8 piece Home Security Burglar Alarm System by ERA Protect – Next Generation Smart Wireless House Alarm – Google & Alexa Compatible – Smartphone Control – Easy Install (Alert)
Good quality, very easy to install alarm system with clear instructions. Value for money compared to the big installers for a similar product. My only criticism would be that the alarm box cover screw should be encapsulated so that it cannot fall out during fitting when at height. Mine went on the gable end. Tip … I tied a piece of cotton to it then held the end in my teeth so if i didn’t lose it if dropped. Alarm box periodically flashes at night whether armed or not so a useful deterrent. Would definitely recommend.
DIY security can be fiddly, so this wasn’t too bad. Siren a nag as are all if up a ladder. So far does what it says. Niggles- voice command quiet, and you can’t activate with the door still open as it reads as a fault and won’t set. Of course, shutting the door makes it even harder to hear.
This is great value for a wireless alarm system. Yes it has its quirks, but these are all documented in the instructions, which are made very hard to read by using light grey text (why??). Most of the ‘problems’ other users have raised are actually documented features! RTFM!! With a strong light and a magnifying glass!
So to the actual product – classy packing, well constructed items, easy to install, all worked first time. Just take your time. The app is clear and mimics the fob, and it just needs a bit of usage to build your confidence, have a play.
Two minors issues for me:
No door chime – I guess that is due to the wireless approach and wanting to maintain battery life.
Camera – whilst these are accessed through the app there is no integration with the alarm. They are a bought in and rebranded ‘extra’. And like others, it took me over 6 attempts to connect it in, and (in my house it’s only got a short range, you will probably need to connect it with an Ethernet cable, I used a wireless router to boost things.
Finally – Another reviewer mentioned the small firm versus the big boys. Do I want everything linked with Google or Amazon? No! Keep this separate. I am happy!
This alarm needs recent android is. Advertised as 7 when viewing,8.1 when installing and already has gone up to 9. Don’t know about apple. Had to buy a new phone to install as mine was running 8. Installation by scanning didn’t work so had to use manual input. That being said it was reasonably easy. Have given it 4 for motion detection. Door alarms work well. Overall happy
I have been researching and looking for some kind of Burglar Alarm System for months, and eventually brought this Burglar Alarm System.
And I can truthfully say I am very pleased, as I have put the censers in a log cabin in my garden which is 40 meters away from the house, with the main HUB in the house, and it works perfectly, with so far not one false alarm.
I called the help line and spoke to the staff a few times, asking and checking how I must install the system, and they are so good and helpful.
In fact I have never know such helpful caring people.
And it is written on the box a help phone number, which is truly amazing and is peace of mind and assurance of good after sales.
The only thing I can fault with this system is that there is no visual indicator saying if it is armed or not, so you have to check the app.
But the app works very well.
The Alarm system even works when the power is switched off, including if the earth nett cable gets discounted.
I will be upgrading this system with many of the other addons like the cameras and flood lights.
Very pleased.
Clear installation instructions, easy to set up via their app, central unit connects to wifi box, easy to add new sensors/devices. motion detectors are ‘pet-friendly’ which means they don’t react to every movement but work fine. (We don’t have pets). Remote control and app provide easy alarm set/unset. Basically exactly what we had from ADT without a monthly alarm subscription.
After a burglary that left me feeling unsafe and unable to leave my home. ERA security alarm system, with some added extras, has enabled me to venture out again with the knowledge that any uninvited persons on my property will soon be detected.
Easy installation, however I did find the company’s helpline very helpful when we had a question during installation.
So 149 for the 8 piece Alert system, I thought is a bargain. My existing alarm is 20 years old so I thought I’d update it with this.
Installing the door/window sensors and the PIR units were really easy. I bought an extra PIR unit so there are now 3 to match the old system. Getting them all scanned and recognised by the app was without fuss, though it took a while for the green light to come on on the main unit that plugs into my router.
The last thing I installed was the siren. I noticed that it’s constantly flashing left and right every 3, 4 seconds. I thought that must be a drain on the batteries? The siren I’ve installed in the same position as my old one and needs the long step ladders which I don’t enjoy climbing, so I hope they last.
I purposely triggered the siren to see how loud it is. It’s about as loud as a car alarm, so not crazy loud. Again, it’s probably to save on batteries.
That’s my main concern, how often I need to change batteries. Other than that, it’s all good. Maybe I’d also prefer to screw on the door/window sensors rather than using sticky tape.
We wanted to get an alarm system that would alert on our mobiles and also be able to monitor the garage.
We setup the alarm to integrate with my alexa. We use our Alexa devices to arm the alarm at night which works really well 99% of the time. Being able to use the app has been handy whilst we were away and had workmen in as we can arm and disarm the alarm remotely. The ability to buy additional individual pieces was really great.
The alarm system arrived in a well packaged box once opened set everything out and downloaded the app. The alarm system took around 2 hours to install. Over the 2 months of using this alarm I haven’t had any problems with it.
I find that there could be some improvements on the pre-set options for the different modes as these do not work for me.
I also find that we have never used the key pad as use our phone to disable the alarm.
Overall, I like the ease of using this and the peace of mind!
I am so mad i lost all my original pics i took of this item so at some stage i will take more as i like to try and include pics with the majoprity of my reviews.
The item itself arrived very well packaged as you would expect.
It has a very tidy quality appearance to it, is very easy to set up (and i am super rubbish at this kind of thing so if i can do it anybody can).
In my situation i wanted to cover the back side of my home more, overlook the garden and the side i wanted to be sen as using an alarm.
It works really well, motion sensor seems adequate , and i like the variety of choice the whole kit gives me.
I would recommend this item.
Its a really good price for something that looks like it should be so much more expensive than it is.
All round good choice.
Easy to set up but can’t use the sensors as it seems my dog is over the size that trips them. If you have a larger size dog then the sensors are therefore unusable. I managed to set it up easily and besides the issue of the sensors going off (thankfully we tested it prior to actually actually leaving the area!) has, so far, worked well.
I guess home security systems are all about two things, deterrence and consequence, in other words you’re trying to dissuade burglars from picking your property and you’re trying to catch them at it if they do. This ‘Alert’ set from ERA Protect does a bit of both and seems like a great place to start if you’ve got an apartment or small house, although you can always add further components if you need them later. The deterrence element is mainly the very conspicuous active alarm that gets attached to the outside of your house and that flashes a little LED constantly so anyone knows your system is active. It doesn’t need to be wired in, which makes installation much easier, but it runs on batteries that will need to be replaced every couple of years so it needs to be in a reasonably accessible position. You also get a couple of PIR sensors which are inconspicuously styled in white and moderately sized but placing them in a position where they can be seen through windows might also add to the deterrent value. The door or window sensors are much more subtle and can easily be secreted somewhere along the frame of a vulnerable window or patio door without looking too clunky or intrusive. These two-part sensors are also reasonably flexible in the way they need to be orientated to each other and will work as long as they’re in close proximity (preferably within 1cm) so should be usable in a variety of situations.
You also get the necessary hub which connects to your home router via Ethernet (not wi-fi) and so you’ll need an available Ethernet port obviously. The hub connects to all your components via their own wireless network and allows you to configure and control everything via an app on your smartphone. It’s pretty easy to add new components to the system, they all have QR codes on them which you scan using your smartphone and this pairs them with your hub and lets you name and configure them to suit your setup. With that done you’ve now got an alarm system you can control from your smartphone or using the key fob remote controls included and if it detects an intrusion you get alerted via the Internet wherever you are (while your neighbours get alerted by the alarm going off) and can take appropriate action. The thing to be aware of is that unless you pay an ongoing subscription that’s all this system can do, which may well be enough for most people, although both the price and the quality of components is really good.
The main weakness with the basic system is that it’s dependant on an Internet connection to alert you and so any intruder that can interrupt your internet connection can (partially) disable the alarm. To avoid this the hub has a small backup battery and an inbuilt SIM that connects via 4G to any available mobile network and alerts you that way. You get a 3 month trial period of 4G backup when you first setup your system but if you want the 4G backup to continue you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription which is currently 9.99 per month, with a cheaper annual option. The subscription includes some other benefits, most notably it can provide online storage if your system includes an ERA security camera, although this ‘Alert’ kit doesn’t include one. It appears there’s no long-term contract with the subscription so presumably you could enable it just when you’re actually away on holiday for the extra peace of mind, which is useful.
Overall it’s a simple to use and impressively featured security system that hopefully provides enough deterrent to keep your property safe(r). The ongoing subscription seems a bit pricey to me unless you’re going to add a security camera and want to be able to store photos or videos of your callers, invited or not, but at least the three month trial lets you decide that for yourself. As a one-box security system it’s pretty good though and certainly worth considering.
This is a great quality easy to install wireless alarm system. It’s a fraction of the price you’d have to pay for a professional alarm installation buy other alarm companies. I had a quote done once and they said I’d be looking at almost 1000 so price wise these self install wireless alarm systems are a great way to save money. Some people aren’t a fan of wireless alarm systems but I’ve been using one for over a year and I’ve not had any issues. This system is really easy to install, be careful mounting the siren if you’re mounting it high up like me, it’s the most difficult part of the system to install because you have to drill into the walls but otherwise you’re good. The flexibility of this system is great and has it has a great number of expandable options such as cameras, floodlight and other sensors which are all linked together. The smart home functionality baked into the system is also pretty impressive and better than what I get with my old Yale alarm system. I do love that the alarm has a embedded SIM card for a backup 4G connection in case of a problem with your internet, please note, the sim will only work if you have a paid subscription plan. And that brings me on to my only niggle with this system, the subscription plan. The cheapest option is 9.99 a month which includes a bunch of features such as storage and voice calling which a lot of people won’t need. I wish there was a cheaper option that just covered the 4G connectivity and the SMS alerts as that’s all I need. That’s my only gripe to be fair, otherwise it’s a great system that works really well.
This Era wireless smart home alarm kit arrived in well packed box.i received in 1x Era wireless alarm hub ,1x siren box, 1x main adapter,2 x door/window sensor,2 x emote key fobs, , 1x replica siren, 2 PIR sensors, 2x PIR wall mount 1x ethernet cable,1x drilling guide,1x instruction book.Simple to use and i found this easy to install straight from the box. Instruction were really easy to follow, Fitted quickly and up and running in no time. Setup was straight forward the App very easy to use and there is a QR code for each item to install to the app and this app makes easy to access to alarm system, doorbell and camera from anywhere.
.the hub looks very nice and it comes with battery and GSM network connection wich is great in case you power goes down the system still works! All in all excellent system providing good level of security and peace of mind.overall I am really impressed
Really impressed,good level of security and peace of mind.
This kit came complete with two pet friendly Infra-red sensors (PIR), two magnetic door/window sensors, a hub, a Cat 6 Ethernet cable for connecting the hub to the internet and a Siren/Light box for fixing outside the premises to be protected. The provided hub must be connected to the internet by a wired connection to a router. A backup 4G service is available in case your own internet connection fails, but this is part of the ‘Plus’ service (see below).
Physically installing the alarm system was pretty straightforward and any competent DIY-er should not find it challenging.
It is a good idea to write down the numbers of the door sensors as they are covered up when the adhesive backing is applied. The numbers are required to add the sensors to the system. In comparison, the PIRs have a QR cod on the side of them, so they can be scanned into the ERA Protect app. The doors in my house are not flush with the door frame, so I had to position them in an alternative position. Although I installed them in a manner that appears compatible with the instructions and also tested them before sticking them down (sensor LED is activated when the sensor parts are moved apart as if the door was opening, and deactivated when they come back together again), the system reports a fault. I think I will need to get some assistance with this from ERA’s helpline.
When installing the sensors, both door/window contact sensors or the PIR sensors, you have the option to either to use the supplied sticky 3M strips or use a raw plug and screws, also supplied. I chose to use the raw plug and screws for the PIRs and they were easily installed – just make sure there is room at the corners of a wall to rotate the PIR round to screw it on to the fixing.
Contrary to other reviews also, the gimbal that a PIR attaches to can rotate – both in a circle and up and down – so the exact position can be easily adjusted.
The outside siren/light box was easily installed using the supplied paper template for drilling holes. All fixings-screws and raw plugs are supplied – you only need to supply the 7 mm drill bit and a drill. The only slightly problematical part of installation was ensuring that the rubber bung that covers the tamper sensor which presses against the wall remained in place, while at the same time, inside the box, ensuring that the wires to this switch remained in place and that the switch did not pop out prior to installing the front cover. I found installing the front cover fiddly, but not difficult. In all, this was an easy part of the alarm to install.
Regarding the siren box, contrary to some other reviews, this is not a dummy box. When the alarm system is triggered, it sounds a loud siren (104 dB) and the system activates strobe lights. When the system is not alarmed, there is a regular flashing of lights between the two front sides of the box, indicating that there is a live system installed. So this is a true, visible deterrent to any would-be burglar.
Some reviews have mentioned concern over permissions requested by the app (which is available for both iOS and Android). Using the iOS app, I found that the only permissions that the app required were for access to the Photos folder, which is expected if the system is to save video footage to the system and or cloud. I was also able connect this to my Alexa system, so I can arm and disarm the alarm system without using the included fob or the app. I would always advise having the fob as a backup, though.
