With the Internet of Things in full swing, keeping your home and family safe has never been easier. You can set up smart locks, thermostats, lights, and a variety of other functions to protect the things you cherish. The beauty of the Internet of Things is that the majority of these features are controlled through an app on your smartphone.
Wink Lookout and Adobe are just two smart security systems that can provide a layer of security to your home. These systems can be customized to fit your needs, and each are considered do-it-yourself options. Each system puts its stamp on their smart security offerings. In this article, we’ll take a look at both the WInk and Adobe smart security systems and how they compare to one another.
Adobe Smart Security System
If you’re looking for a system that is easy to use, has plenty of features, and is a great option as your first do-it-yourself security system, then Adobe’s offering might be just what you need. The Adobe system includes support for ZigBee and Z-wave, a siren, a pair of door and window sensors, and a security camera. You’ll also get a key fob which allows you to arm and disarm your system remotely.
But that’s not all Adobe has to offer. The Adobe smart security system supports a variety of ZigBee and Z-Wave devices, as well as professional monitoring if that’s a route you want to take. Adobe can also integrate with Nest, Alexa, and IFTTT (If This Then That), which makes it that much easier to select as your smart security system.
To begin setting up your Adobe smart security system, you’ll first want to download the app. Adobe’s app resides on both the iOS and Android marketplaces, and once you have it downloaded and installed, just follow the directions to start connecting your hardware. The wall, window, and door mounted accessories have adhesive available to help with installation.
Here is a list of accessories you will find in your Adobe smart security system kit:
- Hub – Your hub comes with a power adapter and an ethernet cable, the latter of which is used to connect to your router. Adobe’s hub can be used with ZigBee and Z-Wave devices, includes a battery backup of up to twelve hours, and has a siren that can reach ninety-three decibels when triggered.
- Camera with motion detector – A battery-powered security camera that can capture still images if the system detects movement.
- Fob – You’ll get a key fob that you can add to your keychain which allows you to arm or disarm your smart security system remotely.
- Window and Door Sensors – These don’t have to be limited to doors and windows. Attach them to anything that can open or closed to be notified.
While Adobe’s smart security system might be one of the more expensive ones on the market, it does not require a monthly fee, unlike many of its counterparts, including the Wink Lookout. The fact that it comes with a camera might be enough for some to select the Adobe system, since there are currently no other smart security systems on the market that offer one.
Adobe’s smart security system offers four options for monitoring:
- Free – With the free option, you receive a three-day storage of self-monitored and recorded events.
- Temporary – Temporary monitoring lets you choose between three and seven-day packages, which are perfect for vacations or long weekends.
- Cellular Backup – The cellular backup option allows you to pay by the month or year, and backs up to a 3G network.
- Monthly with Cellular Backup – The monthly with cellular backup option gives you continuous monitoring along with the 3G network backup if needed. You can pay for this monthly or yearly.
There is one definite drawback to Adobe’s smart security system, and that is the minor annoyance of creating customized rules through the web app. It would make more sense to allow users to set these up through the smartphone application. However, the ability to see the details of your system on a web-page is a nice feature.
You’re not going to be disappointed when using your Adobe smart security system. Whether you’re using a rule you created through IFTTT, arming and disarming via your key fob, or integrating an Alexa device, your Adobe system is going to perform as expected. You’ll receive notifications and alerts when status changes occur, and when you leave your home with your phone, Adobe’s auto-arm/disarm feature does the work for you, so you don’t have to remember.
Summary
When it comes to smart security starter kits and do-it-yourself options, Adobe is a great option. It plays well with other devices, works with Zigbee and Z-Wave, can integrate with Alexa, Nest, and IFTTT, and is easy to use for even the most casual smart homeowner. It doesn’t hurt that the system comes with a bevy of hardware and doesn’t force you to sign up for a monthly fee. From an overall perspective, Adobe’s smart security system is a flexible setup for your home that will provide the peace of mind that a security system should.
Wink Lookout
No products found.While Wink Lookouts smart security system may not have all the bells and whistles the Adobe system offers, it is a good do-it-yourself option that lets you keep track of the goings on within your home. The Wink Hub 2 is your central device and works well with Zigbee, Z-Wave, Lutron Clear Connect, and a variety of additional third-party devices.
Although the Wink Lookout has a tremendous amount of features and functions, it does fall short when compared to some of the other smart security systems on the market. For instance, Wink does not offer an option for professional monitoring, no battery backup, and no security camera that begins recording when triggered.
Your Wink Lookout smart system comes with a pair of door or window sensors, a siren, a motion detection sensor, and of course a hub. All of these can be purchased separately from the system if you need additional hardware, including your Wink Hub 2.
