Yale IA-320-A, White
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Security At Your FingertipsBe alerted to your alarm being triggered straight to your smart phone | Enhanced 200m RangeProtect your outbuildings and garage space with our wireless accessories | Full In App ControlControl your alarm or view your camera feed all from your smart phone | Alexa ControlUse your voice to Arm and Disarm your smart alarm system |
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GEO LocationSet up alerts to remind you to arm your alarm when you leave home so you are always protected | Part ArmedNo need to worry about furry friends creating false alarms with the option to part-arm | PIR SensorSecure the inside of your home with our PIR sensors, which will detect movement whilst you are out of the house and trigger the alarm | Expandable For Better Peace Of MindTailor your alarm system to your property’s needs with added panic alarms, window and door sensors as well as add on sirens and cameras |
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Active Deterrent At Your Front DoorYou can activate the built-in light and siren alarm, so your home is protected from unwelcome visitors | Live ViewingKnow what’s happening at home whilst your away with live streaming around the clock, wherever you are | Know Who’s Stopped By, Even When You’re OutWith intelligent motion sensors and live notifications through the Yale View App so, you know if the delivery man or your friend has stopped by throughout the day | Total Peace Of MindWith real-time conversation so you can let the delivery man know they can leave your parcel round the back whilst you’re not at home |
| Weight: | 4.43 kg |
| Dimensions: | 27.5 x 27.5 x 28.7 cm; 4.43 Kilograms |
| Model: | IA-320-A |
| Part: | IA-320-A |
| Colour: | White |
| Pack Quantity: | 1 |
| Batteries Required: | Yes |
| Batteries Included: | Alkaline |
| Manufacture: | Yale |
| Colour: | White |
| Quantity: | 1 |
Impressed with this alarm, very easy to fit.
The app is easy to install and use and works a trea
Good product, easy to install, more updates would be nice though.
Brilliant piece of kit and great value for money. Love being able to activate and deactivate from a distance.
I had ti return the IA230 due to a fault but gave Yale another go and went for the IA330. Excellent product, easy to set up and the app and management of the system is really straight forward. Having seen both systems the 3 series is way superior; go for that.
Easy to fit, just follow the steps given. Fitted sensors on 2 doors and sensors in 2 rooms with the siren box outside. found very easy to install and set up. Works well and the siren is loud. Had it a few month now and had no issues. App works fine. love that you can turn on and off from the app and messages you if the alarm has gone off.
One of the sensors is duff. Sometimes responds and most times not. I first tested with tiny movements as the family held pillows over their ears in anticipation of the apocalyptic noise I pre warned them about. These tiny movements progressed into more of a MJ moonwalk, still nothing, finally doing jumping Jack’s, flying kicks and silver back chest beating… Nothing! Disarmed then rearmed and the thing went off nearly giving me a heart attack. However it then stopped responding again. Also the tamper disable feature doesnt work. This was all after testing with device walk through then checking sensors activated the alarm and screwing the sensors in place.
I await call back fron tech support before I update this review
update.
After waiting for 2 call backs from Amazon support, which did not happen (well one happened hours after the stated time I had already fixed the issues), I decided to call Yale directly. To cut a long story short, they pushed a firmware upgrade to my alarm which looks to have sorted various issues.
Some pointers.
You need to give the sensors 2 mins before you can move in front of them.
The external siren that does a series of beeps when you arm and disarm can be disabled but not via the app, Yale support have to do it (I didn’t want to alert the neighbourhood everytime I was coming and going).
The door sensor is designed for doors that close flush, alot of upvc doors have a ridge.
Really easy to set up, install and use. Easy to add new sensors and controll it all via an app.
We put the alarm up for a relative and she loves it we tested it out a few times and download app on phone and found it really easy to use, she also has dogs and we tested this to make sure it works with dogs and it does, highly recommend
Was so easy to install – though not all sensors come with sticky pads as screws are the default option, but I found heavy duty double-sided pads work a treat. I’ve not installed the external siren until it’s had a one month trial run to check there’s no false alarms, but seems to be working well. Having options to arm with the app, keypad, Alexa, Google Assistant (and optional keyfobs) seems overkill, but more choice is better than limited. The internal hub siren seems very loud, but unlike my previous alarm panel, it’s not wall mounted and there’s nothing to stop an intruder quickly pulling out the cables and disabling it. For the money though, it’s a great system.
Was so easy to install – though not all sensors come with sticky pads as screws are the default option, but I found heavy duty double-sided pads work a treat. I’ve not installed the external siren until it’s had a one month trial run to check there’s no false alarms, but seems to be working well. Having options to arm with the app, keypad, Alexa, Google Assistant (and optional keyfobs) seems overkill, but more choice is better than limited. The internal hub siren seems very loud, but unlike my previous alarm panel, it’s not wall mounted and there’s nothing to stop an intruder quickly pulling out the cables and disabling it. For the money though, it’s a great system.
Was so easy to install – though not all sensors come with sticky pads as screws are the default option, but I found heavy duty double-sided pads work a treat. I’ve not installed the external siren until it’s had a one month trial run to check there’s no false alarms, but seems to be working well. Having options to arm with the app, keypad, Alexa, Google Assistant (and optional keyfobs) seems overkill, but more choice is better than limited. The internal hub siren seems very loud, but unlike my previous alarm panel, it’s not wall mounted and there’s nothing to stop an intruder quickly pulling out the cables and disabling it. For the money though, it’s a great system.
This system ticked all the boxes for me. Being able to use the app has been helpful as I can arm and disarm the alarm remotely.
The alarm itself was easy to set up with the manual relatively well laid out, however, the app can be confusing and it is not very intuitive.
Overall, I like the system and over the 2-3months that I have had been using it there have been no issues.
easy installation. works as described. yale app has few issues. i don’t have alexa so no comments about that.
Wanted a smart entry and motion detection system and after some research this system seemed to be a good all round fit.
Installation – very simple, managed to install and test each device with ease. Also purchased an additional 2 window sensors which were discovered with ease. To install x4 window sensors, smoke detector, x2 PID’s and 2 external boxes,x1 keypad, took 3 hours. This could be quicker, I’m not an expert installer (DIY).
App & Setup – pretty straight forward following in app instructions and manual. I tested and activated each device as I installed so that I could custom tag the items in the device list for reference. I set up the window sensors in full and partial mode and the PIDs just for full arm. Setup custom arm/disarm accounts for house hold members.
Pleased to see the activity log records all events for 30 days.
All in all was quite surprised to see the negative reviews. In my experience the kit was as expected, the app and installation was actually better than I expected. I’ve yet to integrate hue and Alexa, but as of yet, pleased with the purchase and would recommend if you’re looking for a home alarm system with complete control via your smart phone.
Worth noting the range for devices reached all corners of the property with thick walls (built in 1860), didn’t have to consider extenders.
Wanted a smart entry and motion detection system and after some research this system seemed to be a good all round fit.
Installation – very simple, managed to install and test each device with ease. Also purchased an additional 2 window sensors which were discovered with ease. To install x4 window sensors, smoke detector, x2 PID’s and 2 external boxes,x1 keypad, took 3 hours. This could be quicker, I’m not an expert installer (DIY).