After installing the physical components (connecting the hub to the router, fixing the sensors and alarm box), I found that setup and configuration wasn’t straightforward, although the basic setting up of the system including registration/activation via the internet was very easy using the iOS app. You are initially granted 3 months access to the plus service, which has additional functionality storing video content and allowing the configuration of a specific button.
This premium service ‘Plus’ that comes bundled when you activate the product, initially for 3 months. This adds the facility for a backup 4G connection, customisation of the ‘Plus’ button on the remotes and app, together with the ability to store video footage. At 10 per month or 100 per annum, I think it is quite expensive for what it is, but for those with systems that also include video cameras or video doorbells, it would be quite good value.
After installation, the two door sensors were not working properly and I couldn’t set the alarm because of this (note that there is an option in the app settings to ignore sensors that are not working properly when the system is armed, though the app cautions you not to do this). I was able to delete these door sensors from the system and still set the app. However, in a couple of instances I did find the system glitchy where it didn’t want to set the alarm, although a few minutes later, the alarm would set. I need to do more testing to find out how often this particular issue occurs and probably take some advice from ERA. You certainly want your alarm to arm and disarm when you want it to.
I also felt that I had to go too close to the hub to disarm the system with the fob, but this could be due to my internal walls which are solid.
Furthermore, I’m not always sure that the PIRs are always detecting movement – this could be their allowance not to detect pets of up to 25 kg (too low to support an adult Labrador, I’m afraid); again I think I need to take advice from ERA. However, this does reduce my confidence a bit. I’m sure they would eventually activate if there ever was an intruder. Note that I did test this by arming the system with two of us walking around to test.
I also updated the systems firmware through the app. This was a very quick and trouble free process- I only wish that some other manufactures would release similar firmware updates.
One thing I felt lacking from the system is the ability to test sensors – the system only tells you if the sensor is installed or not and its associated number, not whether it is functioning. This would make troubleshooting the system so much easier as well as giving confidence to the owner that the system is functioning correctly.
All in all, this is a pretty good value kit which compares favourably in price to other alarm systems. I suspect that some of the issues I have mentioned above are due to small hiccups which can probably be easily remedied with a call to the helpdesk. However, I do feel that the inability to test your sensors to ensure they are working lets the system down and I’m sure that this could be easily addressed in a future firmware update. Because of these relatively small issues, I am giving this system a 4 star rating rather than 5. This could potentially be considered slightly unfair as I haven’t contacted ERA about these issues; but at the same time, one hopes for a trouble free setup out of the box, so I feel this is a valid deduction.
For the functionality and price, assuming that the system continues to arm and disarm without issue, I would give the ERA protect system my recommendation. The ability to add other components such as smart devices, touch sensors, RFID tags and video cameras means that this system can grow with your needs. As all the sensors are wireless, the system should be easily enhanced.
There have been a string of break ins locally and so we decided to get an alarm system for our outside office space. This seemed the ideal option as we didn’t want to pay a lot of money to have one professionally fitted.
The pros-
Easy to install
Easy to set up
Pet friendly (up to 25kg)
Soft wear and fob settings the same so can set up everything from your phone
Alexa friendly
The cons-
Fitting the external alarm was tricky
Use of batteries for the outside bell which means having to get up to change them and can be expensive although we haven’t had to change them yet.
Getting the right position near the router
But overall we have found this to be an easy and inexpensive home security option for us!
I found this really easy to install when following the instructions. The box comes with everything you need to put everything up including the fittings etc. I like how they include fittings that don’t leave marks on the walls as I’m renting and that’s a big issue! The whole system connects to a smartphone app which is very useful but only if you have one obviously. The data is end-to-end encrypted for ultimate security so it’s all very safe. It’s so useful to be able to access the system wherever you are via phone app. The system works on ethernet cable and an internal sim card so it’s always connected. I’ve found this system to be very easy to use and gives me great peace of mind when I’m away!
In the box you get; 1x Central Alarm Hub, 2x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 2x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Live Siren, All fittings and operational instructions + Free 3 month trial of ERA Protect Plus Subscription on activation of account.
I found it relatively easy to set up, there is a little diy involved and it took me around an hour. It is quite a straight forward kit and one that you can expand, although i personally find expanding it to what I really need is quite expensive plus the cost of a monthly subscription. It does feel a little outdated with a lack of cctv but this is something that can be added.
We have recently moved into our new home and although there is a wired alarm system I wanted something that was a bit more precise about protecting the downstairs as not everywhere is covered by the existing system as the house has been extensively extended over the years. I got the late version of the system which was ideal for me as I have two zones that I wanted covered by PIR, and two main entry and exit doors. This was well catered for by what was included in the box but if I wish to add on more protection i.e. for my garage then I can do that with ease.
Once the main hub unit was connected to my Internet Router, then it was a case of following the initial setup within the app to 1st register the hub to my user account and then I added each accessory individually. Actually securing and installing all the kit took around 45 minutes or and then the software set up around 15 so in an hour I had everything set up and figured with relative ease. I would recommend checking the signal from the accessory to where your hub is as before I installed the PIR in its permanent location I tried it in the furthest away place that I would want to protect and I was unable to get it to link but that is due to the very thick outer walls in my house. It when the time comes I choose to protect the extension then I will use a longer Network to connect the hub to the router and place it in a more central location in the house.
In terms of app operation there is some really nice functions that use your location information to let you know if you’ve left the house and not set the alarm and also allowed for the alarm to be automatically unset when you arrive home. I also like the fact that if I had my parents drop by to collect anything they can just give me a call and I can disable the alarm and then rearm it once they have left.
The main siren does exactly what I was expected to do and makes a hell of a racket. Ultimately an alarm will never stop a burglary however in combination with some common sense approach is to home security a ring doorbell and this smart alarm I would know the instant someone broke in my house and I would also be able to alert the authorities.
In terms of installation I would say most people could manage it as long as you are able to pull up a picture and just do some basic software stuff on the app which is guided really well.
It has taken me 6 weeks to review this because i had to have it installed by a professional trademan as i couldnt make head nor tail of it. He said it was relatively straightforward. The only thing i care about is that it works.
You get 1x Central Alarm Hub, 1x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 1x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Replica Siren.
What surprised me was that the external alarm is fake, it doesnt even make a noise, can someone please explain what the point is? Burglars are going to know its fake just by looking at it.
I like the pet sensors as i have a dog, they didnt trigger the alarm which is good because it would have scared the stuffing out of me whilst i was asleep.
It does make me feel safer as i am disabled as i live by myself and so for peace of mind this is quite good. I will say that i do feel that it is rather expensive for the money, especially as it doesnt come with any cameras which i do feel that it is missing.
Overall a decent package but be mindful of what your security needs are.
This is a great modern home security system controlled by a smartphone app where you can connect up to 96 accessories! You don’t need to be at home as long as you’re connected to the internet you can access your home alarm system, doorbell & cameras from anywhere. It was also easy to connect up to my Alexas.
Everything is super easy to install just follow the step by step instructions on the app.
Once connected any instructions given to the home security system is then sent as a notification to your phone. When the alarm is triggered the inside home hub will siren , not overly loud but if you’ve added an outdoor siren than too will alarm and that is very loud.
If you internet fails the system will automatically switch to the included SIM card ( subscription will be needed ) to ensure you’re protected at all times.
This kit includes 1x Central Alarm Hub, 2x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 2x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Live Siren, All fittings and operational instructions + Free 3 month trial of our ERA Protect Plus Subscription on activation of account.
Overall this is a very good wireless system. Easy to set up and reliable at all times. I would recommend !
Upon recieving this kit and unboxing i was slightly dissapointed with what you get for the price. Included is a ‘dummy’ alarm which is to be placed outside as a deterant which lights up light a real alarm but does not react to any sensors. You do receive a single sensor, 2 remotes, a door alarm. The stuff included are very good and I did need to contact support and they were very quick to respond and help and i suppose you are paying for the inclusion into the system but for what you get with this set i do think it is very expensive and probably not worth getting, although i havent tried the other kits I would recommend one of their more expensive kits with more included, i can justify the price of this as each item i believe could be purchased elsewhere for much cheaper.
I got this alarm system for my Dads house as he’s quite security conscious and doesn’t live in the nicest area (I won’t area shame!).
The kit is supplied in one box and comes with the main hub, outdoor siren, 2 x Pet Friendly Sensors, 2 x Door/Window contacts and 2 x Key Fobs. The only mains powered element is the Hub which also needs to be hardwired to your router (there may be a wireless option but I would only ever want to hardwire as WiFi can sometimes be temperamental). The remaining items are all battery powered (including the siren) and all come with batteries supplied (the siren battery is not connected to prevent power loss in storage so needs to be connected when fitting and each of the smaller accessories have small plastic shields preventing the batteries making contact which simply need to be pulled out to activate the unit).
The installation in my opinion couldn’t be easier, the instruction manual is worryingly small however it is just a case of downloading an App from either the App Store for IPhone or Google Play Store for Android (there are simple QR codes in the manual you can scan to take you straight to the correct app – you may just need to download a simply QR reader app or just search for the “ERA Protect” App manually).
Once you have downloaded the App, just plug the hub in, connect it via the supplied Ethernet cable to your WiFi router and then hit the plus sign in the top right corner of the app. Each part of the system needs to be added to the App to build/connect the system together but this really is simple – hit the plus sign, select what item you are adding (sensor, siren, door contact etc) and then within the App you have a QR scanner that uses your phones camera to scan the QR code on the individual device and once it reads it, you name the individual device (eg: front door, lounge etc) and that’s it – Done!
Once each device is added, you need to physically install them. The smaller items (sensors and door contacts) have two means of installation – (1) Hard Fixing by screws/plugs supplied or (2) 3M sticky pads supplied – I went for the sticky pads which was as simple as it sounds – and being 3M, the pads were strong! One tip – on the door contacts, you have two parts which sit side by side (one on the door, one on the frame). Essentially a magnet is in the small part and when the door opens, the magnet is moved away from the larger sensor which then triggers the switch (thus activating the alarm if it’s set). Be sure to align the two parts correctly (there are arrows on both to ensure you align the sides correctly (being a bloke, I didn’t read the instructions properly so one didn’t work until I realised what I had done wrong – my bad!).
The siren is installed using screws and plugs so you will need a drill for this (7mm masonry bit if you’re drilling into brickwork). Handily, the pack comes with a template sticker that you simply stick to the wall where you want the siren to sit, drill through the three marked holes, pop the plugs in and then screw the back of the siren onto the wall – really couldn’t be simpler and went up like a dream!
Of note, the App defaults to turning the tamper element of each device off (to aid installation). The tampers are small contact switches that when the device is in situ, are held against the fitted surface but if someone attempts to remove the device, the tamper switch is activated and the alarm sounds. Once installation is complete, you just need to go through the settings menu to activate the tampers.
The App itself appears pretty decent and you can add two phone numbers to the system and select if the system calls you in the event of an alarm activation or sends an SMS – I opted for an SMS and when testing the system, it worked every time.
The alarm can be put on a Home Set (ie when you go to bed) or a full set (when you go out). It’s easy within the app to determine which devices are active during a Home Set (ie the downstairs elements active but upstairs not). The alarm can be set using either of the supplied Key Fobs or the App itself and when you log into the App it shows you the status of the alarm – great if you have OCD tendencies (Did I set the alarm before we left the house????? And if you forgot, just set it from the App!).
In terms of its operation on a daily basis, I’m writing this review pretty soon after installation so can’t really comment on the day to day experience/reliability of it but it all works great now so don’t anticipate any issues (but if I get any, I will add to this review).
In terms of adding to the system, there are several additional accessories you buy to expand the system (including Cameras), two door contacts and two sensors is probably not enough to safeguard the average family home so bear this in mind if you opt for this unit – you may need to spend a bit more!
The other thing to bear in mind is that the unit comes with an internal 4G Sim and when you first activate the unit and download the App, your free 90 day subscription starts for the Protection Plus service (no payment details taken). This means that regardless of internet connectivity, the system can still send an SMS in the event of an alarm. However, if you don’t intend to pay for this service beyond the free trial (which I don’t), you will lose the 4G capability so in the event your internet fails, the alarm (whilst should still work as a standalone alarm), will have no ability to send activations to your phone/device.
All things considered, I think this is a decent alarm system and thus far, would be happy to recommend it to anyone. I have only given it four stars as it’s just a bit too early to say it’s a 5 star product yet as I don’t think I’ve used to enough. However, if you’re in the market for an alarm and want one that’s easy to install, I would happily recommend it.
First of all I need to tell you that I did not purchase this item but it was sent to me by Amazon in return for an unbiased and honest review.
This is a Home Security Burglar Alarm System by ERA Protect – Next Generation Smart Wireless House Alarm.
Downloaded the ap which was easy (make sure you get the right one Android or Apple).
We then connected the Hub to our router – this takes between 5 and 6 minutes for the red light to turn to green which mean hub is operational.
We then followed the instructions on the ap for connecting to our smart phone the connected the sensors registering them on the ap.
In the kit there are two door/window sensors and two proximity sensors, all of these were installed within about 45 mins.
The last thing we did was to activate the remote controls – 2 supplied.
We like the fact that if we go on hols and the alarm goes off, it will ring/text our mobile, after discussion with neighbours and all is well – we can then de activate the alarm from our mobile.
Overall we found this easy to install if you read the instructions.
Took my husband about an hour to install and we are thrilled with it.
I can update this review when the system is bedded in awhile but so far can heartily recommend.
