SimpliSafe - Shield Home Security System - White

This product is a great idea; but a few problems. Some them/some me. The motion detectors pick up my medium sized dog (and cat when he lived here). Because of this I can’t use the alarm when I’m gone. Was told to install them upside down - but that didn’t work either... the adhesive strips to hold up sensors can be iffy & I’ve had a sensor and a motion sensor fall down/be removed by lifting a blind. As far as me? Some of the problems are myself, as I have pieces of gear I haven’t installed yet due to lack (ugh) of knowledge & my helpful son moving out. Wish I could get a tech out here (like with ADT), but that isn’t offered - to my knowledge. Overall, a great idea — when it works. As far as myself, meed to get the system (motion sensors) issues figured out/then add my new gear. Sad face here. :-(

The latest "Shield" security system from SimpliSafe is without a doubt the easiest & the best looking alarm system I have installed; and I have installed over a dozen systems to $5,000 & up from various manufacturers in homes, including in my own home. This newly released completely wireless model is ultra modern in appearance & in operation. It literally talks you through each step by voice & by text on the hand held, easy to read keypad. Shield includes: 1) Keypad, 1) Base Station, 2) Motion Sensors, 6) Door/Window Sensors & 1) Key Fob. You can add some very cool & useful accessories for little extra money, i.e. extra sirens, CO2 Detectors, Smoke Detectors, Water Sensors, Freeze Sensors & SimpliCams (Security Cameras). The latest SimpliSafe Shield features smaller, better looking hardware, that wirelessly connects with sensors farther away than the previous model & sends & receives signals faster than before. This means you are protected even in a very large home without signal disconnection issues. All devices include batteries; the entire system continues to operate in the event of a power outage. To begin, simply pull a plastic separator out of each device that blocks battery power until you set it up & follow the voice & text instructions (you do not need to read a manual), enabling the internal batteries to connect & you are off! You name each sensor so Shield can identify it. You press the button to test each sensor. There are no holes to drill; the Keypad & all Sensors are mounted with adhesive tape, included (with spares!). The rubberized keys on the Keypad are just the right size, not tiny buttons like most keypads, and look & feel great. The keypad display area serves as a rocker switch: up/down/right/left. Menu on the Keypad opens up settings, where you can customize chime volume, voice volume, alarm volume, entry delay / exit delay / alarm off time, just to name a few. The Base Station features a most impressive swirling, revolving series of LED's at the base that can be defeated for a hidden installation, or activated to draw attention & to provide exit safety. Once setup, you can activate & connect a choice of monthly monitoring service levels online or via telephone. A major benefit is: there are no contracts. Monitoring is state-of-the-art, connecting to your SimpliSafe Shield by both Wi-Fi (faster) & Cellular (back-up if your Wi-Fi cable is defeated or fails). You can specify which alarm triggers get emergency response & which you only receive private notification. And you can change notification choices as often as you prefer. SimpliSafe has built a dynamite Monitored security system & the "Shield" model includes the most sensors of any model; the included sensors will be needed in virtually all installations, so the Shield is an outstanding value. SELF MONITORING: For those who prefer self monitoring, SimpliSafe delivers this option by you paying for monthly monitoring & you select phone call, email & / or text options. You can choose not to alert the authorities & by this method you have set up a self monitoring system, complete with battery back-up (up to 24 Hr on the Main Unit), Wi-Fi & Cellular connection to the Monitoring Station, who will alert you if any sensor is triggered. Can You Avoid Paid Monitoring? You can use the SimpliSafe Shield as a "local" unmonitored security system; basically a box that screams at the potential intruder & that is all. You cannot activate the built-in Wi-Fi or Cellular to contact you; it is fixed & pre-programmed to only contact the Simple-Safe Monitoring Station. CONCLUSION: SimpliSafe offers modern hardware that beautifully blends in your home setting. It is ultra reliable, easy to set-up & friendly to use on a daily basis. Monitoring is reasonable & there are no contracts. However, if you prefer a security system where the alarm will notify you with an alert (self monitor) without paying for monthly monitoring, look further; SimpliSafe cannot send a signal without paying for monthly monitoring. Some competitive security systems are specifically made to do just this. That is not made clear on the box nor in the advertisements; for this, I deduct 1 star from a perfect 5.0. Monthly security monitoring offers many benefits; if an intruder damages the keypad, the signal is still sent to the station via Wi-Fi or cellular. Broken pipes? A great item for silent monitored alert. A local, unmonitored alarm that screams but does not alert anyone may be practical if your neighbors hear it & if they choose to take action; that is not a chance I choose to take. Best reason to pay for monthly monitoring? Peace of Mind!! For that reason alone, my home is monitored & I recommend you monitor yours, as well. I find SimpliSafe Shield to be a Top Tier Security System for those who choose to hire a professionally monitoring company to protect their family & their belongings. This system is a bargain & is a delight to use. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Awesome alarm and simple to install. I only have two minor issues. 1 - the system should be able to verbally tell you what door opens as most systems. 2 - they should be a little more transparent about the 2 different monitoring plans. You have to have the interactive plan to have full control of your system remotely. Other than that I love the system.

