Where do I find vera 2 supported locks, door sensors and cameras listed?
Need door lock, sensor and camera. Would like to know best / easiest install for vera 2.
Here is a list to get you started:
http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Supported_Hardware
What is available varies based on where you are. Are you in the US? EU? Australia?
Thank you for posting the list. I am in the US - midwest.
Have a cabin that was “camped out in” a few weeks ago. Had a standard lock. Believe that that the lock was picked. Left me clean dishes in the drainer. Empty can of chili in the trash (I leave the trash empty). Two of my fishing rods were on the dock still rigged up for catfish (wrong bait). Neighbor across the lake said that two fellows were there for 2 days… Cabin is a bit secluded. Population mid-week is nil at the lake.
Do you have any personal preferences (saw where Kwik-set could reprogrammed manually without you knowing - so steering away from them).
Appreciate the help.
I like Kwikset since they have a motorized deadbolt, but since you aren’t there probably that often, and don’t need to let others in, Schlage would be ok.
I have an Aeon door sensors, have worked fine without issues for me (others have had battery issues).
You might also consider a motion detector in addition to the door sensor. They chance of both having issues at the same time is much less likely.
Good idea on the motion sensor as a back up - will pick one up. Do you have a brand of motion sensor you’d recommend? Will go with AEON sensor (as I was looking at them on
I like the motorized deadbold idea but REALLY do not like that someone can manually reprogram the Kwik-set 
. Does Yale have the motorized deadbolt that folks have had good service?
Yale wasn’t out when I purchased mine, so I have no frame of reference.
I have both the HSM100 (which is a motion/light/temp sensor) and some Hawking HRMD1s.
Both have been fine, with the HRMD1 batteries going faster*.
I bought refurbs from the Hawking store here: http://www.gohawking.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=409
The HSM100 gives you more features, but it’s pricier. That $50 difference will buy a LOT of batteries.
The HRMD1 has been in use for 4 months, and is at 20% (wakeup every 1080 seconds)
The HSM100 has been in use for 5 months, and is at 97% (wakeup every 360 seconds)
I don’t know how accurate those numbers are, that’s what they are reporting to Vera. Both continue to function, they haven’t quit yet, so I can’t judge how accurate they are.
Also, if you are too worried about reprogramming the Kwikset, could you install something above the lock (piece of wood screwed into the door) that would prevent easy access to the lock? You don’t need to try too much, since if someone is in the house already, then reprogramming the lock isn’t the issue, the issue is someone is already in the house!!
Didn’t realize that the motion sensors are not full time or am misintrepeting the “wakeup”. If a bad guy hits between wakeup he could potentially disable the motion sensor? I think if the wakeup does mean that the sensor can be asleep, I rather shorten sleep time (pay more for one the has less batter useage to get more activity per hour). The price on the refurbs are CHEAP! I can see why you tried these.
Probably overthinking the door lock but it is pretty unsettling having had intruders camp out in your cabin. The lock was either picked or someone made a copy of one of my keys and used it later. That is why I liked the master pin idea. Also, door sensor backs up a picked lock. Sensor goes off and no pin numbers emailed, I have an intruder… Motion detector backs up the sensor failure unless it is asleep…
Still need a reasonably priced camera that I can see who came through the front door when triggered by lock, sensor or motion. Guess camera will need a light so need a light switch.
Hadn’t really focused on security and am “waking up” to the concepts and possibilites. Obviously am a bit tight as well as I didn’t go with someone like ADT…
Appreciate your help and patience.
I’m mobile, so I’ll have to keep it brief.
The "wake up " time is just how often vera queries/polls the device. If motion is detected, it will alert Vera immediately. It will also alert vera immediately after the timeout when motion is no longer detected.
I don’t have any cameras, so I can’t help there.
You can pick up a cheap ip camera like the foscam which has night vision. As for the kwikset lock, you would have to have access to the inside of the lock to change the pin codes. The intruder would have to unscrew the cover to have access and then they would need to know what button to push to reset the pin code. As PurdueGuy mentioned, if they have access to that, then they are already in your home.
The motion sensor will trigger anytime motion is sensed. Once it is triggered, there is a timeout for when the motion can be triggered again (to save battery). The wakeup is for when vera needs to poll the device for say if the motion sensor has a temperature sensor and light sensor.
- Garrett
Welcome!
IIUC, you are bringing up the scenario where someone has access to your place legitimately (renters, cleaners), who then re-programs the lock for unauthorized entry later. That seems a valid scenario, and I believe is also what the OP of the Kwikset topic was concerned about. However, I think it was demonstrated that re-programming the lock manually does trigger an event in Vera; there is an open bug report to get official support for that event. Additionally, it may be possible to create a scene that reprograms the valid codes every night.
On the topic of security, depending on how far you want to go, have a look at how folks integrate various alarm systems with Vera.
Yes, Yale has motorized deadbolts, and I find them to be very reliable and well-built.
First - Thank you all for your help in educating me. Just reading device specs doesn’t always make it clear if you’ve not had some exposure to the subject.
Purdueguy- Garrettwp - Now that I understand wake up time I don’t feel as concerned about going with a less efficient (battery use) motion detector (less expensive).
oTi@ - You are right on with scene where someone is in my cabin legitamately, resets the codes and comes back later without welcome. Good to know that an event code is triggered. Is an event code still triggered if Vera is turned off (ie stored in the lock and later reported to Vera). Sounds like the overnite reset code does ultimately solve the problem. How do you deal with someone sharp enough to unhook you phone line temporarily? Do you have a pinger type batch file programmed into your phone? Does Vera have an event log that captures loss of internet connection? If so, so you just periodically scan the log or do you have a prg the scans the log for this type event. My next trip will include placing a lock on the telephone connection box.
capjay - I’m going to check out the Yale.
Most alarm system have some form of Telephone Line Monitoring (TLM). You are really starting to set worse case scenario here and the person must have substantial knowledge in the first place. If you are getting to this point at least a dedicated alarm system with TLM would provide substantial certaintity to cover this. It won’t stop anyone but it would provide the reporting capability you are looking for.
Thank you for info on TLM Brientim.
I think that I’ll have to find a home brew TLM (as I’m a newbie and thought about the only weak link once everything is in place).
Has anyone created or found a “shareware” TLM?
For IP cameras I second the recommendation for the Foscam. See it here: [url=http://foscam.us/products/foscam-fi8910w-wireless-ip-camera.html]http://foscam.us/products/foscam-fi8910w-wireless-ip-camera.html[/url]. It’s $99 but they often have sales where they are 15% or 20% off. Work well and have IR for night vision. Well supported on Vera.
I listened - I ordered that Foscam model this morning (said it had a motion sensor as well). Because I want to set up very soon, I did not wait for a sale.
Ordered a Yale deadbolt and a AEON door Sensor as well.
Even with the master pin on the Yale, I will look for the thread that details the procedure to overwrite the pin numbers each night.
Last stop is to pick up a combination lock, that is not serialized, so I can put it on the telephone wire box on the outside of the cabin. Will still look for a TLM.
Thank you all for the help.