SimpliSafe - 7pc Indoor Security System - White

It’s a really nice bundle which works effectively with or without WiFi depending on your needs and if a power outage happens then you’ve got localised security still accessible. The hub stores power with a reserve battery I’ve noticed. Each of the sensors and key pad have their own battery. The battery in them lasts quite a long time depending on your traffic sort of speak. I added a key fob to my bundle (not sold with this one) and I found out you can get cases and accessories for that which makes it even better. So this particular bundle also has a really nice yard sign (I’m not going outside just to get a photo while I’m in my post-drive attire… you’re just out of luck). Aside from that the service is quite commendable. I like that a subscription is optional if you want remote observation. You can choose when and how long you want that subscription. Also this does count in some cases as a discount for your home insurance but I can’t promise. The hub is also about as big as a toaster height wise but small in perspective. The sensors are also really small and ideal. They can work with garage doors but you’d need a mount that does that. Hopefully this helps !

This product is worth it. Easy to set up and manage from your cell phone.

This is my second Home Security System from SimpliSafe that I got for another property, and its contents are fairly similar to the one I have at my main residence. This kit comes with four entry sensors, one motion sensor, control keypad, and base station. It’s a great system for a small home or apartment and is expandable. With a monitoring plan, it can contact emergency services if there’s a break-in or other emergency. A 1-month professional monitoring trial is included, and the monthly plan is contract-free, allowing you to activate or cancel your subscription at any time. While there aren’t any cameras in this bundle, you can add to the system with SimpliSafe’s indoor and outdoor cameras as well as hazard sensors for smoke, carbon monoxide, moisture, noise, and temperature. Devices are easy to add to the system using a one-touch pairing button. Setup is straightforward using the SimpliSafe mobile app, and the system connects to the cloud via WiFi for remote control and automatic updates. After registering, you’ll first add your base station and create a 4-digit Master PIN code. The Master PIN is used for arming/disarming the system and changing settings, while user PINs only allow the former. If disarming the system with the app, you won’t have to enter a code. If you prefer app-less setup, that’s possible by connecting the peripherals via the keypad and linking them to the base station. All settings for the devices can be set directly on the keypad. The keys on the pad are backlit making them visible in the dark, and you’ll navigate the menu using the clickable sides of the screen. Interestingly, the keypad has an accelerometer so the screen lights up when you handle it, and the wall mounting bracket is a slide-in holster, allowing you to take the keypad with you to another room or hide it. There are various levels of paid subscriptions, from self-monitoring with camera recordings (but no professional monitoring), to those that provide 24/7 access to emergency dispatch (police, fire, medical), AI detection of threats, and live agent monitoring and intervention services. Plans that include camera recordings allow unlimited cloud storage of footage from up to 10 cameras for 30 days, and professional monitoring plans use a built-in cellular connection (SIM card included) plus backup battery that lets the system contact emergency services even if your system goes offline or loses power. Just note that without a subscription emergency dispatch will not be contacted in the event of an intrusion or sensor trigger. Placing and setting up the various included sensors takes only a few minutes with the adhesive stickers. I like that these make the devices removable and won’t damage your wall paint, perfect for renters. You can also mount them more permanently using the included screws. The motion sensor performs best when installed within 100 ft of the base station, and its field of view is 90° with a 30 ft range, giving you whole room coverage when placed in the corner of a rectangular room. I found this placement accurately detected when I entered or moved about my living room. There’s a pet mode setting on the motion sensor that prevents them from triggering, which is also useful if you use robot vacuums. The entry sensors can be placed on doors and windows as long as one part moves away from the other when the entry point is ‘opened.’ It doesn’t matter which side of the two-piece sensor moves and which one remains stationary, and they can be installed vertically or horizontally. I found the two halves don’t need to be exactly flush as long as they are within 2 inches each other. When triggered, a chime sounds on the base station. All the sensors and the keypad have replaceable batteries that are easily accessed for replacement when they reach the end of their life (up to 5 years). While the base station needs to be plugged into the wall, it has re-chargeable backup batteries for when the power goes out; it also immediately announces any power outage through its speaker, which doubles as the built-in siren, which I found to be sufficiently loud and clear (100 dB). As a security system, you can set it to ‘Home’ or ‘Away’ and ‘Off’. All modes can have separate criteria you define at the device level for actions like sounding the siren, contacting emergency services, and notifications. For example, each of the modes can have different lengths of time for the entry and exit delay when arming and disarming the system. Note that you will always receive a phone call for verification prior to any dispatch action allowing you to cancel it with a verbal “password” in the event of a false alarm. With a subscription, you can also elect to use "secret alerts" that will only send you notifications but not contact emergency services or sound the siren; if forced to disarm the system by an intruder, you can use a Duress PIN which shuts the system off but silently sends a notification to emergency responders. Overall, this starter kit offers plenty of basic home security measures at an affordable cost. Setup was quick and easy, and the sensors work as expected. I like that there’s remote control and monitoring via the app and various subscription plans, including a free tier to meet your needs and budget. You can expand it with more devices with Simplisafe’s wide range of add-ons including smart locks, doorbell cameras, and panic button, and for larger homes with multiple entrances, it’s easy to add additional keypads or a key fob to arm/disarm the system.

