Home security has gone high tech. Everything from CCTV cameras to door locks can be controlled over Wi-Fi. For a fully integrated home automation system the majority of people will need an expert on the job. There are many DIY options, says Chris Fisher, group manager merchandise, Mitre 10 New Zealand.
That starts with security cameras and smart door locks, which are simple to install without a builder or an electrician. Modern cameras are often battery operated or can have small solar panels attached.
Providing they’re close enough to your router and you have good strong Wi-Fi they can be controlled from a smartphone.
“Some products you wouldn’t even need any tools to install, and others you might need ones that most would have around the house, like a drill or a screwdriver,” says Fisher.
Start your property search
The Nest and Ring brand products, which can be bought from Mitre 10, are two of the big players here and internationally.
“These products are developed by Google and Amazon to connect with Google Home and Alexa Smart Home hubs,” says Fisher.
“Other product brands, such as Yale and Swann, also connect back into these hubs, and there are other hubs from Apple and Samsung.”
Both Nest and Ring operate through Wi-Fi and have a lot of bells and whistles including motion alerts, two-way audio, and film in high resolution as well as night vision.
“Through their respective smartphone apps you can control and monitor these products from anywhere. Ring offers battery operated cameras, with the option of connecting a solar panel for the rechargeable battery.” It’s possible to run both Nest and Ring without the Google Home hub or Alexa.
Digital door handles are fast growing in popularity for home security. These locks can be controlled over Wi-Fi from anywhere in the world.
Should you need to let someone into your house such as a tradesperson, you can unlock the door for them remotely. Or guests can be given personalised door entry codes that work during specific hours only. Yale is the market leader in digital door handles, says Fisher.
Another DIY option is the Swann brand, which has a range of wire-free battery operated cameras. Its app allows you to watch live or recorded security footage from your smartphone.
“There are also Swann cameras that have a built-in microphone, so you can also talk to someone in the house, or pick up audio from within the house if you needed to.” These can be installed easily within minutes.
Not everyone wants to DIY when it comes to home security and automation — there are specialists who can install anything from Wi-Fi-enabled security to full home automation.
With every year those all-in-one security and home automation systems become increasingly clever. Ali Abbas, network and telecom engineer at Do It All Tech, says the best systems can connect into the same hub, which is then controlled through an app.
The hub can understand the different languages, including Z-wave, Wi-Fi and infrared signals and Ethernet for CCTV.
The integration of all the systems means, for example, says Abbas, you can let a tradesperson into the garage or house, monitor what they are doing with the CCTV, and even talk to them from your office or wherever you are in the world.
The latest cameras have night vision, says Abbas, and can read thieves’ number plates.
Home automation offers both security and comfort features. Security includes cameras, door locks, alarms, smart sensors. Additional features include heating, lighting, and curtain controls as well as smoke/carbon dioxide alarms and other features.
You can forewarn the system you are coming home, or it can recognise that you’ve opened the garage door and turn everything you might need on, such as the heating or air conditioning.
The latest systems have themed modes, says Abbas. If for example it’s movie night at home the home automation system will open the projector screen, alter lighting to create the correct mood.
A full home automation system with all the bells and whistles can cost from $12,000 to $15,000 says Abbas, but that includes everything. It’s cheaper without CCTV.
A typical customer is a young, tech-savvy couple buying a new home. The system can be integrated during the build, which is simpler than retro fit. The cost is relatively small compared to the $1m or more they may be spending on their new home, says Abbas.
Finally, security alarms can cause a nuisance. But they can be turned off over Wi-Fi now rather than going off all night as they may have in the past.