Easy to install but read the instructions carefully before starting...
Relatively easy to put up, connects directly to the router with supplied ethernet cable aswell. Motion detection works well, also our little JRT doesn’t set it off which is great. The dummy alarm for outside is just for show, that’s easy to put up. All screws and plugs provided and it comes with a piece of paper so you know where to drill the holes.
All in all its a good little cheap set and no complaints so fa
I was very happy to receive this home alarm system, it came well packaged and presented. I received the ‘Deter’ kit, this consists of:
1x 1x Central Alarm Hub
1x Pet Friendly PIR
1x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts,
2x Remote Controls
1x Replica Siren
You receive all fittings and operational instructions. Included is a Free 3 month trial of ERA Protect Plus Subscription on activation of account. After this the plan costs 9.99 a month, or you can pay 19.99 a month and receive professional monitoring also.
The alarm is super simple to set up, the first thing you need to do is power up the hub, create an account, and connect all accessories. Each item is registered by scanning the QR code.
The siren received with the deter kit is just a dummy siren, it does have a comfort light, which flashes every so often to deter potential burglars! This is powered by 3x AA batteries.
Arming/disarming the system is extremely simple, and can be done via the app or remote controls. Padlock is for full arm when you are away from home, home button is when you are home (door sensors active but PIR not active), and unlocked padlock disarms the system completely.
This system was extremely simple to install, setup and to use! I highly recommend to others!
I am very impressed indeed with this flexible and extendable alarm system. The system is wireless except for the hub which comes with a power cable and and is very easy to set up using the app.
In this ‘Alert’ set you get two interior motion detectors, which are set up to avoid being set off by small pets, and two window or door detectors. They can be positioned where you wish using the sticky pads or screw attachments provided. The whole system is battery operated, including the 104db siren (changing the batteries on that will be something of a fiddle and you might want to consider the solar powered version to avoid that).
Some of the larger sets come with more sensors and cameras, but the sensors in particular are easy to order and fairly inexpensive ( under 30 presently) and we will be adding significantly to our set. You can also pay a monthly subscription that can give security monitoring for your home. With this set you get two remote controls and the system can also be managed from the app. Each device comes with an anti tamper feature that will set off the alarm if anyone tries to disable or remove a piece of the system
This really is an excellent flexible system – the sensors are unobtrusive in a room, the alarm is loud and it is easy to set up, to manage and to extend
I have been trying out the “Deter” version of this ERA Home Security Burglar Alarm System. Essentially the deter comes with a couple of door/window sensors a room movement sensor a central hub, a couple of remote controls (his & hers?) and an external “fake” alarm cover to attach to your external wall. The aim, I assume, of this fake alarm is to “deter” potential crooks. It has some LED lights in it which flash blue occasionally so to to convince said crooks that its a working alarm. The drag of course is that you’ll need to change the AA batteries each time they run out. Perhaps a couple of small solar panels on the top of the unit would have been more practical.
So onto the sensors and the hub.
After downloading the app to my and my wife’s phone we set up the sensors on our back door and one window and put the room sensor in the hallway to cover any movement through there. This was all pleasantly easy to set up. The instructions are clear and the app, hub and sensors all connected with each other first time. We have three dogs so was pleased to read that the room sensor is pet friendly. Well it is sometimes. I think it must work on some kind of mass calculation, because if our two larger dogs decide to walk through the hall together we receive a notification on our phones. But individual canine journeys through the hallway are not notified. That said that’s no big deal with this system as it doesn’t set off an outside alarm to disturb neighbours.
All in all I’d say this is a good starter alarm/security pack for someone who wants to put some form of security in their home. Additional components (sensors/cameras etc) can be added over time. For what it is though it is perhaps a little bit on the pricey side (269 at time of writing) I installed a very similar basic system in my Mother’s house about a year ago which cost me half as much and works just about the same (no fake alarm siren outside though)….but it did come with a camera.
This is very easy to set up and install. Within 10 minutes of opening the box I had installed the app and apart from erecting the dummy box/deterrent box on the outside of my house and it was ready to use.
I have two cats who like to wander the house at night. The motion detectors are not triggered for weights under 25kg, so the cats do not set it off.
This kit comes with a lot of equipment, but you can also buy add ons to tailor the alarm for your needs. I will be buying a camera, and also another door sensor.
You control the alarm via an app, which is very easy to use. It works via the internet and a provided sim card so there is no wiring, and the sensors can easily be moved.
This alarm is very high quality, much better than I expected, and also uncomplicated to use. I am very pleased with it.
Really impressed with this system! It was so easy to install and set up, considering I’m dinner that usually struggles with that kind of stuff. It looks sleek and tidy, also discreet. I like how accessible the system is to myself as well so I can constantly check and feel up to date on everything going on in my house.
The house alarm system looks a comprehensive system for our house
We plan to use the two door / window sensors at the back door and the conservatory door and set up the sensors near the front and back of the house.
It looks a great system as you can add to it as you go / required.
I like you can control it on your phone and therefore if you are away you will know if it’s going off and can hopefully notify who you need too. Our old alarm system was wired into the house and there was no element to control externally.
I’ve had a look through the instruction manual and although there are a lot of components to it and steps it looks fairly easy to install.
This initial response now seems justified – obviously installation and therefore tools and equipment are required but none of this requires anything more than standard diy competence
A mobile phone is also required and the inevitable app, if you have any concerns over data security a little more research is required but this is a uk company so they are accessible
Its an 8-piece kit which has door sensors, alarm station and remote to arm or disarm the system. The kit includes 1x Central Alarm Hub, 1x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 1x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Replica Siren.
This app based system is simple to set up by pairing all components with the ERA prior to installation. It took me three hours to get everything ready to install and a further two hours to install including fitting the siren to the front of our house.
The hub was probably the most involved element of the system to set up, but it was fairly straightforward when following the setup video on YouTube.
The whole system can be armed or disarmed using the remote control tags or via the phone app. Using the smartphone app, the sensors were easy to set up, sometimes requiring a couple of attempts to register, but this wasn’t a problem.
Setting the alarm via the app, phone call, SMS or buttons all work well as does automatically turning it off on.
The pet friendly motion sensors work well and allow pur pet to move around the house without setting off the alarm.
I would recommend installing the internal and external alarms last and first testing the connectivity between the alarm control panel and your sensors. You can then also differentiate and name each sensor so alerts mention a meaningful sensor name. The control panel has a quietish alarm which sounds and is a much nicer way to be able to test connectivity between the control panel and sensors before final installation.
In summary I think you get many more sensors for your money than with Yale and many more options in the app but with more options comes additional complexity so you’ll need to spend more time setting up. In my opinion that is time well spent.
I am very happy with the system and the app is really stable and very easy to use.
I decided to try the Defender version of the ERA home security systems – they come in different versions and as far as I could tell , this one most suited my needs.
Everything comes in a Box, and inside that box are two more boxes, one has the “Replica” siren, and one has the hub with the PIR sensor and the window fitting sensor ( or you could use that sensor on a door).
Inside the defender Kit you will get:
1 x Replica Siren ( this is a dummy – it is just a box with lights) , fitting diagram & and batteries.
1 x Hub – this looks like a little wifi box , well made, looks sleek, with power cable.
1 x PIR sensor – pet friendly version & fittings and batteries.
1 x window sensor set ( could be used on a door instead) with adhesive stickers.
1 x instructions ( not a user manual – you need to download the app for that)
In addition you will need;
a mobile phone
download the app
powersocket near where you wish to place the hub
masonry drill if you choose to screw things in using the fixings rather than stick up with adhesive stickers.
I have to confess I had no idea that replica siren meant summy siren, this was further a surprise to me as ERA sell dummy sirens int heir shop here but aparently is does ot mean additional siren, which is what I thought, but it means dummy siren so essentially a box which takes stansard AA batteries ( supplied) that dows a blue blip blip. I think this is to deter Burglars, as it looks like the real Siren ERA sell, so how would they know that it doe snot actually make a sound, sort of thing.
The Hub, when you plug it in, has a lovely blue light around the ERA logo to let you know it is on and working.
The PIR sensor comes with not only fitting instructions but also a really strange gizmo, which , once you have drilled the hole in your wall to the correct postition and height, simply screws into the wall, and then, you simply screw the PIR onto it – I have put a photo of it above.
The PIR sensor comes with batteries – apparently you do not need to take it down ( unscerew or unstick) you just need to get up there, slide off the top of hte pir sensor and that is wher ethe battery is.
The window sensor has batteries in it, but you cannot easily get to them, but they are the mini battereis that are a little tricky to get hold of, I have some for another peice of kit my son got for me – they are called CR123A batteries.
These are easily fitted – this time we went for the sticky adhesive pads that are also provided, simply peel off one side and attach that to the back of one half of the sensor, and when ready to position, simply peel off hte other side of the pad and stick it to the window frame or window depending on which part of the window sensor it is ( there are two parts, one big, one small, and each has an arrow on it to help show you how to alighn them, the pointy bits of hte arrows much touch the pointy bits of the arrow on the other half for it to be positioned properly)
There is a tab to pull out to activate the battery, by apparently it was too difficult to get inside it for me to be able to take a photo, hopefully we will be able to get inside it to change the battery later when it needs to be changed.
Then you need to download the app….
I did this, and opened it, went through the permissions thing set up an account, then it stopped working.
I faffled about a while with it and realised that I needed to call the company.
They were very polite on the phone but said that the app – and therefore the whole alarm system we had just installed – would not work unless we granted it ALL the permissions – whichs just to be clear – were many and far exceeded the functionality of htis system — for example it wanted full access to all of my files and contacts and the ability to edit and delete them and call them.
I explained to the friendly chap from ERA tha tI had the Defender model, and there was no functionality that required this access.
They explained to me that I might change it in the furture, I might upgrade to premium package and have hte system call someone if i could not be contacted, and even though the system offered none of these functions tight now, I might choose to upgrade it , at some point, some time, in the future.
I again clarified that i did not have, nor idid I want any other functionality and therefore , and for other obvious reasons – I did not want to give my entire phone contacts list to ERA, on the offchance that at somepoint, sometime, in the future , I may choose, to upgrade, or add something that would then be required to call one single telephone number ( I have a security system at the moment, and it has my telephone number and one other ICE contact and that is entered – in the the same way you have to manually enter your telephone number with ERA, but that it did not go a-snooping throughor possibly calling or spamming my friends and family.)
The chap from ERA assured me that the system would only have access to anything that it needed, and only as and when it needed it, but I was still left concerned.
I am now waiting for a friend to go and get me a cheap mobile phone, so that I can finish setting up this system – however I do have to bear in mind, is that every time the phone stops being upgradeable ( each phone usually only manages to go through 2, possibly 3 android updates before the manufacturer stops upgrading htem, and a cheap phone is likely to be one on its last iteration of android) – I would have to buy an new phone, just ot use this system safely – without giving out personal information that it has absolutely no need to have access to – in the state that it is being sold online as this package.
Iw ill update again, once I have the new phone up and running and have given the system a good test – but so far knocking off a star for this unnecessary accesss attempt at my personal data / inforamtion / contacts, let alone the whole beit of being able to edit and delete my files? why? this Defender set has no need, it can have access to store files, but only I edit and certainly only I get to decide what files, if any , get edleted.
to be continued…
Home Defender Security system, included different fixings but you have to give it full access.
I want to start by saying that i am not the most technical of people and my DIY skills are limited but this was pretty easy for me, just had to take it in stages (after an initial read through the instructions). I unpacked everything and familiarised myself with things first, because i am paranoid at making the siren sound and not being able to turn it off, it is the main reason i have not had an alarm system for so long. Glad to say this hasn’t happened…yet.
I set up the hub to the internet router and downloaded the app on my phone. Everything was really easy if you just take a breath and follow the instructions. Fitting the door/window sensors was easy to do and the motion sensors (i tested them first) have not picked up my large dog so far, which i was a little worried about but did pick my husband up when tested (amazing!).
The kit comes with:
1 x Hub
2 x door/window sensors
2 x motion sensors
2 x remote controls (manual)
1 x siren
Relevant screws and wall sockets
Sticky pads
Ethernet cable (for hub)
Power cable (for hub)
Instructions
Wall mount stencil (for siren)
You need to think about where you are going to place all the sensors to make the most of them but the good thing about this system is that you can buy more of pretty much anything, if needed. After placing all the sensors, i installed the siren, which has all the lights to make it look mean to an intruder. When it sounds the lights flash faster and it all kicks off. When placing the window/door sensors i did notice that you have to make sure the tamper switch is flush at the back, which was a bit tricky to get right with the thick sticky pads, so just have a think before placing them.
The door/window sensors and the siren have tamper switches which is a real plus. You really do not need to be the best at technology or DIY to make this work. It took me under an hour to do pretty much everything. It is simple and versatile and you can add as you go along, which i think is a real selling point. If you can’t afford everything in one go, get the set up system and work from there. It will not cover everything in my house (4 bed with annex) but i have covered all the rooms with expensive items in, a good start.
I highly recommend this system to everyone, pros or noobs. I am really impressed with the ease in which i installed this and the potential effectiveness of the system. You can turn the alarm on and off quickly with the manual remotes or by using the app on the your phone. I was quite anxious about doing this as it is outside my comfort zone but i was surprised and relieved. Very happy me.
