Lowe’s Iris: DIY Home Security System With No Monthly Monitoring Fee?
Home improvement chain Lowe’s just announced a new “smart home” system called Iris where you can monitor and control your home through your smartphone or computer. The DIY system can be installed with just an ethernet broadband connection and a screwdriver.
You can either buy everything a la carte or via three bundles. The “Safe & Secure” kit includes the central hub, a motion sensor, keypad, and two door/window sensors for $179. The “Comfort & Control” kit includes the hub, a smart plug, and smart thermostat for $179. You can get both kits for $299 (includes range extender but only one hub). However, if your going to outfit an entire home, you’ll probably want to add some extra sensors. The good part is that the basic service has no monthly fee, while the premium service costs a flat $9.99 a month. Available online now, or in 500 stores by August.
The ability to turn lights on/off and your thermostat up/down remotely has always seemed a little bit overhyped to me, more an amusing feature than money-saving necessity. I see commercials about it, but I guess I just don’t think about light switches when I’m not at home. Otherwise, a simple programmable thermostat works well enough for me. I do like the idea of real-time power usage reporting though (here it requires a $150 meter reader).
Cheap Home Security?
Mostly, I was interested in the home security aspect of Iris because of the lack of monthly fees. Such monitoring fees can add up to hundreds of dollars every year and quickly make up the bulk of the system’s overall cost. I recently installed a somewhat similar Simplisafe system (review) that is also based on using various wireless sensors with 5-year lithium batteries (and costs $15 a month for monitoring). Is my investment outdated already?
Internet-based Monitoring Only
From a security standpoint, the main weakness in this kit is that all monitoring is done via the internet. If you rely on cable/DSL and your cable/telephone line is down/cut or your power is out, you won’t get any alerts. Also, alerts are only sent to you via phone call, text, or e-mail through their automated computer system. The police is never directly notified, and there is no “central station” monitoring with real humans.
To help address this, one solution might be to get your internet from a wireless 4G or WiMax service. You’d also need a UPS battery backup system attached to your cable modem and router to protect against power outages. In comparison, my Simplisafe system uses a cellular GSM signal, 24/7 central station monitoring, and the hub includes a rechargeable backup battery. One thing that Iris does have that Simplisafe doesn’t is the option to add a wireless video camera ($129) that allows you to stream live video to your computer or smartphone – useful to check the house after a sensor is triggered.
Basic vs. Premium
The free basic plan appears to give enough features that I could probably live with them. Lowe’s smartly offers everyone a free 2 month trial of the $10/month premium service to get you used to the other stuff (alerts up to 6 people instead of 1, online video storage, scheduled times on/off instead of manual).
Many similar systems are being rolled out from providers like Verizon, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable, but most of these competitors involve an additional monthly fee.
Overall, I like the concept of this system and it can provide a certain amount of security for a reasonable price and no ongoing monthly fees. However, I wouldn’t consider it a full-fledge security system. Most burglars may not be smart enough to cut your phone lines or shut off the power before they break into your house, but I don’t feel comfortable relying on that.
By Jonathan Ping | Frugal Living | 7/23/12, 1:50am
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:56 am
For people who cannot live one second without their smartphone, this *might* work. But for those of us who put the phone away while we’re on vacation (like, while we’re relaxing in the pool), it doesn’t seem like a very good idea to not have an alarm company calling the police. Remember that unlike you, the police always answer their phone.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:09 am
Question: if you have a traditional security system monitored by, say, ADT, and someone cuts your power and/or phone line what happens? Do they have battery and/or cellular back-up?
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:57 am
It depends what can be stolen from your house. The most valuable things may be the flat screen TV (worth $300), PS3 (worth $200), digital camera (worth $100)… and what else, really?
I need to be protected while I’m sleeping, so a basic alarm from a wireless DIY security system is good enough for me. I can lock my room and call the cops.
July 23rd, 2012 at 10:13 am
Thanks for the heads up, I’ll look into this. This or Simplisafe may suit our needs. I’m thankful to be finally rid of an ADT contract.
Comcast has been heavily advertising in my area. They have a ~$40 monthly fee and 3 year commitment.
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:14 am
However, if your going to outfit an entire home, you’ll probably want to add some extra sensors.
Check your grammar!! Is it “you’re”, not “your”.
Shaking my head…
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:28 am
the writer is missing a semicolon (or a period) in the last paragraph. looks like a run-on sentence to me.