Great system and easy to set up. Love the features and the key fob.

In the world we live in today every house should have a simplisafe security system and it's easy to install.

I've read countless reviews around the easy setup, and awesome monitoring. Gone are the days where you have to sign some long contract, and pay for installation. I received the white unit, with 6 entry sensors, 2 motion sensors, and a key fob. The sensors can be applied to windows & doors easily with the adhesive tape. So far, none of them have fallen off, even after repeated door slamming from the kids. Benefits: 1. Cellular and Wifi connectivity. If your internet is done, no worries, it will still work over cellular connection (with no service fee and active monitoring subscription).. 2. Battery backup of the base station. It comes with batteries already installed, and they're easy to replace should they go bad. I'm not sure if they're rechargeable, as I didn't check. A simple screw driver will allow access to the battery compartment. 3. Monitoring that isn't super expensive. I signed up for the better of the two plans, just so I could have the remote deactivation ability. We have a new home, and sometime contractors have to enter without us home. It's nice to be able to remotely deactivate/activate the alarm. On to the install: Step 1, is easy. Plug the base station in and remove the battery tab. Then, remove the keypad, and remove the plastic battery tab to begin setup. Step 2: Place the sensors, one at a time, taking the keypad with you. You'll need to push the "test" button on each, and name them using the keypad. Naming the sensors is similar to old T9 texting on a phone without a full QWERY keyboard. Step 3: Activate monitoring. This is where I had an issue. They payment gateway screen kept saying "Check internet connection." It didn't matter if I reset the base station, setup Wifi on the keypad, or used cellular to proceed (via hotspot). My step 4 was calling support. Normally, you'd just walk through online setup and payment, but I couldn't get that far. After waiting a couple of minutes for someone to answer my call (placed in queue w/hold music), I was quickly on my way to activation. The support experience was great. They asked me for the Serial Number of my base station and the keypad. Then walked through gathering my information for payment, and sign up of monitoring. The representative I spoke with was easy to understand, and really made the experience great. She walked me through how to use my system, the menu navigation, and ensured that I was able to login to both the online portal, and the iOS app. It was great! The app is super intuitive, and simple. I signed up for the better of the two plans. It allows remote activation/deactivation via the app. SimpliSafe is really a no brainer. Especially if you don't want to be stuck on a contract from a competitor for 2 years+ to pay for the system. The most expensive plan is still under $30, and provides the same level of monitoring. I went ahead and ordered another keyfob while I was on the phone with support, and I'm eager to set it up. Really happy with the setup process, and SUPPORT is a big win. Didn't feel like I was talking to a robot. The experience was great.

