SwannOne Video Monitoring Kit review – smart security to give you peace of mind

When it comes to smart home automation one of the most import aspects for most customers is security and SwannOne has released easy-to-install kits that are designed to give you peace of mind.

The reason the SwannOne packages are called smart security is because home owners can see live video feeds from inside their house and also receive alerts when doors and windows are opened, if motion is detected and even if it hears glass breaking or an alarm going off.

And being a connected system, it can be viewed and controlled anywhere using your smartphone, tablet or computer.

The beauty of SwannOne’s system is the fact it is really easy to install so you can start monitoring your home, your holiday home or your office.

That’s because it takes advantage of your existing wireless network.

SwannOne has three kits to get customers started.

There include the SwannOne Alarm Starter Kit ($499.95), the SwannOne Video Monitoring Kit ($699.95) and the SwannOne Smart Home Control Kit ($799.95).

And all of these kits now also come with a bonus Outdoor Siren valued at $229.95 absolutely free.

Tech Guide took at look at the SwannOne Video Monitoring Kit which includes a hub to connect to your modem/router, a camera that can also detect motion, a dedicated motion sensor, two door/window sensors and a key fob controller.

The instructions were set out in simple terms and were very easy to follow.

The first step was to record the MAC addresses of the hub and the camera on the instruction leaflet so you can easily refer to it later.

But one issue we found was the MAC addresses were written in letters and numbers so small we needed a magnifying glass to read it.

In the end we took a photo of the MAC addresses with our iPhone and zoomed in to make it easier to read.

Next step was to log in to the SwannOne site, create an account and set up our system.

We entered the MAC address of the hub and not only was it recognised immediately it also upgraded its firmware.

From there it was a simple step-by-step process to pair the other devices – the camera, the window and door sensors, the motion sensor and the key fob.

Each of these devices, with the exception of the camera, are battery operated so they can easily be placed anywhere within your home’s network.

The SoundView Indoor camera that’s included with the kit needs to be connected to power.

It can be mounted from the ceiling or positioned on a stand.

One issue some users will find is whether the cable that connects the camera to power is long enough.

Not everyone has a power point near the ceiling or in the roof cavity so you may need to buy a longer cable to connect it.

But being a wide angle camera it can also be placed at eye level so you can you still get a high resolution view of the entire room.

After everything is paired and tested the next step was to download the SwannOne app (free in iOS and Android) and log in using the sign-in details you used when creating your account on the SwannOne site when setting up your system.

The wireless sensors can all be attached to doors, windows or walls by double-sided tape

Now all of the devices paired to your system are available to view and monitor from your smartphone via the app.

At first you’re going to receive notifications for every movement that the cameras and the motion sensors are going to pick up through the app and on email which, to be honest, you may find annoying.

But the good news is that there are settings to let the user decide when they receive these alerts.

There are ways to tell the system that you’re home so you don’t receive as many movement notifications and when you’re out or away.

With the system in place, it’s not just movement you will be notified about.

In the case of the window/door sensors, you know exactly when doors and windows are opened so you would know if a child is home from school, for example.

And that, combined with the ability to monitor your video feeds live no matter where you are from your smartphone, puts the user in control and gives them the ability to take action.

There are also intelligent sound alerts so it can detect a glass breakage or if a smoke alarm is going off.

And it’s smart enough to distinguish between a smashed wine glass and a broken window. It can also hear a baby crying and send you an alert as well.

It’s also a flexible system because you can add more sensors as you need them.

Other products that can be added include a SwannOne Zen Thermostat ($199.95) so you can schedule your heating and cooling and adjust the temperature remotely from your smartphone.

Users can also add the SwannOne Smart Plug ($79.95) so you can remotely control and switch on or off electrical appliances as well as monitor energy usage.

You can also add more door/window sensors ($49.95 each, $89.95 twin pack), motion sensors ($69.95 each, $129 twin pack), indoor cameras ($229.95) and SwannOne Outdoor SoundView camera ($229.95).

The SwannOne system has no set up fees or charges and can be used as your personal smart security system.

But there are month-to-month subscriptions with no lock-in contracts that allow you to add users to system, add extra properties, access additional sound alert capabilities, cloud video storage and even professional services like centralised security monitoring.

VERDICT

The SwannOne systems can provide peace of mind and have the smarts to put you in control from anywhere.

They are also really easy to set up and flexible enough to adapt to your needs and the size of your home or office.