Easy to install and use, even for those who are not familia
I am happy with this alarm system, it is perfect for my environment, I have always wanted a house alarm but my problem was I live in a flat, This wireless system solves all the problems of a standard system, the Hub can be placed anywhere so I put mine on my kitchen windowsill, I connected it via ethernet cable to one of my mesh nodes, and it works perfectly,
the home system took me only 20 mins to set up, it was all hassle free, I only have one door to my flat so I only needed one door sensor, now whenever my front door opens I get a notification instantly. this makes me feel so secure, also with the motion sensor that is pet safe means while I am out I don’t need to worry about the cat triggering the alarm,
the Alarm itself it not that loud but it is loud enough to scare any intruder, the hub has a built-in battery so if the power goes down your still protected, it also has a built-in sim card that uses EE for me but it will use the strongest network available, that means my home will still be fully protected if in the event of total power failure or home internet goes offline,
there is a setting in the hub that will call my mobile phone or my parents phone if my alarm is triggered, I tested this and I got a phone call within 30 seconds of the alarm being triggered, you can also choose to get a text but I don’t need that because the app gets a notification..
you get 2 keyrings, with buttons for disabling/enabling the alarm, a button to set the home mode but you also get a fourth button on this you can set a panic alarm if you click the button it will send a text message to a phone number of your choice… if your in an emergency you can have that emergency contact with one click of a button, that a great feature for elderly people if they fall they can get help with one click of a button on the keyring.
there are many additional products like cameras so you can expand your security ecosystem, I think its a brilliant alarm and I am so pleased with.
This home security alarm is designed for easy home setup with minimal wiring required. The kit has a central hub which allows upto 96 devices to be connected. I tested a set of door/window magnetic sensor and PIR sensor. It also included a pair of remote controls to activate/disable alarm and external siren alarm (deterrent) box. On initial setup, the smartphone app was installed and from there, the remaining setup was completed via the mobile app. This included Alexa voice assistance.
Things I liked:
* it took me approx 45-60mins to fully set this up (this is fast compared to a wired alarm system)
* central hub had no issue connection with door magnetic sensor and PIR sensor
* handy pair of remote control fobs
* handy smartphone app to control and monitor alarm status
* 3 months free trial for ERA protect plus subscription
* 4G simcard inside central hub (as backup internet connection if home wifi is down)
Things I didn’t like:
* short ethernet cable supplied
* not as loud as i’d like it to be (80dB internal and 104dB external)
* siren volume not adjustable
* 9.99 per month fee for 30days video storage
Overall, it does work and I do like the dual path feature (4G kick in if home wifi is down). However, the price point is a little high and I have general dislike to subscription fees for Protect Plus plan. I will continue to use this for the remaining 3months and see if I justify the cost… especially during lockdown period with everyone at home.
This wireless alarm system from ERA is a great starter pack.
It comes nicely packaged in a branded box, of which contains:
1 x ERA Wireless Alarm Hub,1 x ERA Wireless Siren Box,1 x Mains Adapter, 1 x PIR Sensors, 1 x PIR Wall mounts, 1 x Door/Window Sensors, 2 x Key Fobs, mounting Pads, wall plugs and screws, ethernet Cable, Instrction Booklet and 3 x AA Batteries.
It is simple to set up in the ERA Protect app, with each device having a QR code you scan within the App and set up from there.
The hub needs a wired ethernet connection and power, so ideally will need to be located near your router and power source.
The PIR Sensor works well and is not triggered by any of my 3 cats.
This is a great bit of Cat that can be built upon, adding extra PIR Sensors, WindowDoor Sensors and even external camera’s to it.
I set up my alarm system this weekend and have to say, I’ve so far been impressed. I really have to impress how easy it was, even for me, who is certainly not DIY minded. My lack of DIY skill is pretty much a running joke in the family at this point and I got the whole thing done in less than 30 minutes. First thing to do was plug in the “hub” that lives next to your router, download the app and register everything. That’s honestly the longest step. After that, you just pop up the various sensors which takes all of 5 minutes and lastly, screw the siren into the wall, which did need a drill, but was otherwise easy.
I set this up in a single bed flat. In that situation, the 2 door/window sensors and 2 IR sensors were more than enough to saturate the entire place. I spoke to my parents about it and my dad seemed to think that it would even be enough for their place, which is a 3 bed semi and I suppose as long as you are strategic with your placement, it would work. I believe it is expandable so that you can buy the individual sensors if you do need extra, or want to upgrade with fancy cameras and such. Everything came smartly packed and individually wrapped and boxed, so well protected. It’s very simple to use and the key fobs that are included are really quick and simple, though you can use the app on your phone too. I’ve used the fobs more these past couple of days, but the app does give you some extra flashiness. The IR sensors claim that they’re animal friendly also seems to be holding up and my cat does not seem to trip them, so that’s good. Overall, I’m really impressed by the whole package and honestly, the peace of mind it’s given me is worth it alone as I have a pretty extensive guitar collection I’d rather not lose…
Hard to knock really, from the ease of set up, the smart looking hub and the functionality, there’s really no low point. I try to be as critical as possible with my reviews, but there’s just not a lot here to criticise honestly. It does the job, it does it well and fitting and set up was simple. Highly recommended!
The ERA home security alarm system is as flexible as you want it, you can set it up to have just one or multiple sensors installed to suit your home. The Alert bundle comes with a Hub (the brain of the system), outdoor wireless siren, 2 x motion detectors, 2 x trip sensors and 2 x fobs to arm disarm the alarm.
Upon checking everything over the build quality is very good and the parts are designed well, to start download the app on your phone first to guide you through the setup process, position the hub near the router, connect the supplied cables and turn on, once the light on the hub has turned green from red then you are connected and can start by adding the sensors, adding the sensors are simple through the app by using the QR code on the item you wish to add, separate items like cameras and more sensors can be purchased and added the same way.
The sensors are easy to install and the instructions are clear to follow, all sensors are anti tamper and you will get notified if they have been moved, the motion sensor has an area underneath that can be tripped if movement is picked up, I thought this was pretty neat compared to other alarms I have used in the past.
The outdoor siren is loud and is battery operated not solar! This is also anti tamper and you will get notified if so, the lights light up every so often to act as a deterrent, they are LED so low power usage and it looks pretty neat!
All the batteries in the sensors can be replaced and you’ll get a notification when they are low
The app has lots of features to use and customise how you want everything setup, you get notifications sent to your phone when the alarm has been triggered.
The hub plays a siren when the alarm goes off, it’s not overly loud but loud enough, the hub has a backup battery in the event of someone pulling the cable or a power cut, if the internet drops you will get notified due to the in built sim, there is also a subscription service that you can have if you wish, be aware when setting up your account you will have 3 months free then you will be charged monthly unless you cancel, just don’t add any payment details.
Overall I’m really impressed but would have liked the hub to wireless to be able to position away from the router, and the addition of a keypad to arm the alarm in addition to a fob, I look forward to adding additional sensors and a camera, thank you.
Straightforward and easy to install.
Install app and pair device.
Connects to WiFi and remotes easy to use.
Good enough system to be awarded a BSI(British Standard Institute)kite mark.
System works in both ethernet and built in SIM card.
Lots of accessories can be added like camera,doorbell and floodlight for added protection.
Can be voice controlled and can be accessed anywhere with the app and other users can be added.
Having always used a wired in alarm before trying this wireless burglar alarm I was a little unsure. However this set is excellent. It arrived well packed, comes with good easy to understand instructions. On arrival I would recommend carefully reading the instructions before start fixing up. Plus trying out before and also down loading the smart phone app. I was really pleased how easy it was to set up the WiFi and app. This system is controlled and operated using smartphone app that can be downloaded, free, to any smartphone and via the included remote controls. The remotes are easy to use. In use the motion detector picks up movement well the alarm is certainly loud enough too. This is the basic pack with one sensor. The set can be easily expanded with add extra sensors and the like.
Used in a community centre.
Very pleased.
This wireless burglar alarm arrived well packed comes with good easy to understand instructions. On arrival I would recommend carefully reading the instructions before start fixing up. Plus trying out before and also down loading the smart phone app. I was really pleased how easy it was to set up the WiFi and app. This system is the instructions say is controlled and operated via a smartphone app that can be downloaded, free, to any smartphone and via two included remote controls. The remotes are easy to use. In use the motion detector picks up movement well the alarm is certainly loud enough too.
Used in a community centre.
Very pleased.
The ERA Alert system is a complete wireless home burglar alarm system and is made up of the main control hub and then various security components which wirelessly link to it.
The hub itself is compact in size (approx. 150mm x 150mm x 30mm) and has a very simple but modern look (it looks very much like a wireless internet access point).
The top features a nice LED status ring around the ERA logo, whilst the bottom has a removable mounting plate which covers the 2 wired connections (mains power and Ethernet).
There are several security sensors included with the Alert model.
There are 2 x Wireless pet friendly PIR sensors to detect movement inside your home and trigger the alarm. These are quite small in size (Approx 80mm x 50mm x 36mm excluding the wall mount which simply screws into the thread on the back). The PIR is located on the front and there is also a section on the bottom to detect anybody trying to sneak underneath the sensor.
The top panel is removed easily by pulling it away to reveal a user replaceable CR123A Lithium battery.
Also included are 2 x magnetic window/door sensors. These are a little larger than what I’ve been used to with my old wired system (due to having to accommodate a battery), and measure approximately 70mm x 21mm x 20mm for the main part and 32mm x 10mm x 15mm for the magnet part.
The rear of the main sensor simply pops off to reveal another user replaceable CR123A lithium battery.
There is also an anti-tamper switch on the rear of the unit which will trigger the alarm, should the unit be removed.
2 x Remote keyfobs are supplied to let you quickly arm/disarm the system, activate the home mode and if you have a subscription, there is a button to trigger another action.
A wireless external alarm box with a 104 decibel siren rounds of the package. This looks identical to the dummy ERA box I reviewed earlier. Once the battery pack is connected, LED lights will flash briefly every few seconds to warn would be intruders that the alarm is working and if the system is triggered the siren will then activate and the lights will flash brighter and faster. The rear of this box also has an anti-tamper switch to trigger the alarm, should somebody try to remove it.
***** In The Box *****
1 x ERA Wireless Alarm Hub
1 x ERA Wireless Siren Box
1 x Mains Adaper
2 x PIR Sensors
2 x PIR Wall mounts
2 x Door/Window Sensors
2 x Remote Key Fobs
Various Sticky Mounting Pads
Selection of wall fixings and screws
1 x Ethernet Cable
1 x Siren Drilling Guide
1 x User Guide
***** Installation / Usage *****
Initial setup is quite straight forward.
Start by installing the ERA Protect app to your smartphone.
Once installed, open the app and follow the steps to create a new account (if you don’t already have one) and then choose the ERA Protect alarm from the list. Connect the hub to the mains and also connect an Ethernet cable between the hub and your Internet Router. Once the hub’s status light turns green, continue following the steps on the screen (This involves typing in the hub’s ID or scanning the QR code), giving the hub a name and setting the time zone. Once completed, you will also activate a free 90 day trial of the ERA Plus service.
The device is now setup, but you will need to add each sensor and key fob to be able to use them.
This is a straight forward process. Click the + icon in the top right corner of the app, select the type of accessory you want to add, scan the accessories QR code (or type in it’s number) and then give it a name.
Once everything has been added to the system you can fix them in place using the supplied screws or sticky pads.
The system can be armed using the large buttons on the mobile app or by pressing and holding the buttons on the remote key fob. When arming/disarming a notification is immediately sent to your phone to tell you what has happened and which device did it.
When the alarm is triggered the hub itself plays a siren sound (not overly loudly), but of course if you have the outdoor siren installed that will also be triggered and is loud. You will of course also receive a notification to your smartphone informing you and also telling you which sensor has set the alarm off.
There are various settings that can be changed, these include the option to change the name of your hub, alter the amount of time it takes to set the system once you press the arm button, turn on/off the tamper switches (could be useful if decorating and need to remove a sensor), to allow or disallow the alarm to arm should a sensor not be closed and to set what happens when the home mode is activated (this is a useful feature as it allows you to arm the system when you are at home, but turn off certain sensors — you could for example switch off motion detectors but keep the door sensors active whilst you are at home).
You also have the option to enable the auto disarm function, which will send a notification to your phone if you leave home but forget to activate the alarm and it can also automatically disarm the system when you return home.
***** Conclusion *****
I have always been a little sceptical of wireless alarm systems and have been using a simple wired one, but things have moved on and wireless systems have become a lot more reliable and have more smart features.
The ERA Protect is extremely easy to install and configure using simple QR codes. It took me a day to install my wired system, but this one can literally be installed and running in a matter of minutes.
I like the overall look and design of the product, as it’s quite compact and discrete but very loud. Having 2 remote key fobs is great as both myself and my partner can have one. We can of course use our phones to control the system, but the fobs are convenient for those times you run out of battery or forget your phone.
I really like having the Smart features with notifications being almost instant and you can see a list of actions or alarms that have occurred on different dates.
Another feature I like is the ability to quickly and easily expand the system with extra sensors or accessories.
You have the option of paying for a subscription that monitors your alarm, although you don’t have to have this and the product functions perfectly without it. Some manufacturers remove many useful features unless you pay a subscription fee, but I’m glad to report that isn’t the case here.
Alexa and Google integration is also available for those of you that like to control things with voice commands and the smartphone app is surprisingly functional and easy to use.
