a fun project to do around our new home, when I noticed that I still had a couple of unopened Blink Outdoor Smart Cameras sitting in the cabinet in our laundry room. I realized just how sad it was that these puppies still didn’t have a home –  I had purchased them what felt like ages ago, before we had even moved and never had a chance to set them up yet. (Thank you very much Slickdeals for getting me to buy MORE STUFF on Woot! ) Come to think of it, it is a possibility that I may have just the slightest case of a Slickdeals addiction…Yes, my wife keeps telling me I need to STAY OFF that evil site; but, that’s a story for another day! Anyways, getting back to our story – That is when the moment of sheer brilliance struck me – stick one of those bad boys in my mailbox and turn my boring-old-mailbox into a super cool smart-snail-mailbox! Keep reading folks, and get ready to blow the mind of your neighbors and friends if you would just follow my guide to a modern-day marvel that has forever changed my life! (yes, I can be a bit dramatic…)

Turning Your Mailbox into a Smartbox

The Blink Outdoor Camera I chose to use is a small wireless, battery-operated smart camera that’s typically used for outdoor security. But why let it stop at guarding your backyard when it can be your personal mail concierge? Mount it inside your mailbox, and you’ll get motion-triggered alerts on your smartphone or Amazon Echo devices every time someone opens it. (Goodbye, endless peeking to see if the mail’s here!) Of course, you can use pretty much any outdoor smart camera if it has a decent range and is small enough and easy enough to mount in your mailbox.

Not only does it send you alerts, but it also generates a short video clip or screenshot. That means you’ll know if it’s just another stack of junk mail or if that long awaited retro gameboy in that signature orange Temu package has finally arrived from China. No more suspenseful walks to the mailbox!

Mounting the Camera in Your Mailbox

Let’s talk installation. Your camera’s gotta be sturdy because the last thing you want is it tumbling over every time the mailman delivers your mail. FYI I actually did just stick it at the back of my mailbox for a few days just to see if it would work, and the answer is yes, it did actually fall over a few times! After realizing it was going to work awesomely, I went ahead and mounted it for the long haul.

You’ll need at least 1 of the following mounting options:

1. Mounting screws: These are ideal for plastic double-walled mailboxes like mine. I opted for the inside side wall of the mailbox (back corner – angling camera to center) to avoid interfering with the rear door (yes, my mailbox has *dual doors* because I’m fancy like that). I actually just used the bracket and screws that came with my Blink camera and they worked great!
2. Heavy-duty double-sided tape: A solid choice if you’re not in the mood to whip out the drill (or are just renting or temporarily residing somewhere!)
3. Velcro strips: This works much like the double-sided tape, but with the benefit of giving you the option to easily remove the camera from time to time. Think adhesive on one side, velcro on the other – you can snag a roll on the cheap at Walmart or Amazon.
4. Magnetic mounts: Great for metal mailboxes (see disclaimer below for metal mailboxes)

Installation Tips:

– Mount the camera **inside** the mailbox on the side or back wall to keep it hidden and protected from weather (and prying eyes!).
– Angle it slightly toward the center of the mailbox if mounting on the side. This ensures a clear view without getting in the way of any doors.
– I recommend testing the view with your smartphone app before permanently mounting the camera, to make sure you will be happy with what you can see.

-Test your mailbox with the door open and closed to confirm it doesn’t interfere with normal operation. I mounted my camera near the back corner of the mailbox as out of the way as possible to avoid blocking any larger packages that might otherwise fit inside the mailbox.

-I’m using the sync module with a USB stick to record all videos / images locally (so I don’t have to pay for the premium Blink monthly subscription). I’m using a  single sync module with 2 blink cameras (we have another one on our back patio).

I went with screws because they’re probably the most stable / long term option and I had a plastic (double walled) mailbox with dual doors so the included mounting bracket / screws with a side-mounted setup works like a charm, keeping the camera steady and capturing almost the entire mailbox interior.

Range Considerations

Now, let’s talk about range. My mailbox is quite far away – down a hill and at the end of a very long driveway – and yet the Blink Camera still manages to work most of the time. Occasionally, the app will show the “Camera is offline,” but don’t worry! It seems to go into a low-power mode when not in use for extended periods. Despite this, it always “wakes up” when it detects motion and reliably sends mailbox alerts to my smartphone app and Alexa smart home.

