review of home security systems
Cloud storage makes it easy to store and access recorded video, but it can cost hundreds of dollars per year depending on
your subscription. Some systems offer both cloud storage and local storage, and some provide a dedicated storage drive that gives you DVR capabilities with time lapse recording, which makes it easy to find a video event that took place at a specific point in time. All of the systems we've tested feature an app that lets you use your smartphone as your command center to arm and disarm the system, create rules, add and delete components, and receive push notifications when alarms are triggered. Most apps also allow you to do things like view live and recorded video, lock and unlock doors, change thermostat settings, and silence alarms. Some apps will even use your phone's location services to automatically arm and disarm the system according to your physical location. The more expensive systems usually come with a wall mounted panel that acts as a communications hub, with a touch screen display that allows you to do everything the app does. The display lets you communicate with a professional monitoring service when an alarm is triggered and view video from any of the installed security cameras.
While many systems use wireless components that are installed using double sided tape, some high end systems use components that require professional installation. These soup to nuts systems typically cost considerably more than DIY systems and offer 24/7 professional monitoring, but you may have to enter into a multi year contract and pay a hefty termination fee if you break it. They usually use touch screen hubs thatcontain RF, Wi Fi, Zigbee, and Z Wave radios, allowing them to communicate with and control a multitude of components including door and window sensors, door locks, glass break detectors, indoor and outdoor cameras, light switches, motion and water detectors, smoke/CO alarms, thermostats, video doorbells, and a host of other home automation devices. With a professionally monitored system, when a smoke or intrusion alarm is triggered, an agent will first try to reach you via the two way control panel before calling your listed phone number.
4GHz Wi Fi radio, adding another layer of connectivity with SimpliSafe's monitoring service. The Wi Fi is a boon for those living in rural areas who wouldn't be able to use the monitoring service because of patchy cellular coverage. If you're concerned about IoT threats, you don't have to connect SimpliSafe to your Wi Fi network, the monitoring works just fine without it, though you won't receive firmware updates. Inside the base, there's a siren, a backup battery the company claims will last up to 24 hours, and a SIM card for cellular communication. The entry sensors are also redesigned, and are much smaller about half the length they were before, squarer, and modern looking. They're powered by inexpensive, user replaceable CR2032 coin cells that should last an average of five years, and the system will warn you when they need to be replaced. Installation requires no wiring or drilling; I simply pulled off the battery activation strips, peeled the backing on the 3M Command like strips, and adhered each component after naming and pairing it with the system more on that below. Components are easy to move around without damaging your walls, and you can take the system with you to your next home, which is a welcome feature. The keypad, also available in black or white and powered by four standard AA batteries, sees the biggest design improvement, with a 2. 5 inch LCD replacing a tiny monochrome screen. Nicely sized, round backlit rubber buttons replace the tiny oval ones on the old keypad.