It is also worth noting that there is a battery backup inside the hub should the power be switched off, as well as a SIM card should your internet connection go down (SIM requires subscription).
All in all this is a really nice system and a worthy upgrade to my old wired one – I’d have no problem in recommending it and will be expanding it with some more accessories.
Good quality, very easy to install alarm system with clear instructions. Value for money compared to the big installers for a similar product. My only criticism would be that the alarm box cover screw should be encapsulated so that it cannot fall out during fitting when at height. Mine went on the gable end. Tip … I tied a piece of cotton to it then held the end in my teeth so if i didn’t lose it if dropped. Alarm box periodically flashes at night whether armed or not so a useful deterrent. Would definitely recommend.
DIY security can be fiddly, so this wasn’t too bad. Siren a nag as are all if up a ladder. So far does what it says. Niggles- voice command quiet, and you can’t activate with the door still open as it reads as a fault and won’t set. Of course, shutting the door makes it even harder to hear.
Easy to use great product. Highly recommend. The extra genuine bell box is great too.
This is great value for a wireless alarm system. Yes it has its quirks, but these are all documented in the instructions, which are made very hard to read by using light grey text (why??). Most of the ‘problems’ other users have raised are actually documented features! RTFM!! With a strong light and a magnifying glass!
So to the actual product – classy packing, well constructed items, easy to install, all worked first time. Just take your time. The app is clear and mimics the fob, and it just needs a bit of usage to build your confidence, have a play.
Two minors issues for me:
No door chime – I guess that is due to the wireless approach and wanting to maintain battery life.
Camera – whilst these are accessed through the app there is no integration with the alarm. They are a bought in and rebranded ‘extra’. And like others, it took me over 6 attempts to connect it in, and (in my house it’s only got a short range, you will probably need to connect it with an Ethernet cable, I used a wireless router to boost things.
Finally – Another reviewer mentioned the small firm versus the big boys. Do I want everything linked with Google or Amazon? No! Keep this separate. I am happy!
This alarm needs recent android is. Advertised as 7 when viewing,8.1 when installing and already has gone up to 9. Don’t know about apple. Had to buy a new phone to install as mine was running 8. Installation by scanning didn’t work so had to use manual input. That being said it was reasonably easy. Have given it 4 for motion detection. Door alarms work well. Overall happy
I have been researching and looking for some kind of Burglar Alarm System for months, and eventually brought this Burglar Alarm System.
And I can truthfully say I am very pleased, as I have put the censers in a log cabin in my garden which is 40 meters away from the house, with the main HUB in the house, and it works perfectly, with so far not one false alarm.
I called the help line and spoke to the staff a few times, asking and checking how I must install the system, and they are so good and helpful.
In fact I have never know such helpful caring people.
And it is written on the box a help phone number, which is truly amazing and is peace of mind and assurance of good after sales.
The only thing I can fault with this system is that there is no visual indicator saying if it is armed or not, so you have to check the app.
But the app works very well.
The Alarm system even works when the power is switched off, including if the earth nett cable gets discounted.
I will be upgrading this system with many of the other addons like the cameras and flood lights.
Very pleased.
Clear installation instructions, easy to set up via their app, central unit connects to wifi box, easy to add new sensors/devices. motion detectors are ‘pet-friendly’ which means they don’t react to every movement but work fine. (We don’t have pets). Remote control and app provide easy alarm set/unset. Basically exactly what we had from ADT without a monthly alarm subscription.
After a burglary that left me feeling unsafe and unable to leave my home. ERA security alarm system, with some added extras, has enabled me to venture out again with the knowledge that any uninvited persons on my property will soon be detected.
Easy installation, however I did find the company’s helpline very helpful when we had a question during installation.
Installing the door/window sensors and the PIR units were really easy. I bought an extra PIR unit so there are now 3 to match the old system. Getting them all scanned and recognised by the app was without fuss, though it took a while for the green light to come on on the main unit that plugs into my router.
The last thing I installed was the siren. I noticed that it’s constantly flashing left and right every 3, 4 seconds. I thought that must be a drain on the batteries? The siren I’ve installed in the same position as my old one and needs the long step ladders which I don’t enjoy climbing, so I hope they last.
I purposely triggered the siren to see how loud it is. It’s about as loud as a car alarm, so not crazy loud. Again, it’s probably to save on batteries.
That’s my main concern, how often I need to change batteries. Other than that, it’s all good. Maybe I’d also prefer to screw on the door/window sensors rather than using sticky tape.
Good deal though.
We wanted to get an alarm system that would alert on our mobiles and also be able to monitor the garage.
We setup the alarm to integrate with my alexa. We use our Alexa devices to arm the alarm at night which works really well 99% of the time. Being able to use the app has been handy whilst we were away and had workmen in as we can arm and disarm the alarm remotely. The ability to buy additional individual pieces was really great.
The alarm system arrived in a well packaged box once opened set everything out and downloaded the app. The alarm system took around 2 hours to install. Over the 2 months of using this alarm I haven’t had any problems with it.
I find that there could be some improvements on the pre-set options for the different modes as these do not work for me.
I also find that we have never used the key pad as use our phone to disable the alarm.
Overall, I like the ease of using this and the peace of mind!
I am so mad i lost all my original pics i took of this item so at some stage i will take more as i like to try and include pics with the majoprity of my reviews.
The item itself arrived very well packaged as you would expect.
It has a very tidy quality appearance to it, is very easy to set up (and i am super rubbish at this kind of thing so if i can do it anybody can).
In my situation i wanted to cover the back side of my home more, overlook the garden and the side i wanted to be sen as using an alarm.
It works really well, motion sensor seems adequate , and i like the variety of choice the whole kit gives me.
I would recommend this item.
Its a really good price for something that looks like it should be so much more expensive than it is.
All round good choice.
Easy to set up but can’t use the sensors as it seems my dog is over the size that trips them. If you have a larger size dog then the sensors are therefore unusable. I managed to set it up easily and besides the issue of the sensors going off (thankfully we tested it prior to actually actually leaving the area!) has, so far, worked well.
I guess home security systems are all about two things, deterrence and consequence, in other words you’re trying to dissuade burglars from picking your property and you’re trying to catch them at it if they do. This ‘Alert’ set from ERA Protect does a bit of both and seems like a great place to start if you’ve got an apartment or small house, although you can always add further components if you need them later. The deterrence element is mainly the very conspicuous active alarm that gets attached to the outside of your house and that flashes a little LED constantly so anyone knows your system is active. It doesn’t need to be wired in, which makes installation much easier, but it runs on batteries that will need to be replaced every couple of years so it needs to be in a reasonably accessible position. You also get a couple of PIR sensors which are inconspicuously styled in white and moderately sized but placing them in a position where they can be seen through windows might also add to the deterrent value. The door or window sensors are much more subtle and can easily be secreted somewhere along the frame of a vulnerable window or patio door without looking too clunky or intrusive. These two-part sensors are also reasonably flexible in the way they need to be orientated to each other and will work as long as they’re in close proximity (preferably within 1cm) so should be usable in a variety of situations.
You also get the necessary hub which connects to your home router via Ethernet (not wi-fi) and so you’ll need an available Ethernet port obviously. The hub connects to all your components via their own wireless network and allows you to configure and control everything via an app on your smartphone. It’s pretty easy to add new components to the system, they all have QR codes on them which you scan using your smartphone and this pairs them with your hub and lets you name and configure them to suit your setup. With that done you’ve now got an alarm system you can control from your smartphone or using the key fob remote controls included and if it detects an intrusion you get alerted via the Internet wherever you are (while your neighbours get alerted by the alarm going off) and can take appropriate action. The thing to be aware of is that unless you pay an ongoing subscription that’s all this system can do, which may well be enough for most people, although both the price and the quality of components is really good.
The main weakness with the basic system is that it’s dependant on an Internet connection to alert you and so any intruder that can interrupt your internet connection can (partially) disable the alarm. To avoid this the hub has a small backup battery and an inbuilt SIM that connects via 4G to any available mobile network and alerts you that way. You get a 3 month trial period of 4G backup when you first setup your system but if you want the 4G backup to continue you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription which is currently 9.99 per month, with a cheaper annual option. The subscription includes some other benefits, most notably it can provide online storage if your system includes an ERA security camera, although this ‘Alert’ kit doesn’t include one. It appears there’s no long-term contract with the subscription so presumably you could enable it just when you’re actually away on holiday for the extra peace of mind, which is useful.
Overall it’s a simple to use and impressively featured security system that hopefully provides enough deterrent to keep your property safe(r). The ongoing subscription seems a bit pricey to me unless you’re going to add a security camera and want to be able to store photos or videos of your callers, invited or not, but at least the three month trial lets you decide that for yourself. As a one-box security system it’s pretty good though and certainly worth considering.
This is a great quality easy to install wireless alarm system. It’s a fraction of the price you’d have to pay for a professional alarm installation buy other alarm companies. I had a quote done once and they said I’d be looking at almost 1000 so price wise these self install wireless alarm systems are a great way to save money. Some people aren’t a fan of wireless alarm systems but I’ve been using one for over a year and I’ve not had any issues. This system is really easy to install, be careful mounting the siren if you’re mounting it high up like me, it’s the most difficult part of the system to install because you have to drill into the walls but otherwise you’re good. The flexibility of this system is great and has it has a great number of expandable options such as cameras, floodlight and other sensors which are all linked together. The smart home functionality baked into the system is also pretty impressive and better than what I get with my old Yale alarm system. I do love that the alarm has a embedded SIM card for a backup 4G connection in case of a problem with your internet, please note, the sim will only work if you have a paid subscription plan. And that brings me on to my only niggle with this system, the subscription plan. The cheapest option is 9.99 a month which includes a bunch of features such as storage and voice calling which a lot of people won’t need. I wish there was a cheaper option that just covered the 4G connectivity and the SMS alerts as that’s all I need. That’s my only gripe to be fair, otherwise it’s a great system that works really well.
This Era wireless smart home alarm kit arrived in well packed box.i received in 1x Era wireless alarm hub ,1x siren box, 1x main adapter,2 x door/window sensor,2 x emote key fobs, , 1x replica siren, 2 PIR sensors, 2x PIR wall mount 1x ethernet cable,1x drilling guide,1x instruction book.Simple to use and i found this easy to install straight from the box. Instruction were really easy to follow, Fitted quickly and up and running in no time. Setup was straight forward the App very easy to use and there is a QR code for each item to install to the app and this app makes easy to access to alarm system, doorbell and camera from anywhere.
.the hub looks very nice and it comes with battery and GSM network connection wich is great in case you power goes down the system still works! All in all excellent system providing good level of security and peace of mind.overall I am really impressed
God quality system to use, however need to buy more detectors as the basic set does not have enough
This kit came complete with two pet friendly Infra-red sensors (PIR), two magnetic door/window sensors, a hub, a Cat 6 Ethernet cable for connecting the hub to the internet and a Siren/Light box for fixing outside the premises to be protected. The provided hub must be connected to the internet by a wired connection to a router. A backup 4G service is available in case your own internet connection fails, but this is part of the ‘Plus’ service (see below).
Physically installing the alarm system was pretty straightforward and any competent DIY-er should not find it challenging.
It is a good idea to write down the numbers of the door sensors as they are covered up when the adhesive backing is applied. The numbers are required to add the sensors to the system. In comparison, the PIRs have a QR cod on the side of them, so they can be scanned into the ERA Protect app. The doors in my house are not flush with the door frame, so I had to position them in an alternative position. Although I installed them in a manner that appears compatible with the instructions and also tested them before sticking them down (sensor LED is activated when the sensor parts are moved apart as if the door was opening, and deactivated when they come back together again), the system reports a fault. I think I will need to get some assistance with this from ERA’s helpline.
When installing the sensors, both door/window contact sensors or the PIR sensors, you have the option to either to use the supplied sticky 3M strips or use a raw plug and screws, also supplied. I chose to use the raw plug and screws for the PIRs and they were easily installed – just make sure there is room at the corners of a wall to rotate the PIR round to screw it on to the fixing.
Contrary to other reviews also, the gimbal that a PIR attaches to can rotate – both in a circle and up and down – so the exact position can be easily adjusted.
The outside siren/light box was easily installed using the supplied paper template for drilling holes. All fixings-screws and raw plugs are supplied – you only need to supply the 7 mm drill bit and a drill. The only slightly problematical part of installation was ensuring that the rubber bung that covers the tamper sensor which presses against the wall remained in place, while at the same time, inside the box, ensuring that the wires to this switch remained in place and that the switch did not pop out prior to installing the front cover. I found installing the front cover fiddly, but not difficult. In all, this was an easy part of the alarm to install.
Regarding the siren box, contrary to some other reviews, this is not a dummy box. When the alarm system is triggered, it sounds a loud siren (104 dB) and the system activates strobe lights. When the system is not alarmed, there is a regular flashing of lights between the two front sides of the box, indicating that there is a live system installed. So this is a true, visible deterrent to any would-be burglar.
Some reviews have mentioned concern over permissions requested by the app (which is available for both iOS and Android). Using the iOS app, I found that the only permissions that the app required were for access to the Photos folder, which is expected if the system is to save video footage to the system and or cloud. I was also able connect this to my Alexa system, so I can arm and disarm the alarm system without using the included fob or the app. I would always advise having the fob as a backup, though.