SimpliSafe really has an easy to install system that works based off your home Wi-Fi with a 4G LTE connection for a backup. The main unit also has a battery built in so if you lose power in your home, you will be covered with power and connection. The monthly service is currently $21.99 for the basic service, and I have seen the price increase over the years, but I find that to be a reasonable monthly fee. This kit comes with everything you need to start protecting your home, but you will want to expand it. Inside the box you will find the Base station, keypad, motion sensor, 4 window/entry sensors, and a yard sign. You can very easily expand your system, as I have, to include many more devices. I have purchased about 10 more entry sensors, another motion sensor, a glass breakage sensor, keypad, and some water sensors. So to put it another way, you can add much more to this system. They also have cameras that you can purchase to keep an eye on your home. However, the cameras require the more expensive plan to use them to their full potential, you can just lot into them and view the live view with the cheaper plan. If you have an alert from a motion or door sensor will alert the SimpliSafe staff to call you directly, so be sure to program their number in your phone, then you can either accept the alarm and they will call the police, or you can cancel using your safe word. Other alerts, say from your water sensor, will just send you a text or call you and let you know it has detected water. This has been very helpful on a few occasions when a bathroom toilet has overflown and I was able to stop it before any damage occurred. The SimpliSafe app is also a great tool. You can arm/disarm your system, see the current status, and set up authorized users among many other tools at your disposal. I really have been a fan of the system, and I have recommended it to my in-laws and my family and they have all purchased their own systems and they love it as well.

The SimpliSafe - 7pc Indoor Security System is a DIY security system from SimpliSafe. My first experience with SimpliSafe was almost ten years ago with one of the first at the time products, a doorbell with integrated camera. Having that combination of camera and doorbell was a new concept at the time and Ring also led the way, eventually being bought by Amazon. I always liked the SimpliSafe doorbell camera due to the option to not have a monitoring or cloud service associated with it. These days every consumer electronic item seems to have some type of subscription model, which includes cloud services and that is the case here with this 7-piece home security system. Now I am not going to get into the debate of regarding subscription services other than I am not partial to having multiple subscription services and like some type of local functionality without a subscription of service. For this review I am basing my review on subscribing to their monitoring services since the product comes with a thirty-day trial period. I am not however including a review of their monitoring services. As for the 7-piece package, it contains a: - Base station, which is the brains of the system, connecting it to your Wi-Fi system AND having a cellular network backup. (A little research discovered that they use T-Mobile and Verizon networks – the latter being the secondary network of choice). The base station is AC powered with a rechargeable battery backup that will last for twenty four hours in the event of a power failure. - A single motion sensor [wireless] for detecting movement in your room at up to 35 feet (with a pet mode to prevent false alarms). This sensor uses a CR-123 replaceable battery. - Four entry sensors for either your entry ways (doors) or windows. These sensors use a CR-2032 replaceable battery. - One wireless keypad used to arm/disarm the system, control and configure. The keypad also has a panic button on the top and a silent alert can be triggered if you enter a configurable panic PIN number. The keypad also has a proximity detector and non numbers light up, all the numbers light up after you press any of the number keys. This keypad uses four replaceable AA batteries. Setting up the system uses a smartphone app (in my case iOS) and guides you through each step of setting up the base station. The app also guides you through setting up an account (I already had one from previous device). As part of the setup process it guides you on how to and where to place the motion and entry sensors. I had no issues connecting any of the sensors, including one on my front entrance door that was over sixty feet away from the base station. Each configuration confirmation is provided at the base station by a voice indicating successful connection. There are also tones when any of the sensors detect activity. The sound volume for these events can be configured in the app. The app overall is well laid out and gives you all the options you need to manage the system. You can also login via a PC using a web browser and see activity and configuration items. Overall SimpliSafe has come a long way since my first experience with them almost a decade ago. The monitoring service is a good option to have if you want to deal with a monthly subscription fee. Of course, without a subscription you do have less functionality, but I still see the system as useful. Pro Tip: You always have the option of only subscribing to the monitoring services during extended periods of travel or when you are going to be away from your home. Pros: - Easy setup - Monitoring available after 30-day trial - Various other devices can be connected to the base unit including various sensors: water leak, carbon monoxide, smoke/carbon monoxide, temperature - Support for SimpliSafe wireless outdoor or indoor cameras, SimpliSafe Wireless doorbell with camera. - Capacity for up to 100 devices/sensors - Backup cellular connection included with most plans - Cloud camera recording only plan available if you connect a SimpliSafe camera equipped device (no monitoring) - Text (with monitoring subscription) and App notifications Cons: - Monitoring subscriptions are highly recommended to fully utilize the functionality of the system. - Relies on cloud recording, no local video storage from SimpliSafe camera you may attach to the system.