If you are looking for a simple and affordable smart home security system with no monthly fee, you might want to consider Honeywell alarm systems.
Honeywell is a well-known brand that offers a range of home technologies and systems, including thermostats, cameras, and sensors.
In this blog post, we will review one of their products, the Honeywell Smart Home Security Starter Kit, which comes with a camera base station, two door/window sensors, and a remote control key fob.
We will also compare it with some of the other popular DIY security systems on the market, such as SimpliSafe, Abode, and Ring Alarm. By the end of this post, you will have a better idea of whether Honeywell Home security systems are right for you and your home or not.
Kit component
The Honeywell Smart Home Security Starter Kit includes the following components:
Camera base station
This is the main device that connects to your Wi-Fi network and acts as a hub for the other sensors and devices. It has a built-in 1080p camera, a speaker, a motion sensor, a siren, and Amazon Alexa voice service.
You can use it to monitor your home, talk to your visitors, play music, and control your smart home devices. It also has a sliding privacy shade that covers the camera when you don’t want to be seen or recorded.
Door/window sensors
These are small devices that you can attach to your doors and windows to detect when they are opened or closed. They communicate with the base station using Honeywell’s Wiselink Security Protocol, which is a secure and encrypted wireless connection.
You can also use them to trigger automation, such as turning on the lights or the siren when a door or window is opened.
Remote control key fob
This is a handy device that you can use to arm and disarm your system, or to trigger a panic alarm. It has four buttons: home, away, night, and panic. You can also customize the functions of each button using the Honeywell Home app.
Features
The Honeywell Smart Home Security Starter Kit offers a number of features that make it a versatile and user-friendly system. Here are some of the main features:
Base station
Amazon Alexa built-in: The base station has a microphone and a speaker that allow you to use Amazon Alexa voice commands to control your system and your smart home devices. You can ask Alexa to arm or disarm your system, check the status of your sensors, play music, get the weather, and more. You can also use Alexa routines to create custom voice commands and automations.
Face recognition
The base station has a feature called Facial Recognition that lets you create profiles for your family members and trusted visitors. When the camera detects a familiar face, it will send you a notification and greet them by name.
You can also use this feature to customize the actions of your system based on who is home. For example, you can set your system to automatically disarm when it recognizes your face, or to play a welcome message when it recognizes your spouse’s face.
Enhanced Deterrence
The base station has a feature called Enhanced Deterrence that lets you play sounds to make it seem like someone is home while you are away. You can choose from a variety of sounds, such as a dog barking, a TV playing, or a conversation. You can also schedule the sounds to play at specific times or when the system detects motion.
Camera
1080p HD video
The base station has a 2-megapixel camera that records high-quality video with a 147-degree field of view. You can watch live or recorded video from your smartphone, tablet, or computer using the Honeywell Home app or website. You can also use the app to zoom, pan, and tilt the camera remotely.
Night vision
The base station has infrared LEDs that provide clear night vision up to 16 feet. You can see what’s happening in your home even in low-light conditions.
Motion detection
The base station has a motion sensor that triggers the camera to record video when it detects movement. You can adjust the sensitivity and the detection zones of the motion sensor using the app. You can also receive notifications and alerts when motion is detected.
Honeywell Home app
The Honeywell Home app is the main interface for controlling and managing your system. You can use it to arm and disarm your system, view live and recorded videos, customize your settings, create automation, and more.
The app is compatible with iOS and Android devices, and it is free to download and use.
Cloud storage
The Honeywell Home app offers free cloud storage for your video clips. You can store up to 1,500 clips for 24 hours, and you can download or share them anytime. If you need more storage or longer retention, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy setup: DIY installation eliminates the need for professional help, saving you time and money.
- Scalability: Start with a basic kit and gradually add components as your needs evolve.
- Mobile app convenience: Manage your system and monitor your home remotely with ease.
- Smart home integration: Control lights, thermostats, and other connected devices alongside your security system.
- Reliable brand: Honeywell’s reputation for quality and innovation inspires confidence.
Cons
- Some features require subscriptions: Cloud storage and professional monitoring add to the initial cost.
- Limited third-party compatibility: Integration with some popular smart home brands might be missing.
- Cellular monitoring isn’t standard: Requires additional purchase for backup internet connectivity.
- Limited Professional monitoring
Installation process
- After adding the sensors and devices, you can test them to make sure they are working properly. To test a sensor or device, tap on it on the app and select Test. You will see a green check mark if the test is successful, or a red cross if the test fails. You can also test the siren, the camera, and the motion sensor using the app.
- Once you have tested all the sensors and devices, you can customize your system settings using the app. You can change the volume, the brightness, the language, and the time zone of the base station. You can also enable or disable the face recognition, enhanced deterrence, and privacy mode features. You can also create profiles for your family members and trusted visitors using the face recognition feature.
- You can also set up your security modes using the app. You can choose from four modes: home, away, night, and off. You can customize the actions of each mode, such as which sensors and devices are active, whether the camera is recording, and whether the siren is on.
- You can also create automation based on your system’s status or events, such as turning on the lights when you disarm your system, or sending you an email when the siren goes off.
Is Honeywell alarm systems compatible with smart homes?
You can also connect your system to other smart home platforms and services using the app. You can link your system to your Amazon account to use Alexa voice commands and routines.
You can also link your system to your Z-Wave devices to control them using the app or Alexa. You can also link your system to IFTTT to create applets to connect and automate different devices and services.
Review
The Honeywell Smart Home Security Starter Kit is a simple and affordable smart home security system that offers a lot of features and functionality. It has a camera base station with Amazon Alexa built-in, which adds convenience and versatility. It also has door/window sensors, a remote control key fob, and Z-Wave and IFTTT compatibility.
However, the system also has some drawbacks, such as the lack of professional monitoring, the limited number of sensors available, and the expensive plans for cloud storage and extra features.
If you are looking for a DIY security system with no monthly fee and built-in Alexa, you might want to consider the Honeywell Smart Home Security Starter Kit. But if you prefer to have a professional monitoring service, more sensors, and cheaper plans, you might want to look at other systems, such as SimpliSafe, Abode, or Ring Alarm, you can also checkout our review for SABRE Wireless Alarm System Review
