Nest Secure Alarm System Tested

Published Nov 16, 2017 18:01 PM

******'* ********* *********, **** **** **** home ******** **** ***** **** **********'* move **** ***** *******.

******** **** **** * ****-******* ********* *** **** ******** ***** ************, with *******. **** **** ******* ** ********, ******** *** * *** *****, and *** *** ******* **** *** large *** ********* ***** ****** ******.

**** ****** ******:

* ***** *** **** ** ********. **** security ******* *** ******** ****** *********. But ***’** *** ** ********. **** Secure ** **** ** **** ****. And **’* **** ***** **** *** need ** ** **.

*** *** **** **** ** ******** work?

** ****** *** ****** **** ******, and ****** *** **** **** *** following ********:

  • **** *** *** **** *** **** of *** ******?
  • *** **** ****** ***** ****** *** Both ******** *** **********
  • *** ******** **** **** *** *** Like ****** ****
  • *** ***** ********** ** ******* ** One ******
  • *** **** *** ** ****, *** Web ******* ** ****
  • *** **** ****** ******** *****-**** ** ********** and ***** *** *********
  • ****** ***** ******* *** *****.*** ** Worried?

****** **** *** **** ******** ******** with **** ******** ***** ********.

Pros ** **** ******

******* ****** *********** ** ****, **** no ****** ** ***** ***** ******, nor ************ ***** ** * **** of * ****** *********** ******* ** a ******-***** ******** **** ** ****** connection ***** ********* **** **** ** feet.  

***** *** ****** **** ****** **** well:

  • ***** ******** ********: **** ******'* ******** ** ******* ****** *** cheaply *****, *** *** ****, *******, and **** *** ****** ****** ** withstand ******** ***. **** *********** '***' installation ******, ******* *** ****** ****** to ****** ******** ****** ****** ******* than *" ****, ******** ****** ******** communication **** **' ********* **** ** easy-to-use ***.
  • **** ******, ***, *** *** *******: **** ****** ***** ******* ** interface **** *** ******, *** **** done ** ** * ******** ******, with ************ ***** ****, ****, *** app *****.
  • **** ****** ******: ** ****** ** ******* ******** or ************* ** **** ****** *** were **** ** ********* **** *** system **** ***** ****** ********* *** free, ****** ***** ********* **** ******* additional ************* ** ****** ************ **** to **** **** ******.
  • **** ********** *****: **** ****** ***** *** ********* Secure **** *****, *** ** **** force *** ** *** ******* ** record **** ********* ***** ****** *****.

Negatives ** **** ******

*******, **** ** ***** ** **** some *** ****** ****** ******* ** the *** ****** *** ** ******* weaknesses:

  • **** ****** *******: *** ****** ***** ****** ** not * **** ****** ******, **** weak ***** **** **** ****** **** can *** **********.  *** ****** ********* band ** ~**' ******** *** ****** from ***** ********* ****** *** ***** and ****** ** ** ***** *********** ** front ** ***** ** ********, ******** positions *** ********* *******.
  • ***** *****:****'* ***** ***** *********** ** ***** at ** ***, ***** ** *** loud ****** ** ** ************* ***** in ******* ***** ** ********* ******, and *** ****** **** *** ******* external ******.
  • *** ****** *********** *******: *** ****** ****** **** * hub **** ******** ** ********** ****** detector. *******, ***** *** ******* ***** and ******* *********** ** *** *** for *** ** * ****** *** wireless **, ***** *** ** ****** to ********* ******** *** **** ** may *** **** * ******** ***** for **, *********** *** '***-**-***' *********** of *** ******.
  • ******* ******* ******: **** **** ******** *** ******** sensor ****, *** ****** ******** **** recessed ********, **** ***** ****, *** glass-breaks *** *** *********.
  • ** *** ******* *******: ****'* *** ****** ****** ****** monitoring ****, *** **** *** ***** interfaced ********. ***** **** **** *** app ** ***** ******** ** ******** or ****** *** ******.