App & Setup – pretty straight forward following in app instructions and manual. I tested and activated each device as I installed so that I could custom tag the items in the device list for reference. I set up the window sensors in full and partial mode and the PIDs just for full arm. Setup custom arm/disarm accounts for house hold members.
Pleased to see the activity log records all events for 30 days.
All in all was quite surprised to see the negative reviews. In my experience the kit was as expected, the app and installation was actually better than I expected. I’ve yet to integrate hue and Alexa, but as of yet, pleased with the purchase and would recommend if you’re looking for a home alarm system with complete control via your smart phone.
Worth noting the range for devices reached all corners of the property with thick walls (built in 1860), didn’t have to consider extenders.
So without Internet WiFi it’s very difficult to setup. The instructions book is very badly written with lot of things missing.
If you want a simple Alarm system which just works then this is the one. If you want lot of extra things then maybe pay more get those other ones.
I would give 5 star but I can’t do multi zone which is really annoying. I want to leave my garage constantly alarmed and not the house but I can’t do that I have to arm everything or nothing.
I’m very surprised about the range. I have a wireless pir in the garage 50m away through concrete walls etc. And works perfectly. And the mobile app works great it reminds us when we leave the house to arm the alarm.
One thing I noticed is the siren in the wall is not loud, in fact the small internal siren on the alarm box is even louder then the external one. Im. Dissapointed with that too.
Overall I would recommend I paid 197 black Friday. Id buy it again but I hope other better ones with more features come soon without having to pay 400
Grate alarm system but the app need a bit improvement. Armed/disarm function working fine with the app but not perfect with the key fab or keypad.
I bought this to replace a BT Home Monitor setup so that I could go subscription-free, ditch the need for a phone line and gain the ux of a mobile app over a nasty and hard to configure wall panel. I’m hoping to add the Yale door locks to the system later.
The good:
-Easy to set up. Everything in the kit came pre-paired to the hub so you just need to mount and turn on. Everything I added beyond that was simple to pair via the app.
-It worked first time and is configurable enough to meet my needs.
-After a couple of days, I’m generally very pleased with how it works.
The bad:
-The buttons on the keyfob – probably the most necessary buttons in the system – are black on black and flat, making them hard to read and easy to press accidentally. It’s too easy to dis/arm the alarm accidentally. The additional lock switch on the side is also hard to read, so knowing its position and status isn’t intuitive. Simple, firm, countersunk buttons with bright white on black print are required. I’ll probably mark the buttons with Tippex, assuming you can still get Tippex, but I’d really like to swap this keyfob for something better, which shouldn’t be necessary at the price.
-The rounded design of the door/window switches and magnet housings means that, particularly when used with the adhesive pads, you have to adhere the one flat side to your window/doorframe surface to ensure a good bond. This renders pointless and ugly the pebble-shape the two pieces are meant to form when married together. It might not be as pretty, but a square design on all sides would keep the design more compact, would be more flexible for positioning and would enable a more secure fit in any orientation.
Some features that should be added via firmware improvements, assuming Yale care and they aren’t things I’ve just missed:
-MAC address should be on the hub label rather than something users have to discover through trial and error via their routers. Also the network name is that of some obscure tech company from further up the chain, rather than a logical branded one such as “Yale Alarm” out of the box. It should also be possible to rename this.
-A static IP address should be assignable, rather than relying only on DHCP.
-A choice of door-open alert chimes, beyond the slightly alarming and piercing default would be of benefit.
-Automatic phone/paired device bluetooth alarm deactivation.
-Why can’t I log in to the web interface? It’s there but not for my eyes, it seems.
-The hub should be supplied and run with a USB PSU – bespoke transformers are hard to replace, inflexible and wasteful.
Compared to the BT VP1000 system and the confusing menus on its control panel, using the app on the Yale is a breeze. Having control over the notifications and setup without having to pay a subscription for last-century phone-call alerts or poking endlessly through an opaque maze of control-panel functions, is what sold me on this system and I’m pleased with what I got.
Alongside the door locks they already make, Yale need to make a CCTV doorbell (a la Ring) that can be integrated for remote answering and tied to the Yale door locks and alarm for remote opening/activation. It’d ideally be drivable via PoE, be IP address assignable and be ONVIF compatible so that users could tie the camera in to an existing surveillance system as well as to the Yale system. That’d complete the setup.
I’ve dropped a star here because the keyfob design is troublesome, the window/door switches/magnets should be squarer and because of the hub’s lack of user-configurable IP address.
It’s a good kit and does the job. Have had It for 2 months now and it’s convenient to operate using app and Alexa.
I’m now on my second one as the first stopped working for some reason but i eventually got a replacement thats a long story but got it in the end and works well though not overly very clear on instructions whilst setting up could do alot better on that front but that said it all works well especially with the app on your phone
Perfect alarm, easy to install by yourself, I have it for over 7 months and no problem, the app got an update and it’s easy to arm and disarm even when you are far away.
Fantastic product, i love my smart home gadgets and this completed the set (so far lol) being able to tell Alexa we’re off to bed and she sets everything up is brilliant and now it even alarms my house! what more could a tech gadget lover want!
We’ve had our alarm in for a couple of months now and pretty happy with everything so far. Much easier and less expensive than getting a dedicated company to install. And no monthly fees to worry about. Some reviews complained about the pet sensors, but so far our pet senor has been fine and has not been tripped by our two cats once.
yes, it is easy to install and the features and options for control are fantastic, our home is now like fortnocks, best product i have ever brought off amazon, Fac
Peace of mind. From the bright yellow alarm box to the stickers for your window. So pleased with this purchase. Everything is either battery powered or has battery backup. The hub also has quite a loud siren. Hubs going to beep every 30 seconds for about 30 minutes once you’ve turned the battery on the hub on. It will stop once it’s enough charge in it so don’t panic. Great buy.
Was looking for a great alarm system for a while and took the plunge with this one
Ripped out my old alarm, installed this one with the help of my father within a day
Around a month later I had an attempted burglary, the individual left without anything within seconds of the alarm sounding
Great product installed and working within 30 mins.
Long range on all sensors and just enough in the pack to get started.
One issue is I can’t find the Alexa skill in the skill store.
In the last 30 years I have had a wired Yale alarm followed by a wireless alarm. But after a fair few years now I decided that as part of my ‘smart home’ conversion I would go for the new Smart home alarm from Yale. I would say the quality of the kit is up to the usual Yale standard. Installation is easy using the App.
The only real niggle is that the documentation that come with the kit is really not that comprehensive. Certainly not as clear as my previous alarms. Mostly it is OK, but for instance, the key fob documentation tells you to pull out the plastic tab to activate. Nowhere does it tell you about the tiny ‘lock’ switch on the side. It is small so took a while to work out why the key fob wouldn’t work. I even purchased a new battery as I thought that might be faulty. Oh well, I have a spare now.
Another example is how to activate and deactivate the alarm with the keypad. Nowhere in the manual does it tell you how to do this. I worked it out by trial and error. If you are interested, to arm you simply press the ‘lock’ icon followed by the PIN. I was used to entering the code and then pressing ‘OK’ on my old alarm. I see on youtube it says to simply push the lock button which doesn’t work. To disarm you press the ‘unlock’ icon and enter the PIN code. On my old alarm it was the other way around. Looking around on the ‘net things were not as clear as they should.
