Do you really need to depend upon a security company to take care of your home? You now have the option of depending on your favorite voice assistant and a new security solution from Abode. Heralded as a “beautiful, easy-to-install, professional-grade security solution, the Abode starter kit includes a Z-Wave and ZigBee hub, one gateway and two door/window sensors, one remote key fob, and one motion-sensing camera. Connect all of that to Alexa, and start taking care of business — or at least, your property.
Capable of connecting to lights, locks, thermostats, garage door openers, and other smart appliances in your household, Abode allows you to automate and control just about every aspect of your home. And now that Abode offers full support for Nest and Ecobee thermostats, as well as smart RGB lighting integration with LifX and Philips Hue, you’ll be able to do even more with the hub.
Setting up the starter kit begins, of course, with the download of its companion app. Available on both Android or iOS, the app must be paired with each accessory. All of Abode’s wall, door, or window-mounted hardware comes complete with an adhesive backing so there are no screws or nails necessary.
The Abode Hub connects to your Wi-Fi router by way of an included Ethernet cable and power adapter and features a 93-decibel siren that will hopefully scare away intruders. Your door and window sensors are meant to track any motion and while the security camera and motion detector do not provide livestreaming options, it will take three photos whenever motion is detected. Plus, you can use the key fob to arm or disarm your system from afar.
New to Abode is a 1080p streaming camera, which provides live video and connection to your network by way of Ethernet or Wi-Fi. This camera will upload video footage whenever an alarm goes off, and can be integrated to record key events in your home. Also available are the company’s mini door and window sensors, a recessed door sensor, and a slim door sensor.
Like other home security systems, aside from the initial cost of the hardware, you also have to pay for continual monitoring. The company gives you three days of free storage when it comes to keeping tabs of recorded events and other activity. If you are interested in temporary professional monitoring (for when you’re out of town, say), Abode charges $8 for three days or $15 for seven days of 24/7 monitoring.
You can also purchase cellular backup for your recorded content for $10 a month or $96 a year (which features a 14-day storage timeline), or pay $30 a month or $240 a year for 24/7 professional monitoring as well as cellular backup and a 90-day storage timeline.
Aside from security, Abode has also introduced deeper integrations with smart lighting and smart thermostats. “The abode system already features deep integration with the Nest thermostat but with this release, abode customers can dive even deeper into access and control of the temperature of their home,” said Abode cofounder, Christopher Carney. “Couple that with our newest ability to offer the same level of integration with Ecobee and we’re opening up the Abode system to an all-new group of customers.”
The fact that Abode works well with Alexa, Nest, and If This Then That software makes the actual monitoring of this security system a breeze, so if you are looking for a way to keep yourself safe, this may just be the way to go.
