Once upon a time, home security was something for rich people. The systems were expensive, plus many people didn’t have enough belongings to make it worth investing in a sophisticated burglar alarm. Times have changed, many of us have belongings and consumer technology that is worth protecting, especially in a world that experiences increasing crime levels with each passing year.
The advent of the Internet has changed everything. Communications are now much easier and the always-on aspect of the Internet makes continuous monitoring of a property much easier. I’ve not looked at security products before but with smart technology improving all the time and with a set of common standards developing, I thought it was time I looked at a typical system on the market that can grow into a whole-home security system that’s affordable, reliable and, most importantly, easy to use and install.
SimpliSafe is one of those systems and a recent press release for the brand’s new outdoor security camera piqued my interest in finding out exactly what was on offer. SimpliSafe operates in a range of markets, including the USA and UK. A basic starter SimpliSafe system offers the kind of features most people need in a basic package that’s easy to install and that can deliver a reliable performance with the ability to capture high-quality images as well as monitoring sensors for a wide variety of safety situations.
At the heart of the SimpliSafe security system is a base station. This is the brain of the system and plays a similar role that a router does in a wireless network. The base station is where the various wireless sensors around the home check into. The base station then does the important work of sounding the alarm and alerting the SimpliSafe monitoring station.
If a sensor is triggered, the base station can blast a 95dB siren so locally everyone will know there has been a security breach. While a basic system doesn’t need a monitoring program, it’s best to sign up for one of SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring plans. If any of the sensors or cameras around the home are triggered, the base station will send a signal to SimpliSafe via the internet or even an inbuilt cellular connection.
Probably the most popular sensor to use with the SimpliSafe system is one of the company’s indoor or outdoor cameras. The SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera is designed to stop crime before it happens by offering 24/7 visibility around the exterior of the home. The camera has an adjustable magnetic mount and doesn’t need any wiring. Almost anyone can install one in a matter of minutes.
The camera is powered by a removable and rechargeable battery that can operate anywhere between three and six months on a single charge. The time will depend on the system’s settings and where the camera is placed. For example, a busy area will trigger the camera more regularly and therefore the battery won’t last as long before it needs recharging. Fortunately, extra battery packs can be bought so batteries can be swapped over for continuous coverage without any downtime for recharging.
The Wireless Outdoor Security Camera offers video quality that is high enough to make high it very effective. The lens coverage is an ultra-wide 140° view so that fewer cameras are needed to cover a large area. The video quality from the camera’s image sensor is 1080p HD and there’s also an 8x digital zoom. The overall design of the housing is sufficiently robust to carry on working in all-weather with a water-resistance and dust rating of IP67. A sleek black and white design helps to blend in with the exterior of a house and there is even support for full-color night-time video thanks to a bright spotlight and infrared night vision.
Additionally, the SimpliSafe camera can have a monitoring zone defined so that the camera isn’t triggered by everyday activity outside the property perimeter. There’s also Smart Person Detection available with the monitoring plans. Motion can be detected at distances up to 30 feet away and activity is automatically recorded for evidential purposes. There’s also latency-free two-way audio, so the camera can be used as an entry device. For a strong Wi-Fi signal, the camera is equipped with two antennas.
For cameras mounted high up somewhere that’s inaccessible, there’s a solar panel option that can recharge the camera’s battery in situ. Just three hours of direct sunlight each day is enough to keep the battery topped up. A solar panel sounds like a sensible option to me and saves using a ladder to change the camera’s batteries out every three months.
As well as linking to cameras, the SimpliSafe base station can connect to other sensors such as window or door sensors that can trigger the alarm or send an alert to the monitoring center if a door or window is opened while you’re out. Setting up the system is straightforward and there’s a SimpliSafe app where you can monitor camera images and manage the system. The system is “armed” using a coded wireless keypad which can be placed anywhere convenient.
If you want to be ultra-safe, then the SimpliSafe system can be extended to cover virtually every eventuality. For example, you can add extra sirens or even a panic button. SimpliSafe also works with a wide range of sensors for detecting things like glass breaks, motion, smoke, water or even temperature. If you’re one of those people who regularly travels and leaves their house empty, you can have the system alert you or the monitoring center if there is a burst pipe, fire, frost damage or forced entry. The panic button option could bring peace of mind for homes of people who might be vulnerable.
For the system to be super effective, you will need to sign up for one of SimpliSafe’s Professional Monitoring Programs. These services don’t come with a long-term contract and the company has multiple centers for maximum redundancy. The Professional Monitoring Program guarantees to alert authorities to intrusions which means you don’t need to rely on the SimpliSafe app to alert you. For peace of mind, a Professional Monitoring Program sounds like it would be a worthwhile investment as the system is taken care of 24/7.
Other features that the Professional Monitoring Program includes are unlimited offsite video recording, integration with smart home systems from Alexa, Google and Apple. Alerts can be delivered via phone call or text while the link to the monitoring center is carried via the Internet.
If an intruder were to try to disable the security system by cutting the phone line to the home, a backup SIM can kick into action and will carry on relaying info to the monitoring center. One sneaky little feature I particularly like is the secret alert function which can secretly tip you off when a motion detector is triggered in a particular place. For example, you could place a sensor on a particular door of a room, a desk drawer or even a cupboard. The moment the sensor is triggered the system alerts you. It can even tell you every time the system is armed or disarmed so you know exactly who is coming or going
Verdict: The SimpliSafe Security System is a remarkably flexible and versatile whole-home way of protecting a property, whether that be a home or an office. I particularly like the fact that it’s easy to set up and relatively affordable. It’s also scalable so that you could start with one or two cameras and maybe add on motion sensors, indoor cameras, entry sensors and smoke detectors. There’s even a key fob available so that the system can be turned on and off without needing to use the system’s keypad. The provision of 24/7 monitoring by real humans is well worth having. It may even help to reduce your home insurance premiums. The SimpliSafe system seems effective and easy to set up, plus the pricing is affordable. The scalability is so attractive with floods, fires and other environmental monitoring covered.
Availability & Pricing: Each SimpliSafe system comes with a base station, wireless keypad and SimpliCam at its core and prices start at £279 ($299). Additional sensors and detectors can be added on to suit the layout of different homes. Prices of individual sensors can be found on the SimpliSafe website. Professional Monitoring Programs start from 44p per day, with a full Pro Premium subscription rising to 66p a day, which covers the user for virtually every eventuality and SimpliSafe will even dispatch a guard, if necessary, although there is an extra hourly callout cost for that. You can opt out of the extra charges by choosing not to use the guard dispatch option, even on the Pro Premium plan.
More info: simplisafe.co.uk in UK or simplisafe.com in the USA