Expensive *** **** ** ********

*******, **** ****** ** ********* *** does *** ***** *** ******* ** exceptional ******** ** ******* *** ****** price. ******** ** ***** *** *******, Nest ****** ** ** *** *** end ** *** ******* ***** ***** at ~$***, *** ********** **** ******** like **** *******, ***** *********, ** thermostats *** ***** ***** **** ********** general *-**** ** ****** *******.

System ******** ********

*** ****** ** ******** ** ***** specific **********:

  • **** *****: *** **** **** ******* that ******** * ****** ******, ********** siren, ******, ***** ******, *** ****** battery.
  • **** ******: *** ******'***** ****** **** ** * ***** unit********* ***** ******** ******** *** ****** in ***.  *** *** ******* ***** where ** ******* ** *****.
  • **** ***: ** ******** ** *** built-in ****** *** ********** *** *******, Secure **** ******** *********** ******* ** arm/disarm *** ******.

*** ***** *** ******* $*** ***** with *** *****, *** *******, *** two ****. **** ***** **** **** to ******** ** ***** *** ** two ********** ******* ** ******* ******* houses, ** *** ***** *** (***** below) ** ***** *** ***** ********** or *****:

*** ***** ***** ********* ***** ********** and *** **** ****** ** ***:

Siren ****

*** *** ******** ** ********** ******, color-coded *** ****, ******* ******, *** integrated ***** *** ***** ***** ************. However, *** ***** ** ***** ** a ****** ** **, *** **** when **** ***** ****** **** ********, it *** ******* *** **** ** pick *** ** ******** *****. *** siren's ********* ** ****** ********** *** small *****, *** ****** ****** ** multi-floor ********* ***** ****** **** * siren *****.

Nest ****** ***** ******

*** ** ******'* ******** ******** ** a *****-******** ****** ********** ******. ** ** *** **** **** supported ** **** ****** *******, *** it ******** ******** ****** ************ ** one ******. ****** ** **** * ******* mount ******** ***-***** ****/****** ******* *** an ********* ***** ****** ******:

*** **** ***** **** ****** ***** ******** as * ***** ******* *** ****** ** a ****** ******.  ** **** **** 100 ****/***** ******, ****** ********** ******** magnetic ******* ******** ***% ** *** time, *** ** * ****** ****** it *** ******* ********* ****** ****** 15 **** ** * ****** **** of ~**' - **' **** ** front ** *** ****.

** ******** ******* ** *** ****** is *** ******* *** *** ** used ** * **********, ******* ***** light **** *** **** ***** **** the ****** ****** ******* ********; *********** being * *** **** *** ******* out **** ** *****, ** ******* door ****** ** * **** ****. However, *** ******** **** *** ** internal ***** **** *******, ** **** ******** use ** * ********** **** ***** internal ********* ****** *** *** ******* is ******** ** *******.

*******, ******* *********** ** ******* ***** to ***** ******** ******** ********, *** far ******** ** ***** *** ****** sensors. *** ***** ***** ********* *** combo ****** ** ****** ** ******:

*** ***** ***** ******** * ******** in **** *** ***** ******* ******* PIRs *** ******:

***** **** **** ****** **** ***** 30' ****** *** ***** **** **** than $** ****, *** **** * single ****** *** **** ******** ******** movement **' *** **** $** ****, monitoring ***** *** **** ***** **** likely ******* ******** ******* ******* ** more ****, ************* ********** ****'* ****.

Improved ****** ******* ****** 

***** **** ****** ******* *** **** for ***** ********, **** ****** **** need ** ***** ** ****** ******* and *********** ***** ** ******** ****** effectiveness.

***** *** ***** ********* ********* ***** 4 ** **** ******** ****** ***** for ******** ************. *************'* *********** *** ******** ******** **** need, *** ***** ****'* *********** '**** company' **********, ****** **********/****** ********** ******* should ** * **** ********.

