Home monitoring system -- recommendations sought

[koenbro]

Have just purchased a small house to move my 83 year old mother, who still lives independently. I would like to install a few basic devices such as a

• water leak monitor (also want one in my house)
• door lock for the main front door
• door chime
• cameras indoors and outdoor.

The house already has a Honeywell T9 thermostat that works well. My own house has a Nest system, installed before the Google purchase.

I strongly dislike Google so am very open to other systems, even though my own Nest works well. No Amazon Alexa or other voice activated listeners will be used. FWIW the house in question is in AZ.

What do y'all recommend?

 

[Boswell]

I have an extensive HomeSeer installation and very happy with it. While extremely capable and flexible, it probably is more complex to configure than others however I don't have any experience with others. I use a combination of Zwave, IP and Insteon devices. While it supports cameras, I use BlueIris for my cameras.

 

[Advil]

How PC and network savvy are you?

We have used Ubiquiti hardware for many years now and it continues to be a solid all in one fully integrated solution for Router, networking, wifi access points, and cameras. We monitor two houses with it.

If you can handle basic PC networking, and understand how setting up a router and IP addresses works, you can muddle through getting the basics of an entire Ubiquiti ecosystem set up. The nice part about their system is that all the devices are managed from one management interface, but it's still all private to you.

These systems are not super easy but are about "as easy" as can be done considering YOU are in control of it and it's not managed by Google or some other invasive company.

The base device from them that will be the core of your setup is one of the 3 Dream Machine models. They have HDD bays to put a drive in to record from the cameras. It's all part of that unit. Then you get whatever other switches, cameras, and whatever else they make that you want to add.

UniFi - Introduction - Ubiquiti

UniFi is building the future of IT. Industry-leading products magically unified in an incredible software interface with scalable, license-free cloud management.

ui.com

Ubiquiti Store

Rethinking IT

store.ui.com

There is a TON of user support and Youtube videos for this company's products because they've been around a long time and are used by everyone from home users up to large hotels etc.

Cameras and events can be viewed in an excellent phone app, or on PC through a web browser. Push notifications for motion detection to your phone if desired.

They have a doorbell cam and also check out their Door Access section for lots of options for door locks and access.



Leak sensors can always easily be a separate stand alone product or if you can handle more complexity integrated through HomeAssistant or similar.

 

[koenbro]

How PC and network savvy are you?

We have used Ubiquiti hardware for many years now and it continues to be a solid all in one fully integrated solution for Router, networking, wifi access points, and cameras. We monitor two houses with it.

If you can handle basic PC networking, and understand how setting up a router and IP addresses works, you can muddle through getting the basics of an entire Ubiquiti ecosystem set up. The nice part about their system is that all the devices are managed from one management interface, but it's still all private to you.

These systems are not super easy but are about "as easy" as can be done considering YOU are in control of it and it's not managed by Google or some other invasive company.

The base device from them that will be the core of your setup is one of the 3 Dream Machine models. They have HDD bays to put a drive in to record from the cameras. It's all part of that unit. Then you get whatever other switches, cameras, and whatever else they make that you want to add.

UniFi - Introduction - Ubiquiti

UniFi is building the future of IT. Industry-leading products magically unified in an incredible software interface with scalable, license-free cloud management.

ui.com

Ubiquiti Store

Rethinking IT

store.ui.com

There is a TON of user support and Youtube videos for this company's products because they've been around a long time and are used by everyone from home users up to large hotels etc.

Cameras and events can be viewed in an excellent phone app, or on PC through a web browser. Push notifications for motion detection to your phone if desired.

They have a doorbell cam and also check out their Door Access section for lots of options for door locks and access.



Leak sensors can always easily be a separate stand alone product or if you can handle more complexity integrated through HomeAssistant or similar.

Can I remote monitor it?
One of the use cases would be to unlock the door from the cell phone. Or if my mother falls we can see on the camera the living room etc. Nest has excellent remote capabilities, but, again, no Google for me (if I can help it).

 

[400bird]

Can I remote monitor it?
One of the use cases would be to unlock the door from the cell phone. Or if my mother falls we can see on the camera the living room etc. Nest has excellent remote capabilities, but, again, no Google for me (if I can help it).

I, too, was going to suggest Ubiquiti, as it's local storage with no subscriptions. The hardware is more expensive and you're stuck doing some computer work to get it set up.

Yes, there's an app that allows remote monitoring, camera viewing, video downloads, etc.

They do access control, that's probably overkill what your looking for...

 

[Advil]

Yes. You can monitor the cameras on any Dream Machine Pro from anywhere anytime. We love that.

You can also monitor the network, down time, software/firmware updates of all the hardware, etc.

I believe you can easily control the doors also, just check the specs on their website for their door access products. I think that's basic functionality but I don't personally use their door systems, yet. The access control is commercial quality, but if you want remote open/close of the doors and whatnot, that may actually be what you are looking for. You could check the door cam from your phone somewhere else, and let someone in yourself even though you aren't there.

 

[matthewsx]

I use Ubiquiti at my home and have for enterprise too.

While I haven’t done any of their access control stuff I’m sure it’s as solid as their other products. Enterprise grade at a much lower cost.

Products are durable and the company is reputable.

John

 

[Dhal22]

My company installs WaterCop water monitoring systems.

 

[Nutfarmer]

Good information. I have been looking for a system that isn’t controlled by an outside company. Thanks

 

[koenbro]

Great info here, thank you all.

Otherwise seems like Ubiquiti is the first to look at, per @matthewsx, @400bird and @Advil. It is hard to answer the computer proficiency question, I can program in R and am comfortable in the Unix environment, have set up several raspberry pi systems. Not proficient in networking but can google up answers to my questions. I am comfortable going out beyond my competence (and get stuck). Have looked at Home Assistant, which I'd be happy to set up at my house but at Mom's just need a turnkey. Will take a serious look at Ubiquiti and will separate the water monitoring from the rest and will look into Water cop, @Dhal22 .