Nest Secure Alarm System Tested
Google's expansion continues, this time into home security with their Nest subsidiary's move into alarm systems.
They paid more than a half-billion dollars to get into consumer video surveillance, with Dropcam. Then they damaged it severely, stumbled for a few years, and now are pushing into the large and lucrative alarm system market.
Nest Secure claims:
A whole new kind of security. Most security systems are designed around intruders. But you’re not an intruder. Nest Secure is easy to live with. And it’s only tough when you need it to be.
But how well does it actually work?
We bought and tested Nest Secure, and inside you will find the following insights:
- What are the Pros and Cons of the System?
- The Nest Detect Combo Sensor Has Both Benefits and Weaknesses
- The Wireless Nest Tags Are Not Like Access Fobs
- 3rd Party Monitoring Is Limited To One Option
- The Nest App is Good, but Web Browser is Weak
- How Nest Secure Compares Price-wise To Simplisafe and other DIY offerings
- Should Total Connect And Alarm.com Be Worried?
Inside read our test findings complete with four detailed video segments.
Pros of Nest Secure
Overall system reliability is good, with no missed or false alarm events, nor malfunctions found in a test of a common residential install in a single-story dwelling with no sensor connection point exceeding more than 40 feet.
Among the things Nest Secure does well:
- Solid Reliable Hardware: Nest Secure's hardware is neither flimsy nor cheaply built, and the hubs, sensors, and fobs are sturdy enough to withstand rigorous use. Even considering 'DIY' installation errors, sensors are strong enough to detect magnetic breaks across greater than 1" gaps, maintain steady wireless communication over 60' distances with an easy-to-use app.
- Good Keypad, App, and Fob Control: Nest offers three options to interface with the system, and have done it in a reliable manner, with individually coded tags, PINs, and app users.
- Free Remote Access: We needed no special services or subscriptions to test Secure and were able to interface with the system from fully remote locations for free, unlike other platforms that require additional subscriptions or remote connectivity hubs to make that happen.
- Easy Integrated Video: Nest camera users can integrate Secure with video, and in turn force any or all cameras to record when intrusion alarm events occur.
Negatives of Nest Secure
However, Nest is going to face some big issues making headway in the DIY market due to several weaknesses:
- Weak Motion Sensors: The Detect combo sensor is not a good motion sensor, with weak range that even modest PIRs can far outperform. The narrow detection band of ~15' prevents the sensor from being generally useful for rooms and limits it to areas immediately in front of doors or hallways, atypical positions for intrusion motions.
- Quiet Siren: Nest's local alarm annunciator is rated at 85 dBs, which is not loud enough to be distractingly heard in distant rooms or different floors, and the system does not support external sirens.
- Hub Sensor Positioning Awkward: The Secure system uses a hub that includes an integrated motion detector. However, given the limited range and surface positioning of the hub for use as a keypad and wireless AP, users may be forced to awkwardly position the unit or may not have a suitable place for it, diminishing the 'all-in-one' convenience of the device.
- Limited Sensors Choice: Nest only supports one wireless sensor type, and common features like recessed contacts, wide range PIRs, and glass-breaks are not available.
- No Web Browser Control: Nest's web portal offers status monitoring only, but does not offer interfaced controls. Users will need the app or local controls to activate or disarm the system.
Expensive For What Is Provided
However, Nest Secure is expensive and does not offer any special or exceptional features to justify the higher price. Compared to other DIY systems, Nest Secure is at the top end of the typical price range at ~$500, and additional Nest features like Nest cameras, smoke detectors, or thermostats are extra costs with supporting general Z-Wave or Zigbee devices.
System Physical Overview
The system is composed of three specific components:
- Nest Guard: The main base station that includes a motion sensor, integrated siren, keypad, panic button, and backup battery.
- Nest Detect: The system's only sensor type is a combo unit combining split magnetic contacts and motion in one. See the section below where we examine in depth.
- Nest Tag: In addition to the built-in keypad and smartphone app control, Secure also supports contactless keyfobs to arm/disarm the system.
The basic kit costing $499 comes with one Guard, two Detects, and two Tags. Most users will need to purchase at least one or two additional sensors to monitor typical houses, as the basic kit (shown below) is sized for small apartments or flats:
The video below describes these components and how they appear in use:
Siren Poor
The hub includes an integrated keypad, color-coded LED ring, battery backup, and integrated siren for local alarm annunciation. However, the siren is rated at a modest 85 dB, and even when full alarm sirens were sounding, it was muffled and hard to pick out in adjacent rooms. The siren's intensity is likely sufficient for small areas, but larger houses or multi-floor dwellings could easily miss a siren event.
Nest Detect Combo Sensor
One of Secure's distinct features is a multi-function sensor called Nest Detect. It is the only type supported by Nest Secure systems, but it combines multiple sensor technologies in one device. Detect is both a surface mount magnetic two-piece door/window contact and an inductive based motion sensor:
Our test found that Detect works reliably as a split contact but poorly as a motion sensor. In more than 100 open/close events, Detect accurately reported magnetic contact activity 100% of the time, but as a motion sensor it had trouble detecting motion beyond 15 feet in a narrow band of ~12' - 15' wide in front of the unit.