On testing I did have a funny with the siren tamper. I deliberately tripped the alarm and it went off fine. Then I noticed that I had a ‘siren tamper’ warning – this was definitely not the case. This also triggered a beep every 30 seconds on the hub which I could only clear by a reboot. As the siren is high up on the house I just set the tamper to off in the App. Otherwise I think this is a great bit of kit.
I cannot believe how easy this was to install. The only issue I had was refitting the front of the Siren while balancing on the ladder! Everything worked first time. You just need to follow the pictorial instructions. Install the APP and set up account first and that wll lead you through the setup procedure. So now it is working fine. If I find any issues in the future I will update this review.
Does the job. Easy set up. Door Window alarms could be smaller. Easy to add users and track who is in and going out. All from your phone.
No qualms from me. Not sure what all these negative reviews seem to be about. Personally I think it’s a pretty good product. Easy to install, register and get it working.
Ignore the people who can’t read instructions and don’t like emails, it’s all very straight forward.
a*
Instructions could be clearer. Despite being in box the keypad still needed initialising.
Instructions are pictorial and the booklet is crammed with pictures and way that busy.
Contacting customer service I gave up on hold turned out some the batteries needed replacing on delivery.
Despite teething issues alarm appears to work okay and was easy to install. App could be improved.
Compared to other systems this is still up there with easy of install and use.
It was really easy to install and has worked fine so far. I have tested it remotely from home and the email/app notifications come through instantly after the alarm goes off and I can disarm it instantly from my phone too.
Would recommend 100%!!
Our professionally fitted alarm decided to wake us up at 5am with a fault. Called the provider and they would not help so I ripped it off the wall and installed this. The fact you can arm the system when you are out of the house is amazing and it just works. Havent really used the Alexa integration because I dont think I would ever alarm the alarm while in the house.
Very easy to install, looks modern and so easy to use.
Works fab. We get notifications every time it’s either set or unlocked. We will definitely be looking for add on features to go with it.
If I wrote this review just after installing it would be a bit lower. I ended up getting our electrician in to help with this install as he had to remove our old wired system anyway. It was a bit hectic getting all the sensors connected and figuring out which was which and naming them.
After install my control panel kept reporting tamper over and over (spamming my email!) I had no idea what to do so called support, but then found out it was a premium number!! This was extremely annoying as I just wanted a quick bit of advice. So I hung up since I was sure I could figure it out eventually. It turned out the panel wasn’t secured into the wall securely enough and the sensor wasn’t happy about that at all. This was actually quite impressive as I didn’t know the tamper sensors would work so well.
Once the system was installed though, my experience has been much better and I really appreciate the remote setting feature, it’s given us a lot more confidence leaving the house and knowing we will get an email and texts if the alarm goes off is a huge improvement to our old system.
The app has been updated since I started using it and the new version is much better and more intuitive for setting the alarm.
I ended up buying more sensors (two extra motion and two extra door sensors) which were easy to add and work great. I’ve yet to have to change batteries, my understanding is this won’t be for a while so fingers crossed it isn’t!
The door detection has come off already – but I’m sure a bit of gorilla tape will have it back in place – very easy to install and add extra room sensors & link up
Wow so easy to setup and fit and can arm alarm via my alexa system or via the app which was downloaded via the google play store very happy
A good product! Even made the mistake of picking up the siren after I had armed it, ouch! Does exactly what it said on the box, easy to fit even for a pleb with no drilling experience like me.
Nice wireless product. But I wish it came with better instructions. Those thinking of buying you Must Download the app first and follow the app’s instruction for installation! I didn’t realise this until halfway through my installation. Managing the system is easy using the app which can be installed on multiple devices.
Since I bought this it had gone offline and disconnected on two different occasions. There is no notification or warning to show it has gone offline. I realised today the 23rd June that the alarm hasn’t been operational since the 23rd May.
We purchased the Yale IA-320 Alarm with the additional 3 pack Motion Detector Kit AC-3PIR and the HD1080 WiFi Indoor Camera SV-DFFI-W as our previous alarm system had packed up after 15 years.
On unpacking I found all the components to be of very good sturdy quality and aesthetically pleasing to blend in with our decor. I personally found the set up procedure was pain free and I didn’t encounter any issues with registering any components to the base station and like wise with the physical installation of all components if you are competent with a drill you’ll have no issues just ensure you choose the correct fixing for your application, honestly there is nothing technically demanding about it.
The operation of the Alarm is simple and pleasing and depending on your home tech you’ll have a number of ways to arm/disarm the system. We use the application on the iPhone and Apple Watch, Alexa or the physical Keypad and all work perfectly but what I do like is the geofencing feature where if you leave the house without arming the system it will send you a message to warn you and gives you the option to set it also you can log into the phone app and monitor your system from there. We added the indoor camera for addition protection plus it gives you the option to open the camera viewer should you have an alarm trigger whilst you are away from home then you can check if someone is in your property or if it’s a false alarm, luckily we’ve not had to use that feature!
You can configure the system so that each different components activated or deactivated depending on how you set the alarm for instance when we put the system in part arm only the motion detectors and door contacts on the ground floor are activated allowing us to move freely upstairs without the alarm activating and then when we leave the house and put it into full arm all motion detectors and door contacts are active across both floors giving full protection, further to that you can set up the system to give audible bleeps from the external siren so once you are outside it gives confirmation that the alarm is set.
We did have an issue with the door contact so I contacted CS and the very next day we had the replacement in hand so kudos to the team for that quick response.
I have looked into the battery replacement when that becomes required and it is a very easy procedure and all batteries are readily available from local supermarkets and DIY stores so the downtime on the system can be kept to a minimum in-fact the system sends you a notification that batteries are running low so you can pre plan and get them in ready for changing.
All in all we are very pleased with every aspect of the alarm system thus far and if the complimentary service I’ve had with CS to date is anything to go by I don’t see any issues going forward.
We are just waiting for the Smoke/Heat detector AC-PSD to come into stock then we can complete our system
We purchased the Yale IA-320 Alarm with the additional 3 pack Motion Detector Kit AC-3PIR and the HD1080 WiFi Indoor Camera SV-DFFI-W as our previous alarm system had packed up after 15 years.
On unpacking I found all the components to be of very good sturdy quality and aesthetically pleasing to blend in with our decor. I personally found the set up procedure was pain free and I didn’t encounter any issues with registering any components to the base station and like wise with the physical installation of all components if you are competent with a drill you’ll have no issues just ensure you choose the correct fixing for your application, honestly there is nothing technically demanding about it.
The operation of the Alarm is simple and pleasing and depending on your home tech you’ll have a number of ways to arm/disarm the system. We use the application on the iPhone and Apple Watch, Alexa or the physical Keypad and all work perfectly but what I do like is the geofencing feature where if you leave the house without arming the system it will send you a message to warn you and gives you the option to set it also you can log into the phone app and monitor your system from there. We added the indoor camera for addition protection plus it gives you the option to open the camera viewer should you have an alarm trigger whilst you are away from home then you can check if someone is in your property or if it’s a false alarm, luckily we’ve not had to use that feature!
