Piper definitely isn’t as robust as a full-on, professionally-installed security system backed by a 24-hour response service, but for $239 it’ll get you most of the same benefits. In all honestly, the only thing Piper missing is a response team, so if you’re looking for a low-cost way to make your home more secure, look no further. Installation is a breeze, the fisheye lens lets you surveil a large area with a single camera, and the wide range of sensors make it extremely versatile. The addition of Z-Wave compatibility also expands Piper’s functionality to include not just security, but also home automation; so it’s also a great starting point for anyone thinking about smartening up their pad.
It used to be that outfitting your home with a security system meant contacting a security agency like Brinks or ADT, installing sensors all over your house, and paying a monthly fee to keep your service going. But now that sensor tech has become drastically cheaper than it used to be, cheap DIY home surveillance systems are starting to pop up, and Piper is one of the first to hit the market.
Just a few short month’s ago, Piper was nothing more than a hopeful IndieGoGo project, but Blacksumac has been charging forward at blistering pace since then, and a couple months ago started shipping to consumers. We got our hands on one and played with it for a few weeks to determine if it’s really a viable alternative to traditional home security systems. Here’s what we thought:
Setup & Design
One of Piper’s biggest selling points is ease of use. Unlike traditional security/surveillance systems, Blacksumac promises that this little box promises doesn’t require any sort of complicated installation process — and it definitely lives up to that promise. To get started, you literally just plug it in, download the app on your phone, and follow directions. It starts by turning Piper into its own Wi-Fi hotspot, which you log on to. After that, you’re prompted to enter in the name of the Wi-Fi network you’d actually like to connect to, followed by the password. At this point, it makes you wait a little bit while it configures itself, but if everything goes smoothly, you’ll have your new security system set up in about 7 to 10 minutes. All in all, setup is pretty painless.