Scout DIY Home Security Tested

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Dec 11, 2015

This hipster startup claimed it would crush cavemen alarm companies, with a DIY disruptive offering.

Now in production, we bought a Scout Alarm system to see just how well it delivered.

The DIY alarm market has been getting a lot of attention, with mega funded Simplisafe making the most noise (see our Simplisafe Test Results).

We tested Scout, looking at the quality of the app, the range of the sensors provided, the system's hardware quality, and alerting capabilities, compared to Simplisafe and conventional intrusion systems.

**** ******* ******* ******* ** ***** ***** ******* ***** *********, **** * *** ********** ********.

*** ** **********, ** ****** ****** ***** ****** ** *** **** *** **** ** *********.

*** *** ***** ****** *** **** ******* * *** ** attention, **** **** ****** ********** ****** *** **** ***** (*** our ********** **** *******).

** ****** *****, ******* ** *** ******* ** *** ***, the ***** ** *** ******* ********, *** ******'* ******** *******, *** alerting ************, ******** ** ********** *** ************ ********* *******.

[***************]

Key ********

*** * *** *******, ***** ******** ****** ****, *** **** offers ********** **** **** ********** *******. *** ******** *******:

*********

  • ***** ***/*********:***** **** **** **** ** *********** *** ****** *****. ** the **** ** **** *** ****** *** ********** ***, ****** control *** ****** ******** *** ********. ** *********** ** **** or ***** ****** *** **** **** ****** *********.
  • ******** ******: * *** **** ** '**** **********' ** ***** ****** is ** **** ****** ****** ** **** ********** **** **** occur. ** *** **** ** *****, ** *** ****** *** email, *** ****, *** **** ************* ******* *** *** **** no ****** ******.
  • ****** *******: *** *** *** ******* *******, ***** **** ** ****** installation *** ********** ** ******* **** *** ********** *** *** nice, ** ** ***** ******** ***** ******* ****** ******** *** a ***********. ******* ***** ** ***** **** *** ********** ***** they **** *********.
  • ********, ***** ******* ***********: **** ******** ******* *** **** ****** *** ** ******** state ******, *** *****-***** ********** *** ***** **** ******* **** updating *** ****.  **** *** *** *** **** **** *****, where ******* ******* ** **** **** * ****** ** *** web ** *** *********, *** ** ******/***** ****** ******** ****** our ****.
  • ****** *****: ****** **** *** ******* **** **** ******* ** **** one ****, ***** ****** ******** **** *** ************ ** ****** grouping ******* *** *** ****** **** **** ** ** ********** basis.
  • ***** *******:***** ******** ***** ****, **** **** **** ****** ** ******** *********** **** ********** *** ******** ********* together.  **** ** ***** ******* ** *** *******, ***** ******* standardize *** ********* ** ***** ******* ******** ***** ** ****** actions.
  • ******* ******:*** ***** *** ******** ********** ******* ****** *** **** ***** and *** *************, *** ** ***** ***** *** ****** ***** still ****.  ** *** ****, *** ******* ****** ***** ** minutes.

*******, *** ********** ****** ****. *****'* ********* *** **** ** a *********** *** ****:

*********

  • ***** ****: *** ***** ***** ************, ***** ** *** **** ******. Despite ******** *** ** *****, *** ***** ** ************* *****.  A ****** ** *****'* ****** ******* **** ** ** ***#* ********* **** ** ***, ** **** *** *** *** ****** ** a *** **** **** ** ***-*** *****.
  • ******** *****: *****'* ***** ******* *** ******** *** *** ****** ******* *******. The ******* ****** **** ***** *** ***** **** ** '***** 100 **** (***)', ******* ** *********** ************ ******** ** ** feet, *** ** *********** ** *** ****** ** ****, **** with ***** *********.
  • ** ***-****** ***:******* ****** ******* ** *** *** ** *** ********* ** being ******* ** **** *** ****. ***** *** ** *** for ****, ***** **** ************ ************** **** *** ******** ** *** ******* **** ****.  *** ****.
  • ***** *******:******* ******** ** *** ****** ** *** ***** ******** **** of *** *******. ***** ****** *** *** ** *****, *** footprint ** ****** *** ***** ******** *** ********* ********. ** detail **** ** *** '******** ********' ******* *****.
  • ** ******: *** **** ****** ***** *********** **** *** ****** ** through ********** *** ** **** ***. ** ***** **** ***** or ** *** **** ***** ******, **** **** ** *** of ******* ***/********* ** ****** *** ******.
  • ***** ************: * ***** ******, *** **** *********** ** *** ****** the ****-***** ****** **** ****** ******* **** ************.  ***** ****** anticipate **** ********** ******** ** ****** ** * ******* *** to ****** ********* *******.