Setup: SimpliSafe gives you the ability to set up your own home security system, and this was neither difficult nor time-consuming. I actually enjoyed it! Upon opening the box, I found each device to be well-presented and clearly labeled. As expected, there are instructions included, which are clear and concise. Pulling out the plastic tab on each device activates the batteries, then you place each device in the appropriate locations and connect them wirelessly. There is not much more to it than that! The simplicity seemed too good to be true, but it was truly that simple. Design: Although I did not own the previous SimpliSafe model, I appreciate the updated design. Unlike the previous model, this system has a modern and minimalistic look to it. Each device is well-designed and discreet. Even after setting everything up, I can hardly notice the system in my home, which is nice. The base station is the largest of the devices and it must be placed on a flat surface but, again, I do not mind having it visible on my living room end table due to the modern, sleek design. It is actually quite comforting to see it and be reminded that SimpliSafe is providing an added layer of security to my home. Something else that I wanted to make sure I mentioned is that the keypad is easy to use. Since this is where the interaction occurs on a daily basis, ease of use was very important to me. I can happily say that the screen is easy to read, the buttons are easy to press and options can be easily navigated Security: Thanks to SimpliSafe, I have never felt more secure in my home or while I am away. Each device integrates seamlessly and is very responsive. There is almost no delay between activating the alarm or being notified when a door/window opens. It is also comforting to know that there are a number of backup features like power outage protection, a cellular connection reinforced by Wi-Fi, and the system still notifies authorities if the keypad is damaged by an intruder. There are even more backups in place, so it seems that SimpliSafe has thought of every situation! As a pet owner, I appreciate that the motion sensors can recognize heat signatures of humans and know not to trigger the alarm for pets moving, running, or even jumping around. I also like that you can add additional devices to the security system as desired. There are even home protection devices such as water sensors and smoke detectors. SimpliSafe definitely has you covered when it comes to home security and protection! Verdict: Do yourself a favor and invest in a SimpliSafe security system. Whether you just get the basics or upgrade to every device that is offered, you will not be sorry! As someone who has had their home broken into, I would like to say that a home security system is one of the best investments you can make. You may think it could never happen to you, but that is what I thought as well. The heartbreaking feeling and loss of a sense of security when an intruder breaks into your home is something you never fully get over, at least not for quite some time. I wish I would have owned this SimpliSafe security system sooner. It may not have prevented the break-in attempt, but I am confident that it would have certainly deterred the intruder right away and maybe even could have led to an arrest. This system easily deserves a five-star rating!

This is the perfect system for renters, short-term owners, or anyone who can’t afford or doesn’t want the hassle of a hard-wired, fully-installed system. It’s obvious that great care was taken in the packaging of this system. The instruction book is straightforward, & all the components are fully charged & ready for operation. Setup is extremely easy, simple & fast. It took all of 30 minutes to install the sensors & set up the base station. No tools are required. All components are attached by pre-installed adhesives—just unpeel & stick. The keypad guides you through each step of the fairly short process. Deciding where best to install the sensors takes the most time. Pros: - Easy install/setup/operation - Low maintenance. All components list long battery life. - Ability to easily add components (cameras, sensors, detectors, panic buttons, sirens) - Built in WiFi & Cell connection - Base Station includes rechargeable backup battery good for 24 hours - Pleasant voice prompts advise of alarm status when appropriate - Portable for moving/re-installation - Beautiful design & modern look - No contract for active monitoring Cons: - Although the Base Station has a 95dB siren, it’s not really loud enough to get the attention of neighbors as an installed system would. Therefore, the Active Alarm Monitoring (~$15/mo.) is needed or additional sirens should be installed near an attic vent. - No instant-on option. If a sensor is triggered, the alarm sound is always on a 30-second delay to allow time to turn it off. But an instant-on option would be useful for nightly use when you’re home & safely in bed. Otherwise, an intruder would have a 30-second advantage before the alarm sounded.