You can configure the system so that each different components activated or deactivated depending on how you set the alarm for instance when we put the system in part arm only the motion detectors and door contacts on the ground floor are activated allowing us to move freely upstairs without the alarm activating and then when we leave the house and put it into full arm all motion detectors and door contacts are active across both floors giving full protection, further to that you can set up the system to give audible bleeps from the external siren so once you are outside it gives confirmation that the alarm is set.
We did have an issue with the door contact so I contacted CS and the very next day we had the replacement in hand so kudos to the team for that quick response.
I have looked into the battery replacement when that becomes required and it is a very easy procedure and all batteries are readily available from local supermarkets and DIY stores so the downtime on the system can be kept to a minimum in-fact the system sends you a notification that batteries are running low so you can pre plan and get them in ready for changing.
All in all we are very pleased with every aspect of the alarm system thus far and if the complimentary service I’ve had with CS to date is anything to go by I don’t see any issues going forward.
We are just waiting for the Smoke/Heat detector AC-PSD to come into stock then we can complete our system
We purchased the Yale IA-320 Alarm with the additional 3 pack Motion Detector Kit AC-3PIR and the HD1080 WiFi Indoor Camera SV-DFFI-W as our previous alarm system had packed up after 15 years.
On unpacking I found all the components to be of very good sturdy quality and aesthetically pleasing to blend in with our decor. I personally found the set up procedure was pain free and I didn’t encounter any issues with registering any components to the base station and like wise with the physical installation of all components if you are competent with a drill you’ll have no issues just ensure you choose the correct fixing for your application, honestly there is nothing technically demanding about it.
The operation of the Alarm is simple and pleasing and depending on your home tech you’ll have a number of ways to arm/disarm the system. We use the application on the iPhone and Apple Watch, Alexa or the physical Keypad and all work perfectly but what I do like is the geofencing feature where if you leave the house without arming the system it will send you a message to warn you and gives you the option to set it also you can log into the phone app and monitor your system from there. We added the indoor camera for addition protection plus it gives you the option to open the camera viewer should you have an alarm trigger whilst you are away from home then you can check if someone is in your property or if it’s a false alarm, luckily we’ve not had to use that feature!
You can configure the system so that each different components activated or deactivated depending on how you set the alarm for instance when we put the system in part arm only the motion detectors and door contacts on the ground floor are activated allowing us to move freely upstairs without the alarm activating and then when we leave the house and put it into full arm all motion detectors and door contacts are active across both floors giving full protection, further to that you can set up the system to give audible bleeps from the external siren so once you are outside it gives confirmation that the alarm is set.
We did have an issue with the door contact so I contacted CS and the very next day we had the replacement in hand so kudos to the team for that quick response.
I have looked into the battery replacement when that becomes required and it is a very easy procedure and all batteries are readily available from local supermarkets and DIY stores so the downtime on the system can be kept to a minimum in-fact the system sends you a notification that batteries are running low so you can pre plan and get them in ready for changing.
All in all we are very pleased with every aspect of the alarm system thus far and if the complimentary service I’ve had with CS to date is anything to go by I don’t see any issues going forward.
We are just waiting for the Smoke/Heat detector AC-PSD to come into stock then we can complete our system
We purchased the Yale IA-320 Alarm with the additional 3 pack Motion Detector Kit AC-3PIR and the HD1080 WiFi Indoor Camera SV-DFFI-W as our previous alarm system had packed up after 15 years.
On unpacking I found all the components to be of very good sturdy quality and aesthetically pleasing to blend in with our decor. I personally found the set up procedure was pain free and I didn’t encounter any issues with registering any components to the base station and like wise with the physical installation of all components if you are competent with a drill you’ll have no issues just ensure you choose the correct fixing for your application, honestly there is nothing technically demanding about it.
The operation of the Alarm is simple and pleasing and depending on your home tech you’ll have a number of ways to arm/disarm the system. We use the application on the iPhone and Apple Watch, Alexa or the physical Keypad and all work perfectly but what I do like is the geofencing feature where if you leave the house without arming the system it will send you a message to warn you and gives you the option to set it also you can log into the phone app and monitor your system from there. We added the indoor camera for addition protection plus it gives you the option to open the camera viewer should you have an alarm trigger whilst you are away from home then you can check if someone is in your property or if it’s a false alarm, luckily we’ve not had to use that feature!
You can configure the system so that each different components activated or deactivated depending on how you set the alarm for instance when we put the system in part arm only the motion detectors and door contacts on the ground floor are activated allowing us to move freely upstairs without the alarm activating and then when we leave the house and put it into full arm all motion detectors and door contacts are active across both floors giving full protection, further to that you can set up the system to give audible bleeps from the external siren so once you are outside it gives confirmation that the alarm is set.
We did have an issue with the door contact so I contacted CS and the very next day we had the replacement in hand so kudos to the team for that quick response.
I have looked into the battery replacement when that becomes required and it is a very easy procedure and all batteries are readily available from local supermarkets and DIY stores so the downtime on the system can be kept to a minimum in-fact the system sends you a notification that batteries are running low so you can pre plan and get them in ready for changing.
All in all we are very pleased with every aspect of the alarm system thus far and if the complimentary service I’ve had with CS to date is anything to go by I don’t see any issues going forward.
We are just waiting for the Smoke/Heat detector AC-PSD to come into stock then we can complete our system
I used this for my home and is great so far apart from these is not many arming Opitions. I have to keep going into setting to swap the pir sensor setting because when I part arm at night I have it so the upstairs doesn’t pick me up but if I forget to take that sensor setting off and go out and put it on full arm when I enter my home the alarm goes off straight away so I think they need to make the settings a bit more free selecting rather then how it is.
I used this for my home and is great so far apart from these is not many arming Opitions. I have to keep going into setting to swap the pir sensor setting because when I part arm at night I have it so the upstairs doesn’t pick me up but if I forget to take that sensor setting off and go out and put it on full arm when I enter my home the alarm goes off straight away so I think they need to make the settings a bit more free selecting rather then how it is.
I have decided these three criteria because (1) I do not want to wast a lot of money for a small house and only two persons live on it. (2) I do not wast my time with a rubbish system and lose time, which is money. (3) I am new in the UK, and I do not know anyone who could turn the system off if I am away. I do not want to bother my Neighbors.
I came through this system in Amazon many times. What put me off not to buy it is negative reviews and 3.5 Stars. I kept searching and searching until I needed a system for critical security concern.
I bought this system one week ago ( I will return to update this review after six months ) and here are my comments :
Pors
(1) Reasonable Price compared to its features and quality.
(2) Easy to install for someone familiar with technology in General ( Total time of Installation & Testing & learning features was 6 hours)
(3) Endless of amazing settings makes you have 100% control over the system
(4) You can control the system from a keypad or your mobile. You can control this system from anywhere! Do not worry if you forgot to arm your home.
(5) Very Expandable, you can add devices as much as you need ( up to 40 ), which I found it give you the ability to design your system based on your need and cost.
(6) Multiuser setting. For Example, I can give the estate agent a separate password, and I can know if they ( for any reasons ) entered my home.
(7) Full ability to control notification by many methods, Email, SMS, or Push to your mobile.