***** *** ************

  • ** ***** ******: ** ****** ** ********* ** ********** ******* *****. ***** the ******* *** ********-******, *** **** *** ****** ****** ** withstand ******** ******** *** ***********/******** ******* ******* *******.  *** *** main "***', ** ******** ** ********* *** ***** *** ****** it ** * ***** ** **** **** ***** *** ******* connects *** ****.  *** ********* ******** ***** ** *****, ** 'non-DIYers' ************* **** ********* ********, ***** ** **** ** **********.
  • ** ******* ***: ******* ***** ** ***** ** ****** ******* ** ******,**** ***** *** *** ******* ** ******** ****, *** *** **************** **** *** **** ************* *****. 

********

****** *********

** *** ***** *****, ** **** *** **** ***/****** ********* available *** *** ****** ** ********** ***:

 

*** *** ********* *** ****** ******** ** ***** ************* *** function ** *****. ****** *** ****, ***** ***** ***** **** should **** **** ******** ***, *** ** ***** ******** ********.

***********, ******* *********** **** *** ****** *** *** ****** ** the *** (*** ***** **** ** *** **** ****), ******** worked *** *********. ***** ******* *** ***** *** ********** **** commercial ******** ***** *******.

*** *** **** *** **** **** *** *** ******** ****.  In *** ******* ********** *****, *** '****** *****' *** ****** is ***** **** ****** ***** **** ********** ****** *** ********* options ** **** ****** ** ****** *** ****** ** ****** actions:

** **** * **** ** ******* ***** ************* *** ***** report *********** ** *** ***** *****:


******** ********

** **** *****, ** ******* *****'* *** *** ****** ******. 


***** *** ******* ************ ** *****, *** **** ** ******* is ***** *** **** *** ** ************* ******** ** *** ***** and *******.

*** *******, *** *** ***** '****** ******' **** ********* ** unevenly ******* **** ***** *** ****, *** ** *** ************** difference ** ***** **** ******* *** **** ** ****. ** best, ************* **** ****** *** ** ***** ********** ********* ******* sensor ***** *** *** ** ********:

************, ***** *** ******** ****** ***** ******* ****, ** **** requires ******** ********* **** *** ***** *** ********* ******** ** users **** ****.

System **********

***** *********, **** ***** ***** ******** *** *** **** ** keypad ******** *** *********** ** **** *****:

** *** ************, *** *** **** **** ** *** ***:

  • ******** ***********: * *********** ******* *** **** ***** **** ** *** ******* ******** range ** ****** *******. ******* *** ***** ** ** **** *** no ******** *** *********, *****'* **** *** ** *** *****, ****** ***** apartment ***** ***** **** * *** ***** ** *******.  
  • ** ******:******* *** ******** ** *** **** ** ** ********* ****** to ***/****** *** ****** ** ****** ***** *****. *******, ***** uses * ***** '**** *****' **** ****** **** ***** ******* 125 *** **** ** ******** ** ******** *** ******. ***** can **** ***/****** *** **** ***** ***** **** *** ***** smartphone ***, *** ** **** ******** ***** ***** ** ***'* have ***** ******, **** ****** ****** ***** * ****** **** into * ****** ** ******* **** ********* *******.

System *******

***** ******* *** * ******* ****** **** ****** **** *** cost ** ***** *****. ******* *** * ******* ****** **** run $*** - $*** ********* ** ***** ****** ** ****** points.

