Smart home technology can do much more than turn on the lights and unlock the front door. With a smart home security system, your technology can protect your home, family, and belongings.
According to recent statistics from the FBI, there is burglary in the home Don't Let Criminals Win:5 Tools and Tips to Prevent Burglary Don't Let Criminals Win:5 Tools and Tips to Prevent Burglary Judging by the popularity of our latest home surveillance article, it seems that many of you are becoming more and more concerned about the security of your home. Whether that fear is justified or not, always... Read More That's just plain scary.
A home security system is something most homeowners want in their home. But high costs, exorbitant monthly fees and consumer-friendly tactics like three-year contracts could drive many away from the technology.
Along with the rise of smart home technology, security systems have improved, and there are a number of DIY options that almost anyone with a bit of technical knowledge can install.
Let's take a look at the technology, including two popular modular options, and see if a smart security system is worth a look.
Even the most technophobic person out there is probably familiar with the home security system. There are a number of different devices that can be placed throughout the home, including motion sensors, door contact sensors, and others.
Sensors often use cables for data and power, and an installer will need to spend a fair amount of time running cables through walls, attics, and other places. And if you're renting a house or apartment, that type of setup could easily be off limits.
All sensors connect to the system control panel. When you leave your house, you arm the system. And when you return, disarming is done by entering a code or pressing a button. When active, if a break-in occurs, a signal is sent to a professional monitoring station. A trained monitor calls the authorities without user intervention.
But there are more than a few downsides to using the traditional route. There are often high up-front costs to pay for both equipment and installation.
The fun doesn't end there either. Alarm companies are notorious for a number of consumer-unfriendly tactics, such as high monthly service fees, sometimes $40 or more. Subscribers are sometimes required to enter into long-term contracts:24 or 36 months. If you want to cancel the service during that period, you will usually have to pay a very high termination fee.
While many subscribers have no problem with these compensations, there are many potential customers who have decided that these problems are too complicated, although they want to be protected against theft.
But smart home technology has made it much easier for anyone to secure their home without the drawbacks of a professionally monitored system.
The popularity of smart homes has, in large part, been fueled by wireless technology, both Wi-Fi for data transport and other wireless communications protocols for devices to communicate with each other and with home hubs. . Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? For a while, people thought the idea was nothing more than a gimmick, but recent product launches have shown that smart home automation is starting to deliver on its promises. Read More
That has also made smart home security much more practical.
Although there are several options to choose from, any smart home security system is more than completely wireless and can be controlled from your smartphone. A phone acts as a modern take on the control panel, and it's always with you. The wireless nature also opens the playing field for tenants.
Most systems are also modular, meaning you can buy as many or as few pieces as you want to install in your home. Let's look at two popular options on the market (Scout and iSmartAlarm) and see if the technology is what you've been looking for.
A classic smart home security option, the iSmartAlarm started out as a crowdfunded option and hit the market in late 2014. The ecosystem has grown considerably since then. You can jump in with a starter kit ($149/£127) designed for tiny houses and apartments. That package includes the hub, which acts as the “brain” of the system and also features a built-in 110db alarm that opens at the ears to scare away any intruders. Also included is a motion sensor, a contact sensor for a door or window, and a remote to automatically arm or disarm the system.
After connecting the hub to your wireless router, anyone with basic home improvement skills can get all the other parts installed quickly and easily. All sensors are powered by batteries and talk to the hub wirelessly.
Along with the remote, you can also arm and disarm the system using the companion app. During a robbery, you will receive a notification on your smartphone. For added peace of mind, the system can also send an automated SMS, phone call or even an email notification. It will also notify you if the hub loses power or an Internet connection.
For a little more, the Deluxe package offers three more touch sensors and another remote control, which would make it a good choice for a family.
If you want to add on or spend a bit more, there are a number of other packages available or add-on devices including surveillance cameras, satellite sirens and more. There are no monthly fees or contracts to sign to use the system.
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Scout is an interesting combination of smart home security technology and some advantages of a traditionally monitored system. The minimum hardware to run the system is $198 and includes a hub and door panel, two key fobs, and an RFID tag that can be used to arm or disarm the system. A starter package that also includes a motion detector and two contact sensors is only slightly more expensive at $320.
All sensor hardware is easy to install and is powered by batteries. If you have an Amazon Echo in your home, control is also available through an Alexa voice command. How does Siri work? Voice control explained Alexa, how does Siri work? Voice Control Explained The world is moving towards voice commands for everything, but how exactly does voice control work? Why is it so glitchy and restricted? This is what you need to know as a lay user. Read more.
Additional components are also available to purchase separately. Adding a new sensor to an existing system only takes a few minutes using the app.
While there are no contracts to sign, you will need to pay an additional monthly fee for the monitoring part. Unlike iSmartAlarm, Scout offers battery backup during power outages and 4G LTE backup to communicate if needed. It's a big plus, but you'll have to decide if it's worth the extra cost.
There are two different plans to choose from. The $9.99 per month option provides basic notification options to your phone and control via a companion app.
For $19.99 per month, the Scout will also be monitored by a UL-certified monitoring station that can contact authorities if necessary without user intervention.
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Although smart home security has come a long way, there are definitely some risks to consider Home security systems may not be as secure as you think Home security systems may not be as safe as you think Here we take a look at some of the most notable and smart home security hacks - exploring what happened and why it happened. Read more.
The first and biggest risk is the DIY nature of the technology itself. While options like the iSmartAlarm and Scout system offer complete installation instructions, there is always the possibility of making a mistake and the systems will not activate during an intrusion.
With professionally installed systems, you're confident in knowing everything works as it should.
Another problem is that in most cases you will have to monitor the system yourself. If someone breaks in during the middle of the night (and you're out of town on vacation), you'll need to actually be awake, listen for the notification, and then notify the authorities. The Scout Always On+ option offers professional monitoring but costs $10 per month more than the basic plan. But for peace of mind, paying the extra fee is probably worth it for most people.
Finally, there are also a number of other smaller, cheaper devices on the market that can protect your home for much less. Going on vacation? 7 Ways to Insure Your Home for Under $30 Going on vacation? 7 Ways to Secure Your Home for Under $30 Buying smart tech can be an expensive business, but if you're going on vacation and want to keep as much cash as possible as spending money, you'll need some affordable home security solutions. Read more . But those may not be as reliable.
While we focus on two popular smart home security systems, there are a number of other great options on the market, including SimpleSafe, Abode, and others.
Although smart home security isn't perfect, it offers a great option for those looking to protect their belongings, and more importantly, their family, from theft.
Have you ever considered installing a smart home security system? Let us know in the comments.