(8) A lot of people comment negatively on Yale mobile application. I found it AMAZING, but you need an average mobile.
(9) Very high-quality material that you can feel it in every part of the system, Even the security stickers!
(10) As this system give you instant alert on your mobile, buying security camera which can be accessed by mobile will give you full control of your home.
(11) There is no subscription fees for their mobile application and online services.
Coins
(1) The person who is not familiar with technology will find this system complicated ! not because it complicated but because of its endless features.
(2) The guide (which is printed in high-quality material ) is not comprehensive. They have tried to make it simple; they do not explain all features of their mobile application in their simple guide.
Bottom Line: I would recommend it for any person who needs full control of a security system.
Update after 5 months : I could not say more than THANKS YALE! This system worth every penny spent.
After reading negative reviews I nearly didn’t buy this . . . Glad I ignored them 🙂 installed as per manual and everything has worked brilliant no false alarms and can set my alarm and deactivate by phone which is really handy.
System setup – followed instructions on the App to set up devices. App could not register hub initially, but restarting the router and hub together got it going.
Testing security – had to play around as expected and the most confusing aspect was that sometimes, once the system was armed, the motion sensors were not detecting my movements. Turns out the sensors were in sleep mode and it took about 1 minute to snap out of it after arming the system. I may have had to leave sight of any motion sensors during the 1 minute count for the sensor to activate.
WiFi signal is good around my three bedroom new build house – it’s not particularly big.
Still haven’t tested what happens when network connection is lost or if there is a power cut.
Notifications are sent immediately on intruder detection.
Physical installation of the devices is easy – requires basic DIY drilling skills and the instruction manual that came with the product was very clear.
So far I cannot flaw this system as it has proven to work in practice. Only time will tell how it works for real so I will probably update my review next year to include battery duration and alerts when battery is low and general usage.
I will also be adding more door sensors and motion detectors around the house as I am already feeling more comfortable about this security system to deem it worth investing in the extra sensors.
Thank you Yale!
The system was easy to install and setup as long as you have some basic DIY skills and familiarity of using phone apps. The system works well and the only issue although this might be Alexa rather than the Yale Alarm it sometimes fails to set / unset first time. Other than that all good and worth the investment.
I’ve had this system installed for a couple of months now. Installation was very simple, no problem at all. The app works fine too – no issues at all. I only have 2 gripes (minor) but worth keeping in mind if you are buying. The keypad buttons are very small and it’s easy to press the wrong numbers- my parents often do this! A better keypad option would be good. Secondly, the Alexa integration does work but it could have more options. Points I love are that I can arm/disarm from the app, I can see who is coming/going too.
I’ve had this system installed for a couple of months now. Installation was very simple, no problem at all. The app works fine too – no issues at all. I only have 2 gripes (minor) but worth keeping in mind if you are buying. The keypad buttons are very small and it’s easy to press the wrong numbers- my parents often do this! A better keypad option would be good. Secondly, the Alexa integration does work but it could have more options. Points I love are that I can arm/disarm from the app, I can see who is coming/going too.
Very easy to install even after blundering through it. Works very well and the app is quite good. Wouldn’t mind a few other integrations with other smart things.
The system was quite easy to install. There was no double sided tape for the movement sensors, so a couple of holes needed to be drilled for each one – not a problem. The app seems like a work in progress, in terms of help, but works well with the system. The led comfort lights only seem to work when the system is unarmed, which is rather frustrating. Overall, though, the system seems to work well and the external siren is very loud. Crucially, the batteries seem to last a long time.
The system was quite easy to install. There was no double sided tape for the movement sensors, so a couple of holes needed to be drilled for each one – not a problem. The app seems like a work in progress, in terms of help, but works well with the system. The led comfort lights only seem to work when the system is unarmed, which is rather frustrating. Overall, though, the system seems to work well and the external siren is very loud. Crucially, the batteries seem to last a long time.
Had this alarm for about 3 months now, very pleased. It was easy to set up, works well with the phone app. We get a few power cuts and the battery back up is very useful, nice knowing if the power goes out the alarm still works, obviously the Wi-fi cuts off but the siren still works. Have now connected it to Alexa got the disarm down ok but arming it still gets confused and I revert back to the app. I’m sure updates or a little more playing will sort this out. Would recommend..
Had this alarm for about 3 months now, very pleased. It was easy to set up, works well with the phone app. We get a few power cuts and the battery back up is very useful, nice knowing if the power goes out the alarm still works, obviously the Wi-fi cuts off but the siren still works. Have now connected it to Alexa got the disarm down ok but arming it still gets confused and I revert back to the app. I’m sure updates or a little more playing will sort this out. Would recommend..
Had this alarm for about 3 months now, very pleased. It was easy to set up, works well with the phone app. We get a few power cuts and the battery back up is very useful, nice knowing if the power goes out the alarm still works, obviously the Wi-fi cuts off but the siren still works. Have now connected it to Alexa got the disarm down ok but arming it still gets confused and I revert back to the app. I’m sure updates or a little more playing will sort this out. Would recommend..
Had this alarm for about 3 months now, very pleased. It was easy to set up, works well with the phone app. We get a few power cuts and the battery back up is very useful, nice knowing if the power goes out the alarm still works, obviously the Wi-fi cuts off but the siren still works. Have now connected it to Alexa got the disarm down ok but arming it still gets confused and I revert back to the app. I’m sure updates or a little more playing will sort this out. Would recommend..
Had this alarm for about 3 months now, very pleased. It was easy to set up, works well with the phone app. We get a few power cuts and the battery back up is very useful, nice knowing if the power goes out the alarm still works, obviously the Wi-fi cuts off but the siren still works. Have now connected it to Alexa got the disarm down ok but arming it still gets confused and I revert back to the app. I’m sure updates or a little more playing will sort this out. Would recommend..
Had this alarm for about 3 months now, very pleased. It was easy to set up, works well with the phone app. We get a few power cuts and the battery back up is very useful, nice knowing if the power goes out the alarm still works, obviously the Wi-fi cuts off but the siren still works. Have now connected it to Alexa got the disarm down ok but arming it still gets confused and I revert back to the app. I’m sure updates or a little more playing will sort this out. Would recommend..
Now the integration with Alexa is minimal and I would hope this would change. Ideally we all want a routine which includes arming or disarming the alarm, right? This isn’t available, and I would like to see the devices work with Alexa ie if the alarm is trigger it will run my All on routine for example. This I would assume is in the pipeline.
For the money I can’t fault it, but not exactly what I expected/hoped for.
Reading some of the previous reviews, it appears most of the I.T and fitting issues have been updated/sorted.
System was all fitted and operating [including adding an additional sensor] in less than 3 hours, including mounting the external siren.
The supplied picture guide was lacking in clarity, and needed reading a few times, but ignore that …. when you download the “Yale Smart Living” app and register a new system, it starts an’ Installation wizard’ step by step guide that is simplicity itself, virtually idiot proof.
App is a breeze to use for arming/disarming. All the other various settings take a hour or two to fully work out [notifications, volumes, delays, part or full arm sensor settings etc] but like any app it’s just a case of familiarising yourself with it.
Three days since fitting and we’ve had no issues whatsoever with the system or the app ….. overall we’re extremely happy with this.
