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  • Top Ten Home Security Cameras

    Top Ten Home Security Cameras

    If you’re interested in home security, odds are that you would like to install a home security camera. However, there are tons of options out there for which one you should pick. Dealing with security companies and pushy salesmen is awful, to boot. So, what are you supposed to do? Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten home security cameras. If you’re hoping to secure your home, here’s a great place to start!

    Top Ten Home Security Cameras

    10. Netgear Arlo Go

    Photo Credit: Arlo

    This wireless camera works with Alexa and shoots in 720p. It offers both cloud storage and on-site storage, which is a cool plus. It can send you live feed straight to your phone if you pay for the cell service. However, it is pretty expensive: this camera will cost you around $430. That’s a pretty hefty price tag for a device that only shoots in 720p.

    9. Reolink Argus 2

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    This camera is a straightforward if dependable entry. It’s wireless and powered by its own internal battery. It doesn’t have a terribly loud siren, which is somewhat disappointing. It also can’t integrate with smart home devices, which is unfortunate. However, it’s weather-resistant and works great as an outdoor camera. This one will run you $130, which is a great price.

    8. Ring Spotlight Cam Battery

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    Triggered recording and a bright spotlight are two big upsides to this camera. It shoots sharp footage and has a very loud siren, which is great. However, you have to have a subscription to Ring’s service in order to view the recorded video. If you already have Ring devices at your house this one is a no-brainer. It’s also wireless and works with Alexa, making it a true smart-home device. It’s also pretty affordable, running $200.

    7. Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

    Photo Credit: Slashgear

    Nest’s first entry on this list is excellent, shooting 4K footage 24/7. It’s totally weatherproofed, which makes it ideal for outdoor use. It even has close-up tracking and HDR, making it great for those who need to really see what’s happening around their house. It will set you back, though: it runs $350.

    6. Tend Secure Lynx Indoor

    Photo Credit: Cnet

    This camera makes the list for just how darn affordable it is. It only runs around $60, yet it still shoots in 1080p. That’s a great value, but it’s somewhat offset by the lack of smart home integration. That said, it offers free cloud storage and even has facial recognition! It only works indoors, though, so keep that in mind.

    5. Nest Cam IQ

    Photo Credit: Nest

    Another entry from Nest, the indoor version of IQ is also a solid option. It costs a bit less, coming in at $300, but it offers many similarly excellent features. The Nest Cam IQ has two-way audio, letting you talk to people you can see from the camera. It has a ton of great smart home integration and shoots in 1080p. If you’re looking for a solid, if pricey, indoor camera, this is a fine option.

    4. Wyze Cam V2

    Photo Credit: TechHive

    If you though the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor was affordable, check out the Wyze Cam. This camera will run you a bank-shattering $20. Yeah, twenty, as in the same price as seeing a movie and getting some popcorn with it. For twenty bucks you get a camera that shoots in 1080p and offers local and cloud storage. It’s not the most high-tech thing in the world, but it will secure your home. If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward and affordable camera, go with this one. It’s a great deal!

    3. Netgear Arlo Pro 2

    Photo Credit: Storage Reviews

    This expensive but hefty camera is likely the best overall on this list, but it’s far too expensive to recommend to everyone. It will set you back $430, which is a lot, but you get a ton of features. The system shoots 1080p video, is completely waterproof and is wireless. This camera works great both outdoors and indoors and offers cloud storage for free. It even pre-buffers your videos when you go to watch playback! If only it was more affordable.

    2. iSmartAlarm iCamera Keep Pro

    Photo Credit: iSmartAlarm

    While this camera retails for $200, it offers a number of premium features. Mechanical tilt and pan let you feel like a master of security. You also get free cloud and local storage for all the footage you capture! As you would expect, it shoots 1080p and it even offers time-lapse shooting. The only downside to this camera is that it only works indoors!

    1. D-Link Full HD Wi-Fi Camera DCS-8300LH

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    A fully-integrated home security camera that offers 1080p shooting and Alexa support? Yes, please! Free cloud and local storage along with great voice commands make this one of the best home cameras. It even costs less than most of the competition: it’ll only set you back $90. While the other cameras on this list are great, the D-Link Full HD Wi-Fi Camera is the best overall interior home security camera. The only real downside here is some minor distortion from the style of body, but that’s not enough to make this anything less than the best bang for your buck.


  • Thank Goodness They Installed A Home Security System… You Wont Believe What They Found!

    Thank Goodness They Installed A Home Security System… You Wont Believe What They Found!

    Better safe than sorry…. Smart homes add convenience to your everyday life, but security systems are the most popular feature when homeowners want to feel safe in their own home.

    It is now easier than ever to set up a smart home in which you can remotely control your door locks, lights, thermostats, vacuums, lawn mowers, and even pet feeders, using your smartphone and an app. It’s also made it simple (and relatively affordable) to monitor your home from pretty much anywhere.

    SimpliSafe

    With plenty of deals available, the latest case in point: SimpliSafe, which is now offering 50% off any new home security system purchased via the company website. SimpliSafe packages typically start at $230 — but that drops to $115 with the Black Friday discount. Meanwhile, the company’s most popular starter kit, “The Essentials,” usually retails for $259, but you can snag it right now for $130.