After installing the physical components (connecting the hub to the router, fixing the sensors and alarm box), I found that setup and configuration wasn’t straightforward, although the basic setting up of the system including registration/activation via the internet was very easy using the iOS app. You are initially granted 3 months access to the plus service, which has additional functionality storing video content and allowing the configuration of a specific button.
This premium service ‘Plus’ that comes bundled when you activate the product, initially for 3 months. This adds the facility for a backup 4G connection, customisation of the ‘Plus’ button on the remotes and app, together with the ability to store video footage. At 10 per month or 100 per annum, I think it is quite expensive for what it is, but for those with systems that also include video cameras or video doorbells, it would be quite good value.
After installation, the two door sensors were not working properly and I couldn’t set the alarm because of this (note that there is an option in the app settings to ignore sensors that are not working properly when the system is armed, though the app cautions you not to do this). I was able to delete these door sensors from the system and still set the app. However, in a couple of instances I did find the system glitchy where it didn’t want to set the alarm, although a few minutes later, the alarm would set. I need to do more testing to find out how often this particular issue occurs and probably take some advice from ERA. You certainly want your alarm to arm and disarm when you want it to.
I also felt that I had to go too close to the hub to disarm the system with the fob, but this could be due to my internal walls which are solid.
Furthermore, I’m not always sure that the PIRs are always detecting movement – this could be their allowance not to detect pets of up to 25 kg (too low to support an adult Labrador, I’m afraid); again I think I need to take advice from ERA. However, this does reduce my confidence a bit. I’m sure they would eventually activate if there ever was an intruder. Note that I did test this by arming the system with two of us walking around to test.
I also updated the systems firmware through the app. This was a very quick and trouble free process- I only wish that some other manufactures would release similar firmware updates.
One thing I felt lacking from the system is the ability to test sensors – the system only tells you if the sensor is installed or not and its associated number, not whether it is functioning. This would make troubleshooting the system so much easier as well as giving confidence to the owner that the system is functioning correctly.
All in all, this is a pretty good value kit which compares favourably in price to other alarm systems. I suspect that some of the issues I have mentioned above are due to small hiccups which can probably be easily remedied with a call to the helpdesk. However, I do feel that the inability to test your sensors to ensure they are working lets the system down and I’m sure that this could be easily addressed in a future firmware update. Because of these relatively small issues, I am giving this system a 4 star rating rather than 5. This could potentially be considered slightly unfair as I haven’t contacted ERA about these issues; but at the same time, one hopes for a trouble free setup out of the box, so I feel this is a valid deduction.
For the functionality and price, assuming that the system continues to arm and disarm without issue, I would give the ERA protect system my recommendation. The ability to add other components such as smart devices, touch sensors, RFID tags and video cameras means that this system can grow with your needs. As all the sensors are wireless, the system should be easily enhanced.
There have been a string of break ins locally and so we decided to get an alarm system for our outside office space. This seemed the ideal option as we didn’t want to pay a lot of money to have one professionally fitted.
The pros-
Easy to install
Easy to set up
Pet friendly (up to 25kg)
Soft wear and fob settings the same so can set up everything from your phone
Alexa friendly
The cons-
Fitting the external alarm was tricky
Use of batteries for the outside bell which means having to get up to change them and can be expensive although we haven’t had to change them yet.
Getting the right position near the router
But overall we have found this to be an easy and inexpensive home security option for us!
This is so easy to install. I did it myself in two hours flat. All controlled by the app. Brilliant. Such peace of mind!
I found this really easy to install when following the instructions. The box comes with everything you need to put everything up including the fittings etc. I like how they include fittings that don’t leave marks on the walls as I’m renting and that’s a big issue! The whole system connects to a smartphone app which is very useful but only if you have one obviously. The data is end-to-end encrypted for ultimate security so it’s all very safe. It’s so useful to be able to access the system wherever you are via phone app. The system works on ethernet cable and an internal sim card so it’s always connected. I’ve found this system to be very easy to use and gives me great peace of mind when I’m away!
In the box you get; 1x Central Alarm Hub, 2x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 2x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Live Siren, All fittings and operational instructions + Free 3 month trial of ERA Protect Plus Subscription on activation of account.
I found it relatively easy to set up, there is a little diy involved and it took me around an hour. It is quite a straight forward kit and one that you can expand, although i personally find expanding it to what I really need is quite expensive plus the cost of a monthly subscription. It does feel a little outdated with a lack of cctv but this is something that can be added.
I had a professional install mine so I didn’t have the difficulty of installation
It’s been great, no issues, no unexpected alarms or anything
We have recently moved into our new home and although there is a wired alarm system I wanted something that was a bit more precise about protecting the downstairs as not everywhere is covered by the existing system as the house has been extensively extended over the years. I got the late version of the system which was ideal for me as I have two zones that I wanted covered by PIR, and two main entry and exit doors. This was well catered for by what was included in the box but if I wish to add on more protection i.e. for my garage then I can do that with ease.
Once the main hub unit was connected to my Internet Router, then it was a case of following the initial setup within the app to 1st register the hub to my user account and then I added each accessory individually. Actually securing and installing all the kit took around 45 minutes or and then the software set up around 15 so in an hour I had everything set up and figured with relative ease. I would recommend checking the signal from the accessory to where your hub is as before I installed the PIR in its permanent location I tried it in the furthest away place that I would want to protect and I was unable to get it to link but that is due to the very thick outer walls in my house. It when the time comes I choose to protect the extension then I will use a longer Network to connect the hub to the router and place it in a more central location in the house.
In terms of app operation there is some really nice functions that use your location information to let you know if you’ve left the house and not set the alarm and also allowed for the alarm to be automatically unset when you arrive home. I also like the fact that if I had my parents drop by to collect anything they can just give me a call and I can disable the alarm and then rearm it once they have left.
The main siren does exactly what I was expected to do and makes a hell of a racket. Ultimately an alarm will never stop a burglary however in combination with some common sense approach is to home security a ring doorbell and this smart alarm I would know the instant someone broke in my house and I would also be able to alert the authorities.
In terms of installation I would say most people could manage it as long as you are able to pull up a picture and just do some basic software stuff on the app which is guided really well.
It has taken me 6 weeks to review this because i had to have it installed by a professional trademan as i couldnt make head nor tail of it. He said it was relatively straightforward. The only thing i care about is that it works.
You get 1x Central Alarm Hub, 1x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 1x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Replica Siren.
What surprised me was that the external alarm is fake, it doesnt even make a noise, can someone please explain what the point is? Burglars are going to know its fake just by looking at it.
I like the pet sensors as i have a dog, they didnt trigger the alarm which is good because it would have scared the stuffing out of me whilst i was asleep.
It does make me feel safer as i am disabled as i live by myself and so for peace of mind this is quite good. I will say that i do feel that it is rather expensive for the money, especially as it doesnt come with any cameras which i do feel that it is missing.
Overall a decent package but be mindful of what your security needs are.
This is a great modern home security system controlled by a smartphone app where you can connect up to 96 accessories! You don’t need to be at home as long as you’re connected to the internet you can access your home alarm system, doorbell & cameras from anywhere. It was also easy to connect up to my Alexas.
Everything is super easy to install just follow the step by step instructions on the app.
Once connected any instructions given to the home security system is then sent as a notification to your phone. When the alarm is triggered the inside home hub will siren , not overly loud but if you’ve added an outdoor siren than too will alarm and that is very loud.
If you internet fails the system will automatically switch to the included SIM card ( subscription will be needed ) to ensure you’re protected at all times.
This kit includes 1x Central Alarm Hub, 2x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 2x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Live Siren, All fittings and operational instructions + Free 3 month trial of our ERA Protect Plus Subscription on activation of account.
Overall this is a very good wireless system. Easy to set up and reliable at all times. I would recommend !
Upon recieving this kit and unboxing i was slightly dissapointed with what you get for the price. Included is a ‘dummy’ alarm which is to be placed outside as a deterant which lights up light a real alarm but does not react to any sensors. You do receive a single sensor, 2 remotes, a door alarm. The stuff included are very good and I did need to contact support and they were very quick to respond and help and i suppose you are paying for the inclusion into the system but for what you get with this set i do think it is very expensive and probably not worth getting, although i havent tried the other kits I would recommend one of their more expensive kits with more included, i can justify the price of this as each item i believe could be purchased elsewhere for much cheaper.
I got this alarm system for my Dads house as he’s quite security conscious and doesn’t live in the nicest area (I won’t area shame!).
The kit is supplied in one box and comes with the main hub, outdoor siren, 2 x Pet Friendly Sensors, 2 x Door/Window contacts and 2 x Key Fobs. The only mains powered element is the Hub which also needs to be hardwired to your router (there may be a wireless option but I would only ever want to hardwire as WiFi can sometimes be temperamental). The remaining items are all battery powered (including the siren) and all come with batteries supplied (the siren battery is not connected to prevent power loss in storage so needs to be connected when fitting and each of the smaller accessories have small plastic shields preventing the batteries making contact which simply need to be pulled out to activate the unit).
The installation in my opinion couldn’t be easier, the instruction manual is worryingly small however it is just a case of downloading an App from either the App Store for IPhone or Google Play Store for Android (there are simple QR codes in the manual you can scan to take you straight to the correct app – you may just need to download a simply QR reader app or just search for the “ERA Protect” App manually).
Once you have downloaded the App, just plug the hub in, connect it via the supplied Ethernet cable to your WiFi router and then hit the plus sign in the top right corner of the app. Each part of the system needs to be added to the App to build/connect the system together but this really is simple – hit the plus sign, select what item you are adding (sensor, siren, door contact etc) and then within the App you have a QR scanner that uses your phones camera to scan the QR code on the individual device and once it reads it, you name the individual device (eg: front door, lounge etc) and that’s it – Done!
Once each device is added, you need to physically install them. The smaller items (sensors and door contacts) have two means of installation – (1) Hard Fixing by screws/plugs supplied or (2) 3M sticky pads supplied – I went for the sticky pads which was as simple as it sounds – and being 3M, the pads were strong! One tip – on the door contacts, you have two parts which sit side by side (one on the door, one on the frame). Essentially a magnet is in the small part and when the door opens, the magnet is moved away from the larger sensor which then triggers the switch (thus activating the alarm if it’s set). Be sure to align the two parts correctly (there are arrows on both to ensure you align the sides correctly (being a bloke, I didn’t read the instructions properly so one didn’t work until I realised what I had done wrong – my bad!).
The siren is installed using screws and plugs so you will need a drill for this (7mm masonry bit if you’re drilling into brickwork). Handily, the pack comes with a template sticker that you simply stick to the wall where you want the siren to sit, drill through the three marked holes, pop the plugs in and then screw the back of the siren onto the wall – really couldn’t be simpler and went up like a dream!
Of note, the App defaults to turning the tamper element of each device off (to aid installation). The tampers are small contact switches that when the device is in situ, are held against the fitted surface but if someone attempts to remove the device, the tamper switch is activated and the alarm sounds. Once installation is complete, you just need to go through the settings menu to activate the tampers.
The App itself appears pretty decent and you can add two phone numbers to the system and select if the system calls you in the event of an alarm activation or sends an SMS – I opted for an SMS and when testing the system, it worked every time.
The alarm can be put on a Home Set (ie when you go to bed) or a full set (when you go out). It’s easy within the app to determine which devices are active during a Home Set (ie the downstairs elements active but upstairs not). The alarm can be set using either of the supplied Key Fobs or the App itself and when you log into the App it shows you the status of the alarm – great if you have OCD tendencies (Did I set the alarm before we left the house????? And if you forgot, just set it from the App!).
In terms of its operation on a daily basis, I’m writing this review pretty soon after installation so can’t really comment on the day to day experience/reliability of it but it all works great now so don’t anticipate any issues (but if I get any, I will add to this review).
In terms of adding to the system, there are several additional accessories you buy to expand the system (including Cameras), two door contacts and two sensors is probably not enough to safeguard the average family home so bear this in mind if you opt for this unit – you may need to spend a bit more!
The other thing to bear in mind is that the unit comes with an internal 4G Sim and when you first activate the unit and download the App, your free 90 day subscription starts for the Protection Plus service (no payment details taken). This means that regardless of internet connectivity, the system can still send an SMS in the event of an alarm. However, if you don’t intend to pay for this service beyond the free trial (which I don’t), you will lose the 4G capability so in the event your internet fails, the alarm (whilst should still work as a standalone alarm), will have no ability to send activations to your phone/device.
All things considered, I think this is a decent alarm system and thus far, would be happy to recommend it to anyone. I have only given it four stars as it’s just a bit too early to say it’s a 5 star product yet as I don’t think I’ve used to enough. However, if you’re in the market for an alarm and want one that’s easy to install, I would happily recommend it.
First of all I need to tell you that I did not purchase this item but it was sent to me by Amazon in return for an unbiased and honest review.
This is a Home Security Burglar Alarm System by ERA Protect – Next Generation Smart Wireless House Alarm.
Downloaded the ap which was easy (make sure you get the right one Android or Apple).
We then connected the Hub to our router – this takes between 5 and 6 minutes for the red light to turn to green which mean hub is operational.
We then followed the instructions on the ap for connecting to our smart phone the connected the sensors registering them on the ap.
In the kit there are two door/window sensors and two proximity sensors, all of these were installed within about 45 mins.
The last thing we did was to activate the remote controls – 2 supplied.
