I would like to replace my security system with something that is run by my Vera. The one feature I really like is that when a door opens the current system “chimes” with a message that says “Front Door Open”, “Garage Door Open”, “Kitchen Door Open”, “Back door open” and so on. So, what can I buy and setup to put door sensors on my doors and then have some module that actually speak and say things like these messages? Is there anything on the market that can work with Vera (currently a Veraplus) to do this?
I wouldn’t use Z wave sensors. I’d have a regular supported alarm installed and use a plugin so that you can use Vera to interface with the alarm. The money part would likely be a wash and you’d have a much better and faster responding system. I have a DSC alarm with the plugin and it works awesome; much better than the additiona z-wave sensors I have.
As for the announcement part, I think you can do that with a Sonos speaker and the plugin.
My Vera announces the opening, closing, or being left open for extended periods, of several doors with Z-Wave sensors.
To accomplish this functionality I use Vera, Z-Wave door sensors, Sonos speakers, Sonos Plugin, Vera Aerts plugin from RTS services, PLEG, and Microsoft text to speech API service.
When the sensor trips it notifies Vera, Vera Alerts is configured to send a notification to Sonos, and the Sonos plugin uses Microsoft text to speech to dynamically generate an MP3 file which is then played by the speakers. You could also store MP3 files locally and play those as desired. Though that’s not speech to text, it does eliminate the requirement for cloud connectivity and reduces the latency of the Microsoft hop.
Kitchen door closed. Kitchen door opened. Kitchen door has been left open. Kitchen door has been left open. Kitchen door has been left open.
If you plan to use this as an alarm system, I agree with @jlind, do not use Vera as an alarm system. But, with the right alarm system, you could use the alarm system’s sensors to provide the same functionality that I described.
+1 - zwave door/windows sensors that communicate with Vera and fire scenes via the Sonos Plugin using MS TTS (strangely enough that is still working even though supposed to go down 3/31) to my Sonos speakers. Works great!
Look at the VeraAlerts plug-in. You could have a wall mounted (android) tab that speaks the alerts out loud; or you can have it speak the alert over the cell phone wherever you’re at.
That was also the one requirement my wife had before i could get rid of the Honeywell panel.
Works perfectly.