Integrated **** ***** ** ******

****** ********* ****'* ******** ****** **** into *** **********, ******** *** ***** to **** ****** ********** ** ***** events. *** *********** ** *** ******* is ******, *********** ****** ** ****** to ****** ** ***** ** ***, but ** *********** ***** *** ** applied. (*.*.: ****** ******* ******* **** after * **)

*** *** ************* ****** ** **** below:

** ***** ** *** ** ******* integration ** ***** **** *********, **** shows *** ******* ***** ** ****** linked ******* ** ***** ***** ***** under *** ****:

***** **** **** ***** **** **** few ******* ** * ******* **** system, *** *** **** ** ********* is *** ********* ** ********, *** larger ******* **** **** ***** ****** and **** ******* ***** ******* **** the **** ** ******** ******** (*.*.: Popping *** ******* ****** ** *** top) ***********.

Nest **** **** *** **** ** ****

*** ** *** ******* **** ***** arm ** ****** *** ****** ** via **** ****, * *** ******** to ******** *****. ***** **** ***** system ******* ** ******** **** * tag, ** **** ******* ** **** out ** ****** ********** ******* ***** be **** ** **** *** ***** tags, ********* ** * ***** ******** issue *********** *** **** ******** *******.

** ***** *** ********** **** ******* to ***, ***** **** *** $** *** ****** **** ****** *** *** ****-******** **.***** ********* ****** ** **** *** ****, *** ********** Nest **** *** *** ********** ** either.  *** ***** **** ***** ***** the ***** **** *******:

***** *** **** **** *** ********* with *** ****** ******* ** *****, they *** ***** ********** ** ******, and **** ***** ** ******* ****** **** are ********* ** *******. *** ******* show **** *** **** ****** ** not *** ****** ** ***********.

Browser ******** *******

****** ****** **** * ***** ******, a ********** ***, *** *** ******* interface. ** ***** *******, *** *** browser ** ***** ****** ******* ** does *** *** ** ****** ******** from *** ******, ******** ***** **** products **** *********** *** ******* *** provide ********.

** *******, **** ***** **** **** the *** **** *** *******, ** it ****** *** **** *** ** remote *******, ********** ****** **********, *** convenience. *** ***** ***** ********* ***** options:

Moni ********** ****

**** ***** *** *******, ****** **** *** require ******* ******* ********** *** *** be ****-********* ** ***** *** **** alert ** *** *** *************. *******, a ****** **** *** **** *********** **** ***** ***** * ~$**/ ***** central ******* ****** *** ************ ********** that **** ******* * ******** ****** in *** ***** ***.

***** *** ********, ***** **** *** 3rd ***** ********** **** ** *** only ****** *** ****** *****.

*************, ****** ****'* ****** ********* ********** **** * ********** ******** ****** IQ2 ***** ****** **** ~$*** (~$*** **** than **** ******) **** *** **** ~$50 ******* ********** ****.

Nest ******** ** *** *** ****** ******

** *** *****-*********** *** ****** ******, Nest ****** ** ***** *** **** expensive *********, **** ** *********** ******** that *********** ** **** *** ***********. For *******, ***** **** ****** **** $*** plus $**/***** ** *********, **********'* ***** system (with ** ********** ******** ******* *** true ***) **** ~$*** **** $** per ***** ** *********. 

*** ***** ***** ***** **** ******** to popular *** ******* **** ********** *** Canary, *** ~$*** **** ****** ** the **** *********, **** ****** **** account ******* **** *** $*** ****** units ***** ** ****** ** ***** the **** ****** ******* *** ***** points ** *** **** ********:

****** ****, *********** ****** * ***** of ****** *****, ********* ******** ********, PIR ******, ** *******, ***** *********, and ******** ******. ** ***** ** monitoring '******* **********', **** ***** *** granularity ** ****** ****** ***** *********, but ********** *** ********* ***** ** more.

