I’m new to the home security thing and looking at a bajilion different options. The running theme is that most of them are proprietary and designed to lure you into a monthly service charge, even if it’s just to access a device running a web server on your own network. Enter Vera.
Security isn’t Vera’s main feature but it does seem to have all the parts. There are zwave door/window/motion sensors, zwave sirens, and zwave cameras. Vera’s API could be used to program these things to operate together as a basic standalone alarm system that, say, throws an audible siren for 30 seconds when an alarm trips. That would be enough to scare off our local crooks who are frankly not very sophisticated. Basically I want it to work like a car alarm, plus send me a text when something interesting happens.
Then you just need a keyfob to arm/disarm, and the rest is gravy, right?
Does anyone have a setup like this? Would a Vera suit my needs?
Vera IS NOT a great security system.
Check the forums there are lots of options to connect a security system to Vera.
Many here self supervise (no monthly fees) and still have remote access to arm/disarm via Vera and remote apps.
Then you have a GOOD alarm system and nice integration with the rest of your house.
There are a number of threads in this forum about doing this. You’ll find several of these in the first few pages here alone.
The response, generally, is that if you want an Alarm system, buy one that interfaces to Vera, and run with that.
Overall, the costs aren’t that high (for US folks) to go this route, and it will run reliably. Wireless Keyfobs, Motion & Window/Door sensors all appear to be built to a better standard than their Z-Wave counterparts… and there are often more choices.
To give a counter to this, my Vera unit has been randomly turning on Z-Wave devices over the last few months. Luckily, they were only Fans and Lights.
If I had a Z-Wave “Siren” in my Network then it would have been extremely annoying to have it go off all the time 8)
Thanks for the reply. Not looking for a “great” security system, just one that scares off the local riffraff. These are not hack-into-the-mainframe cyber geniuses we’re talking about here… Modus operandi is to break a basement window or door, steal an armful of electronics and take off. A siren will do more than anything else in that situation.
Good to know about the potential flakiness of z-wave devices. I’ll keep digging.
If you do a cost comparison, you may find that a simple alarm system and an interface with Vera is the most cost effective and provides the best return of investment. Even though the local “riffraff” may not be geniuses, the MO they employee can be very expensive if you’re on the giving end… If they are opportunist criminal an alarm system would act as a very good deterrent.
For most modern alarm system either wireless and wired are extremely reliable; the main issue identified on the forum pertaining to wireless motion sensors and their delayed transmission to try and minimise any false alarms. This isn’t any issue for alarm systems and it is not a reliability error, but a delayed reporting of an event which is being used as a trigger is problematic in an home automation sense. To explain if a motion sensor has a 6 second delayed reporting and it is being used to turn on a light at night, you will really notice the delayed between the trigger and consequencial action of turning on the light. You can walk a long way in 6 seconds.
Vera is not an alarm system and the z-wave product are not design the same as security purpose built products. Most alarm manufacturers offer a wireless modules to utilise wireless and wired sensor on the one system.
I am using the vera as a burglar alarm and am satisfied with it. Not a big installation, couple of pirs, powerplugs and sirene. Never had spurious trips. It does the job for me
I’m also using Vera as an alarm system, aside from my use for it for general home automation.
I completely understand the reliability/cost issues, but my reasoning for multi-purposing Vera for security was that I had already purchased it for home automation. Rather than purchase a separate alarm system, I already had Vera and many components that would also report their status. Yale locks, Foscam cameras and Aeon Door/Window Sensors, GE Light switches for outdoor and indoor lights that I purchased for home automation (scene activations and the like) also double as home security for me when setting a scene like “Armed - Away” (all doors are locked, Door/Window sensors are armed, camera motion sensors are armed). Although I haven’t gone all out and purchased a z-wave siren to add to the network, I can monitor the condition of my armed sensors without the cost of central monitoring. My home is now being monitored by me, cost free, with the peace of mind that it is being monitored, because I would not pay for central monitoring otherwise. In fact my house already had a completely wired alarm system all set for central monitoring, but I have never used it. I have never had any false alarms from any of my z-wave devices (once camera sensitivity was calibrated to not be sensitive to sunlight/shadow movement). In fact, the reporting status was so accurate that I received a text alert that a basement window sensor was tripped while I was out – panning a Foscam camera in the basement from my iPhone showed me the window was in fact still closed and showed me what the actual problem was – the sensor half of the window sensor had fallen from the window due to a bad adhesive strip; I’ve since secured it with a screw so that won’t happen again ;D
The main expense involved in z-wave security add-ons are the door/window sensors, as they are about $35 - $45 each which is far greater than their non z-wave counterparts. Most of the other z-wave products most people would likely already have purchased for home automation purposes so they can also be used in security scenes without any added expense. Limitations in z-wave devices are also a problem in using Vera as a complete stand-alone home security system. There is not any US z-wave smoke/fire/CO detectors, glass break detectors, a z-wave keypad…etc. However, there are work-arounds like Wayne Dalton key fobs in place of a keypad and wiring a door/window sensor to a standard smoke detector. I hear the arguments on both sides, but I’ve made my choice for using z-wave for security I still think a z-wave secured house while certainly not as reliably protected as a standard alarm system, is still better than no protection at all. Of course a burglar could cut my power and render Vera useless, but then again the same burglar could just as easily smash a window or a door in even with a wired alarm system in place and be in and out before the cops are notified even if that system is centrally monitored. If someone wants in your house, bottom line is they’re going to get in. Vera just adds to piece of mind for me without having a whole separate system.
Otterlo, what specifically is a “pirs” and which ones are you referring to. I’m also very interested in this type of setup…basic, but better than nothing.
I wrote a couple of scenes for full alarm (with sounder) or silent alarm. several statusses like away or home
I am using AutomationHD to arm and disarm the alarm system remotely.
With the email plugin and also Vera Alerts i get notfication when the alarm system is triggered, via email and via Android messaging system.
I have now ordered 2 camera’s so when motion is detected i can remotely watch what is going on.
i have purchased a cheap android tablet that is permanently on, fixed in my kitchen, to control Vera.
Best Home Automation shopping experience. Shop at Ezlo!
I still think a z-wave secured house while certainly not as reliably protected as a standard alarm system, is still better than no protection at all. Of course a burglar could cut my power and render Vera useless, but then again the same burglar could just as easily smash a window or a door in even with a wired alarm system in place and be in and out before the cops are notified even if that system is centrally monitored. If someone wants in your house, bottom line is they’re going to get in. Vera just adds to piece of mind for me without having a whole separate system.