* ****** **** * ***, * **** '**** *****', * motion ***, *** *** '****** *******', *** **** **** ** about $*** **** ** ********** *****.  *******, **** **** ** window * **** ****** ** ******* **** $** - $** each *****, *** **** * ****** **** **** ***** ***** and **** ******* **** ***** *** $*** **** ***** ******.

*** **********, ***** *********** ****** ***** *******:

  • ****: *** **** ****-********** ****** **** **** ** **** ****** and ****** ** **** *****. ***** ******** **** **** ****** "Keeps *** ** *** **** ***** ****'* ***** ** ** home, *** **'* **** ** **** ** **** ******** **********", because ** ***** ******** ****** *** ****** ********.
  • $*.** *****:*** '****** **' **** ***** ** *** ******'* ** ***** for ******** ** ****** ****** *************, ** ** ***** **** goes **** *** ****** ***** *** **** ******.
  • $**.** *****:*** '****** **+' **** **** ** ********* ******* ******* **********, essentially ******* ** **-*** **** ************** ********* ***** *******. ***** $20/month ** **** **** **** ********* ******** ********** ******, ** still ********** ****** $***/ **** ** ********* **** *** * Scout ******.

***** ****** * **% ******** ($***.** ** $***.** ********) ** users ***** ******* ******** ****** ***** ******** *******. 

Deep *************

***** ****** ***** * ****** ******** ***** ** ************* *******.  Unlike ***** *** ******* **** ********** ** ****** **** ** not ******* ******** *****, ***** ****** ******** **** **** *******.

*** *******, ** ***** **** ** ****** ** ***** ******* that **** **** ***** *** *** *******, ** *** ***** floor *** *** *** ******, **** *** ****** ***** *** custom ******** *** ****** ******** ******* **** * ********** ****** trips.

***** *** ********* *** **** ******* **** *** ***** **** opens *** * ********* ******* **** *** **** **** ***** and ** **. 

Wireless ***********

*******, * *********** ******* *** **** ***** **** ** *** limited ******** ***** ** ****** *******. ******* *** ***** ** ** feet *** ** ******** *** *********, *****'* **** *** ** *** *****, single ***** ********* ***** ***** **** * *** ***** ** windows.  

Market **********

*** ***** ******* ** *** * ****** ***** *** ** entry ***** *** ******, ***** ******** ****. *** *******, ***** Scout's ***** ****-*********, **** ****** ****** **** ~$***, **********'* '******* *******' **** ****** ****** ***** ~$***.

***** ********* ***** ************* *** ******* ****** *******, ** *** basic ******** *** ***.  ** ********, ********** ****** * ***** of *******, ********* ********** ********* *** * '***-******' ***.

Our ************** 

** ***** *** ******* *** ** ************* *** ************ *** alarm ******, ***** ***** ** * **** ******.  ****** **** intrusion *******, ********** *** *********, ***** *** ** ********** **** other **** ********** ********* (********** *****, ****, ******** ********, *** Amazon *****).

*** ***** ************ *** ***** **** ***** ********* ****** ** think *****, ** ** ** ******* * ******** ******** ** platforms **** *****.*** *** ********* ***** *******.

*******, *** *** ****** ******* ** ***** ** ***** *******, with ********** ********* ***************** ** ****** ******, *** ***** ******** ****** ********* ****************** ******* ***** *******.

 

Comments (7)

Undisclosed #1

12/11/15 03:50pm

***** **** ** ********** * "***-**********" ******?

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/11/15 03:57pm

***** **** ***** ****** ********** *** **** *** ******, ***.

*** **** ****** ** **** *********** *** ***** ** *********** with *******/*****, *** ** **** **** ** **** ***** * four/five ****** ****** ** **** ******* ********, ** **** **** about ** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

12/14/15 02:02pm

* *** *** ***** **** ***** (**** *** **** ******) as ** ***/****** *********. ** ** *** ********** **** * door, ******* ** **** ** * **** **** *** ********** contact ***** ** **** ** **.