An uncommon feature of the sensor is the onboard LED can be used as a nightlight, casting white light onto the door below when the motion sensor detects movement; potentially being a big help for letting out pets at night, or finding door levers in a dark room. However, the wireless unit has an internal CR123 size battery, so more frequent use as a nightlight will drain internal batteries faster and the feature is disabled by default.
Overall, contact performance is roughly equal to other wireless magnetic contacts, but far inferior to basic PIR motion sensors. The video below describes the combo nature of Detect in detail:
The image below provides a contrast in size and build between typical PIRs and Detect:
Given that even modest PIRs claim 30' ranges and often cost less than $10 each, the fact a single Detect can only reliably register movement 10' and cost $60 each, monitoring large and open rooms will likely require multiple sensors costing 6X more each, significantly increasing Nest's cost.
Improved Sensor Options Needed
While Nest Detect sensors are good for basic contacts, Nest Secure will need to build up sensor options and performance types to maximize system effectiveness.
Other DIY alarm platforms routinely offer 4 or more separate sensor types for specific applications. Even Honeywell's beleaguered DIY platform observes this need, and given Nest's substantial 'tech company' advantages, adding additional/better performing sensors should be a high priority.
Integrated Nest Video On Alarms
Secure leverages Nest's existing camera line into the featureset, allowing for users to link camera recordings to alarm events. The granularity of the feature is coarse, essentially giving an option to record on event or not, but no conditional logic can be applied. (e.g.: Record Outside Cameras Only after 5 pm)
The app configuration screen is show below:
In terms of app or browser integration of video with intrusion, Nest shows the current state of Secure linked cameras as small badge icons under the view:
Given that most users will have few cameras in a typical resi system, the way this is displayed is not difficult to navigate, but larger systems with many alarm points and many cameras could quickly find the lack of priority alerting (i.e.: Popping the alarmed camera to the top) problematic.
Nest RFID Tags Not Easy To Copy
One of the primary ways users arm or disarm the system is via Nest Tags, a fob assigned to specific users. Given that total system control is possible with a tag, we were curious to find out if common credential copiers could be used to read and spoof tags, resulting in a major security issue problematic for many security systems.
We tried two commercial card copiers to see, using both the $30 HID 125kHz Card Copier and the high-security 13.56MHz Smartcard Copier to read the tags, but discovered Nest Tags are not vulnerable to either. The video clip below shows the basic test results:
While the Tags were not spoofable with the common copiers we tried, they may prove vulnerable to others, and Nest makes no special claims they are encrypted or encoded. Our results show that the Tags simply do not use common RF frequencies.
Browser Controls Limited
Secure offers both a local keypad, a smartphone app, and web browser interface. Of those options, the web browser is least useful because it does not arm or disarm controls from the portal, although other Nest products like thermostats and cameras may provide controls.
In general, most users will find the app best for control, as it offers the best mix of remote control, integrated system visibility, and convenience. The video below contrasts these options:
Moni Monitoring Only
Like other DIY systems, Secure does not require central station monitoring and can be self-monitored by users via push alert or via app notifications. However, a recent Nest and Moni Partnership will offer users a ~$50/ month central station option for professional monitoring that will include a cellular dialer in the Guard hub.
While not required, using Moni for 3rd party monitoring will be the only option for Secure users.
Interestingly, buying Moni's own DIY LiveWatch system that uses a comparable wireless Qolsys IQ2 panel costly only ~$200 (~$300 less than Nest Secure) with the same ~$50 monthly monitoring plan.
Nest Compared To The DIY Alarms Market
In the ultra-competitive DIY alarms market, Nest Secure is among the more expensive platforms, with no exceptional features that distinguish it from the competition. For example, while Nest Secure runs $500 plus $50/month if monitored, Simplisafe's basic system (with an additional magnetic contact and true PIR) runs ~$260 plus $30 per month if monitored.
The image below shows that compared to popular DIY systems like SimpliSafe and Canary, the ~$500 Nest system is the most expensive, even taking into account factors that two $169 Canary units would be needed to cover the same square footage and entry points of the nest platform:
Unlike Nest, Simplifsafe offers a range of sensor types, including magnetic contacts, PIR motion, CO sensors, Smoke Detectors, and external sirens. In terms of monitoring 'trouble conditions', Nest lacks the granularity to detect beyond basic intrusion, but competitor DIY platforms often do more.
Versus ADC and Total Connect
Nest is not compatible with Z-Wave or Zigbee alarm sensors, lightbulbs, or thermostats, a key limitation compared to common monthly fee-based automation platforms like Total Connect or Alarm.com.
Instead, Nest is compatible with its own lines of connected devices, including Cameras, Smoke Detectors, and WiFi Thermostats.
When contrasted to Alarm.com Tested and Honeywell Total Connect 2.0 Tested, Nest's remote platform is free, with incremental adds for cloud video storage, unlike the $35 - $40/month basic monthly fee of the 'Smarthome' platforms. However, given the higher typical cost of Nest brand hardware, e.g.: $250 Nest thermostat versus $85 Z-Wave unit), the premium for Nest branded hardware is not marginal.