home security systems review
DIY home security means you customize your device kit, self install, and then monitor alerts from your sensors and video feed. Self
monitoring is the common difference between DIY and traditional security, but there are plenty of companies that strike a happy medium between both. We looked at providers offering
pure DIY as well as those offering professional monitoring, either de facto or as an upgrade. We required all systems to have Z Wave Support — the most universal mesh network for communicating appliance to appliance. One of the biggest draws of a DIY system is the opportunity to add in third party equipment like Philips Hue lights or a Nest Thermostat at any point. Z Wave is available in over 2,400 home security and automation devices from more than 700 companies. Plus, you have flexibility in where you place various devices because Z Wave can communicate farther distances than other protocols — like Wi Fi, for example — since it functions by sharing an Internet connection between devices as opposed to a localized router. Ultimately, we wanted systems that could integrate seamlessly into our homes and improve our quality of life. To find which fit the bill, we spent a day outfitting a 1,900 square foot home with the equipment of our finalists. We appraised the installation process, the ease and clarity of registering and syncing, the app experience, and functionality. We were pleased to find we could get most systems up in less than half an hour, but the quality of both hardware and software differed.
Offer expires 09/30/2019 and is available to new residential customers in Cox service areas. Offer is only available for new subscriptions to Cox Contour TV and Internet Ultimate service. Bundle rate increases $20/month for months 13 24. Equipment fees extra. After promotion period, regular rates apply. Prices exclude additional equipment charges, inside wiring fees, additional outlets, taxes, surcharges including video Broadcast Surcharge $10.