    Ring Alarm

    Amazon cut prices on the Ring Alarm Home Security Systems eight-piece kit. Normally priced at $239, the Ring Alarm eight-piece system is $189 during this sale, plus it includes an Echo Dot smart speaker at no extra charge.

    The eight components in the kit include a base station that connects the whole system to your home Wi-Fi network, a keypad to arm and disarm the system from inside your home. The system includes a range extender so the base station signal will reach all installed components. There are also two motion detectors and three contact sensors to protect windows or doors in the kit.

    ADT

    The most well-known home security system is the professionally installed ADT. It’s not terribly easy to get pricing information from ADT without subjecting oneself to lots of salespeople, but here’s some rough numbers for a base system. For the upfront cost of around $129, and an ongoing cost of roughly $47, you get a 3-year contract with monitoring and two door contacts.

    ADT’s not for everyone, though, as the contract length and high price of monitoring can be a turn-off. However, the company is a trusted name, the monitoring is well-regarded and the system is high-quality.

    Nest Hello

    A stylish, modern and slick doorbell camera, Nest Hello is from the same company that makes the Nest Thermostat. Ample Alexa integration and face recognition make this a very high-tech security solution. It’s around $230 for the up-front cost to get the system installed, and then it’s about $5 per month for the ongoing costs for recording.

    For an upcharge, you can get the more upscale features like facial recognition. The most impressive part about the Nest Hello is the integration, though, as it works together with Alexa or other smart home systems.


  • Amazing Cyber Week Deals: Home Security Systems Are Now Half Off!!

    Amazing Cyber Week Deals: Home Security Systems Are Now Half Off!!

    You can save 50% on any SimpliSafe security system you like now through Cyber Monday. Smart homes add convenience to your everyday life, but security systems are the most popular feature when homeowners want to feel safe in their own home.

    It is now easier than ever to set up a smart home in which you can remotely control your door locks, lights, thermostats, vacuums, lawn mowers, and even pet feeders, using your smartphone and an app. It’s also made it simple (and relatively affordable) to monitor your home from pretty much anywhere.

    SimpliSafe

    With plenty of deals available well ahead of Thanksgiving, it might be time to start calling Black Friday “Black November,” instead. The latest case in point: SimpliSafe, which is now offering 50% off any new home security system purchased via the company website now through Cyber Monday. SimpliSafe packages typically start at $230 — but that drops to $115 with the Black Friday discount. Meanwhile, the company’s most popular starter kit, “The Essentials,” usually retails for $259, but you can snag it right now for $130.

    Ring Alarm

    Amazon cut prices on the Ring Alarm Home Security Systems eight-piece kit for the lead up to Labor Day sales. Normally priced at $239, the Ring Alarm eight-piece system is $189 during this sale, plus it includes an Echo Dot smart speaker at no extra charge.

    The eight components in the kit include a base station that connects the whole system to your home Wi-Fi network, a keypad to arm and disarm the system from inside your home. The system includes a range extender so the base station signal will reach all installed components. There are also two motion detectors and three contact sensors to protect windows or doors in the kit.

    ADT

    The most well-known home security system is the professionally installed ADT. It’s not terribly easy to get pricing information from ADT without subjecting oneself to lots of salespeople, but here’s some rough numbers for a base system. For the upfront cost of around $129, and an ongoing cost of roughly $47, you get a 3-year contract with monitoring and two door contacts.

    ADT’s not for everyone, though, as the contract length and high price of monitoring can be a turn-off. However, the company is a trusted name, the monitoring is well-regarded and the system is high-quality.

    Nest Hello

    A stylish, modern and slick doorbell camera, Nest Hello is from the same company that makes the Nest Thermostat. Ample Alexa integration and face recognition make this a very high-tech security solution. It’s around $230 for the up-front cost to get the system installed, and then it’s about $5 per month for the ongoing costs for recording.

    For an upcharge, you can get the more upscale features like facial recognition. The most impressive part about the Nest Hello is the integration, though, as it works together with Alexa or other smart home systems.


  • Preventing Porch Pirates: Protect your Packages

    Preventing Porch Pirates: Protect your Packages

    Porch pirates, or people who steal your packages off your front porch, are a serious problem in the age of Amazon. You’re likely to have dozens of packages delivered to your front door every year, and each one that gets dropped off while you’re at work is liable to be stolen by a ne’er-do-well. How can you protect your property and ensure your stuff doesn’t get pilfered?

    Protecting Your Packages from Porch Pirates

    Amazon Key

    One of the most direct ways to address this problem is to sign up for Amazon Key. A variant of the Amazon Cloud Cam, this service allows you to give Amazon delivery employees access to drop your packages off inside your home. You can use the Cloud Cam functionality and your smart home’s smart key to grant them entry to drop off your package, and then use the smart key to digitally lock back up when they leave.