We like the fact that if we go on hols and the alarm goes off, it will ring/text our mobile, after discussion with neighbours and all is well – we can then de activate the alarm from our mobile.
Overall we found this easy to install if you read the instructions.
Took my husband about an hour to install and we are thrilled with it.
I can update this review when the system is bedded in awhile but so far can heartily recommend.
Relatively easy to put up, connects directly to the router with supplied ethernet cable aswell. Motion detection works well, also our little JRT doesn’t set it off which is great. The dummy alarm for outside is just for show, that’s easy to put up. All screws and plugs provided and it comes with a piece of paper so you know where to drill the holes.
All in all its a good little cheap set and no complaints so fa
I was very happy to receive this home alarm system, it came well packaged and presented. I received the ‘Deter’ kit, this consists of:
1x 1x Central Alarm Hub
1x Pet Friendly PIR
1x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts,
2x Remote Controls
1x Replica Siren
You receive all fittings and operational instructions. Included is a Free 3 month trial of ERA Protect Plus Subscription on activation of account. After this the plan costs 9.99 a month, or you can pay 19.99 a month and receive professional monitoring also.
The alarm is super simple to set up, the first thing you need to do is power up the hub, create an account, and connect all accessories. Each item is registered by scanning the QR code.
The siren received with the deter kit is just a dummy siren, it does have a comfort light, which flashes every so often to deter potential burglars! This is powered by 3x AA batteries.
Arming/disarming the system is extremely simple, and can be done via the app or remote controls. Padlock is for full arm when you are away from home, home button is when you are home (door sensors active but PIR not active), and unlocked padlock disarms the system completely.
This system was extremely simple to install, setup and to use! I highly recommend to others!
I am very impressed indeed with this flexible and extendable alarm system. The system is wireless except for the hub which comes with a power cable and and is very easy to set up using the app.
In this ‘Alert’ set you get two interior motion detectors, which are set up to avoid being set off by small pets, and two window or door detectors. They can be positioned where you wish using the sticky pads or screw attachments provided. The whole system is battery operated, including the 104db siren (changing the batteries on that will be something of a fiddle and you might want to consider the solar powered version to avoid that).
Some of the larger sets come with more sensors and cameras, but the sensors in particular are easy to order and fairly inexpensive ( under 30 presently) and we will be adding significantly to our set. You can also pay a monthly subscription that can give security monitoring for your home. With this set you get two remote controls and the system can also be managed from the app. Each device comes with an anti tamper feature that will set off the alarm if anyone tries to disable or remove a piece of the system
This really is an excellent flexible system – the sensors are unobtrusive in a room, the alarm is loud and it is easy to set up, to manage and to extend
I have been trying out the “Deter” version of this ERA Home Security Burglar Alarm System. Essentially the deter comes with a couple of door/window sensors a room movement sensor a central hub, a couple of remote controls (his & hers?) and an external “fake” alarm cover to attach to your external wall. The aim, I assume, of this fake alarm is to “deter” potential crooks. It has some LED lights in it which flash blue occasionally so to to convince said crooks that its a working alarm. The drag of course is that you’ll need to change the AA batteries each time they run out. Perhaps a couple of small solar panels on the top of the unit would have been more practical.
So onto the sensors and the hub.
After downloading the app to my and my wife’s phone we set up the sensors on our back door and one window and put the room sensor in the hallway to cover any movement through there. This was all pleasantly easy to set up. The instructions are clear and the app, hub and sensors all connected with each other first time. We have three dogs so was pleased to read that the room sensor is pet friendly. Well it is sometimes. I think it must work on some kind of mass calculation, because if our two larger dogs decide to walk through the hall together we receive a notification on our phones. But individual canine journeys through the hallway are not notified. That said that’s no big deal with this system as it doesn’t set off an outside alarm to disturb neighbours.
All in all I’d say this is a good starter alarm/security pack for someone who wants to put some form of security in their home. Additional components (sensors/cameras etc) can be added over time. For what it is though it is perhaps a little bit on the pricey side (269 at time of writing) I installed a very similar basic system in my Mother’s house about a year ago which cost me half as much and works just about the same (no fake alarm siren outside though)….but it did come with a camera.
This is very easy to set up and install. Within 10 minutes of opening the box I had installed the app and apart from erecting the dummy box/deterrent box on the outside of my house and it was ready to use.
I have two cats who like to wander the house at night. The motion detectors are not triggered for weights under 25kg, so the cats do not set it off.
This kit comes with a lot of equipment, but you can also buy add ons to tailor the alarm for your needs. I will be buying a camera, and also another door sensor.
You control the alarm via an app, which is very easy to use. It works via the internet and a provided sim card so there is no wiring, and the sensors can easily be moved.
This alarm is very high quality, much better than I expected, and also uncomplicated to use. I am very pleased with it.
Really impressed with this system! It was so easy to install and set up, considering I’m dinner that usually struggles with that kind of stuff. It looks sleek and tidy, also discreet. I like how accessible the system is to myself as well so I can constantly check and feel up to date on everything going on in my house.
The house alarm system looks a comprehensive system for our house
We plan to use the two door / window sensors at the back door and the conservatory door and set up the sensors near the front and back of the house.
It looks a great system as you can add to it as you go / required.
I like you can control it on your phone and therefore if you are away you will know if it’s going off and can hopefully notify who you need too. Our old alarm system was wired into the house and there was no element to control externally.
I’ve had a look through the instruction manual and although there are a lot of components to it and steps it looks fairly easy to install.
This initial response now seems justified – obviously installation and therefore tools and equipment are required but none of this requires anything more than standard diy competence
A mobile phone is also required and the inevitable app, if you have any concerns over data security a little more research is required but this is a uk company so they are accessible
This alarm system is good value for money and you can install it and operate it quite easily by yourself. It is unobtrusive and simple to operate.
Its an 8-piece kit which has door sensors, alarm station and remote to arm or disarm the system. The kit includes 1x Central Alarm Hub, 1x Pet Friendly PIR’s, 1x Door/ Window Magnetic Contacts, 2x Remote Controls, 1x Replica Siren.
This app based system is simple to set up by pairing all components with the ERA prior to installation. It took me three hours to get everything ready to install and a further two hours to install including fitting the siren to the front of our house.
The hub was probably the most involved element of the system to set up, but it was fairly straightforward when following the setup video on YouTube.
The whole system can be armed or disarmed using the remote control tags or via the phone app. Using the smartphone app, the sensors were easy to set up, sometimes requiring a couple of attempts to register, but this wasn’t a problem.
Setting the alarm via the app, phone call, SMS or buttons all work well as does automatically turning it off on.
The pet friendly motion sensors work well and allow pur pet to move around the house without setting off the alarm.
I would recommend installing the internal and external alarms last and first testing the connectivity between the alarm control panel and your sensors. You can then also differentiate and name each sensor so alerts mention a meaningful sensor name. The control panel has a quietish alarm which sounds and is a much nicer way to be able to test connectivity between the control panel and sensors before final installation.
In summary I think you get many more sensors for your money than with Yale and many more options in the app but with more options comes additional complexity so you’ll need to spend more time setting up. In my opinion that is time well spent.
I am very happy with the system and the app is really stable and very easy to use.
Everything comes in a Box, and inside that box are two more boxes, one has the “Replica” siren, and one has the hub with the PIR sensor and the window fitting sensor ( or you could use that sensor on a door).
Inside the defender Kit you will get:
1 x Replica Siren ( this is a dummy – it is just a box with lights) , fitting diagram & and batteries.
1 x Hub – this looks like a little wifi box , well made, looks sleek, with power cable.
1 x PIR sensor – pet friendly version & fittings and batteries.
1 x window sensor set ( could be used on a door instead) with adhesive stickers.
1 x instructions ( not a user manual – you need to download the app for that)
In addition you will need;
a mobile phone
download the app
powersocket near where you wish to place the hub
masonry drill if you choose to screw things in using the fixings rather than stick up with adhesive stickers.
I have to confess I had no idea that replica siren meant summy siren, this was further a surprise to me as ERA sell dummy sirens int heir shop here but aparently is does ot mean additional siren, which is what I thought, but it means dummy siren so essentially a box which takes stansard AA batteries ( supplied) that dows a blue blip blip. I think this is to deter Burglars, as it looks like the real Siren ERA sell, so how would they know that it doe snot actually make a sound, sort of thing.
The Hub, when you plug it in, has a lovely blue light around the ERA logo to let you know it is on and working.
The PIR sensor comes with not only fitting instructions but also a really strange gizmo, which , once you have drilled the hole in your wall to the correct postition and height, simply screws into the wall, and then, you simply screw the PIR onto it – I have put a photo of it above.
The PIR sensor comes with batteries – apparently you do not need to take it down ( unscerew or unstick) you just need to get up there, slide off the top of hte pir sensor and that is wher ethe battery is.
The window sensor has batteries in it, but you cannot easily get to them, but they are the mini battereis that are a little tricky to get hold of, I have some for another peice of kit my son got for me – they are called CR123A batteries.
These are easily fitted – this time we went for the sticky adhesive pads that are also provided, simply peel off one side and attach that to the back of one half of the sensor, and when ready to position, simply peel off hte other side of the pad and stick it to the window frame or window depending on which part of the window sensor it is ( there are two parts, one big, one small, and each has an arrow on it to help show you how to alighn them, the pointy bits of hte arrows much touch the pointy bits of the arrow on the other half for it to be positioned properly)
There is a tab to pull out to activate the battery, by apparently it was too difficult to get inside it for me to be able to take a photo, hopefully we will be able to get inside it to change the battery later when it needs to be changed.
Then you need to download the app….
I did this, and opened it, went through the permissions thing set up an account, then it stopped working.
I faffled about a while with it and realised that I needed to call the company.
They were very polite on the phone but said that the app – and therefore the whole alarm system we had just installed – would not work unless we granted it ALL the permissions – whichs just to be clear – were many and far exceeded the functionality of htis system — for example it wanted full access to all of my files and contacts and the ability to edit and delete them and call them.
I explained to the friendly chap from ERA tha tI had the Defender model, and there was no functionality that required this access.
They explained to me that I might change it in the furture, I might upgrade to premium package and have hte system call someone if i could not be contacted, and even though the system offered none of these functions tight now, I might choose to upgrade it , at some point, some time, in the future.
I again clarified that i did not have, nor idid I want any other functionality and therefore , and for other obvious reasons – I did not want to give my entire phone contacts list to ERA, on the offchance that at somepoint, sometime, in the future , I may choose, to upgrade, or add something that would then be required to call one single telephone number ( I have a security system at the moment, and it has my telephone number and one other ICE contact and that is entered – in the the same way you have to manually enter your telephone number with ERA, but that it did not go a-snooping throughor possibly calling or spamming my friends and family.)
The chap from ERA assured me that the system would only have access to anything that it needed, and only as and when it needed it, but I was still left concerned.
I am now waiting for a friend to go and get me a cheap mobile phone, so that I can finish setting up this system – however I do have to bear in mind, is that every time the phone stops being upgradeable ( each phone usually only manages to go through 2, possibly 3 android updates before the manufacturer stops upgrading htem, and a cheap phone is likely to be one on its last iteration of android) – I would have to buy an new phone, just ot use this system safely – without giving out personal information that it has absolutely no need to have access to – in the state that it is being sold online as this package.
Iw ill update again, once I have the new phone up and running and have given the system a good test – but so far knocking off a star for this unnecessary accesss attempt at my personal data / inforamtion / contacts, let alone the whole beit of being able to edit and delete my files? why? this Defender set has no need, it can have access to store files, but only I edit and certainly only I get to decide what files, if any , get edleted.
to be continued…
I want to start by saying that i am not the most technical of people and my DIY skills are limited but this was pretty easy for me, just had to take it in stages (after an initial read through the instructions). I unpacked everything and familiarised myself with things first, because i am paranoid at making the siren sound and not being able to turn it off, it is the main reason i have not had an alarm system for so long. Glad to say this hasn’t happened…yet.
I set up the hub to the internet router and downloaded the app on my phone. Everything was really easy if you just take a breath and follow the instructions. Fitting the door/window sensors was easy to do and the motion sensors (i tested them first) have not picked up my large dog so far, which i was a little worried about but did pick my husband up when tested (amazing!).
The kit comes with:
1 x Hub
2 x door/window sensors
2 x motion sensors
2 x remote controls (manual)
1 x siren
Relevant screws and wall sockets
Sticky pads
Ethernet cable (for hub)
Power cable (for hub)
Instructions
Wall mount stencil (for siren)
You need to think about where you are going to place all the sensors to make the most of them but the good thing about this system is that you can buy more of pretty much anything, if needed. After placing all the sensors, i installed the siren, which has all the lights to make it look mean to an intruder. When it sounds the lights flash faster and it all kicks off. When placing the window/door sensors i did notice that you have to make sure the tamper switch is flush at the back, which was a bit tricky to get right with the thick sticky pads, so just have a think before placing them.
The door/window sensors and the siren have tamper switches which is a real plus. You really do not need to be the best at technology or DIY to make this work. It took me under an hour to do pretty much everything. It is simple and versatile and you can add as you go along, which i think is a real selling point. If you can’t afford everything in one go, get the set up system and work from there. It will not cover everything in my house (4 bed with annex) but i have covered all the rooms with expensive items in, a good start.