Versus *** *** ***** *******

**** ** *** ********** **** *-**** or ****** ***** *******, **********, ** thermostats, a *** ********** ******** ** ****** monthly ***-***** ********** ********* **** ***** Connect ** *****.***. 

*******, **** ** ********** **** *** own ***** ** ********* *******, ********* Cameras, ***** *********, *** **** ***********.

**** ********** ** *****.*** ****** *** ********* ***** ******* *.* ******, ****'* ****** ******** ** ****, with *********** **** *** ***** ***** storage, ****** *** $** - $**/***** basic ******* *** ** *** '*********' platforms. *******, ***** *** ****** ******* cost ** **** ***** ********, *.*.:$*** **** ********** ******$** *-**** ****), *** ******* *** **** ******* hardware ** *** ********.

Comments (11)
U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 16, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Overall, contact performance is roughly equal to other wireless magnetic contacts, but far inferior to basic PIR motion sensors.

But it is a PIR device right, even if a limited range one, or?

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 16, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Nest does not say for sure, but it certainly uses IR and heat to detect motion.

No concrete tech specs on the sensor type are given, but the company's demo video for the sensor divulges what the motion part looks like under the housing:

U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 16, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Agree.  Thanks! 

They made it “discreet” and indiscrete at the same time :)

(2)
(3)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Nov 17, 2017

 

I see they tested the sensor with a human and "small" dogs.  Seldom do I have problems with dogs the size shown in the video tripping a motion detector, especially when they're calmly walking through a home.  That border collie looks old and tired, and in terms of false alarms, it might be close. But when a dog is running and jumping it's quite different. Cats are the biggest problem with pet immune detectors.  I will not  recommend a motion detector when a cat or cats are going to be left alone in the home with the system armed. 

They specifically mention the sensor will avoid small dogs. DIY consumers might see their marketing material as a green light to use this alarm system while leaving pets at home.  I think they'll be disappointed.

Also, if you want to take full advantage of the sensor's features, you'll have to install it at a most conspicuous location.  I try to make wireless sensors disappear if possible and sometimes that means installing them low against door trim or behind window covering.  With this sensor you may not have many options.

The weak siren is disturbing in that it may not persuade an intruder to leave the premises right away, and with the response time of law enforcement today becoming longer, I think this just gives people a false sense of security.

But, this is DIY, so it's what I would expect to see.  I would not install something like this in my own home or a home of a loved one.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Nov 20, 2017

The strength of this solution is the ongoing integration support within the entire Google/Nest Ecosystem.  Nest devices are also embracing support for Amazon Alexa devices.  This positioning is the long term threat to the existing residential DYI market.

Avatar
David Johnson
Nov 28, 2017

Sub $10 motion sensors are hard wired devices.  This kit looks suitable for an apartment or small home only.  Does anyone know what RF freq is used?  All of the new 2.4ghz kit is useless in our market because of our steel deck and cinderblock wall construction.  It's ruled out Honeywells Lyric for us.

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Oct 19, 2020
IPVMU Certified

The Google Nest Secure Alarm System is 'No Longer Available' to buy:

IPVM Image

With Google investing $450 million into ADT this August, the discontinuation of this 'proprietary' and redundant to ADT system is not surprising.

JH
John Honovich
Oct 20, 2020
IPVM

is 'No Longer Available' to buy

It's surprising to me. Did Google/Nest offer any explanation? Google only bought ~1/16th of ADT so it's not that much.

U
Undisclosed #4
Oct 20, 2020

maybe still available, but under the ADT label.

UE
Undisclosed End User #5
Jan 27, 2021

Any idea if/when there will be a successor to Nest Secure?

JH
John Honovich
Jan 27, 2021
IPVM

The speculation is that the Google / ADT partnership will be the successor but I have not seen an official clear Google response to this.