***** *** **** ******** *** ** *** ***** ****, **** up ***** * ***** *** ****** ****** ****.

*** **** *********** ** ***** ** ** ***** ** *** Nest ******* ***** ********* ** *** *********** *** * **** Burg / **** ****** **** ** *********.

** *** **** **** *** ******** ****** ***** ** **** show **** ********** ********** ** ***** * **** ****** ** in *** *****.

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 12/14/15 02:48pm

****** *** *** ********. ***** ** ********** ******* ** ** option ** ****** ** ******** ** ***** **** ********* ******. I ******* **** ********* *** *******, *** ***** *** ****** (nothing ********) **** *** ***** ** **** ********* ******* ** the ******.

*** ********* ********: **** *** *********** '***** ******' *** ** the *** ****** ******** ** ****? **** ********** ****** *** a *** ** ***** ***, *** ***** **** *** **** tape **** ********, ** *** *** * ********* **********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 12/14/15 03:53pm

***** ******** *** *** ******** ** * **** *** ******** it *** ** ** *** ****, **** *** **** **** pets ** ***. * ** ******* *** * *** ******* but * ****** **** ***** ****** ***. **** ** ***** list *** **** *** ****.

*** **** **** ** ******* ***** *** **** ******* ******* of ********* ** ******** ****** **** ** ****** ***** ***.

****** *** *** **** ** *** **. **** **** ****.

***... ** *** **** *** *** ****** ** ***** *** NEST ********** **** ** ********** *** **** ** * ******* for * ******... *** *********** *** *** ****** ******** ****** into *** ****** *** ******* ******...

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | 12/22/15 08:59pm

[******]

***** *** ********* ** ****** ** ******* ******/****** ******** ** use ******* ****** ********.

**** ** * ****** ******* ******, ******* ** ******* ****** design. ***** ********* ****** ** ***** *****:

***** ** ***** ** ***** * **** ************ ********, ***** is********** ********: * ******** ******* **** **** ******. ** **** * scenario, ***** ** ** **** *******.

The ********:

  1. Longer ******* ****:******* **** *** ***** ********, ** **** “*****” ***** **** are *********, ***** ***** **** ******* **** ** * ***** or ****.
  2. Integration **** ****** *******:**** ***** *** *** *** ******* ** ********* **** * number ** ***** ***** *******.
The *********:
  1. Range ******** ******:*** ******* **** *** *** ****** *** **. ** *** hub ***** **** * ***** ******** ** *******.
  2. No ******* ****** *** ******** (***):** *** ***** ******** ** *** ******* **** * ***** supply **** ****** *******, **** ****** ***** ** ******* ** the ***** ** * ***** ******
  3. No ***** ****:**** *** ****** **** ** *** *** ********, ** ****** switch *** ****** **** ** *** *** ********.
  4. Repair *******: ** **** ** ******** **** *** ** ********* **** ****** after **** *** ************ ******* (****-***-***).

** *** ***** ** ** ******* ** ******** * ***** extender **** **** ******* ** ***** ** ****** ******* ** eliminate *** ********* ** ********* **** *** ********. **** ******* will *** ** ********* ** *** ********* ******, ******. ** the *******, ***** *** * ****** ** ***** ***** ********* we *** ********* ** *** ****** *******.

*******, ** ****** ** **** ***** ** * ******* ****** network ** ** *********** ***, ***** *** **** ***** ** sensors *** **** **** **** ***** ** **** ** **** with *****. ********, ***********, ***** *******/****** *******, *** **** ***** are **** * *** ******* ** ****** ******** ********* *********.

***** **** *****'* ***** ******* ****** ******* **** ********** (** our ****, **' ** ****** ** ***') *** *** **** issue ** ******* **** (**** ** *** *** ******** **** extended ****), **** ******** ******** ******** ***** ** * **** move *** *****.

***** *** ******* **** ********** ** *** ***** ******* '********' firmware *******.

Undisclosed #1

12/22/15 11:49pm

** ***** ****: **** *** ****** **** ** *** *** approach, ** ****** ****** *** ****** **** ** *** *** firmware.

** **** * ***** ****** ** ** ***** **** ********* reason ** *** ***** ******** **********?

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