In fact, I don’t think it’s missed a single mail delivery. The offline status hasn’t been a problem at all. If your mailbox is closer than mine (and let’s face it, for many of you it will be), you’ll probably have even better performance.

But… Couldn’t It Get Stolen?

Let’s address the elephant in the mailbox. Could someone steal your camera? Sure. But the odds are slim – most people wouldn’t even think to look for it there. Plus, I got mine on a killer deal from Woot!, so I’m not losing sleep over it. If you’re concerned, you can go full Mission Impossible and camouflage it. In the end, its up to you if think the benefit out-weighs the risk! In the extremely unlikely event your mailbox cam is stolen after reading our article, please let us know in the comments below, and we will be sure to commiserate with you!

A Surprise for the Mailman

The camera occasionally captures our friendly neighborhood mailman. The first time he spotted it, I swear he did a double-take and cracked a bit of a smile. (No worries, Mr. Mailman, we’re not posting the videos online – just enjoying the modern marvel of smart mailboxes!) And of course, it’s become a bit of a conversation starter for us – perfect to amp up your next dinner party convos! Let’s face it; before long, all your neighbors are going to want to copy you and get their own smart mailbox setup… Trendsetter alert!

Why You’ll Love This Setup

1. Peace of mind: You’ll always know when your mail has arrived.
2. Time-saving: No more unnecessary trips to the mailbox.
3. Marriage points: Your partner will love that you’re tracking their favorite magazine delivery – you can thank us later! (Love you Hun!)

Bonus Pro Tips & Disclaimer

Adjust the sensitivity of your Blink Camera’s motion detection to avoid alerts every time a squirrel scampers across the top of your mailbox or any other wind / road vibrations happen, as that kind of thing can occur from time to time. Unless you *like* watching the inside of your mailbox shake occasionally. No judgment.

Temperature Alerts – You can actually check the outdoor temperature (or at least the temperature inside your mailbox) with the Blink smart camera, although this feature may vary by model. You can ask Alexa, what’s the temperature at the mailbox, and she will be more than happy to acquiesce! Yes, we know this may be a bit beyond the scope of what most will utilize their smart mailbox for – but we figured we would mention it nonetheless!

Disclaimer –  I haven’t actually tested this with a metal mailbox, so not sure if it would work as well as with my plastic mailbox (think WiFi interference..) Let me know in the comments if you get it to work inside a metal mailbox, I would be stoked to find out, and I’m sure our readers would appreciate the heads up!

Bonus Cameras & Doorbells & Lights – I’m actually using 2 video doorbells from Blink and 2 outdoor wireless smart cameras (including the mailbox cam) all controlled by a single Blink sync module (with USB thumb drive to locally store all videos / images – so no monthly pro subscription required!). I’m also utilizing several outdoor smart lights around our front and back patios and driveway. I created an Alexa routine that when it detects motion at either of the doorbells or extra blink outdoor camera (not the mailbox camera!) , it will turn on the outdoor smart lights for 5 minutes. This is a great way to add a layer of security for your home without having to install a typical motion sensing light setup. It also enables easy access to turn all the outside lights on at once if you put them in an outdoor light group like I did. Also, let’s face it, it is always fun to boss Alexa around – it’s almost like having your own personal butler! (Yes, we also have a smart vacuum who cleans for us named Charleston!)

Final Thoughts

With a Smart Camera in your mailbox, you’re bringing a touch of 21st-century magic to an everyday task. Sure, it’s a little over the top, but isn’t that what makes it fun? Besides, who doesn’t love getting one step closer to a fully automated life?

So grab your favorite outdoor smart camera, channel your inner geek, and turn your boring old mailbox into a smart mailbox that delivers more than just the mail – it delivers peace of mind and a smile!

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m a big geek and totally enjoy a chance to “geek out” with the latest tech! I hope you guys are having fun with your own smart home setups and automations! Let us know if you are doing anything “geeky” like this in the comments and perhaps we can all glean some inspiration from your geek setup!

Now, go make someone’s day with your new high-tech mail trick! And of course, if you do get a setup going, we would absolutely love to hear about how your very own smart mailbox adventures are going!