Renamed to Impress: Vivint Home Security Review

What’s in a name?

It was APX Alarm before. Now, it’s Vivint.

Apparently, the name change signified transformation. Vivint made improvements on both its technology and physical devices. As a result, more than its ability to make your home safe, Vivint can make you live intelligently.

• All of Vivint’s devices are wireless.
• It relies on cellular technology to send your signals.
• Vivint can automate your home through Z Wave technology.
• It comes with a lifetime warranty.
• However, it also charges you for your system’s activation

Smart Protect

Package includes:

• 1 Touch Screen Panel
• 3 Door and Window Sensors
• 1 Motion Detector
• 1 Smoke Detector
• 1 Key Fob
• 1 Vivint Yard Sign

• Touch screen panel
  • The panel serves as the hub of your system.
  • It has an LCD touch screen for easier navigation.
  • It holds the communication between all of your smart devices at home.
  • It allows you to control your door locks, lights and thermostats through Z Wave technology.
  • The panel also displays time, date and even severe weather alerts which comes directly from the National Weather Service.
  • It also comes integrated with a two way communication feature they call Vivint Live Communication. It lets you talk to your monitoring station in cases of emergencies.
  • Other than the touch screen panel, you can also control your system through the mobile app.
• Door and window sensors
  • They are tamper proof and come inclusive of lithium batteries.
  • Each battery is expected to last for five years.
  • It can alert you for even the smallest gap it detects. A less than an inch partition can readily send you an alert.
  • If you have a safe cabinet at home, installing the sensors will let you know if someone sneaks in and tries to open it. It can do so without alerting everyone else.
• Motion detector
  • It works by infrared technology and covers a range of 30 by 50 feet.
  • It has three different mounting brackets and a 90 degree look down. It “sees” everyone who passes by.
• Smoke detector
  • Vivint’s smoke detector is not only capable of detecting smoke but it can sense abnormal heat level as well. It has photoelectric detection technology to do that.
• Key fob
  • The keypad lets you arm and disarm the system even if you haven’t entered your home yet.
  • It also comes with a panic button that can immediately connect you to the monitoring station in case you’re in trouble

Smart Protect and Control

Package includes:

• 1 Touch Screen Panel
• 2 Smart Home Services
• 3 Door and Window Sensors
• 1 Motion Detector
• 1 Smoke Detector
• 1 Key Fob
• 1 Vivint Yard Sign

For the smart home services, you have two options to fill. You can choose to have an outdoor video, remote door access or HD video recording. You can also pick between the smart temperature control and the garage door controller.

You also have the option to try out Vivint’s newest addition to its line of security devices. Vivint now offers the Doorbell Video.

• The camera is Wi-Fi enabled, which means it can connect and send you notifications through your smart phone.
• It starts recording the moment someone approaches your front door. Once he pushes your doorbell, you’ll instantly receive a notification.
• Vivint’s Doorbell Camera provides a 180 degree viewing of your front door.
• It also has night vision capability in case someone rings your doorbell during the evening.
• In case you need to tell your visitors to wait for you, you can use the two way talk feature to communicate. If it is your child waiting for you, you can unlock the door if you have Vivint’s smart lock.

Smart Complete

Package includes:

• 1 Touch Screen Panel
• 3 Door/ Window Sensors
• 1 Motion Sensor
• 1 Smoke Detector
• 2 Smart Home Services
• 1 TB Cloud Storage
• 1 Vivint Yard Sign

If you still find the devices not enough for your security, the system is relatively expandable. You can add or remove equipments depending on your needs.

• Video camera
  • It allows you to stream live feeds from your home.
  • The camera also has the ability to alert you instantly if it senses something out of the ordinary. In turn, you can either view it right away or set the system to record the event so you can check it when you get home.

• Electronic door lock
  • By Kwikset SmartKey Technology, you can program your doors to lock automatically whenever you arm your system.
  • If you have friends coming over and you’re still on your way home, you can let them in remotely by the app. Nobody likes waiting, right?

• Glass break detector
  • Vivint’s glass break detector is efficient in detecting if it’s really your window that has been broken into. It has a Dual Shatter Recognition Technology and a 360 degree horizontal sensing angle.
  • You can place it anywhere you want and still get alerted if your glass breaks. You can also include a carbon monoxide and a smoke detector in your system. Both can alert you with an 85 decibel loud alarm. The detectors can also notify your monitoring station at the first sign. How fast? Vivint says the connection will only take 17 seconds.

If you want cameras, Vivint got you covered. Although they can’t provide you with outdoor cameras, it has a fixed camera and another one that can pan/tilt to let you see what happens at home. The cameras are movement reactive and can provide you with VGA resolution on their coverage.

If you want to save on your electricity bills, Vivint has  Vivint Solar. It can make you save 20- 30% off of your monthly bills by the Power Purchase Agreement. However, Vivint may need to conduct a professional consultation in your home first to make sure the panels make the right fit. Vivint Solar claims to have the solar panels working by 24 hours. You won’t need to pay for the installation. Instead, you’ll pay for how much energy your panel produces.

THE CHECK LIST:

All packages come inclusive with a touch screen panel.
Vivint now offers a doorbell camera which can let you see anyone who rings your doorbell in real time.
You’ll receive severe weather alerts directly from the National Weather Service.
The motion detectors have a 90 degree look down and mounting brackets. It literally means not missing anyone who passes by.
You may need to purchase the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors separately from the packages.
All equipments are covered by a lifetime warranty.
Vivint Smart Thermostat has Dual Thermostat Control.
In case the detectors find heat, smoke or abnormal levels of carbon monoxide at home, it can alert your monitoring station in approximately 17 seconds.
Vivint has its own Solar Technology to let you save 20-30% from your bill.
Vivint offers no outdoor camera.