“Overall, I like the concept of this system and it can provide a certain amount of security for a reasonable price and no ongoing monthly fees. ”
It should read:
“Overall, I like the concept of this system; it can provide a certain amount of security for a reasonable price with no ongoing monthly fees.”
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:53 am
Does anyone have any studies that show the efficacy of any particular alarm system, or alarms in general? I have never met someone whose alarm system stopped a burglary in process. I only ever hear people complain about costly fees and problems associated with tripping your own alarm accidentally. I’m just curious because the older I get the more paranoid I seem to get, and I find myself looking at alarm systems more often.
With so many of these cheap alternatives coming to market, would it be better to let the market to work itself out driving down costs/see which ones have actual staying power (i.e. you will be able to get support/parts down the road?)
July 23rd, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Anonymous, your posts smell with arrogance rather than humbleness. It also looks like retribution for this arrogance came in before you even finished your post. Shouldn’t “Is it “you’re”, not “your”.” instead read “It is “you’re”, not “your”.”?
July 23rd, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Interesting concept. Definitely something to consider in the future.
July 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 pm
@Anonymous – Don’t leave your smartphone lying around unattended
http://www.howtogeek.com/11948.....ous-image/
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:07 pm
@Andy – Some do, some don’t, as far as I know. For at least my house it seems rather easy to turn off the power or cut phone lines from the outside with at most a big set of bolt cutters.
@aa – I also like the idea of prevention in order to avoid having to make a homeowner’s claim and possibly being dropped in the future. The loud panic alarm (which also automatically calls police) does make me feel better when I am away and my family is at home.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I understand Lowes will offer mobile back up in October so the power problem is sorted. Also, I don’t just want an alarm – I think its a good idea to have automation and control the thermostat
July 24th, 2012 at 4:06 am
I’ve been running a tcp/ip based alarm for a year and half now and my services includes full police and fire monitoring. In my case, my home was pre-wired at construction, then I bought a DCS-1832 from http://homesecuritystore.com and then got the “network card” (vm101 bat) and monitoring service from http://www.myvirtualmonitoring.com
It hasn’t been totally flawless, but it’s generally worked as advertised and has definitely been way cheaper than service through companies like ADT.
July 26th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Andy – Some of the new systems include cellular or radio module for primary or back-up alarm communication. AlarmPath and NearNet make cellular and UHF radio communication devices for most systems without built in cellular or radio modules.
July 30th, 2012 at 9:00 am
Has anyone used a DIY home security?
August 16th, 2012 at 8:17 am
Maxim – I installed a basic DIY home security system after a bi-polar ex-wife kicked the front door of my home in. I purchased a Visonic system online. I have sensors on three access doors (garage access door, kitchen door and front door) and first floor windows. When triggered it emits an ungodly loud and irritating scream the makes you run as fast as you can to the keypad to disarm it. The system is not set to phone the police. Why? Because where I live they get very irritated if they have to respond to false alarms and they charge you $100 the first time and it increases for every false alarm after that.
For Jon M – “I have never met someone whose alarm system stopped a burglary in process.” If your system didn’t stop the intrusion it was either off, broken, or set for silent alarm. Only the stupidest intruder would continue in the face of that screaming alarm and wondering how soon the police would be arriving. An alarm system is a deterent, not a fail safe. Like a dog. A barking dog will keep 99.9% of all intruders away. Remember, the intruder is looking for the easiest, quickest way in and out and not get caught.
I installed this type of system on the advice of my friend who is a ranking police officer. He said just putting up fake signs and window stickers warning of a alarm system would be enough to make any but the most retarded of intruders move on to an easier mark. Again, they want to slip in – slip out.
August 21st, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Jon B. My husband’s family owns a good sized alarm company and I work for them. We have indeed had burglars caught due to the alarm going off and the police arriving. It doesn’t happen every day, but it’s not that rare either. Like Doc says, it is a deterent, not a guarantee of no loss.
August 28th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Bought iris home and secure having trouble with key fobs detecting you went you get home most of the time will not event detect you even though front door is 6 ft from iris hub. When you try to push button to disarm you need to keep it pressed 10 second in order for it finally disarms system which sometimes will work sometimes not causing many false triggered alarms.I have bought another key fob same problems like before. Range extenders losing connection intermittentally. Ge switches losing connection intermittentally weird because you can place smart plug next to it and that one function properly. If anybody is having same issures would like to hear from you. Have talked to tech support just answering questions for them but no solutions yet.