This certainly isn’t the top security system on the market.  As in, it’s not top of the line, but at the same time, it doesn’t sport a top of the line price either.  So three’s trade offs that we can look for when trying to purchase a cheap home security system that still does what it needs to.

There are things about this system that I don’t like, though.  First, the door sensors and window sensors are fairly bulky.  That’s usually a turnoff for homeowners that want to keep things discrete and not make their home security system the center of attention.  Of course, I’ll always complain about the number of door and window sensors that come withe these packages, but that’s not so much a flaw as it is a cost issue.  They could include more sensors, but that would jack the price up proportionately.  This can always be remedied by going out and buying them yourself.  Home security system components are very modular.

The motion sensor that this unit comes with is an infrared sensor with some pretty advanced features for the price.  It has several layers of false alarm algorithms that removes all but the most likely false positive readings.  The company claims that it can distinguish between people and animals up to 85lbs, so if you have a pet that’s bigger than this you’ll want to think twice before buying this system.  The motion sensor will be effectively worthless unless you crate your dog while you’re away.  The range is 40 feet at 90 degrees, which is pretty standard.

The magnetic sensors that it comes with, despite their large size, have some features that make them worthwhile.  They are both wired and wireless.  That is, you can use them either way, so if you happen to already have wires run to the sensor area you can attach them easily in that manner.  To give you some peace of mind, they report to the base station every hour with their status, telling it things such as battery viability and some basic built in circuit tests.  This is the method by which you’ll know if something is wrong with it or everything is functioning fine.  And, of course, you can get more and add them to your system for around $30.00 each.

The bottom line is that this is a decent system with some nice features that will be a perfect fit for some, but completely inadequate for others.  It’s all dependant on your situation and the size of your property.  If you believe this system fits your needs, there is no reason why you shouldn’t buy it.