GoKawiilIf you plan to use Google Assistant or Alexa, be sure to buy a compatible system.
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Installing a security system can deter porch pirates and burglars from targeting your home this holiday season. A recent CNET survey revealed that one in seven US adults are victim of porch piracy, and thieves often hit homes during the holidays when people are away. But Consumer Affairs reports that over 60% of burglars would avoid a home with a visible on-site alarm system.
Our Picks Best overall DIY home security system Ring Alarm Kit (2nd-gen) $150 at Amazon This eight-piece Ring Alarm system offers an excellent kit for smaller homes at a reasonable price, with a reliable platform that can easily connect to any Amazon Echo or Alexa devices you may have (if you choose a subscription). The kit includes a base station, a keypad for arming/disarming, four contact sensors for guarding various entry points, a motion detector and a range extender if your Wi-Fi network doesn’t quite reach the outskirts of your home where you’d like to place sensors. Pros Reasonable pricing
Handy app
Good extras
Included range extender
Easy to expand Cons Not everyone needs a range extender
Limited smart home integration Expand Pros & Cons Best DIY home security system with router Ring Alarm Pro $300 at Amazon The Ring Alarm Pro is similar to our top Ring Alarm pick but with a few key differences. It’s more expensive, and the primary reason is its included Eero Wi-Fi 6 router. For some people, that’s great: Wi-Fi 6 is the latest router standard that many people still haven’t upgraded to, and you don’t have to worry about choosing a new router separately. For others who have a preferred router brand or already have a Wi-Fi 6 router, the Pro package presents a problem, because some features won’t work without this particular router. Pros Good price for the kit
Wi-Fi 6 router
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