Update – over a year on and it’s been faultless. Great easy to use system, and still using original batteries, so they clearly last in excess of a year even in daily use and part armed every night. Definitely a 5star + system.
There’s good and bad reviews regarding this alarm which almost put me off however I’m happy with my purchase.
The good:
All inside devices look modern
The alarm is very easy to use
Two functions mode for part arm or full arm is great
Having the app gives peace of mind
The bad:
Not difficult to setup however not as easy as Yale want you to believe. I had a few issues with the motion sensors.
The app has failed on me once (in 3 months) by not connecting to the hub (internet was fine).
The door sensor only has a very thin sticky strip which started to fall off after 2 months.
A lot of people are complaining about the app, but it works fine for me. They seem to have made a lot of updates to it recently as early adopters had more issues with it, but I guess these have now been fixed. Its easy to set up exactly what sensors are used for the different alarm types and whether they set the alarm off immediately or on a delay. Its all very configurable.
The only drawback for me is that I cant use the smart home features as it doesn’t work with Google Home. This is a bit odd as everything else seems to support both alexa and google these days. But hopefully they can add this functionality late
I have placed a lot of door/window sensors (around 10) and until now all the system works very well: at the moment the sensors never fail. The system seems robust and give you the safety that you expect from a professional alarm.
What is good:
– the sensors and the whole system is easy to install
– the sensors’s wifi works with a very good range (I have placed 10 door/window sensors and 2 PIR sensor in a two stories home and I have the full signal in all the sensor except one that has in every case a good signal)
– the system works well without problems
– the App is complete and allow to check all the sensor and the events
– the notification works fine (but the messages aren’t so clear to understand)
– the direct integration with Philips Hue is really great
– the outdoor horn is very powerful
What can be better:
– the App is quite slow to connect with the system and so if you need to stop the alarm you can have some thrill moments (better to use the key pad)
– not all the kind of sensors of the old system are available just now (for example the outdoor sensors)
– the alarm tele command seems not be effective all the times.
In conclusion: very recommended system and it will be updated and developed in the next future.
Ia-320 smart sync alarm. Took me two hours to install and that included 3 additional door sensors and 3 pir pet sensors. Easy to use product ideal if you want a quickly self installed alarm. One good point the sensor don’t have to be tight together can have a gap. Oh bewar my box had the self a adhesive sensor bits missing. Amazon said they’d refund 5, they didn’t and I didn’t get replacements. Still got round the problem as have screwed all sensor as seems safe
Ia-320 smart sync alarm. Took me two hours to install and that included 3 additional door sensors and 3 pir pet sensors. Easy to use product ideal if you want a quickly self installed alarm. One good point the sensor don’t have to be tight together can have a gap. Oh bewar my box had the self a adhesive sensor bits missing. Amazon said they’d refund 5, they didn’t and I didn’t get replacements. Still got round the problem as have screwed all sensor as seems safe
I’ve been using this alarm for a couple of months and so far has been working faultlessly.
The app gets updated to iron out any issues, so I don’t really see it fit to leave negative reviews for it, although it could be quicker to load.
Installation was easy, although the screw holes for the siren are very small. This is fine if you have a flat wall, but I have render, so it was difficult to get the holes in exactly the right place. Other than that, it was all easy to do.
I particularly like the different user profiles and activity history. The siren also beeps to tell you when it has been armed or disarmed.
The alexa integration really isn’t worth using, I haven’t tried after initially struggling to use it. I don’t really see the point of it when you can use your phone or keypad. I’ve also bought some key fobs to arm and disarm which work well.
As a traditional “Bells only” non smart alarm it is definitely worth 5/5. It was quick and easy to install, all the fittings were provided. I purchased additional sensors so I have installed 5 PIRs, 5 Door /Window contacts, the external siren and the keypad. All of these took under 2 hours to install (ignoring the external siren – it was raining, that was done separately the following day). The ‘built in alarm’ in the hub is 100db of loud and more than adequate alone, the second one is more of a deterrent than something that’s required. I have successfully setup the part arm and full arm modes with ease.
Being able to set multiple pins is a great idea, obviously however the more pins you have the easier it is to guess and your alarm is only as secure as your weakest pin. I have a pin for myself and then 2 family members have different pins so if they need to disarm it they can, but I will also know who has been in my house if they do.
The only issue I have had is occasionally when using the App occasionally it says the ‘hub is offline’. Which means I cannot get notifications or remotely arm/disarm the alarm. This is easily fixed by turning the alarm off and on again physically, just a pain.
This is an issue with any smart device, whether it be blinds, bulbs, alexas, alarms or smart cars. Hopefully overtime this becomes less of an issue. This model is far superior than their old Yale Smart Home Alarm system and operates at a much better range and is more reliable.
Ultimately it comes down to this: If you want a “Bells Only” alarm this is great, if you want an “alarm with notifications” this is good but not bulletproof. If you want the most reliable service possible you’ll need to buy an ADT alarm with subscription and even then there is a slight risk of it going ‘bells only’. For context, my setup throught ADT would have been 800 installed and then 40 a month 930 more in the first year and then 480 a year more forever… So I’d definitely recommend this unless you’re a Jewellery store or bank.
4/5 would definitely recommend for most people. Would be 5/5 if the hub never disconnected, however overtime the server technology should improve this, I’d say my hub uptime is around 95% from what has been monitored so far.
Had some issues with setting up the account. Firstly I created an account and then could not login. I put it down to being a long password (20 chars)…. come on Yale, this is a security system 20 chars is not too long, and if it is tell me.
It happened setting up both my and my wifes account so no glitch.
Because of this, it did not show the accessories and no amount of paring fixed it. In the end fixed with with a google:
Settings -> System Info -> Press and hold SMS Balance for 10+ seconds until the ‘refresh panel’ box appears. That would have been impossible to figure out!
Now working I am happy with this. Yet to fit the siren, but in principle this works well. Arm via the app and easily configure upstairs and downstairs so can be used at night. Disarm via the app or keypad (with pin), also allows multiple pins for guest and other household members. Push alerts are almost instant.
Hue light go from green to red when arming, and you can pick the rooms. Can also set the whole house on red when there is a trigger.
The beeps from the hub are pretty loud when arming downstairs at night, which can wake the kids and would be good if you could set the level.
Also the motion sensors don’t seem to be very sensitive, but guess if we were burgled they would set off as a significant amount of movement would be required.
Hoping the batteries will last well, as will be a pain to remove the sticky pads (purchased separately). Also hoping the outdoor siren does not been when arming (seem to have been mentioned in some reviews). Will have to wait and see on that.
Also not yet tried the geo-sensing but have it set up for myself and my wife on the app, was pretty straightforward.
If the app was improved from an information and usability perspective (however it is functional), I could see this being the go to DIY alarm for the smart home. It does however require some investment from Yale (much like Philips is doing on an ongoing basis with HUE)
When it came to looking for a new alarm, I decided to look at some of the more expensive options available from other manufacturers, but there were some draw backs to these (location of fitment would be an issue to me, as I did not want to install the main unit in the hall and some units had modules required, so not really a diy option and fitters also charge a premium for installation!), as well as most stating that you require a yearly maintenance check, which I refuse to pay.