I highly recommend this system to everyone, pros or noobs. I am really impressed with the ease in which i installed this and the potential effectiveness of the system. You can turn the alarm on and off quickly with the manual remotes or by using the app on the your phone. I was quite anxious about doing this as it is outside my comfort zone but i was surprised and relieved. Very happy me.
I am happy with this alarm system, it is perfect for my environment, I have always wanted a house alarm but my problem was I live in a flat, This wireless system solves all the problems of a standard system, the Hub can be placed anywhere so I put mine on my kitchen windowsill, I connected it via ethernet cable to one of my mesh nodes, and it works perfectly,
the home system took me only 20 mins to set up, it was all hassle free, I only have one door to my flat so I only needed one door sensor, now whenever my front door opens I get a notification instantly. this makes me feel so secure, also with the motion sensor that is pet safe means while I am out I don’t need to worry about the cat triggering the alarm,
the Alarm itself it not that loud but it is loud enough to scare any intruder, the hub has a built-in battery so if the power goes down your still protected, it also has a built-in sim card that uses EE for me but it will use the strongest network available, that means my home will still be fully protected if in the event of total power failure or home internet goes offline,
there is a setting in the hub that will call my mobile phone or my parents phone if my alarm is triggered, I tested this and I got a phone call within 30 seconds of the alarm being triggered, you can also choose to get a text but I don’t need that because the app gets a notification..
you get 2 keyrings, with buttons for disabling/enabling the alarm, a button to set the home mode but you also get a fourth button on this you can set a panic alarm if you click the button it will send a text message to a phone number of your choice… if your in an emergency you can have that emergency contact with one click of a button, that a great feature for elderly people if they fall they can get help with one click of a button on the keyring.
there are many additional products like cameras so you can expand your security ecosystem, I think its a brilliant alarm and I am so pleased with.
This home security alarm is designed for easy home setup with minimal wiring required. The kit has a central hub which allows upto 96 devices to be connected. I tested a set of door/window magnetic sensor and PIR sensor. It also included a pair of remote controls to activate/disable alarm and external siren alarm (deterrent) box. On initial setup, the smartphone app was installed and from there, the remaining setup was completed via the mobile app. This included Alexa voice assistance.
Things I liked:
* it took me approx 45-60mins to fully set this up (this is fast compared to a wired alarm system)
* central hub had no issue connection with door magnetic sensor and PIR sensor
* handy pair of remote control fobs
* handy smartphone app to control and monitor alarm status
* 3 months free trial for ERA protect plus subscription
* 4G simcard inside central hub (as backup internet connection if home wifi is down)
Things I didn’t like:
* short ethernet cable supplied
* not as loud as i’d like it to be (80dB internal and 104dB external)
* siren volume not adjustable
* 9.99 per month fee for 30days video storage
Overall, it does work and I do like the dual path feature (4G kick in if home wifi is down). However, the price point is a little high and I have general dislike to subscription fees for Protect Plus plan. I will continue to use this for the remaining 3months and see if I justify the cost… especially during lockdown period with everyone at home.
This wireless alarm system from ERA is a great starter pack.
It comes nicely packaged in a branded box, of which contains:
1 x ERA Wireless Alarm Hub,1 x ERA Wireless Siren Box,1 x Mains Adapter, 1 x PIR Sensors, 1 x PIR Wall mounts, 1 x Door/Window Sensors, 2 x Key Fobs, mounting Pads, wall plugs and screws, ethernet Cable, Instrction Booklet and 3 x AA Batteries.
It is simple to set up in the ERA Protect app, with each device having a QR code you scan within the App and set up from there.
The hub needs a wired ethernet connection and power, so ideally will need to be located near your router and power source.
The PIR Sensor works well and is not triggered by any of my 3 cats.
This is a great bit of Cat that can be built upon, adding extra PIR Sensors, WindowDoor Sensors and even external camera’s to it.
I set this up in a single bed flat. In that situation, the 2 door/window sensors and 2 IR sensors were more than enough to saturate the entire place. I spoke to my parents about it and my dad seemed to think that it would even be enough for their place, which is a 3 bed semi and I suppose as long as you are strategic with your placement, it would work. I believe it is expandable so that you can buy the individual sensors if you do need extra, or want to upgrade with fancy cameras and such. Everything came smartly packed and individually wrapped and boxed, so well protected. It’s very simple to use and the key fobs that are included are really quick and simple, though you can use the app on your phone too. I’ve used the fobs more these past couple of days, but the app does give you some extra flashiness. The IR sensors claim that they’re animal friendly also seems to be holding up and my cat does not seem to trip them, so that’s good. Overall, I’m really impressed by the whole package and honestly, the peace of mind it’s given me is worth it alone as I have a pretty extensive guitar collection I’d rather not lose…
Hard to knock really, from the ease of set up, the smart looking hub and the functionality, there’s really no low point. I try to be as critical as possible with my reviews, but there’s just not a lot here to criticise honestly. It does the job, it does it well and fitting and set up was simple. Highly recommended!
Upon checking everything over the build quality is very good and the parts are designed well, to start download the app on your phone first to guide you through the setup process, position the hub near the router, connect the supplied cables and turn on, once the light on the hub has turned green from red then you are connected and can start by adding the sensors, adding the sensors are simple through the app by using the QR code on the item you wish to add, separate items like cameras and more sensors can be purchased and added the same way.
The sensors are easy to install and the instructions are clear to follow, all sensors are anti tamper and you will get notified if they have been moved, the motion sensor has an area underneath that can be tripped if movement is picked up, I thought this was pretty neat compared to other alarms I have used in the past.
The outdoor siren is loud and is battery operated not solar! This is also anti tamper and you will get notified if so, the lights light up every so often to act as a deterrent, they are LED so low power usage and it looks pretty neat!
All the batteries in the sensors can be replaced and you’ll get a notification when they are low
The app has lots of features to use and customise how you want everything setup, you get notifications sent to your phone when the alarm has been triggered.
The hub plays a siren when the alarm goes off, it’s not overly loud but loud enough, the hub has a backup battery in the event of someone pulling the cable or a power cut, if the internet drops you will get notified due to the in built sim, there is also a subscription service that you can have if you wish, be aware when setting up your account you will have 3 months free then you will be charged monthly unless you cancel, just don’t add any payment details.
Overall I’m really impressed but would have liked the hub to wireless to be able to position away from the router, and the addition of a keypad to arm the alarm in addition to a fob, I look forward to adding additional sensors and a camera, thank you.
Fantastic system which is really easy to install.
Hub isn’t too big .
Comes with one pir and one widow/door contact system. Further sensors can be bought separately and added onto the system.
App is quick to use if a little confusing at first .
Easy to arm the system remotely and alerts are sent straight to your phone.
Overall a great little system which gives more peace of mind than a standard alarm as you are alerted straight away if system activates.
Straightforward and easy to install.
Install app and pair device.
Connects to WiFi and remotes easy to use.
Good enough system to be awarded a BSI(British Standard Institute)kite mark.
System works in both ethernet and built in SIM card.
Lots of accessories can be added like camera,doorbell and floodlight for added protection.
Can be voice controlled and can be accessed anywhere with the app and other users can be added.
Having always used a wired in alarm before trying this wireless burglar alarm I was a little unsure. However this set is excellent. It arrived well packed, comes with good easy to understand instructions. On arrival I would recommend carefully reading the instructions before start fixing up. Plus trying out before and also down loading the smart phone app. I was really pleased how easy it was to set up the WiFi and app. This system is controlled and operated using smartphone app that can be downloaded, free, to any smartphone and via the included remote controls. The remotes are easy to use. In use the motion detector picks up movement well the alarm is certainly loud enough too. This is the basic pack with one sensor. The set can be easily expanded with add extra sensors and the like.
Used in a community centre.
Very pleased.
This wireless burglar alarm arrived well packed comes with good easy to understand instructions. On arrival I would recommend carefully reading the instructions before start fixing up. Plus trying out before and also down loading the smart phone app. I was really pleased how easy it was to set up the WiFi and app. This system is the instructions say is controlled and operated via a smartphone app that can be downloaded, free, to any smartphone and via two included remote controls. The remotes are easy to use. In use the motion detector picks up movement well the alarm is certainly loud enough too.
Used in a community centre.
Very pleased.
The hub itself is compact in size (approx. 150mm x 150mm x 30mm) and has a very simple but modern look (it looks very much like a wireless internet access point).
The top features a nice LED status ring around the ERA logo, whilst the bottom has a removable mounting plate which covers the 2 wired connections (mains power and Ethernet).
There are several security sensors included with the Alert model.
There are 2 x Wireless pet friendly PIR sensors to detect movement inside your home and trigger the alarm. These are quite small in size (Approx 80mm x 50mm x 36mm excluding the wall mount which simply screws into the thread on the back). The PIR is located on the front and there is also a section on the bottom to detect anybody trying to sneak underneath the sensor.
The top panel is removed easily by pulling it away to reveal a user replaceable CR123A Lithium battery.
Also included are 2 x magnetic window/door sensors. These are a little larger than what I’ve been used to with my old wired system (due to having to accommodate a battery), and measure approximately 70mm x 21mm x 20mm for the main part and 32mm x 10mm x 15mm for the magnet part.
The rear of the main sensor simply pops off to reveal another user replaceable CR123A lithium battery.
There is also an anti-tamper switch on the rear of the unit which will trigger the alarm, should the unit be removed.
2 x Remote keyfobs are supplied to let you quickly arm/disarm the system, activate the home mode and if you have a subscription, there is a button to trigger another action.
A wireless external alarm box with a 104 decibel siren rounds of the package. This looks identical to the dummy ERA box I reviewed earlier. Once the battery pack is connected, LED lights will flash briefly every few seconds to warn would be intruders that the alarm is working and if the system is triggered the siren will then activate and the lights will flash brighter and faster. The rear of this box also has an anti-tamper switch to trigger the alarm, should somebody try to remove it.
***** In The Box *****
1 x ERA Wireless Alarm Hub
1 x ERA Wireless Siren Box
1 x Mains Adaper
2 x PIR Sensors
2 x PIR Wall mounts
2 x Door/Window Sensors
2 x Remote Key Fobs
Various Sticky Mounting Pads
Selection of wall fixings and screws
1 x Ethernet Cable
1 x Siren Drilling Guide
1 x User Guide
***** Installation / Usage *****
Initial setup is quite straight forward.
Start by installing the ERA Protect app to your smartphone.
Once installed, open the app and follow the steps to create a new account (if you don’t already have one) and then choose the ERA Protect alarm from the list. Connect the hub to the mains and also connect an Ethernet cable between the hub and your Internet Router. Once the hub’s status light turns green, continue following the steps on the screen (This involves typing in the hub’s ID or scanning the QR code), giving the hub a name and setting the time zone. Once completed, you will also activate a free 90 day trial of the ERA Plus service.
The device is now setup, but you will need to add each sensor and key fob to be able to use them.
This is a straight forward process. Click the + icon in the top right corner of the app, select the type of accessory you want to add, scan the accessories QR code (or type in it’s number) and then give it a name.
Once everything has been added to the system you can fix them in place using the supplied screws or sticky pads.
The system can be armed using the large buttons on the mobile app or by pressing and holding the buttons on the remote key fob. When arming/disarming a notification is immediately sent to your phone to tell you what has happened and which device did it.
When the alarm is triggered the hub itself plays a siren sound (not overly loudly), but of course if you have the outdoor siren installed that will also be triggered and is loud. You will of course also receive a notification to your smartphone informing you and also telling you which sensor has set the alarm off.
There are various settings that can be changed, these include the option to change the name of your hub, alter the amount of time it takes to set the system once you press the arm button, turn on/off the tamper switches (could be useful if decorating and need to remove a sensor), to allow or disallow the alarm to arm should a sensor not be closed and to set what happens when the home mode is activated (this is a useful feature as it allows you to arm the system when you are at home, but turn off certain sensors — you could for example switch off motion detectors but keep the door sensors active whilst you are at home).
You also have the option to enable the auto disarm function, which will send a notification to your phone if you leave home but forget to activate the alarm and it can also automatically disarm the system when you return home.
***** Conclusion *****
I have always been a little sceptical of wireless alarm systems and have been using a simple wired one, but things have moved on and wireless systems have become a lot more reliable and have more smart features.
The ERA Protect is extremely easy to install and configure using simple QR codes. It took me a day to install my wired system, but this one can literally be installed and running in a matter of minutes.
I like the overall look and design of the product, as it’s quite compact and discrete but very loud. Having 2 remote key fobs is great as both myself and my partner can have one. We can of course use our phones to control the system, but the fobs are convenient for those times you run out of battery or forget your phone.
I really like having the Smart features with notifications being almost instant and you can see a list of actions or alarms that have occurred on different dates.
Another feature I like is the ability to quickly and easily expand the system with extra sensors or accessories.
You have the option of paying for a subscription that monitors your alarm, although you don’t have to have this and the product functions perfectly without it. Some manufacturers remove many useful features unless you pay a subscription fee, but I’m glad to report that isn’t the case here.
Alexa and Google integration is also available for those of you that like to control things with voice commands and the smartphone app is surprisingly functional and easy to use.
It is also worth noting that there is a battery backup inside the hub should the power be switched off, as well as a SIM card should your internet connection go down (SIM requires subscription).
All in all this is a really nice system and a worthy upgrade to my old wired one – I’d have no problem in recommending it and will be expanding it with some more accessories.