Speaking of your Wink Hub 2, this device supports many different technologies, including Kidd protocols, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and Lutron Clear Connect. Supporting all of these technologies means the Wink Hub 2 is compatible with a large number of devices. These additional devices can be thermostats, garage door openers, lights, cameras, lights, and many more.
The door and window sensors come with an adhesive which allows for quick installation, but they can also be mounted with screws if you prefer something more permanent. Your motion detection sensor will light up blue when it detects motion and has five different sensitivity settings which range anywhere from very high to very low.
Your siren, in the shape of a hockey puck, has an LED ring around its outside that will flash blue when triggered. Along with the blue flashing light, the siren will also set off an audible alarm with volume settings that range from low to high. You can use the siren to ward off intruders, or simply use it as a notification that your door or window has been closed or opened. You can assign a variety of sounds and chimes to the sensor, including beeps, chimes, and a few well-known musical renditions.
No products found.Even though the Wink Lookout system does not include security cameras, you do have the ability to add them. These devices give you the ability to have a live video feed, which you can view from the Wink Lookout application. Unfortunately, the Wink Lookout system does not have the same capability as the Adobe system that lets you start recording when the motion detection sensor is triggered.
You can find the Wink Lookout app on both the iOS and Android marketplaces. Once you have downloaded and installed the app, you’ll have access to control all your devices right on your smartphone. Adding a device to your Wink Lookout system is as easy as choosing the “Add to Wink” option. You can view device history, create device categories, and see the status of each device from the Wink Lookout app.
Additionally, with the Wink Lookout app, you can create customized actions that are triggered by your location, the time of day, and of course by motion and sensor detection. Don’t feel constrained by what you can do. Play with your devices and discover new ways to use them. For instance, you might want to get a notification when the garage door opens or closes. Or maybe you want to know when the temperature in your home reaches a specific setting.
Installation of the Wink Lookout system is simple and straightforward. All you need to do is download the app, follow the instructions, and connect your Wink Hub 2 to your router via a network cable. As mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, adding additional Wink devices to your system is as easy as choosing “Add to Wink,” selecting the type of device, and naming it.
Pairing a third-party device requires a few more steps, but is no less intuitive. After choosing “Add to Wink” and selecting the type of device you want to pair, just enter your Wink Lookout system email address and password. Once that is done, the device will automatically show up on your Wink Lookout dashboard.
The Wink Lookout smart security system works exactly as expected. When sensors are tripped, or actions are executed, a push notification is sent to your smartphone. One setting suggestion would be to set your motion detection sensitivity to the lowest setting to receive false notifications. You also have the capability to set the level of sound on your siren, which when set to the highest option is enough to let an intruder know it’s time to vacate the premises.
Summary
It’s not really fair to label the Wink Lookout as a smart home security system, but that is the label with which is has been branded. The Wink Lookout does what it does very well, in that it is easy to install, easy to use, and can connect to a wide range of third-party devices. But where the Wink Lookout system falls short is in areas where you would expect to have support. The Wink does not support automatic recording when a motion sensor is tripped, it does not have a professional monitoring option, and has no battery backup option.
No products found.If all you need to do is control your lights, locks, thermostats, windows, and a variety of other smart home devices, then the Wink Lookout is the perfect system for you. But if you prefer to have an additional layer of security, then you might be better off going with Adobe’s smart security system.
Read my full Wink Lookout review here!
Comparison
Let’s take a high-level look at how these two devices compare with one another.
| Wink Lookout | Adobe Home Security Starter Kit | |
| Cellular Backup | No | Yes |
| Power Outage Backup | No | Yes |
| IFTTT Support | No | Yes |
| Z-Wave/ZigBee Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant Compatibility | None | Amazon Alexa |
| Professional Monitoring Option | No | Yes |
Conclusion
Whether you consider yourself to be a novice when it comes to smart security or an expert in the field, it’s safe to say that both of these systems provide an additional layer of protection that you may not have in place. Choosing either one of these do-it-yourself systems will be a step in the right direction toward providing a smarter, safer, and more secure home for yourself and your family.
While bearing that in mind, if you’re truly looking for a smart home system and security is your number one priority, the Adobe smart security system is your best option. It provides the additional features you would expect to have with a smart security system, like automated recording when a detection sensor is triggered, a battery backup option, and professional monitoring if needed.
Ultimately the decision is yours based on what you need and what makes the most sense for your home. Both systems do exactly what they are expected to do, but the Adobe smart security system takes that extra step toward providing your home and family with the protection they deserve.
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