Luckily for me, Yale had just released new information about this, the Yale Sync Alarm! It sounded all too good to be true, as it had everything I wanted in an alarm – Wireless, Easy to install, small main unit for easy placement and a good price.
I purchased the Yale Sync alarm back in September 2018 and since then I have been extremely happy with my purchase and have not regretted it one bit. As others have mentioned, Yale did have a bit of nightmare a little while back, but to be honest I didn’t seem to be affected by it, so I was one of the lucky ones.
Recently I was a little frustrated by a change to the Yale app, whereby a notification would prompt you every time you opened the app! But this was resolved in an update that I received today, so no more unnecessary notifications on the phone!
Otherwise the app works great and no issues so far with the hardware 🙂
I didn’t want to be running wires and drilling holes through walls!
I had been looking for a while but this came up on a lightning deal 50% off!
I was a little dubious about some of the negative reviews.
After I opened the box I just followed the simple easy to follow instructions and within an hour my system was fitted including pairing another door sensor! Batteries and fittings included! Couldn’t be any easier!
So far the app is working great “iPhone 6s” and I have just upgraded my phone to the “XR” and the app transferred devices without a glitch.
Simple and easy peace of mind!
Will be adding more sensors very soon!
I found using all the apps features easy and straightforward being able to test The system great. You can also set parameters for different sensors like time delay or instant.
You can also part alarm your system setting different zones. Very easy to use!
It took me about a hour and a bit to get everything connected and hook up.
Having the ability to have different family members setup with their own pin is fantastic.
The notifications are a great way to see what’s happening to, and the remote unsets are a great way to disable your alarm prior to going into your house if your hands are full.
For the price I can’t knock it, the instructions are pretty basic there’s no wording just pictures but are relatively easy to follow.
The stick strips on the door chime set are not very good though. Once applied you can’t apply again if it comes off.
Other than that a great bit of kit for the price
Registration was easy and although the app is lacking functionality it has been fairly consistent and reliable (android). I had an issue that others have mentioned regarding entry/exit timer sounding on the external siren – very annoying to neighbours – and there is no support in the app yet to disable it – however after contacting Yale Customer Support they changed this for me remotely within 24hours and it’s now fine. They assured me that this change is coming to the app soon.
It connected to my Philips Hue as advertised and worked as expected. I haven’t tried Alexa functionality and probably won’t to be honest. I’m perfectly happy arming and disarming mostly via keypad, but also by the App.
I do still have an issue with part-arming however which means it’s basically useless at this time. I wanted to alarm my garage whilst I am still in the house using part-alarming, however in order to do it I have to set one of my “Entry Zone” sensors in the house to “Home Omit”. Unfortunately the side effect of this is that when I fully-alarm the system, it is no longer set as entry zone and the alarm will sound straight away when it detects an event. As soon as I can specify a version of “Home Omit” that has an entry zone timer for full-alarm instead of siren I’d be happy to give this product 5 stars.
Good product and easy to install, it took about 3 hours start to finish. The only issue ive come across is the beeping of the external siren on entry/exit it is a tad annoying and I’m not sure my neighbours are going to like it when I get in at 5am. I’d have maybe give it 5 stars if it wasnt for this. On the whole though it’s a good little system. I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the app but it seems ok so far I’m only on day 1 though so i may see further issues.
Good product and easy to install, it took about 3 hours start to finish. The only issue ive come across is the beeping of the external siren on entry/exit it is a tad annoying and I’m not sure my neighbours are going to like it when I get in at 5am. I’d have maybe give it 5 stars if it wasnt for this. On the whole though it’s a good little system. I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the app but it seems ok so far I’m only on day 1 though so i may see further issues.
Good product and easy to install, it took about 3 hours start to finish. The only issue ive come across is the beeping of the external siren on entry/exit it is a tad annoying and I’m not sure my neighbours are going to like it when I get in at 5am. I’d have maybe give it 5 stars if it wasnt for this. On the whole though it’s a good little system. I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the app but it seems ok so far I’m only on day 1 though so i may see further issues.
You can set multiple codes and it let’s you know who has disarmed it. Each item (PIR/Door Sensor) is individually programmable which is very cool. You can also use a test mode to check the PIR and door sensors.
Being able to control via the app certainly helped sell it to the younger members of the household!
The Alexa features were not a priority for me (even though I am a keen Alexa user), so can’t comment on how useful they are.
After doing pretty extensive research, this alarm appealed to me as the best value for money with the most features including the ability to operate from an App. It has integration with Amazon Alexa and Philips Hue colour bulbs which has meant I’ve enjoyed deliberately setting the alarm off just to watch the house flash RED (then realised I could test the Philips hue integration in the app without the alarm sounding). Everything can be controlled via your smartphone which seems to work well. It’s worth spending 30 minutes going through all the settings via the app to get the most from the system. Overall I love it. Highly recommend
After doing pretty extensive research, this alarm appealed to me as the best value for money with the most features including the ability to operate from an App. It has integration with Amazon Alexa and Philips Hue colour bulbs which has meant I’ve enjoyed deliberately setting the alarm off just to watch the house flash RED (then realised I could test the Philips hue integration in the app without the alarm sounding). Everything can be controlled via your smartphone which seems to work well. It’s worth spending 30 minutes going through all the settings via the app to get the most from the system. Overall I love it. Highly recommend
After doing pretty extensive research, this alarm appealed to me as the best value for money with the most features including the ability to operate from an App. It has integration with Amazon Alexa and Philips Hue colour bulbs which has meant I’ve enjoyed deliberately setting the alarm off just to watch the house flash RED (then realised I could test the Philips hue integration in the app without the alarm sounding). Everything can be controlled via your smartphone which seems to work well. It’s worth spending 30 minutes going through all the settings via the app to get the most from the system. Overall I love it. Highly recommend
Setup is a breeze. It took me two hours total, from unboxing to tidying up being done. I would recommend putting up all the devices before doing the online setup, just for simplicity.
You can arm it three simple ways: the app, the key fob, or keypad. It disarms just as easy and consistently. The wording is awkward, but it makes sense. Alexa can set alarms or timers, so it has to avoid the crossover by naming the specific product.
For ~250 you can get a high quality alarm, that notifies you via email or any changes, and works with Alexa.
Ignore those who didn’t bother to read the box. If you want a good alarm for a cheap price, you’re not getting better than this.
Setup is a breeze. It took me two hours total, from unboxing to tidying up being done. I would recommend putting up all the devices before doing the online setup, just for simplicity.
You can arm it three simple ways: the app, the key fob, or keypad. It disarms just as easy and consistently. The wording is awkward, but it makes sense. Alexa can set alarms or timers, so it has to avoid the crossover by naming the specific product.
For ~250 you can get a high quality alarm, that notifies you via email or any changes, and works with Alexa.
Ignore those who didn’t bother to read the box. If you want a good alarm for a cheap price, you’re not getting better than this.
Setup is a breeze. It took me two hours total, from unboxing to tidying up being done. I would recommend putting up all the devices before doing the online setup, just for simplicity.
You can arm it three simple ways: the app, the key fob, or keypad. It disarms just as easy and consistently. The wording is awkward, but it makes sense. Alexa can set alarms or timers, so it has to avoid the crossover by naming the specific product.
