SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security Pack

Some additional info can be found on the product page

I’ve had this set up for quite some time. Great deal, with some caveats. To get all the bells and whistles with smart phone access, the monthly cost goes up to $25. It is cellular, so no land line needed, but there are coverage issues in some places. I believe they use T-Mobile. The Central Station has always responded nearly instantly to my triggers, so that’s a plus. Range of the sensors is far less than advertised, so that is a negative. The window and door sensors are HUGE. There are no glass break sensors, either. Overall, though, an especially good deal for renters and apartment dwellers.

I feel safer already.

says the person with the name of a famous burglar.

Compares to the “Economy Package” on http://simplisafe.com/

There’s some good information on the site if you hit the user forums on the community page. the rest reads a lot like an infomercial…

Glass Break Sensors as well as security cameras are allegedly in the works but there is no eta.

owners manual is here:
http://simplisafe.com/manual?pop=true&iframe=true&width=600&height=700

this page breaks down the monthly service plans they offer: http://simplisafe.com/choose-monitoring2

Also be aware that some cities require you to register your alarm system with them so they know you have it. Some only if it’s monitored, some no matter what, some also charge fees for registration.

I looked into them as an option before signing a contract with a large corporation, much to my dismay. Based on my research, here were my concerns:

False alarms- Some people reported having the alarms triggered when they shouldn’t have been. This might have been due to a malfunctioning sensor or the adhesive failing, causing the device to fall down and trigger (just a few examples). If the police come to your house more than 2 times for a false alarm, they start charging for their visits, which happened to some with this system.

Promises not kept- If you read their message board, they have had products in the works for literally years. The water detector and smoke alarm took at least 2 to 3 years, and were released way beyond any estimate the company provided. The same thing is happening with the glass break sensor, something I was very interested in and the ultimate reason I didn’t sign with the company. They provide a deadline and then use stall tactics when it is slated to be released. Basically, it is a crap shoot for new devices.

There are many reviews on Youtube and other places for this system. Be sure to do your homework to see if it will work for you.

I have this system in my empty rental property. I have the property listed for sale (still). I have an entry sensor on each door (3) and motion sensors in the basement (where all the good copper pipes are) and main floor. I have a lot more peace of mind now that I have the property actively monitored.

Does this offer give you the CDMA Verizon option? I cannot use GSM in my neighborhood.

We have had this system for well over a year. It works GREAT! One door sensor battery went out and it was easily replaced. I forgot to turn it off one time and was BLASTED by the siren and a few seconds later came the call from the agency. We have the $15 month plan and are happy with it. Recommending that our daughter buys this today!!

I’ve had this setup for few months now. It’s not perfect but it works well. It’s far cheaper than the big companies and don’t have expensive auto renewing monitoring contracts. The comments about the glass break sensors is accurate, they are vaporware and may never see the light of day. Motion sensors can be used instead, though, so not that big of a deal. There can be problems with false alarms until you have all the sensor positions tweaked but not really any more than can happen with any alarm system. I had a motion sensor triggering anomalously at first and was able to move it round until it worked properly. Overall I am satisfied.

Yes - Customer service confirmed that Verizon is now available (I am in a weak T-Mobile reception area as well).

Is the system offered here compatible with the smoke detectors?

[QUOTE=fleamarketadict, post:13, topic:400929]
Is the system offered here compatible with the smoke detectors?
[/quote]

Yes - I’ve been researching this for a while and the only limit is the # of items you can add (it is 41 with the latest system which this is). All of the accessories are available at Home Security Alarm Sensor Catalog | SimpliSafe

I done a lot of research and will be purchasing today. I have read of the false positives but that can occur with any system and I really prefer to set this up vs. having someone come out and do it. Also, running a wired system through a house is something I am not interested in. Wireless has pros and cons - but during last year’s Sandy storm, Verizon was the only phone service that was working for days even though we did not have power (cable modem phone was out).

Also, check out BBB.org - this company has a very strong rating.

I don’t have an alarm system, but I probably should. Does the motion sensor account for the dogs that may decide to move around at night?

Tally me up with the “pleased owners” camp. We’ve had the system for almost 6 months now, and the monitoring is mostly paid for by the reduction in our home insurance costs (which I believe were lowered even more by the addition of a smoke alarm sensor). Also, the fact that it runs on cellular means we didn’t have to buy home phone service. More savings!

The system was really easy to set up. Just use the provided Command Strips. I found the documentation/instructions to be very clear and simple as well.

One of my main concerns with getting a system was ease of use. Having to punch in a code every time I entered, even for that thing I forgot, was not my cup of tea. Problem solved with the keychain remote: the system turns on and off with a single button press.

We had a few false alarms with the motion sensor due to our cats… apparently the sensor is more sensitive than advertised. But the monitoring called, and we told them to ignore it because we were still testing the system out. We moved the sensor up, and no more problems.

The only other alarm we had was when the in-laws came to visit before we got home. They got a taste of the extra 105db siren. Perfect! :slight_smile:

I find it reassuring that the system doesn’t rely on any wires, so if the thief comes during a power outage and/or cuts the lines, the alarm is still active (because of the cellular and the battery back-up). Our house was already wired for a security system, but Simplisafe seemed like a better product, and the price was right. And I’ve been very pleased with it so far.

My only caveat for this deal is that, if you are looking for a sophisticated system with lots more components, it may actually be cheaper to buy one of the larger packages on the Simplisafe website: Burglar Alarms | SimpliSafe Wireless Security Systems. For example, if you actually want their Complete package, you’ll save $10 by buying direct instead of buying from Woot and getting the components from Simplisafe separately. Plus, that deal is available anytime, allowing for some longer research time if you’re on the fence, and also they have a 60-day no questions asked guarantee, which may not be the case via Woot.

But if you want a smaller package, and you don’t feel like you need to do more research… this is a great deal. Do it.

ETA: A lot of your interaction with the system is communicated verbally from the base. You’re supposed to hide the base, because it is the key to your system’s security, but it needs to be close to a window for good reception, AND you need to be able to hear it, so HVAC registers can be a problem. But I guess the keypad screen also provides the same information.

To people who have this system: do the remotes give feedback if the system is armed/disarmed?

[QUOTE=bshanley, post:16, topic:400929]
I don’t have an alarm system, but I probably should. Does the motion sensor account for the dogs that may decide to move around at night?
[/quote]

The motion sensor works on heat sensing. From their website: “the Motion Sensors from the SimpliSafe Wireless Security System will generally not detect small pets (less than 30-50 pounds). If they are larger, your pet may set off the Motion Sensor and cause a false alarm. Even if they are smaller than 30 pounds, you must make sure that they cannot get within 2 feet of the Motion Sensor. Place the sensor high up (usually 5 feet works well) and away from anything your pets might climb on.” My experience hasn’t born that out. I figure my 10-15 lb cats were jumping on the back of the recliner, which was level with the sensor but at least 5 feet away (more than the 2 they say).

But if you put the sensor high enough that it can’t see them, like over a doorway, it should be fine. And the system has a test mode, where you can walk around the house and it’ll tell you when the sensor is tripped. You could leave that on for a while and see when Fido sets the thing off. They also give you a 2-day testing period after your first connection to test it out before they turn on monitoring.

If you mean the keychain remotes, no, they don’t have a speaker. It’s probably a good idea to be within hearing distance of the base when you turn the alarm on and off, so you can be sure the command took.

The keypads make noises, but they don’t talk, so you have to just read the screen.