    One of the best things about the Cloud Cam set up is that it allows you to see the delivery person, grant them access (or not) and then lock back up. You can see your home and your package the whole time, and there’s no chance for anyone to just slip up can easily steal off with your package: they’d have to just break into your home, which is far less likely.

    Box Lock

    A similar solution is to use a delivery box located on your porch to take your deliveries. If you have concerns about smart locks and letting strangers into your home, this is a similar alternative that locks your packages up without giving anyone access to your home. Firstly, you need a smart lock like BoxLock, or a similar product.

    BoxLock works by connecting to the paired app via wi-fi, allowing you to enter your pending deliveries. Then, when the delivery person arrives, they can use the BoxLock to scan the package, which temporarily unlocks it and allows them to put your package in the strongbox. Then, the lock automatically closes back up when they leave. This way, your packages are safely locked up, and no one had to enter your home.

    Security Cam

    A more old-school, and direct, way to deter (and detect) thieves is to just install a security camera. This does a few things that help secure your packages. Firstly, it acts as a strong deterrent: most thieves aren’t dedicated enough to stealing your stuff to hazard getting caught on camera doing so. Merely seeing the camera is usually enough to convince them to move on to another would-be victim.

    Secondly, and most directly, if they do go through with stealing your stuff, you’ll have video evidence of the event. You’ll be able to show the police the image of the person stealing your property, and this makes it that much more likely the person will get caught. You might even get your stuff back!

    Video Doorbell

    Along the same lines as a security camera, you could get a video doorbell service like Ring. These services are much more discreet in appearance than a security camera, though they’re great for keeping tabs on your home from a distance. Several video doorbells can be installed with motion detection, so they’ll ping you when someone is on your porch, and they can even start recording when someone walks up.

    Once you see that someone is on your porch, if it’s someone stealing your package, you can actually talk to them through most video doorbells. Often, this alone is enough to scare off petty crooks: hearing your voice, knowing they’re being watched, is typically a big enough scare to get them to move on to some other, less well-monitored mark.


  • Do You Need a Video Doorbell? The Facts

    Do You Need a Video Doorbell? The Facts

    Video doorbells are a relatively new trend among home security suites. If you’re often away from home, or worried about people coming up to your door, maybe you should consider a video doorbell. They allow you to see who’s at your door, offer you the option to speak to people through an app when they’re at your door, and even interface with your smart home system.

    Video Doorbell

    Which One is Right for You?

    There are a number of options when it comes to the top video doorbells. If you’re looking to get a video doorbell to secure your home, consider some of these options. Factors like budget, range, and which smart home hubs work with them are the biggest considerations.

    Nest Hello

    The Nest Hello is a solid all-around video doorbell. It has connectivity through both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can connect to Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. It sports a very standard 160-degree angle for its camera, and allow for both two-way audio and night vision, making it a great option for the average home. It falls right in the middle of pricing, coming in at $230.

    RemoBell S

    The best budget video doorbell on the market is the RemoBell S. If you’re looking for a great video doorbell that won’t break the bank, look no further. For a low price of $100, you can get set up with a video doorbell that offers Google Assistant and Alexa connectivity, two-way audio and night vision. It even sports a full 180-degree image! That’s a lot of band for your buck!

    Ring Video Doorbell Pro

    Our favorite high-end video doorbell is the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. This excellent option offers a full 1080p resolution camera, all the two-way audio and night vision support you’d expect, and a great app interface. Ring can be configured to work with Amazon Alexa, and can even be worked into greater home security ecosystems.

  • Best Home Security Systems

    Best Home Security Systems

    Everyone wants their own home to feel like a safe haven. The big wide world can be a scary, chaotic place. You want home to be your sanctuary, and that’s totally fine. As such, you’re looking for the best in home security systems. Today we’re helping you find just that by breaking down the best of the best.

    Best Home Security Systems

    ADT

    The most well-known home security system is the professionally-installed ADT. It’s not terribly easy to get pricing information from ADT without subjecting oneself to lots of salespeople, but here’s some rough numbers for a base system. For the upfront cost of around $129, and an ongoing cost of roughly $47, you get a 3-year contract with monitoring and two door contacts.

    ADT’s not for everyone, though, as the contract length and high price of monitoring can be a turn-off. However, the company is a trusted name, the monitoring is well-regarded and the system is high-quality.

    SimpliSafe

    If you don’t mind installing the system yourself, consider SimpliSafe. The started kit is only $230, which is a small price to pay for peace of mind. While the monitoring starts at $15 per month, you might want to spring for the $25 version of the monitoring for the upgraded features. Those features include app controls and Alexa integration.

    While it’s not the most robust system on the market, SimpliSafe is great for people who don’t want to deal with big companies like ADT but still want a full system for home security.

    Nest Hello

    A stylish, modern and slick doorbell camera, Nest Hello is from the same company that makes the Nest Thermostat. Ample Alexa integration and face recognition make this a very high-tech security solution. It’s around $230 for the up-front cost to get the system installed, and then it’s about $5 per month for the ongoing costs for recording.

    For an upcharge, you can get the more upscale features like facial recognition. The most impressive part about the Nest Hello is the integration, though, as it works together with Alexa or other smart home systems.