For ~250 you can get a high quality alarm, that notifies you via email or any changes, and works with Alexa.
Ignore those who didn’t bother to read the box. If you want a good alarm for a cheap price, you’re not getting better than this.
Setup is a breeze. It took me two hours total, from unboxing to tidying up being done. I would recommend putting up all the devices before doing the online setup, just for simplicity.
You can arm it three simple ways: the app, the key fob, or keypad. It disarms just as easy and consistently. The wording is awkward, but it makes sense. Alexa can set alarms or timers, so it has to avoid the crossover by naming the specific product.
For ~250 you can get a high quality alarm, that notifies you via email or any changes, and works with Alexa.
Ignore those who didn’t bother to read the box. If you want a good alarm for a cheap price, you’re not getting better than this.
Being a well known brand I thought Yale would be the best choice for a smart alarm system. Although the box arrived damaged, installation was a lot easier than expected as the app guides you through much of the process. The Alexa integration is pretty basic but the Philips Hue stuff is super cool! Yet to try some of the other features, but so far so good! A++
In this pack you get a base station, two motion sensors, an open/closed sensor, a keypad and an alarm box. There’s no doubt that to fully protect a normal home you’re need to invest in additional products, and there’s quite a lot of compatible kit available including a smoke detector, pet-proof movement sensor (the kit includes the normal sensor), a personal attack button, two Yale smart locks, a remote keyring, Yale Home View Cameras which activate of the alarm goes off, and Yale UK plugs that can turn on and off as instructed by the alarm system. In common with many wireless alarm systems these accessories are not cheap so it’s worth comparing the cost of the components you need with more traditional alarm systems with some smart features to get an idea of likely cost differences. In total 40 components can be linked to the control box which should meet the needs of most users.
In my case I have installed the complete system in my garage and the only additional item I might buy is an open/close sensor for the side door. The key pad is on the wall close to where I exit my car, the two motion sensors are mounted in corners of the garage giving full coverage of any movement, the open/close sensor is mounted on my automated garage door and will activate if the door is opened, and I have installed the alarm box high on an internal wall in the garage. The base station has to be physically connected via an Ethernet cable to your router so, in theory, it needs to be installed within a metre or so of the router and needs a power socket. In practice though the system will run from a wifi extension unit with an Ethernet input so you could put the box in the garage. You must have a wifi system for the alarm to function. I have a mesh wifi system in my house with good coverage everywhere but if you don’t installing a wifi extension box close to where the alarm components are might make installation neater and should ensure a good wifi connection which will allow the Yale system to work effectively. In any event, as the Yale instruction book points out, it’s worth planning carefully where you are going to install the components in advance.
I have virtually no DIY skills but have installed two other wireless alarms/smart home systems and I’m also IT literate. Installation in the garage of all the components, the control box by the router, and full installation and functionality of the associated Yale app took about three hours. Incidentally you will also need a iOS of Android smart phone to install the system at the very least although for easy operation you really need access to the app regularly.
Installation is not as straightforward as some systems where there’s an option use strong double-side sticky tape to place devices on walls. Only the open/close sensor has this with Yale, an option I used. All other elements need to be drilled to a suitable wall. Appropriate screws and raw plugs are provided, but a suitably sized drill bit (and obviously a drill) are not. You’ll also need specialised fittings to secure items to cavity walls. All the walls in my garage are brick to I could use the supplied screws and raw plugs.
Much to my surprise, with only one minor slip, I managed to drill holes in the correct places and secure all the items to the wall – that’s the two PIR movement sensors, the key code box, and the alarm box. All but the alarm box needs two screws, the alarm box needs four. Most fiddly was installing the PIR units in the corners of the garage walls. They can be installed flat against a wall more easily but I think offer poorer coverage.
Apart from the physical installation of the devices there’s the associated electronic wifi related installation. This is done via the Yale Home app which needs to be downloaded and linked to the Yale control box. In essence this means the app looking for the base unit and you entering the serial number on the bottom of the control box. This worked flawlessly. Conveniently all of the components in the kit are already paired with the control box. As a result you do not need to link all the items which with other systems can be an issue. Yale suggest that you remove the various plastic strips to power up the batteries in the components and place them each more or less in the position you intend to install them. The app checks the wifi signal strength for each device and displays it – you need to press a ‘test connection’ button on each device which also confirms it is successfully links to the base unit. In my case all of the devices recorded a very strong signal and linked first time with the base box.
So you attach the items to the walls, start up the app, add PIN numbers for the key box and that’s it. You can add 10 PIN numbers in total and send app installation details to other users. The app allows you to set and unset the alarm and although the layout for changing some of the settings is not entirely straightforward the basic setting and unsetting is very easy indeed. The system has now been in place for 48 hours with no false alarms and has worked just as intended.
So easy was the system to install, including advice on installation from the app as components were added, that I had no need to refer to any instructions other than the supplied Yale pictorially based 24-page booklet. This covers several versions of the alarm but component by component so if you don’t have the smoke alarm – which you won’t in this kit – you just ignore the couple of pages that deal with this. There are guidance videos on YouTube apparently and the Yale site had some further instructions. I did need to refer to the latter to discover exactly how to set and turn off the alarm using the key pad. To set it you just press the ‘full-set’ or ‘partial-set’ button. No key code is needed. To unset the alarm you need to press the unset button and then enter your code. Setting and unsetting the alarm is very easy via app. Once you’re logged in no further code is needed.
So all this is very good indeed. No physical or electronic installation problems and an app that works well. The system gets better in that it can be linked to Amazon’s Alex smart speaker easily by installing the Yale skill and linking Alexa to your Yale alarm account. It takes seconds to do. You can set the alarm using Alexa but not turn it off for security reasons – a burglar might just guess the alarm could be cancelled by asking Alexa! The Yale system links directly to the Philips Hue smart light system. I’ve a lot of these lights and again you just enter your Hue account deals, this time from within the Yale app itself (and not via Alexa) which again takes seconds. Then if the alarm goes of you can chose to turn hue lights on and more.
Brilliant as the system is there are some limitations. The system will work if your internet connection is down in the sense that the alarm will activate. However, it will not alert you by email or text message to a security breach. Other smart alarms such as a Honeywell system gets around this by adding a SIM card to the control box so the mobile phone system is used to send texts and emails if the internet is down.
Not all software elements are currently active – for example I can’t install alarm control on my Apple Watch currently although this is promised in November or December.
In terms of equipment whilst the Yale Smart Lock will work with the alarm you need to buy a 15 additional unit for the smart lock to get it to work with the system and some have questioned how well this works or if more software development is needed.
As all but the base box require batteries to work it’s an issue of how long they will last. Yale suggest two to three years. The base unit has a back up rechargeable battery so will work in the case of a power cut.
Finally I’d like some additional components such as a break-glass sensor which reduces the enormous cost of having to install open/closed sensors on every window. I’d also like a Nest-like combined smoke and carbon monoxide sensor as part of a more sophisticated environmental detector. There’s no sensor to alert you to water ingress either for example.
The length of this review should suggest how impressed I am with this system. There are some shortcomings, but I think it’s the best wifi alarm I’ve tested to date. So a very firm five stars. And my cat found the box interesting!
Proof reading of this long review to follow…